Family Research Studies: Genealogy I
Monterey Peninsula College is one of the only two higher education institutions that offers online courses in Genealogy.
LIBR 60 is a 3 unit class that will teach you :
- Family historical research methods
- Basic Internet and Library Sources
- Locating families
- Preserving family materials
- Creating a family history archival notebook
Quotes from students who took LIBR 60 in Fall 2005:
"One reason I took this class was, as I put on my student Homepage
"Recently a relative died (one of my father's sisters)who was the last of the family, as far as we know. She had no other known relatives, and she left a tiny amount of money (about enough to pay for registering in this class!) to my brother, sister and me. When the attorney contacted my brother, he apparently sent him some information about relatives we had never heard of...and that, combined with the fact that I had never met the aunt who died, made me curious enough to enroll in this course! "
Well, some unknown relative claimed that money so I never even got enough to cover the course registration! But what amazes me is that the attorney's office gave my brother the family genealogy (or their version of it) and my brother sent me a copy. Even with my fumbling and stumbling and bumbling along, I have found tons more than they did...I sure hope my brother didn't PAY that guy anything.
"I still can't believe how easy it is to look up info when you KNOW where to go. I'm not saying it is easy to FIND info, only that it is easier after this class. TB"
"Wow, I found loads of information on my great-great grandfather Theophilus by following
your suggestion and jumping into that genealogy site. His name came up on 11 different homepages! Thanks for the info! I definitley seem to be finding so much out about my ancestors lately that I'm almost overwhelmed. Focalizing the search is definitely a must, as is taking down every little bit of information you come across!" MB
"I am curious as to how you learned about the class etc. In other words, how is a New York City person enrolled in a class at a college in Monterey, CA?"
"A few months ago, I was starting to wonder about what it might take to become a
professional genealogist. I'm not sure I want to take that route, but I was curious
enough to find out. So I found a book on Amazon.com called "Becoming a Professional
Genealogist" that just happened to be written by Karen Clifford. It terrified me. I had
been incredibly naive about what it would take. But it also excited me, because it gave
me a glimpse at the sources and methods available to me that I had never used.
So I started looking around for a class, again online. There was absolutely nothing local.
Then I stumbled across this course and saw that Karen was teaching it and that there
was a series of classes that combined would provide me with a solid foundation if I
wanted to go further. So that's pretty much it, and here I am. From all the way over
here." AG
"I think having students in this class post hompages is a really cool way to get to know
each other. Especially since we will never be in a classroom together and see each other
face to face." KS
For more information please go to www.mpc.edu/karen_clifford.