National Archives Puts Popular Records Workshops Online for First Time!
Press Release · Wednesday, January 4, 2012

"Know Your Records" videos now available on National Archives YouTube Channel

Washington, DC…For the first time, the National Archives has launched online videos of its most popular genealogy “how to” workshops. These videos cover “hot topics” in genealogical research such as census, immigration and military records. Now, these popular workshops led by National Archives experts are available on the National Archives YouTube channel [www.youtube.com/user/usnationalarchives].

The National Archives-produced Know Your Records video shorts cover the creation, scope, content, and use of National Archives records for genealogical research. "The National Archives is proud to make our most popular genealogy lectures available online and ready for viewing by anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Diane Dimkoff, Director of Customer Services.

Genealogy Introduction: Military Research at the National Archives: Volunteer Service (8:22) [www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zgKBrsVpxY]
Archives specialist John Deeben discusses compiled military service records at the National Archives.

Genealogy Introduction—Military Research at the National Archives: Regular Service (6:11) [www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OMO-PbmMEw]
Archives Specialist John Deeben explains how to use Army and Navy registers of enlistment and rendezvous reports for research.

Genealogy Introduction—Military Research at the National Archives: Pension Records (9:04)
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-AgYFhX1k]
Archives Specialist John Deeben discusses how to research military service using pension records dating from 1775 to 1916. Deeben shows samples of both Revolutionary War and Civil War pensions.

Genealogy Introduction—Immigration Records at the National Archives (11:57)
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCZTSrSvxyc]
Archives Specialists Katherine Vollen and Rebecca Crawford provide an overview of immigration records from 1800 to 1957, including Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization records, as well as records of ports and border crossings.

Genealogy Introduction: Census Records at the National Archives (11:57)
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl54NX_H1ko]
Genealogy expert Constance Potter shares tips and strategies for researching U.S. Federal Census Records 1790 to 1930, and explains how they can be used for genealogical research.

Background on “Know Your Records” programs

The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the Federal government. These include records of interest to genealogists, such as pension files, ship passenger lists, census and Freedmen’s Bureau materials. The Know Your Records Program offers opportunities for staff, volunteers, and researchers to learn about these records through lectures, ongoing genealogy programs, workshops, symposia, the Annual Genealogy Fair, an online genealogy tutorial, reference reports for genealogical research, and editions of Researcher News for Washington DC area researchers.

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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at (202) 357-5300.

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