The Family Tree
By Terence L. Day
Terence L. Day, genealogist and journalist, is on the Washington State University faculty. He welcomes e-mail at genealogy@moscow.com, or regular mail in care of the Tri-City Herald City newsroom, P.O. Box 2608, Tri-Cities, WA 99302-2608.
Genealogist can attend college by computer
This column was published Sept. 29, 1996
Want to take a genealogy class but your schedule doesn't permit?
Or maybe the course isn't offered where you live. Perhaps you don't need a class in genealogy but want to learn about the exciting things you've been hearing about doing genealogy on the Internet.
No problem.
Instructor Michael Neill at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Ill., is offering two classes starting this week. As far as we know, they are the first college-level genealogy courses offered on the Internet. If you hurry, you might be able to get into one of them without leaving the convenience and comfort of your home.
Neill has been doing genealogical research since he was 13 years old and has taught genealogy at Sandburg for four years. He also has lectured at the Genealogical Institute of Mid-America, held each year in Springfield, Ill.
You don't need to be a sophisticated computer user to enroll in his on-line classes. Two sections of "On-line Beginning Genealogy Theory and Methods" will start next week, one Oct. 7, the other Oct. 10. Both will end the week of Dec. 9.
"Genealogy on the Internet" also will be offered in two sections. The first lessons will be posted Oct. 7 and 8.
You don't need to be a sophisticated computer user to take either class. All you need are basic computer skills, a computer linked to the Internet, the ability to send and receive electronic mail, and to read and load World Wide Web pages. This is basic technology for cruising the Internet.
Oh yes, you'll also need $35.
In each class, Neill will post a weekly "lecture" as an HTML document at a location that will be open only to registered students. HTML stands for HyperText Markup Lan guage. Your Web browser will read it after Neill sends you a "username" and password.
Students will send in their assignments by e-mail, and Neill will send back comments and grades the same way.
"On-line Beginning Genealogy Theory and Methods" will cover genealogy charts, record keeping, interviewing relatives, federal census records, vital records, land records, court and probate records, documentation and citation, and evaluation of sources.
"Genealogy on the Internet" will cover e-mail, search engines, hot lists, news groups, mailing lists, on-line databases, documentation concerns and evaluating materials. Neill still had some openings in his classes as I wrote this column. If the classes aren't full when you read this, he will be happy to take late registrations. If you don't register in time, don't be forlorn. The same classes will be offered again during the spring semester, which begins in January.
You can view Neill's offerings at http://www.misslink.net/neill/ csc.html. You can write him at neillmmisslink.net by e-mail. You can talk to him at 309-341-5337. And you can register for his classes by calling Carl Sandburg College's Registration Office, 309-341-5260. Registration by phone requires a Visa or MasterCard.
Sorry, no college credit. And for the ultimate irony - you can't register via e-mail.
Go figure!
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