Texas Institute of Genealogical Research Slated June 13-18—Virtually

Are you ready to take your genealogy research to the next level? The bi-annual Texas Institute of Genealogical Research, TIGR, is for you! TIGR is a unique five-day learning experience offered to address a critical need for genealogists encountering complex challenges when researching ancestors from Texas, the Southwest and beyond. Promoting learning in an instructional classroom atmosphere, course coordinators and instructors lead students through a progression of topics on the same subject. TIGR combines a hands-on learning experience throughout the week along with great discussions with your instructors and classmates to enhance attendees’ understanding.

The TIGR 2021 curriculum offers changes to previous courses and adds new topics. The Texas course expands to include early Texas Republic research; Advanced Southern Research adds western expansion and more to its previous offering; and two new courses are added: African Americans in the South and DNA Fundamentals.

• From Spanish Rule to Republic: Research in the Lone Star State, coordinated by Kelvin L. Meyers and Colleen Robledo Greene,will provide a foundation for researching ancestors in pre-statehood Texas. Students will learn how to find and analyze key record collections from the Spanish, Mexican, and Republic eras, and gain an understanding of what life was like for their ancestors in those time periods.
• Advanced Southern Research: Western Expansion and Families of the South, coordinated by J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA,focuses on the growing continent after the establishment of the United States and how families were affected throughout the South and beyond. Records will include transportation, industry and business, family Bibles, deeds, land surveys, land plats, manuscripts, church records, government documents, and more.
• African Americans in the South, coordinated by Ari Wilkins,will discuss common African American hurdles, examine genealogical sources and case studies pertinent to African American research, and trace southern African Americans back into the Antebellum period.
• DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy, coordinated by Patti Lee Hobbs, CG,focuses on understanding, interpreting, and applying DNA test results in genealogy. Instructional sessions will build from basic principles of DNA inheritance of all types of DNA (Y and X chromosomes and mitochondrial and autosomal DNA) and how each can be used to advance genealogical research. The pros and cons of ethnicity percentages will be discussed, as will the limitations of DNA test results. Combining DNA with documentary research will be emphasized. Hands-on sessions will integrate problem solving with the use of tools, those provided by the testing companies as well as third parties such as DNA Painter, GED-match, and clustering. The Early Texans DNA Project will be highlighted as an example of a far-ranging DNA project that benefits many.

Join us for this virtual event and find ways to maximize your existing skills while learning new techniques to track down those elusive ancestors. Class sizes are limited; early bird pricing ends April 30. Learn more at txsgs.org/tigr2021.