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Online Course: Researching Civil War Ancestors
Description
Original broadcasts December 2021
The American Civil War was a defining moment for our young country, changing its trajectory forever. Nearly 3 million Americans served, resulting in approximately 750,000 casualties: everyone living in America at that time was affected in some way by the events of 1861 to 1865 and its long aftermath. Whether your ancestor wore blue or grey, this three-session online course led by Chief Genealogist and military history expert, David Allen Lambert explores the records, resources, and strategies for tracing Civil War veterans in your family tree.
This course includes three 90-minute lectures and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation.
Once you complete your registration, you will receive an email with a link to the course page. You can also access this page under “My Account”> “Digital Content.” You will have access to course materials for the foreseeable future.
Class 1: Service Records: Union and Confederate
This first class provides a brief history of the Civil War and its impact on each state, communities, and families. David Allen Lambert then discusses how to determine if your ancestor served—looking for clues in the census, gravestones, family heirlooms, and more—and how to discover the details of his service, examining both Army and Navy records for the Union and Confederacy.
Class 2: Filling in the Gaps: Other Records and Resources
Now that you have verified that your ancestor served, it’s time to piece together the story of their service. Using a variety of sources including newspapers, photographs, probate records, and manuscripts, David Allen Lambert demonstrates how to learn of the battles they served in, time spent as a prisoner of war, and the details of injuries they may have suffered.
Class 2: Filling in the Gaps: Other Records and Resources
Now that you have verified that your ancestor served, it’s time to piece together the story of their service. Using a variety of sources including newspapers, photographs, probate records, and manuscripts, David Allen Lambert demonstrates how to learn of the battles they served in, time spent as a prisoner of war, and the details of injuries they may have suffered.
Class 3: Post-War Records & Strategies
Following the end of the Civil War, several federal initiatives and organizations were created to support Civil War veterans. This final class looks at accessing pension files, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and United Confederate Veterans (UCV) records, and demonstrate several research strategies.
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