New to NWSGS? You're welcome at our meetings.
Everyone is welcome to register for NWSGS meetings. For added Zoom security, we ask each registrant to have either a free Guest account or a Paid membership on file before registering.
Our Free Guest account lets you register for meetings 14 days in advance.
Paid members receive additional benefits, including 30 day advanced registration, access to speaker handouts, video replays of meeting when permitted, members-only content on our website, ability to customize some email communications, and access to our newsletter, Notes from the Northwest.
Melissa Bates — What About Your Criminal Ancestors?
Access
Use the registration button below to attend online.
Presentation Description
What About Your Criminal Ancestors?
Explore the criminal side of our ancestral research, uncovering records that have often gone unexplored. We dive into the judicial system with a summary of the various jurisdictions, discuss an overview of criminal records potentially available, what information researchers can discover in those records, and where to find these untapped resources that can uncover new details and break brick walls for our ancestors.
About the Presenter
Melissa Bates
During the day, I help to hold criminals accountable for their crimes (alleged) working in the federal prosecutor's office (not a lawyer...maybe one day). At night, I research criminal ancestors and their families. The true crime obsession is real in this country, but I wanted to look at criminals in a different way. I found myself learning about human behavior and the law. Understanding our ancestors, their family dynamic, and the social history of the time frame all help to explain why an ancestor might have committed a crime.
Meeting Schedule (Central Time)
09:00-09:45 AM - Members Helping Members Pre-meeting
09:45-09:50 AM - Break
09:50-10:00 AM - Society Announcement
10:00-11:15 AM - Presentation and Q&A