Speaker: Carolyn L. Whitton

Areas of focus or expertise:

  • I speak on both U.S. and German topics as outlined in the topics section. I’ve placed my most recent and preferred topics at the top of each list.

Email contact: whittoncarolyn514@gmail.com

Web/social media: prefer direct email

Home: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Native language: English

Presentation language(s): English. I know some German; not enough to be comfortable speaking in that language.

Preferred presentation type: virtual and in-person

Travel preferences: Anywhere if travel is paid

Biography

Carol Whitton, a certified genealogist from 2008-2023, specializes in German genealogy and also speaks on U.S. genealogy. She has spoken at national, regional, and local genealogy conferences.

Currently she’s Project Director and German Special Interest Group Leader at St. Louis Genealogical Society. She graduated from Germanic Research Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Genealogical Institute on Federal Records, and Virginia Institute of Genealogical Research. Carol wrote articles for the NGS Quarterly and other genealogical publications.

She retired from a career as an international agricultural economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and two post-career years as a genealogist for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

In which societies are you a member? (U.S.) National Genealogical Society, St. Louis Genealogical Society, several other State and local societies.

Speaking experience/references

Speaking since 2000 on numerous topics, U.S. & German. In recent years:

  • Using German Newspapers 19/01/2022 StLGS GSIG
  • Use of DNA Testing in Genealogical Research 09/02/2022 Scottish Saint Andrew Society of Greater St. Louis
  • Writing and Reading Old German Handwriting workshop 27/04/2022 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference
  • Separating Same Name Ancestors with German Parish Records 28/04/2022 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference
  • Building a Family to Find a German Village in U.S. Records 29/04/2022 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference
  • Separating Same Name Germans 06/05/2022 Eastside GS (WA) GSIG
  • Records in the Courthouse 14/05/2022 StLGS spring conference
  • Ancestor’s Religions in the U.S. 19/07/2022 BCG Legacy Webinar
  • What’s in German Parish Records and How to Find Them. 17/09/2022 StLGS class
  • Using German Newspapers 04/11/2022 Eastside GS (WA) GSIG
  • Maps Answer German Research Questions 18/01/2023 StLGS GSIG
  • Each Ancestor Needs a Different Research Plan 04/02/2023 Olde Towne Fenton DAR
  • Using DNA in Genealogy–Basic 12/03/2023 Kirkwood Library
  • German Genealogy: What Do You Need to Know? 08/05/2023 Wabash Valley (IN) G. S.
  • Separating Same Name Germans with Only German Parish Records 10/06/2023 IGGP
  • Citations: You Hate Them, But Need Them! 19/08/2023 StLGS class
  • Finding An Ancestor with a German Farm Name or “Hofname” 17/01/2024 StLGS GSIG
    Genealogy: German Heritage in St. Louis 01/03/2024 Oasis St. Louis
  • German Genealogy Begins in the U.S! 6/29/2024 StLGS class
  • Finding An Ancestor with a German Farm Name or “Hofname” 09/05/2024 St. Clair (IL) G.S.
  • Overwhelmed by DNA Results? 9/14/2024 StLGS monthly meeting
  • Finding a German Parish and Online Parish Records 10/15/2024 Kentucky G.S.
  • Why Would You Want to Test Your DNA? 11/01/2024 Oasis St. Louis

Recording of previous presentation OR an IGGP partner you have presented for: Scroll down and look for my name at: https://stlgs.org/education/classes/recorded-stlgs-classes and https://stlgs.org/about-us-2/sigs-and-special-programs/german-special-interest-group-2 . Partners are also listed in the above list of recent presentations.

Payment/expense arrangements

How do you approach payment for making a presentation? I am willing to negotiate a speaking fee with clients.

Other expenses you would like to have reimbursed if you travel? Plane flights and hotel.

Recordings/additional materials

Are you willing to prepare a handout? Yes

Would you be willing to develop a presentation on another topic? Yes

Do you have any restrictions on recording, re-use of recordings, handouts, etc? I’d prefer to limit online recordings to at most 3 months or 90 days, but am willing to negotiate.

Are you willing to have the presentation translated or translate it yourself? Yes

Presentation topics

All lectures in English. 

  • German Genealogy Begins in the U.S!  | Basic
  • Writing and Reading Old German Handwriting  | Basic
  • German Village Not Yet Found? Be Even More Thorough! | Intermediate
  • German Settlements in Missouri | All
  • German Heritage in St. Louis | All
  • Finding a German Parish and Online Parish Records | Intermediate
  • Maps Answer German Research Questions | Intermediate
  • Using German Newspapers | Intermediate
  • Separating Same Name Ancestors using German Parish Records | Intermediate
  • Finding An Ancestor with a German Farm Name or “Hofname” | Intermediate
  • Beyond Parish Records—Other Useful German Records | Intermediate
  • Locating the Correct German Archives | Intermediate
  • Researching Pre-1800 U.S. Germans  | Basic
  • Effectively Using the German Site Compgen.de  | Basic
  • Using Archion and Matricula  | Basic
  • Using and Understanding the German Gazetteer Meyers Orts-Lexikon  | Basic
  • Resources for German Genealogical Research  | Basic
  • Overwhelmed by DNA Results? What to do! | Intermediate
  • Using DNA in Genealogy  | Basic
  • Citations: You Hate Them, But Need Them!  | Basic
  • Ancestor’s Religions in the U.S. | Intermediate
  • Migration from the U.S. East to the Midwest | Intermediate
  • Records in the Courthouse  | Basic
  • U.S. Land Records  | Basic
  • Using Library of Congress Maps in Genealogy  | Basic
  • Using PERSI, the Index to Genealogical Journal Articles | Intermediate
  • Evaluating Records, A Critical Genealogical Skill | Intermediate
  • Genealogy—The Basics  | Basic
  • Exhausting U.S. Records; Being Thorough | Intermediate
  • Each Ancestor Needs a Different Research Plan | Intermediate
  • Managing Family Data  | Basic
  • Immigration and Naturalization  | Basic
  • U.S. Military Records  | Basic
  • Adding Citations on Electronic Images  | Basic
    Paleography: Interpreting Early American Handwriting  | Basic
  • Following Census Clues  | Basic
  • Effectively Using the FamilySearch Library’s Website  | Basic
    Effectively Using Ancestry  | Basic
  • Using Fold3  | Basic
  • Using Newspapers.com  | Basic
  • Lineage Society Applications  | Basic
  • Using Excel to Organize Your Genealogy  | Basic