Military Lectures
Confederate Raiders in Maine: The Capture & Destruction of the Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing:
During the early morning hours of Saturday, June 27, 1863the Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing was hijacked from her homeport in Portland, Maine by Confederate privateers under the command of Lt. Charles W. Read. She was under full sail about twelve miles off the coast of Maine, when quickly intercepted by pursuing federal authorities. Read, who was not able to dodge his pursuers, chose to set fire to his prize and surrender. In her final moments, the Caleb Cushing blew apart from the resulting magazine explosion and slid quickly beneath the waves. The story of the Caleb Cushing is an appealing narrative, complete with all the key ingredients of a great story. It has elements of suspense, danger, and intrigue with traces of brazenness added for good measure. It is the story about the only Revenue Cutter to be captured and destroyed during the Civil War, and the men who served on the cutter in the many months prior to her destruction.
Doughboys: Researching your World War I Ancestors:
When the United States entered World War I in 1917-this country had recently moved from an emerging power to a world power. Researching your WWI ancestors has proven to be a challenge since the 1973 fire in St. Louis, Missouri affected so many primary textural records. By examining many other previously unknown resources finding your military ancestor can be done more effectively-and will fill in gaps on your family history.
Free Trade and Sailors Rights: Genealogical Research in the War of 1812:
2012 marks the bicentennial celebration of this conflict and our second domestic conflict with England. Discovering genealogical record of the War of 1812 can be very rewarding-as researchers learn little known facts about their ancestors that helped shape our nation. Records from the National Archives and many other area resources are examined in detail.
From The Halls of Montezuma: Mexican War Genealogical Research:
Mexican War Period Impression
Discover how to research your Mexican War ancestors-as you delve into a page of history that has been often overlooked by genealogists. Get a new look at an old conflict as it is examined from a living history perspective. Records from the National Archives and other useful sources are examined in addition to regional and local records. Some of these records would include Compiled Service Records, Pensions, and Bounty Land applications among many other record types.
Semper Paratus: Genealogical Resesarch in the U.S. Coast Guard:
The Revenue Cutter Service, the oldest active seagoing service in the United States can trace their origins to an act of Congress that became law on August 4, 1790 that authorized the Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton to fit out cutters to be employed for protection of revenue. Originally called the Revenue Cutter Service (or Revenue Marines) they were first envisioned as a force of revenue tax collectors, their ability to conduct many diverse missions, some simultaneously, during both peacetime and war became the hallmark of the service. Interestingly, one editor of the Army and Navy Journal in the November 26, 1864 issue not only recognized the value and potential of this unique organization, but also unknowingly predicted both the motto “Semper Paratus” and the future name of the Coast Guard intended for it in 1915 when this service officially became the U.S. Coast Guard. Discover your family members who may have served in this organization.
Researching Beyond Pearl Harbor: Examining your World War II Ancestors:
Discover genealogical information about your World War II family members or other relatives. Coupled with the losses of records in the monumental fire in St. Louis, Missouri in 1973 and strict privacy laws in place in many states-this lecture examines and focuses on new ways to reconstruct military service for you ancestors who served their country during the war including records of morning reports, missing air crew reports, and many other related records .
Researching your Civil War Ancestor: A Comprehensive Study:
Cedar Creek, VA Battlefield-2004 Reenactment
2011 marked the sesquicentennial of the United States greatest military conflict. Discover your ancestors that served on both sides of the American Civil War as well all the various military branches. These include the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and the Revenue Cutter Service and their Confederate counterparts. Numerous records are examined to get the most out of the many genealogical resources that are available to researchers today. This presentation is done is first person period impression.
Risking It All: Genealogical Research in the United States Life-Saving Service:
This unique organization has it roots traced back to the early part of the 19th Century. Although, not officially recognized as a service, it languished until 1871. By 1874, numerous stations were added along the coast of Maine, Massachusetts, and later along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The following year, additional stations were added to serve the Great Lakes. In 1878, the network of life saving stations were formally organized as a separate agency of the United States Department of the Treasury, officially being called the Live-Saving Service. Discover your ancestors who served with this elite group of seafaring rescuers.
Roosevelt’s Tree Army: Genealogy Resources in the Civilian Conservation Corps:
Tens of thousands of young men came together to serve in the vanguard of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program. Discover some of your ancestors who may have worked and served with the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1933 to 1942. The New Deal era in American History has many great resources that have been untapped for years, and seldom used by genealogists and family historians.
That Splendid Little War: Genealogy Research in the Spanish-American War:
The Spanish-American war was a turning point in the history of the United States and transformed the United States from a developing nation into a global power. Discover your ancestors that served in this conflict and those of the Boxer Rebellion (1900) and the Philippine Insurrection (1902-1916) as many different military records are examined to aid in researching your ancestors.
Uniforms, Medals, and Memorabilia: Military Resources Discovered
This lecture focuses on each of the military branches, including the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard in discovering the uniform regulations, and medals associated with each branch, along with memorabilia such as broadsides, and other great resources. Additionally, the records from the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the Lighthouse Service are examined to show information from lesser known organizations.
Mexican War Drill-Wilmington, NC in 2010
Mexican War Lecture-Wilmington, NC in 2010
