Indiana Room

Virtual Family History Day Saturday, October 3 | 9:30 am. - 1:00 pm. | Virtual event

Join the DNA experts from the Central Indiana DNA Interest Group (CIDIG) for an online roundtable discussion on “DNA Tips and Tricks of the Pros.” A panel of professional genealogists will share their favorite tips, tricks, and tools for getting the most out of your DNA results.

Bring your DNA questions to ask the professionals in this informal, virtual roundtable discussion. One of the speakers will walk us through an online demonstration of dnapainter.com. Attendees will have two chances to win an AncestryDNA kit! One of these kits is generously offered by CIDIG, and the other by HEPL.

Panelists include:

Steven Frank, JD is a genetic genealogist and presenter with the Central Indiana DNA Interest Group. He has helped over 150 adoptees and persons of unknown parentage reconnect with their birth parents through the use of commercial genetic tests such as AncestryDNA. In 2016 Steven testified before the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee as an expert on commercial genetic testing. In April 2017, Steven was named the “Indiana Adoptee Network’s 2017 Angel in Adoption” award recipient for his work reuniting Indiana adoptees with their birth parents.

Andrea Ackermann, M.S., M.H.A.

is a genealogist who incorporates genetic genealogy in her research methods. She is experienced in using DNA techniques to solve unknown parentage and brick wall ancestor problems. Her traditional research focuses on the Midwestern United States and its associated immigrants and settlers. She is one of the leaders in the Central Indiana DNA Interest Group and gives lectures on genetic genealogy and other traditional genealogical topics. She is a project administrator for the Wastell surname project at Family Tree DNA. Andrea has attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and completed an 18-month program in professional genealogy (ProGen). She is also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogist, National Genealogical Society plus several other state genealogical societies. Registration required.

Land Records: A Family Historian’s “Bread and Butter” Saturday, September 19 | 10- 11 am. | Virtual event

Land records are one of the major record groups used by genealogists when performing US research due to their extensive coverage, availability, and valuable information. Many free adult males living in the United States before the mid-1800s owned land. Therefore, land records are a valuable source for locating a family in a particular time and place. Join guest speaker Amber Oldenburg as she covers the following in this Zoom webinar:

History of land records Terms and definitions Survey System Types of land records Why use land records Examples How to access land records

Amber Oldenburg is a professional genealogist specializing in United States Midwest research. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Indiana Genealogical Society, the Indiana chapter of the Palatines to America, and the Genealogical Society of Marion County, Indiana. Amber has a passion for genealogy and a sincere desire to share her knowledge and expertise with others.