Find Your Ohio Roots

From its wild beginnings in the Northwest Territory to its evolution into the heart of the Midwest, Ohio holds a treasure trove of stories—and more than a few mysteries! Whether you’re just starting or you’ve hit a stubborn "brick wall," join Family Tree Magazine for a deep dive into the Buckeye State’s fascinating history.

This live, three-hour session is designed to immerse you in a hands-on learning experience. Led by genealogy expert and Family Tree Magazine Contributing Editor, Sunny Jane Morton you’ll benefit from:

• Expert Guidance: Learn directly from a renowned genealogy professional.
• Practical Handouts: Access downloadable resources to enhance your learning.
• PLUS - Registrants receive the digital Ohio State Research Guide ($9.99 value) FREE!

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

• Mapping the Timeline: Master the art of placing your ancestors within Ohio’s shifting historical landscape, from the early Northwest Territory days to full statehood.
• Finding Hidden Gems: Learn to identify specialized records specific to the era and county where your family lived, moving far beyond the basic census.
• Mastering the Archives: Gain a roadmap for hunting down elusive documents—including township records, tax lists, and local manuscripts—across a wide variety of digital and physical repositories.

By the end of this course you'll be able to:

• Utilize Religious Records: Locate and interpret the unique documentation left behind by the diverse religious groups that shaped Ohio’s early communities.
• Decipher Land Systems: Confidently navigate Ohio’s complex land record puzzle, including the Virginia Military District, the Western Reserve, and Congress Lands.
• Access Local Government Records: Track down essential county and township documents, including tax lists and civil records often overlooked by casual researchers.
• Leverage Major Repositories: Efficiently use the resources of premier Ohio archives, both through on-site visits and digital portals.
• Uncover Manuscript Treasures: Use online catalogs like a pro to find one-of-a-kind manuscript collections and personal papers.
• Solve Pre-1850 "Brick Walls": Apply targeted strategies for early research using land, tax, and church records to find ancestors before the 1850 census.
• Research Urban Ancestors: Navigate the specific resources and directories required for ancestors who lived in Ohio's growing cities and urban centers.
  
• Save countless hours of frustrating dead-end research with expert guidance.
  
  

Experience Interactive Learning with an Expert

Sunny Jane Morton was Editor of Ohio Genealogy News for 10 years and has been a speaker at the Ohio Genealogical Society conference for many years. She gained greater familiarity with northeast Ohio records, especially religious records, as a volunteer for the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland. She has traced her own family back to pre-statehood residency in southern Ohio and created a documentary about Ohio River migration history. She is now Editor of NGS Magazine (for the National Genealogical Society) and a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine. She is author of Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States and co-author of the award-winning How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records. She is coordinating GRIP Genealogy Institute’s Skill-Building Practicum in 2026.

By the time we wrap up, you’ll walk away with a practical toolkit designed to bust through research obstacles. You’ll have the confidence to navigate both famous archives and overlooked resources, giving you a clear path forward to finally bring your Ohio ancestors home.

Ready to dig in? Let’s uncover your Ohio legacy!