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Tacoma-Pierce County

Genealogical Society

2019

Spring Seminar

Friday, April 26, 2019

6 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, April 27, 2019

9 am to 4 pm

Speaker Michael Lacopo

Emcee Cyndi Ingle

TPCGS 2019 Spring Seminar

Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M. Dr. Michael D. Lacopo was born and raised in northern Indiana surrounded by extended family

always willing to tell tall tales. Intrigued by his maternal family’s claim to be kinfolk of Abraham

Lincoln, and his paternal family’s stories of murder and mayhem, he took to genealogical research

in 1980 to substantiate these family stories. Genealogical research as a hobby was in its infancy

in the 1980s. Combing libraries, archives, cemeteries and courthouses as a teenager, Michael

gained the skills needed to become a keen researcher. His first major challenge in the world of

research was tackled by finding his adopted mother’s birthparents in 1982. You can read about this adventure at his blog at

Roots4U.blogspot.com with some engaging story- telling, plot twists and new findings!

Although a budding genealogist in the 1980s, Michael completed his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1991, while still

spending time honing his research skills. As befitting a doctor, Michael treats his genealogical research as he would medicine –

carefully, methodically and completely. Several genealogical journal articles and publications appeared along the way. In 2013,

Michael retired from his medical career to pursue genealogical research full-time as a profession. He has contributed to

numerous periodicals and has helped numerous people in their quests to locate their relatives – living and dead. He appeared in

USA Today in 2000 discussing genealogy and the proposed destruction of the federal census tabulated in that year. His national

lecturing began in Sacramento, CA, at the National Genealogical Society’s national conference in 2004, and has continued with

several local, state, national, and international conference speaking engagements to this present day. Michael's interests and

strengths include Mennonite research, German and Swiss research, especially as it pertains to the 18th century immigration to

America, DNA and genetic genealogy, among many other topics. He makes many trips throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest

states chasing ancestors in primary repositories, and also devotes a considerable amount of time to European research, being

proficient in reading German script. Having ancestors from many geographic locales as well as immigrants spanning the 17th

century to the 20th century, Michael has a wide variety of proficiencies. He believes that as genealogists we should tell the tales

of our ancestors and is a vocal proponent for learning the social history that interweaves our ancestors into the fabric of the past.

La Quinta Inn and Suites

1425 East 27th Street

Tacoma, Washington Meet Michael & Cyndi!

Friday Evening, April 26, 2019

6 pm to 8 pm — Dessert Buffet provided by LaQuinta @ $10 each

This is your chance to meet our speaker, Michael D. Lacopo, along with

Cyndi Ingle (creator of Cyndi’s List).

Michael will present the following topic:

TOP TEN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN OVER THREE DECADES OF

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH Join your speaker on a trip down Memory Lane and share his tales of serendipity, woe,

discovery, and frustration . . . with a touch of humor. Put away your notebooks and prepare to nod in agreement

at things only fellow genealogists would understand!

This event limited to first 75 registrants; Pre-registration required.

Cyndi Ingle

TPCGS Seminar Registration

Pl ease f i l l o ut a sep arat e fo rm fo r each at t end ee.

TPCGS Seminar c/o Karen Englund 575 SW View Dr

Port Orchard, WA 98367

Send check and the completed form above to:

*You must enclose an e-mail address or

an SASE to receive your confirmation!

Questions: jane_irish_nelson@yahoo.com

Name

Address

Make checks payable to: TPCGS

Phone

City State Zip + 4

Topics

This lecture will show the researcher that it is important to identify our ancestors’ whereabouts in as many

local records as possible. A lot can happen in ten years! If you don’t look harder, you won’t find them.

GERMAN GENEALOGY ON THE INTERNET: BEYOND THE BASICS

The Internet age has brought genealogy to our fingertips over the last two decades, and subsequently we can

find our German ancestors easier. But it still takes some digging and some know-how. This lecture will discuss

some online sites that all German genealogists should be aware of. American sites will be covered, but a strong

concentration on lesser used German sites will be discussed, as we are missing vital clues by not being truly

"international" in our Internet research endeavors!

Location

La Quinta Inn and Suites

1425 East 27th Street

Tacoma, Washington

I-5 Southbound: Exit 135—Portland Avenue

I-5 Northbound: Exit 135—Portland Avenue,

then turn left

A limited number of rooms will be available at a

special rate for seminar attendees. Call them at

(253) 383-0146 for more information. Please

reserve early!

Raffle Tickets

$1.00 tickets for sale at the door and during

breaks. A number of donated items will be

offered as prizes for this always popular activity.

Door Prizes

Attendees will be eligible for Door Prizes.

Must be present to win.

A list of the Raffle and Door Prizes will be posted

on the website.

Luncheon

Ports of Call Deli BuffetPorts of Call Deli Buffet

provided by LaQuinta: $15.00

Soup du jour, sliced lean roast beef, ham, and turkey, assorted domestic cheeses; Wheat, white, and sourdough bakery breads, assorted condiments, tossed green salad with dressings, red potato salad, and sliced seasonal fresh fruit, fresh baked cookies, fudge brownies, and assorted dessert squares.

E-mail Address

Registration

Members $40 — Non-Members $45

Postmarked by April 20, 2019

No mail-in or online registration after April 20th.

Day of Event add $5 late fee. Day of Event Payment by Cash, Check, or Credit Card.

Online registration via PayPal also available at

http://www.tpcgs.org/seminar.html

Schedule

Registration: 8:00 - 8:45 am

Opening Remarks by Cyndi Ingle: 9:00 am

Lectures Begin: 9:30 am

Lunch Break: 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Lectures Continue: 1:00 pm

Raffle Prizes & Wrap-Up: 3:30 pm

Price Total

Friday Evening $10

Saturday (Member) $40

Saturday (Non-Member) $45

Luncheon $15

Late Fee (Day of Event only) $5

Total:

MORE THAN THE CENSUS – OUR FAMILIES DID EXIST WITHIN THOSE TEN-YEAR INTERVALS!

INCORPORATING SOCIAL HISTORY INTO YOUR RESEARCH

Family history should be more than names and dates. What motivated our ancestors? Why did they migrate?

Who did they interact with? How do social customs of another era affect our research? Social history and its

bearing on genealogical research will be covered and a "must-read" bibliography for serious researchers will

be discussed.

"SHE CAME FROM NOWHERE . . ." - A CASE STUDY APPROACH TO A DIFFICULT GENEALOGICAL PROBLEM

This lecture illustrates the joys and pitfalls of Virginia research as well as employing a problem-solving

approach utilizing social history, female research and family analysis to identify the parents of Elizabeth Stith,

the ancestor “from nowhere.” One need not have Virginia ancestors to see the Genealogical Proof Standard at

work!

http://www.tpcgs.org/seminar.html