Forgotten Records of Death - October 2026

October 21, 2026 3PM EDT Every Death Leaves a Trail Stuck on a genealogical brick wall? Traditional certificates and cemetery deeds only scratch the surface of your family's history. In this course you will learn about hidden archives to locate twelve rare documents—from court proceedings to beneficial society forms—that transform a simple date of death into a vivid portrait of your ancestor's life. This live, three-hour session is designed to immerse you in a hands-on learning experience. Led by genealogy expert Joy Neighbors, you’ll benefit from: Expert Guidance: Learn directly from a renowned genealogy professional. Practical Handouts: Access downloadable resources to enhance your learning. PLUS: All registrants recieve the digital, Cemetery Research Cheat Sheet. 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: Hunt Down the Hidden Files: Master the exact strategies and search paths to unearth elusive records that standard genealogy searches miss. Dive Deep into Twelve Rare Record Groups: Go beyond the basics with a detailed, hands-on exploration of each forgotten document type and what secrets it holds. Break Through Female Ancestor Walls: Discover proven, specialized techniques designed specifically to track down and reveal hard-to-find women in your family tree. Keep the Momentum Going: Walk away with actionable tips, repository insights, and research strategies to continue uncovering incredible family stories long after class ends. By the end of this course you'll be able to: Master Hidden Archives: Pinpoint exactly where to find twelve categories of elusive death-related records, transforming frustrating brick walls into breakthroughs. Uncover Secret Details: Know precisely what to look for—from specialized forms and notices to supporting documents that breathe life into your research. Know Who Holds the Keys: Discover which institutions, agencies, and officials maintain these rare files so you never waste time looking in the wrong place. Break Through Female Ancestor Brick Walls: Receive expert guidance and special strategies designed specifically to help you track down and uncover hard-to-find female ancestors in the records. Expand Your Research Toolkit: Explore underutilized libraries, specialized archives, and powerful online platforms to keep your genealogical journey going long after class ends. Ready to transform a simple date of death into a vivid portrait of your ancestor's life? Experience Interactive Learning with an Expert Joy Neighbors is a Tombstone Tourist with an avid interest in cemeteries, history, and genealogy. She’s the author of The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide, published by Penguin-Random House, and her book, Crown Hill Cemetery: The City on a Hill (Indianapolis Indiana), will be published in November by Sutton Publishing. Her book, Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum (Cincinnati Ohio) will be published in early 2026. She has written the cemetery culture blog, A Grave Interest, for 15 years, and speaks around the U.S. about cemetery research. Joy is also the editor for the Indiana Genealogical Society Quarterly Journal and works as Director of Communication with Cream of Kentucky Distilling. She resides in Louisville with her family. To learn more and schedule a presentation, visit her site, AGraveInterest.com.