Speaker Exclusive
Sara Dawson launched Descent Detective, LLC in Brighton, CO, in 2017 after over 15 years with the Bureau of Land Management in Denver and Lakewood. A lifetime learner, she received her Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Northern Colorado and continued her education at Regis and Boston Universities. She received her Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University's Center For Professional Education in 2018.
Sara is a past attendee of the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research in Athens, Georgia, and has attended the National Genealogy Society's annual Family History Conference.
Ms. Dawson is the former Chair of the Brighton Historic Preservation Commission in Brighton, Colorado. She was also the Website Committee Chair for the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (CAPG). She maintains her membership with the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), National Genealogical Society (NGS), Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA), Colorado Genealogical Society (CSG), Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS), Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan (PGSM), and the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research (DSGR).
Presentations
Curious about your ancestors? Get started with professional genealogist Sara L. Dawson. You'll learn how to craft a research question and document your results.
Join professional genealogist Sara L. Dawson for an interactive introduction to online genealogy through Ancestry.com, a library resource that includes census reports, birth and death records, immigration records, and more.
Millions of family history records are being added to the FamilySearch database every year. Find out how to navigate the website and find records for your ancestors. Professional genealogist Sara L. Dawson will share her tips for making the most FamilySearch's resources.
Whether you've taken a DNA test or if you are just interested in learning more about how DNA testing can help you in your genealogical research, this class is designed to give everyone an overview of the five major testing companies, what they tests they perform as well as what to expect when reading your results. We will also get you started creating those genetic family trees.
It runs in the family: Researching your Italian Immigrant Ancestors
Learn how a good research plan can help you organize your genealogy research and stop the "re-do.” Just like planning for a vacation, a genealogy research plan guides and helps you to reach to your destination. Whether you have a basic question ("Where was Grandpa Joe born?") or a more complex problem ("Who was the father of Mark Roberts Johannes?"), a research plan can help you prepare for an organized search and keep you from going down the rabbit hole.
New Course coming in 2023!
Webinars
Are you a genealogy novice or experienced researcher? It is time to flip your research upside down (along with the box) and look at records and history in an entirely new way. Spend an hour of your time learning how to look beyond the basics of 👶, 💍and ⚰️.
