ROOTS & BRANCHES

It’s likely the case that pretty much any field of endeavor looks more complicated when you analyze it more closely, whether it’s something done strictly as a profession like medicine—or something like genealogy, whose practitioners span a gamut from hobbyist to researcher-for-hire.

I recall one instance some dozen years ago when I was in the Match.com dating world and I told a date that I’d be going to a four-day conference on genealogy and she replied, “Wait, you mean there’s more than one lecture on that?” (Pro tip: Not the type of question to ask if you want a second date)

Michael Lacopo, a nationally renowned speaker with a specialty in German-speaking peoples, will be featured at the Heinz History Center’s first German Genealogy Workshop from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 30.

Lacopo, a former veterinarian, has a reputation for combining deep knowledge along with an entertaining lecture style and is known for his blog “Hooiser Daddy” that has explored his own roots, including cutting-edge uses of DNA technology for family history.

The lecture topics for the in-depth, hands-on Pittsburgh workshop have been crafted to benefit beginners and seasoned genealogists alike. This workshop will examine a multitude of historic records and electronic resources that will advance your German genealogy research.

Lacopo’s workshop presentations break down the larger topic of German genealogy research into pieces both basic and way beyond it.

His “Methods for Identifying the German Origins of American Immigrants” covers what is often the specialty’s most difficult task, made only more complicated but the garbling of European village names through the prism of language changes and time.

With the “Finding and Using German Church Records,” Lacopo details the most important record group—what the late German genealogy scholar John T. Humphrey called “the heart and soul” of German genealogy.

In “German Genealogy on the Internet: Beyond the Basics,” Lacopo shows a lot of specialty websites that can help with research on both sides of the Atlantic.

Finally, the presentation “Pennsylvania German Social History: Furthering Research by Understanding Your Ancestors” will take the participants beyond just names and dates.

In addition to Lacopo, representatives from local archives, libraries, genealogical societies, and heritage organizations will also be on hand to share insights and best practices with workshop attendees.

Space is limited and advanced registration is mandatory. For more information, and to register, please visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org/events. The workshop costs $40 for general registration, $30 for members

The Heinz History Center is at 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222; phone, (412) 454-6000.

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Happy Memorial Day weekend! Have you honored an ancestor today?