International Institute of Genealogical Studies

Optional Course Print Materials: German: Germans Outside of Germany

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Since the 19th century (or earlier), Germans have migrated to other countries to make their home. Whether  evacuating for the sake of safety (seeking asylum), moving into countries where other family members resided, or simply emigrating to remove themselves from the homeland, researching these individuals means considering various types of records found in the country they called home.

This course explores the German migration out of Germany as late as the mid-20th century and includes settlements in some locations as early as pre-15th century while others will focus on 19th and 20th centuries only. The countries addressed are those where significant populations of Germans have been or are still found. In some locations, the region has not been perceived as “German” (i.e., German has not been an officially recognized language). These locations will include the UK and Ireland; Oceania (Australia and New Zealand); North America (US, Canada, and Mexico); European Countries (where German is not an official language); Latin American Countries (Central and South America and the Dominican Republic); Africa (select countries with German populations, past or present), Asia, and India. We'll explore why Germans left Germany and where they went. 

We'll explore records that document your German ancestor in their new homeland as well as where to find these records. We'll also explore German communities and the records they left behind, including histories, periodicals, and compiled sources. Each module ends with resources for social media websites and groups where researchers may connect with their German relatives. 

Course Length: 8 weeks

Optional Print Course Material: German: Naming Practices

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

There are a number of common misconceptions about “German naming patterns” including that they follow a prescribed formula in the majority of, or all, families. This may be true regionally (e.g., in a particular region of Germany and, in some cases, carried over into the country where the family emigrated to, if that happened), but there is no hard and fast rule and to expect that is potentially damaging to research. 

This course will examine the various types of naming patterns, name variations (for surnames and given names), regional influence on names, occupational influence on names, period influence on names (e.g., names changed from German to French during the Napoleonic years), the influence of the Church on baptismal names, the phenomenon of the “Naming Day” and its effect on the name used in a person’s adult life, and the commonality of reversing first and middle names during a person’s life. Spelling issues on documents, the use of signatures and occupations to separate people with the same name in a given community, and the phenomenon of Anglicizing names when people migrated will all be taken into account.

Optional Print Course Material: German: Compiled Sources

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

German genealogical research should include a careful and detailed review of “compiled sources.” Compiled sources are simply defined as the findings of previous researchers. Today they exist as personal websites, online family trees, genealogical articles in periodicals, book-length family histories, genealogical compendia, and even as manuscript collections. What is surprising to most researchers is that these types of records exist for German families. What is perhaps even more unexpected is that there are millions of Germans and their families named in such records. Moreover, many are reasonably well-indexed, and not all that difficult to access, even for researchers who don’t read German well. 

In this course we will explore various compiled sources including Collections and Databases, Family Histories and Bibliographies, Lineage Books, Periodicals, Biographical and Local Sources. 

Course Length: 7 weeks

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Understanding Ireland, History and Source Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

In no country, more than Ireland, is it imperative that one understands some of the local history, past machination of records, and knowledge of what source records have been created versus what is available. 

This course will discuss the importance of preliminary research in one’s home country and then provide a brief history of Ireland which is useful, if not imperative, in understanding the nature and value of record sources within Ireland. From here, the discussion will be what genealogical records can tell us, with brief overviews of the administrative (civil and ecclesiastical) divisions within the island, and a discussion on Irish place names and family names. 

The course will conclude with a brief discussion on the types of records available for research in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Eire), the importance of understanding maps for the region, and migration patterns. 

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Archival Repositories

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

This course presents an overview of the archival and repository centres throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for conducting Irish research. Emphasis is on available records and those held by FamilySearch and other repositories.

We discuss the types of records available at various repositories, their availability, and how to access the source records, online and on-site.

This course builds on preliminary content discussed in the Irish: Understanding Ireland, History and Source Records course.

Optional Course Print Material: Irish: Census and Census Substitute Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

The loss of historical census records for Ireland has been devastating. Many censuses still exist; however, they are neither comprehensive nor fully extant. 

This course discusses the importance of census records and their availability for locality and time period. Also discussed are the various census forms and census substitutes (1630-present) which exist for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Various government surveys—of land and people—which act as census substitutes in the absence of censuses are included.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Religious Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

The course examines the differences between the various forms of church (parish) records in Ireland and in particular between the Roman Catholic Church, to which the vast majority of Irish people belonged, and the conformist records of the Church of Ireland. Which was the official state church until 1869. Different time periods will be covered in relation to:

• historical backgrounds
• content of records
• availability of/access to records
• effective research procedures.

We will also touch on the extensive collection of marriage licenses (1623-1866) and comment on their historical background, contents, value, and availability to researchers.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Conformist and Non-Conformist Church Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

The course examines the differences between the various forms of church (parish) records in Ireland and in particular between the conformist records of the Church of Ireland and those ecclesiastical institutions which did not conform to the standards of the day. 

We will discuss time periods, historical backgrounds, contents of records, availability of records, access to these important record collections, and effective research procedures. Emphasis will be primarily on pre-1864 research problems in Ireland where parish registers should be used as major sources of information. These contain vital genealogical elements such as baptism/christening, marriage and death/burial entries. When used with records such as wills and deeds, parish registers can help build fairly complete family groupings. 

We will also touch on the extensive collection of marriage licenses (1629-1864) and comment on their historical background, contents, value, and availability to researchers.

Course Length: 7 weeks

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Civil Registration Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Life events (birth, death, and marriage) became vital source records for genealogists with the implementation of civil registration. In Ireland, due to political issues, civil registration began in two stages. This course will discuss civil birth, marriage, and death records from 1864 and non-Catholic/secular marriage records from April 1845.

In addition, the course discusses the contents, availability, how the documentation changed over time, the limitations and advantages of civil vital records, and effective research strategies for using this record type.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Civil Registration

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

One of the most important source records that most genealogists use, but often concentrate too heavily on, are the vital records created upon introduction of civil registration in search countries. In Ireland this happened at two different times depending upon the type of record and the ecclesiastical division. The course will discuss civil registered record types of birth, marriage and death in post-1863 Ireland and Protestant marriage records which begin from 1845. 

In addition, the course will discuss the contents of these records, their availability, how the information documented has changed over time, the limitations and advantages of civil vital records, and effective research strategies for using this record type.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Land Administration Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Often genealogists get frustrated with land and deed records because of the difficulty in their access and use. In addition, they fail to understand their indirect overall significance which is one of correlating and connecting members of family groups, pre-emigration identity, as well as parentage and origins of the emigrant. This course discusses these issues and others of value primarily from 1708 in Ireland, the historical background of land tenure, the general contents of these records and their availability, as well as strategies for effectively researching and accessing this record collection and some wonderful collections that precede 1708 dating from as early as the 12th century. 

Many of the sources referenced are available through FamilySearch. If you are not already familiar with the FamilySearch website or the FamilySearch Catalog, it is suggested that you become so as a great deal of your success with your research will be dependent upon use of their collections.  

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Major Printed Sources

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Printed sources can be contemporary to the period documented and often more reliable than later secondary sources for the same period. However, few are indexed and there tend to be large periods where even the printed sources themselves are not available. In Ireland, where many of the records have been destroyed or lost, what have survived are sporadic and incomplete. Contemporary-period printed sources by way of newspapers, directories, journals and local histories, occupational and society records often help establish human life events that may not be documented anywhere else. This course will discuss these printed sources available, information contained and their value, the challenges in accessing or using these records, locating source records, and discussing available bibliographies, indexes, and abstracts. 

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Monumental (Gravestone) Inscriptions

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

An excellent record source that connects major life events of birth and death to known and unknown family members is transcriptions of tombstones or what are more globally known at ''monumental inscriptions'' and in Ireland, ''memorials of the dead''.  They often provide the only clues as to births and deaths of family members as they precede or out-survive other forms of primary and secondary source information. 

The course will discuss the value of these records, the time periods of their existence and use, an important review of the contents found in them as well as a discussion on their availability and access to them in, and outside of, Ireland.  In addition, we will seek to discuss and uncover some of the more indirect elements of monumental inscription understanding.  Several examples will be examined.  A case study will also be presented.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Testamentary Source Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Probably no record group is more important to pre-civil registration research in a country than wills and estate administrations. More than any other record, wills can provide both ancestral and descendant accounts of family groupings. In Ireland we tend to see less documentation than in other countries due to the way personal and moveable property descended over time.

This course addresses this record group, both pre-1858 before the system of administration changed, and post-1858 to the present date. We will discuss the value of these records during both these time periods, historical background to their development, examine the contents and availability of the records in both periods, and research strategies for these collections. 

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Court Records, State Papers, Parliamentary Documents

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

In the advanced level of the Irish Certificate, we examine some of the record collections that the genealogical detail in them is often difficult to locate. These documents are also harder to locate. More often they're not indexed, abstracted, or available to the public. However, information found will be direct and often provide good primary evidence of facts on subjects and events in periods where few other genealogical records survive. Seldom discussed by genealogists because they are so misunderstood and difficult to research, This course will provide you with an understanding of the importance of court, state, and parliamentary records for genealogical research. The one apparent note with this collection is that, unlike, many other genealogical sources, court/state/parliamentary records cover almost the entire period of late Irish history from the 12th century (in general) to the present.

Like, electoral and taxation sources, however, these record collections can supply, particularly for pre-1850 Ireland, some of the best pointers on periods of presence and locality, as well as indications of social strata, details on occupations, residences, physical descriptions, and family relationships or family structures.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Electoral and Taxation Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

A series of source records that tend to be less consulted are electoral, poll, and tithe records. In Ireland these comprise voters registers, hearth money rolls, poll tax rolls, land tithes, and subsidy rolls as well as many other taxation methods. The collection falls under two distinct series, each of which varies by period, and both of which will be discussed in this course.  Though they tend to be less informative than some of the other record groups, electoral and taxation records establish presence, among other details, in a period where few other records exist by which to do so. In addition, we discuss records of public office, freemen, and freeholders. Understanding these records is imperative to pre-1700 research in Ireland. The course covers the value and challenges of these records, contents, dates of coverage, types of persons included, access,  and brief lists of bibliographic and indexed sources. 

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Estate, Plantation and Settlement Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

We examine the record collection for Ireland unique to this country, and the entire United Kingdom, are estate records, plantation documents, and settlement papers. They can be very difficult to use, however, hold original sources of information for periods that pre-date many of the later more customary genealogical source records.

This course provides an understanding of the importance of estate, plantation, and settlement papers when undertaking your genealogical research. 

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Immigration, Naturalization and Emigration Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

There are no complete records of emigration, immigration, or naturalization for Ireland. There are some collections of this information available from Irish record sources; however, the bulk of meaningful source material will more likely come from the receiving country or sending country than from Irish sources. In both cases, we examine the materials available involving the Irish, the time periods they cover, and access. It is often a sparse and scattered collection of records not easily investigated but can provide a wealth of information on ancestors and their subsequent residences or earlier origins.

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Military, Naval and Pension Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

The earliest records of a military and genealogical nature are contained in the ancient and medieval Annals of Ireland and other Gaelic manuscripts. These as well as later printed source materials provide valuable lists of officers and soldiers in local forces, accounts of military activity including officer personnel, local incidents and names of rebellious persons, the various records often accompanied with biographical and genealogical notes. We discuss these records, their value, some historical background, and their availability. Included: important pension records with documented places of residence, birth, parentage, marriage, and children. There were civil and military pensions granted in Ireland. We conclude with a look at the Irish and Royal Irish Constabulary records.

NOTE: This course requires compulsory materials to be ordered. 

The book, “Finding Your Italian Ancestors – A Beginner’s Guide” by Suzanne Russo Adams, AG is available at GenealogyStore.com

Optional Course Print Material: Italian: Introduction to Research Outside of Italy

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

So you want to research your Italian ancestors! Welcome to a fascinating type of genealogical research. Italians have contributed to all aspects of life in the countries they immigrated to. Our Italian ancestors often came poor and destitute, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Hard work and placing great value on family helped them to excel within their new countries, providing not only a better life for themselves but also for their descendants.

This course will provide you with a solid foundation on which to begin your research. We will discuss, amongst other things: what resources, mainly U.S. and Canadian, can help you begin your research; what Italian records are available and the historical considerations in their creation; where and how these records can be accessed; record collections available on microfilm or digitally and how to use them; language resources; tips that will help you as your research progresses; ordering documents from Italy.

NOTE: This course is a prerequisite to all other Italian courses except for the Research: Italian Ancestors course. 

Course Length: 7 weeks