Every family history researcher encounters the proverbial "brick wall" at some point

in time -- that ancestor beyond whom one simply cannot go.  There are almost

as many reasons for the "brick wall" as there are ancestors -- loss of records,

migrations from unknown locations, change of name spelling, failure to keep specific

types of records, and many more.  In many cases, these problems can be overcome

using some investigative techniques and an attentiveness to clues.

Justin K. Houser will discuss techniques to overcome these problems in family history

research, show examples of how following clues in obscure, but available records, have led to

genealogical break-through.  Following the principle of "never give up," Justin has unraveled

some very difficult lineages and will show how to approach difficult research questions. 

Justin has been a member of the Centre County Genealogical Society since 1995, and has

assisted with the cemetery project since that time.  He serves as the chairperson of the

Clinton County Genealogical Society Cemetery Project and has edited a CD-ROM index

to 70,000 Centre County marriage records.  He is the co-author of the book,

The Confers: Seven Centuries of Family, as well as authoring or editing many other

publications of genealogical and historical interest.  His research has also resulted

in a 290,000+ name (and growing) database of Central Pennsylvanians and their

families on Rootsweb.com.  Justin, a native of Bellefonte, is a graduate of the

Schreyer Honors College of the Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in

Political Science and a minor in History, and is presently a third-year law student at the

Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, where he serves as

Editor-in-Chief of the Penn State Law Review.

Foxdale Village Auditorium
500 E. Marylyn Avenue
State College, PA