Discover Your Roots
Discover Your Roots!
Ready to trace your family tree?
Ready to trace your family tree?
Discover Your Roots. A Pennsylvania Genealogy Workshop!
Whether you are building your very first family tree or breaking through a stubborn research "brick wall," this workshop will give you the tools you need!
Where: 235 N 4th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106.
When: August 22nd, from 1 to 4 PM
Who: All ages (recommended for adults)
$25 per person - limited tickets!
Discover Your Roots is brought to you by Historic St. George’s Museum & Archives, Christ Church Preservation Trust & the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania! Learn more about the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania here.
Questions? Please email marketing@historicstgeorges.org.
Discover Your Roots. A Pennsylvania Genealogy Workshop!
Whether you are building your very first family tree or breaking through a stubborn research "brick wall," this workshop will give you the tools you need!
Where: 235 N 4th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106.
When: August 22nd, from 1 to 4 PM
Who: All ages (recommended for adults)
$25 per person - limited tickets
Questions? Please email marketing@historicstgeorges.org.
Presenter: Karen Ellingson GSP Board Member
Date: Sat. Aug. 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
235 N. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
In this workshop:
Ready to trace your family tree? Join us for a 3-hour, hands-on genealogy workshop designed for all experience levels! Whether you are building your very first family tree or breaking through a stubborn research "brick wall," this workshop will give you the tools you need!
We’ll start with "Genealogy Basics," covering essential strategies for tracking your ancestors' paper trail. Then, we'll tackle Pennsylvania-specific research, teaching you how to navigate key archives and repositories, and overcome the "Pre-1893 problem" – the era before Pennsylvania officially mandated the recording of county-level birth and death certificates.
You'll also learn to uncover hidden clues in early colonial records, exploring the Philadelphia Congregations Early Records project, which holds over 80,000 digitized pages. We will highlight incredible historical resources from iconic institutions like Christ Church and Historic St. George's.
Finally, put your new skills to the test during our "Try It Yourself" interactive sessions, where attendees will pair up to practice navigating these digital archives and interpreting historical documents.
Discover Your Roots is brought to you by Historic St. George’s Museum & Archives, Christ Church Preservation Trust & the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania! Learn more about the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania here.
Can’t make this event? The next Discover Your Roots program will take place at Christ Church! Tickets will be available in October.
Meet the Instructor: Karen Ellingson, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania board member
Karen Ellingson is a member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania board and is active with several committees (Programs, Technology, and Membership which she chairs). Members know her well as the host of GSPs popular monthly Gatherings and the moderator for the Third Thursday webinars.
As a child Karen’s passion for family history was ignited by her beloved grandmother’s stories. Her research focuses are Colonial Pennsylvania, Mennonite and Amish heritage, Midwest migration, and farm life. Karen has completed numerous genealogy institutes and she actively participates in genealogy webinars to build her research skills. Her formal education includes a Bachelors and Masters in Nuclear Engineering, an Executive MBA, and a Masters of Education. Now retired, Karen dedicates her time to family history research and service, with an eye to connecting and inspiring the next generations.
