Beyond the Family Tree: Exploring Genealogy Through Social History - October 2026

October 27, 2026 3PM EDT Don't just trace your ancestors. Understand them. Genealogy is more than gathering names and dates—it is about uncovering the lives of the people behind the records. This course bridges genealogy and social history, showing you how to connect individual family stories to the political, economic, and cultural forces that shaped everyday life. This live, three-hour session is designed to immerse you in a hands-on learning experience. Led by genealogy expert Gena Philibert-Ortega you’ll benefit from: Expert Guidance: Learn directly from a renowned genealogy professional. Practical Handouts: Access downloadable resources to enhance your learning. Q&A: Get your questions answered during the live session and through our exclusive online forum for one week, ensuring all your questions are answered and you receive personalized guidance as you apply what you've learned. What You’ll Learn: Define Social History: Master the core concepts of social history—what it includes, what it leaves out, and why it matters to your research. Bridge Genealogy and History: Connect your family tree to broader historical trends, letting individual stories illuminate the past. Master Historical Context: Place your ancestors in their true world by examining the political, economic, religious, and cultural forces of their time. Uncover Hidden Sources: Look beyond standard records to find archives that bring depth and color to an ancestor’s life story. Reconstruct Everyday Lives: Paint a vivid picture of individuals and families using factors like class, occupation, gender, race, migration, and community. Write Compelling Narratives: Combine hard data with rich social context to craft family histories that captivate anyone—not just relatives. By the end of this course you'll be able to: Define and apply social history to your genealogical research, understanding its core boundaries and scope. Bridge family history with broader historical trends, using individual ancestral stories to illuminate the past. Contextualize your ancestors' lives by examining the political, economic, cultural, and religious forces of their eras. Uncover hidden archival sources beyond standard records to add depth and detail to your research. Reconstruct everyday lives using factors like class, occupation, gender, race, migration, religion, and community. Craft compelling, historically grounded narratives that combine genealogical data with social context to engage any reader. Experience Interactive Learning with an Expert Gena Philibert-Ortega holds a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s degree in Religion. Presenting on various subjects involving genealogy, women’s studies, and social history, Gena has spoken to groups throughout the United States and virtually to audiences worldwide. Gena is the author of hundreds of articles published online and in print. Her books include Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra (Arcadia Publishing, 2007) and From the Family Kitchen (F+W Media, 2012). Her current research interests include social history, community cookbooks, signature quilts, and researching women’s lives.