Finding Your Roots: Military Ancestors
Winter 2026 Series - Virtual Workshop
About the Workshop Series
Register today for instant access to all four session recordings and handouts -- take the course at your own pace!
Maryland Public Television and the Maryland Genealogical Society invite you to a beginner-to-intermediate genealogy workshop series this Winter. Finding Your Roots: Military Ancestors consists of four (4) two-hour sessions that are designed to help you learn how to research the military service of your ancestors in several pivotal American wars.
The workshop series focuses on four wars that changed the course of both American history and world history - the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, and World War I. Each session uses a case study to highlight what records are available and how to access them. Since many of these are federal records, your family does not need Maryland ties to benefit from this course.
Each session features a combination of lecture, small and large group discussion, and question and answer time. The sessions will be recorded, and registrants will have unlimited access to those recordings.
Those who attend will receive a one-year MPT Passport membership or membership extension, and a one-year membership to the Maryland Genealogical Society (MGS) -- not applicable to current MGS members.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 10,000 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than thirty-nine years, he specializes in records of the National Archives, especially those that relate to the military. He has coordinated the Military tracks at IGHR, SLIG, and GRIP in years past. He is currently the Coordinator of the SLIG Consultation Track, helping students solve their brick wall problems.
On-Demand Recording Available!
Through a case study, we’ll follow the life of a Revolutionary War soldier from before the war through the records created by his service during and after the war. The National Archives provides resources, including service records and pension applications, through its partnership with the website Fold3. Understanding the pension process and how pensioners were paid is an important part of the research process.
This case study highlights researching the service of a War of 1812 soldier. We’ll examine types of service, compiled military service records, settled accounts, and where other records can be found. Many of the pension applications can now be found on the website Fold3.
This case study traces the life of a Civil War soldier from before the War until his death. We’ll focus on the records created by both Union and Confederate soldiers before and after the war and where they can be found. Numerous online resources exist, such as the Soldiers and Sailors Database, ANC Explorer, Fold3, Ancestry's military collections, and National Archives finding aids. We’ll also look at overlooked sources, like Record and Pension Office correspondence, and court martial records.
This case study traces an American soldier from his time in a recruit camp, his ship journey to England or France, his time in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), and his return to America and demobilization. Using readily downloadable information from the U.S. Army Military History Center and works found on Google Books, we’ll learn how to trace a soldier’s unit from before the war through the end of the war and occupation.
All workshop lectures are recorded. Registered attendees will have unlimited access to watch each recorded session.
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