Katherine brings together a love of genealogy, a deep knowledge of history, and practical, creative strategies that keep audiences engaged from start to finish. She offers both virtual and in-person presentations for societies and organizations, and each session includes handouts and clear take-away tools to help participants continue their own research with confidence. To schedule a presentation for your group, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Fees

In-person and virtual presentations, typically 50 to 70 minutes, are $250 plus travel expenses. Travel costs may include mileage at the IRS rate or airfare, transportation to and from the airport, airport parking, hotel lodging, and meals at the IRS per diem rate.

Recordings

Presentations may be recorded by the hosting organization for an additional $100. Recordings must be stored securely, either on a password-protected site or on YouTube as an unlisted video accessible only by direct link. They must not be publicly searchable or listed on the organization’s channel. All recordings must be deleted after 90 days.

America at 250

America’s Story: Opportunity, Diversity, and Belonging Across 250 Years – As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, take a fresh look at how early families pursued opportunity while navigating barriers and conflict. Explore the experiences of pilgrims and westward settlers, Native communities, immigrants, and free and enslaved Black Americans as the country grew and changed. Follow the turning points that reshaped the United States, from westward expansion and Native displacement to the rise of free Black communities and the immigration waves of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Consider how the stories our families preserved (or never told) helped shape both the country and the lives we’ve inherited.

America’s Westward Expansion

America’s Westward Expansion: 25 Events in 60 Minutes – As the young United States pushed westward, the nation wrestled with questions about land, power, and who had the right to shape its future. Follow the major events that drove this expansion from 1787 to 1890, fueling ambition and conflict, reshaping federal law, transforming settlement patterns, and opening doors for some while bringing displacement and injustice to Native peoples, Mexicans, Mormons, and the enslaved.

Charting the Future: How the Northwest Ordinance, Louisiana Purchase, & Lewis & Clark Shaped America’s Westward Expansion – The Northwest Ordinance laid out a plan for orderly settlement and new states, the Louisiana Purchase doubled the nation’s size overnight, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition turned unknown territory into a map people could imagine living in. Explore how vision, exploration, and federal policy came together to shape the frontier and set the country on its path toward becoming a continental nation.

Slavery & the Struggle for the West: How Compromise & Conflict Shaped American Expansion – As the nation pushed west, each new territory set off intense debates over slavery and political power. Explore how Manifest Destiny collided with rising national tensions, from the fragile balance of the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to the high-pressure negotiations of the Compromise of 1850 and the turmoil unleashed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.

Fortunes & Failures: Gold Rush Migrations & the Shaping of Western Settlements – From glittering dreams to gritty realities, follow the turbulent journeys sparked by three pivotal gold rushes: 1848’s California Gold Rush, 1858’s Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, and 1874’s Black Hills Gold Rush. Discover how the lure of gold reshaped landscapes and economies, and follow the lives of those who chased the promise of prosperity and those caught in its wake.

Expanding Borders & Bridging Distances: Newspapers, the Pony Express, the Telegraph, & the Transcontinental Railroad – As the United States pushed westward, the country needed faster and more reliable ways to stay connected. Explore how newspapers, the Pony Express, the telegraph, and the transcontinental railroad changed how information moved, linked far-flung communities, and helped shrink the continent in people’s minds. Hear how these innovations shaped public opinion and laid the groundwork for a more connected national identity during a time of rapid growth.

Paper Trails: Tracing the Travelers & Service Providers of the West – Explore the lives of the travelers and service providers who kept the West moving but often stayed out of the spotlight. Learn how to trace cowboys, Harvey Girls, midwives, preachers, sex workers, and others whose work shaped frontier communities. Hear practical strategies for finding them in both online and on-site collections and for bringing their overlooked stories into clearer view.

Social Reform Movements

19th & 20th Century Social Reform Movements in the U.S. – As the United States grew and changed, so did the debates over who had power, who had rights, and what kind of nation people wanted to build. Trace a century of American reform, from revival-inspired activism in the early 1800s to labor battles, suffrage campaigns, conservation efforts, civil rights organizing, and the exclusionary movements that sought to limit who belonged. Discover why these movements emerged, how they mobilized supporters, and the ways they reshaped everyday life in communities across the nation.

Fighting for Fairness: The Labor Rights Movement, 1830s–1920s – As industrialization swept across the United States, workplaces grew larger, harsher, and more demanding, pushing workers to question what protections they deserved. Explore how the American labor movement grew from early organizing in the 1830s to the major strikes and union battles of the early twentieth century. Hear the stories of workers and organizers who pushed back against long hours, low pay, and dangerous conditions, and fought to improve labor practices across American industries, including textiles, mining, railroads, shipping, logging, and steel.

Reforming the Forgotten: Prison & Asylum Reform, 1830s–1850s – As the nation’s social problems became harder to ignore, Americans began to question how their most vulnerable people were treated behind closed doors. Follow the rise of prison and asylum reform in the mid-nineteenth century, when advocates like Dorothea Dix exposed harsh conditions and pushed for more humane care. Hear the stories of people inside these institutions, the reformers who fought for their dignity, and the struggles that ended up reshaping the systems themselves.

Preserving the Land: The Conservation Movement, 1870s–1920s – As industries grew and open land vanished, many Americans began calling for the protection of the nation’s forests, rivers, and wild places. See how the conservation movement developed from the 1870s to the 1920s, shaped by voices like John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and Theodore Roosevelt, along with the workers who built and maintained early parks and forests. Hear how their efforts and disagreements helped shape the conservation systems the country relies on today.

Inside Settlement Houses: Reform Within the Neighborhood, 1880s–1920s – With cities swelling in the late 19th century, many immigrant neighborhoods faced overcrowded housing, low wages, and limited access to basic services. See how settlement houses stepped in, offering education, healthcare, childcare, and community support right where people lived. Meet the workers, residents, and neighbors who shaped these busy centers of reform and helped strengthen the communities around them.

Virtue or Control? 19th Century Moral Reform & Policing of Behavior – Growing social change in the 19th century left many Americans worried that traditional values were slipping away. Follow how moral reformers set out to police behavior they viewed as dangerous or improper, often targeting women, immigrants, and the poor. Hear how these campaigns shaped daily life, influenced local laws, and revealed deep tensions over who held the power to decide what counted as virtue.

Dangerous 19th Century Reforms Movements: Divide Rather Than Heal – Political and social tensions in the 19th century fueled campaigns that claimed to improve society but often worked to exclude and divide. These efforts targeted people outside Protestant middle-class norms, including immigrant and working-class communities, Native and Black Americans, people with disabilities, activists who challenged authority, and those who defied expected gender or sexual roles. See how these movements shaped public attitudes and exposed deep fears about who truly belonged in the nation.

The Link Between Anti-Immigration Sentiment, Prohibition, The Mafia, and the U.S. Border Patrol – As America moved into the early 20th century, worries about immigrants and their foreign influence shaped plenty of public opinion and new laws. During World War I, suspicion toward German Americans helped build support for Prohibition. Once alcohol was banned, smuggling took off, giving organized crime a major boost. Federal officials responded by shifting their border agencies from collecting taxes to trying to control what crossed into the country. Hear how anti-immigrant sentiment, Prohibition, the rise of the mafia, and the early U.S. Border Patrol all became connected in ways that changed life for many throughout America.

General History

American Experiences of 19^th and 20^th Century Financial Crises –As the U.S, economy shifted, financial panics regularly upended daily life. Look at what triggered the major crises of the 19th & early 20th centuries, how they affected towns and cities, and the ways ordinary families felt the strain. See how job losses, bank failures, and sudden downturns changed people’s plans, reshaped communities, and sometimes pushed families to move in search of stability or opportunity.

American Experiences of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic – The 1918 influenza pandemic swept across the globe, touching nearly every household and community in America. Follow the timeline of how the virus spread, how people tried to cope, and how everyday life changed in ways large and small. Hear about the direct losses families faced, the quieter ripple effects that followed, and the challenges communities confronted as they tried to recover and move forward.

Select New Deal Programs of the 1930s –As the Great Depression strained families and communities across the country, the federal government launched an ambitious set of programs to ease hardship and rebuild the economy. Take a look at how the New Deal took shape and how major initiatives like the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Federal Emergency Relief Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Farm Security Administration tried to put people back to work and stabilize daily life. Hear about the resulting records and how these programs affected individuals and families, leaving a a lasting mark on the communities they aimed to support.

Michigan History & Genealogy

Pioneering Families of the 1820s and 1830s into Wayne County, Michigan Territory – Explore two compelling case studies of unrelated New York families who migrated to the Michigan Territory and became pioneers of pre-statehood townships. This presentation delves into the methodology for uncovering elusive pre-statehood records, interpreting scarce clues, and resolving conflicting evidence to trace and confirm family relationships.

And There I Take My Stand: Women’s Suffrage in Michigan –As women across the nation pushed for equal political rights, they faced legal barriers, social pressure, and a long uphill fight to claim a voice in public life. Follow the national timeline that shaped the suffrage movement, then turn to Michigan, where local advocates, organizing drives, and hard-won victories helped move the state toward change. Explore the online and offline sources that reveal this history and shed light on the women who helped secure the vote.

Ohio History

Exploring Ohio’s Role in America’s Westward Expansion (1787-1890) – As the United States pushed west, Ohio became a crossroads of conflict, migration, and opportunity. Trace the key events that shaped the region, from the Northwest Ordinance and the creation of the Northwest Territory to the movement of soldiers, settlers, Native peoples, and formerly enslaved African Americans. Follow the routes that defined this period, including the Ohio River, Zane’s Trace, and the pathways of the Underground Railroad.

Immigration

European Experiences of 19^th and 20^th Century Voyages to America – As millions of Europeans considered starting over across the Atlantic, leaving home meant giving up certainty for the unknown. Trace the choices they faced as they prepared to emigrate, and follow their path from village to port. Hear what the voyage was really like in steerage and what awaited them when they stepped into crowded arrival halls at places like Castle Garden and Ellis Island.

They Didn’t All Come Through Ellis Island: Finding & Analyzing U.S. Passenger Arrival Lists – Learn how to trace your ancestors’ journeys by looking at passenger lists from three key time periods and understanding what each can tell you. Explore the major European ports people left from, the American ports they arrived in, and the reasons they chose those routes. Get practical guidance for following an ancestral voyage and making better sense of the records it left behind.

1820s/1840s Irish Immigrants to Canada & America: 2 Case Studies – Gain powerful research techniques for tracing your own ancestors, regardless of ethnicities, with these two case studies of unrelated Irish immigrant families traveling in the 1820s and 1840s into Canada and the U.S.  These studies highlight the crucial role of cluster research in solving identity mysteries, demonstrate how family group sheets can guide you in exploring each family member’s story, and reveal the power of timelines in uncovering travel patterns. 

Google & Social Media

20 Google Search Tips & Google Resources for Genealogy – Learn how to make the most of Google’s tools for genealogy research. Explore tips for using Google Alerts, Books, Images, Maps, News, Translate, and YouTube, and see how advanced search features and search operators can help you find information more efficiently.

Using Social Media for Genealogy – Learn how social media can support your genealogy research. Explore the benefits of different platforms, pick up tips for finding and connecting with others, and get a clear look at privacy and notification settings. You’ll also see how Google searches can help uncover relevant social media posts you might otherwise miss.

Facebook’s 16,700+ Genealogy/History Pages & Groups – Learn how to use Facebook as a powerful genealogy tool by tapping into its thousands of regional and surname-specific genealogy and history pages and groups. Get tips for creating an account while protecting your privacy, reviewing your settings, and managing notifications so you can make the most of what Facebook has to offer without feeling overwhelmed.

Genealogy Methodology

Preserving Your Community’s Veterans’ Voices – Get practical guidance for organizing a community project to capture and preserve the stories of local veterans. Learn how to conduct meaningful interviews and collaborate with youth groups, scouting chapters, genealogical and historical societies, libraries, museums, and schools. Explore simple ways to safeguard these voices so they remain accessible for future generations. All proceeds from this presentation are donated to American Legion Post 557 in Dexter, Michigan.

Navigating the Historical & Genealogical Treasures Within Repositories: Libraries, Archives, & More – Discover how to identify the libraries, archives, and other repositories most likely to hold your ancestors’ stories. Make the most of what these institutions offer by learning practical ways to use finding aids and subject headings, and pick up clear strategies for navigating digital library sites and online collections. Please indicate which regional handout you prefer: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Ontario (Canada), or the entire Eastern Midwest.

Easily Citing Your Genealogical Sources: A Roadmap of Your Research – Properly citing genealogical sources strengthens your research, makes it easy to retrace your steps, helps you compare new findings with earlier work, and allows others to follow the exact paths that shaped your family history. Learn how simple citation can be and take the fear and frustration out of the process.

Introduction to DNA Tests for Family History – Get a clear introduction to DNA testing for family history. Learn the basics of genetic inheritance, the types of tests available, and the companies that offer them. Hear about common myths and key ethical considerations, and get a brief overview of how tools like GEDmatch can help you make sense of your results.

40+ Sources for Finding Maiden Names – Explore why many married women’s records don’t include a maiden name and what to keep in mind when searching for one. Take a look at the record types that often reveal maiden names or offer helpful clues, and see how the FAN Club approach and civic, sacred, and social records can expand your search. Get practical tips for using more than forty potential sources to uncover the maiden names of the women in your family tree.

150 Tips & Sources for Finding Ancestral Photos Online & Offline – Learn practical tips and strategies for finding ancestral photos both online and offline. Explore useful websites, search techniques, and ways to identify images you may have overlooked. Get guidance on locating living distant relatives and reaching out to them effectively, opening new doors to family pictures you may never have seen.

Reverse Genealogy: Locating Living Distant Relatives – Distant cousins may hold documents, heirlooms, and stories that can add depth to your family history. Learn about online tools for locating unknown relatives, strategies for identifying and contacting your Ancestry.com DNA matches, and practical tips for reaching out in ways that encourage meaningful conversations.

Genealogical Timelines, Research Checklists, and Correspondence Logs – Learn how timelines, research checklists, and correspondence logs can help break down brick walls and bring order to your genealogy work. See how timelines highlight gaps in your research, how checklists point you toward sources that might fill them, and how simple logs keep your progress organized and easy to revisit.

Seeking Dead People: Cemetery Research Online & In Person –Take a closer look at the history of cemeteries, the evolution of gravestone styles, and the types of records created around burials. Get practical tips for researching cemeteries both online and in person, and learn how to find burial records and gravestone photos that can add depth to your family history.

Our Ancestors’ Stories Found in State & Federal U.S. Censuses –Take a fresh look at the history of the U.S. census and how the information collected changed from 1790 to 1950. Compare what federal censuses reveal across the decades and see how state censuses and non-population schedules can add important details. Learn how these sources work together to create a fuller picture of your ancestors’ lives.

Finding Historic Newspaper Articles Online & Offline – Newspapers offer a valuable glimpse into our ancestors’ daily lives. Learn to identify the papers published in their time and place, track down both digitized and non-digitized editions, and use practical search strategies to more easily find ancestral stories. Note that presentations to Michigan organizations includes resources available through the Library of Michigan and Central Michigan University.

Naturalization: Rules, Records, and Repositories – Learn the basic steps immigrants followed to become U.S. citizens, the exceptions that sometimes applied, and the kinds of records created in different periods. Get a clear sense of what naturalization paperwork looks like and where these records can be found, both online and in local or regional repositories.

Introduction to Military Records Research – Learn how to figure out which major conflict an ancestor may have served in and where to look for the records tied to that service. Take a closer look at what was created before, during, and after military duty, and get a sense of what these records can reveal about a person’s life and experiences.

Using Maps in Genealogy – Maps do more than show locations; they help us understand how our ancestors lived and moved through their communities. They can place families in the right spot at the right time and bring new clues into focus. Learn about the map types most useful for genealogy and where to find them, both online and in local collections.

Resources for Genealogical Research in Other Countries – Explore the rewarding but sometimes tricky world of researching family history outside the United States. Learn how to find free resources and use practical strategies for tracing immigrant ancestors, from sorting out name changes and spelling variations to understanding foreign records and dealing with shifting borders and place names.

Records of New York City’s Emigrant Savings Bank – Learn how New York City’s Emigrant Savings Bank came to serve a wide mix of account holders beginning in the mid-1800s. Discover the detailed genealogical information these records contain for both immigrants and native-born Americans, where to find the material online or offline, and what to do next once you’ve identified an ancestor in the collection.

Publishing Your Family History in Forms, Reports, or Books – Learn practical ways to turn your family history research into clear, well-organized documents or engaging books that relatives will want to keep. Explore helpful tools and strategies for shaping your data into reports, narratives, and other formats that bring your family’s story to life.

Top 10 Dos & Don’ts for Preserving Family Memorabilia – Family treasures tell powerful stories, but only if they survive the years. Learn how to care for photos, heirlooms, textiles, audio recordings, and digital files so they can be passed on safely. Explore the best and worst materials, methods, and storage locations to help your keepsakes last for future generations.

Beginning Genealogy

How to Begin Researching Your Family Tree –Learn the basics of building a family tree, including how to use common charts and forms and where to find key genealogical records both online and offline. Get step-by-step guidance on using FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com Library Edition, and pick up practical tips for researching your family history more efficiently.

Exploring the Features of FamilySearch.org – Explore the many resources on FamilySearch.org, the world’s largest free genealogy website with digitized records and books from around the globe. Get to know the free educational tools available through the Learning Center and wikis, take a clear look at the strengths and weaknesses of the FamilySearch online family tree, and hear how the site compares with Ancestry.com.

Exploring the Free Features of Ancestry.com – See what you can do on Ancestry.com without a paid subscription. Learn how to start an online family tree, use the message boards, watch educational videos through Ancestry Academy, and access records through Ancestry Library Edition. Note that Ancestry DNA tests and tools are not included in this session but can be added with an additional 20 minutes of presentation time and an additional $100 fee.

125+ Free Sources for Filling Out Your Family Tree –Discover useful free tools and strategies for researching your family history. Explore genealogy charts and forms, family interview questions, and practical techniques for finding information both online and offline. See how to access key U.S. records, use Google more effectively for genealogy, and tap into free learning opportunities through webinars, podcasts, and blogs. Note that presentations to Michigan organizations also highlight resources available through the Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan.