Diseases, Disasters, Distress: Bad for Your Ancestors, Good for Genealogy!

Presented by Lisa Alzo

Wouldn’t it be nice if all the branches on our family trees were filled with bright shiny leaves that reflected only good kin and happy times? The truth is, most of our pasts are dotted with blemishes, and bad things did happen, often to good people. History is blanketed with disheartening tales of devastation and loss. Certainly, it may be difficult for us today to comprehend the everyday adversity that befell our ancestors, or the lasting hardships they endured as a result. This presentation will discuss how diseases, disasters, and distress may have impacted your family’s history.

Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A., is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Eastern European research and writing your family history. She is the author of eleven books and hundreds of magazine articles. Lisa works as an online educator and writing coach and developed the Eastern European Research Certificate Program for the International Institute of Genealogical Studies. Visit lisaalzo.com for more information.