Genealogical research in foreign countries demands that you have the original surame of yoiur ancestor and his/her exact village of origin. Many immigrants Anglicized, shortened, and even changed their names in the U.S  They usually gave their birthplace as the larger town or city closest to their village. This presentation, sponsored by the Howard County Genealogical Society, will discuss which U.S. records can help you find these two facts, which are vital for research in "the old country."

 

The presenter is Carol Kostakos Petranek. Carol serves as an Assistant Director of the Washington, D.C., Family History Center, where she coordinates classes, conferences, and community outreach projects. She is a volunteer at the National Archives and serves as a Genealogy Aid in the Research Room. Carol is affiliated with Family Search on several initiatives, including a digitization project at the Maryland Archives, and with MyHeritage on record acquisitions in Greece. Carol is an active member of the Greek genealogy community and shares her knowledge by contributing to Greek online associations and teaching at local and national conferences. Carol writes, edits, and publishes personal and family histories and is a frequent speaker at genealogy organizations.