Genealogy Seminar – Unlock your military legacy

Genealogy Seminar – Unlock your military legacy

Join us for a unique new program offering and discover how to explore your family’s military history through this genealogy seminar. Whether you have just started your genealogy research or are looking for advice about furthering your search, our presenters can help.

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Location: The National Museum of the United States Army

Schedule

9:00 a.m. Museum opens to public. Seminar guests are welcome to go to Veterans Hall located on the third floor of the Museum and enjoy free coffee, tea, water, and sodas that will be available all day.

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. “Records of the U.S. Army held by the National Archives and Records Administration” Rebecca Whitman Koford A discussion of the various U.S. Army record groups and key series held by the National Archives and Records Administration facilities in Washington D.C. (Archives I) and in College Park, Maryland (Archives II). This includes identifying the records that are available online and those that must be accessed in person.

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. “Map Repositories in the Washington D.C. Area” COL Rick Sayre, USA Ret. This session continues the discussion from above that includes NARA map-related record groups, and series held by NARA and extends to resources of the Library of Congress, Society of the Cincinnati and others.

12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch Break. Please note that outside food and drink are prohibited in the Museum. In-person attendees may pre-purchase a lunch box or purchase lunch at the Museum’s Café.
Please note that if you are pre-purchasing a lunch box, it must be purchased no later than Thursday May 2, 2024.

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. “Tracking an Eighteenth or Nineteenth Century Soldier” Pamela Boyer Sayre Learn to utilize dry facts found in compiled military service records, company histories, or pension files to visualize a Revolutionary War or Civil War soldier’s movements and travels. This session demonstrates how to create a spreadsheet CSV file with a soldier’s locations and dates and then export that data to create a unique map on Google Earth. This visual presentation of service then can be shared with family or other interested groups.

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. “Learning About a Twentieth Century Soldier” Pamela Boyer Sayre and COL Rick Sayre, USA Ret. This session presents several mini case studies documenting twentieth-century service of soldiers. This includes a clear methodology on how to research modern soldier’s records at the National Archives and Records Administration’s St. Louis facility and at other facilities such as NARA II at College Park, Maryland.

3:45 p.m. Program Ends. In-person attendees are welcome to enjoy the Museum until it closes at 5 p.m. including the Museum’s newest exhibit “D-Day: Freedom From Above,” located on the second floor.

Both in-person and virtual registration options are available.

In-Person Registration - $35

Ticket price includes an option to purchase a registration ($35) and an option to purchase a registration with lunch ($55).

Virtual Registration - $35

Individuals will receive a link to join the seminar closer to the event date.

Presenters

Richard G. Sayre, COL (USA-Ret.)

Pamela Boyer Sayre

Certified Genealogist Emeritus, FUGA, is a professional researcher, educator, author, and lecturer

Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL