Registration is now open for the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society’s 2023 Seminar, From Birth to Death and All In Between, featuring presenter Gena Philibert-Ortega.

The full day seminar will run 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Saint Raphael Catholic Church, 5544 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara.

Cost to attend is $40 for society members, $50 for non-members until Sept. 30. The price will increase by $10 on Oct. 1. An optional box lunch provided by Jersey Mike’s may be purchased for an additional $15.

Philibert-Ortega is an author, researcher and instructor specializing in the use of social history and material culture to tell the story of historical women’s lives.

She holds two master’s degrees: one in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology and Women’s Studies), and one in religion.

As an author, Philibert-Ortega has published two books “Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra” (Arcadia Publishing) and “From the Family Kitchen” (F+W Media); as well as numerous articles in print and online publications.

Her writings can also be found on her blogs, Gena’s Genealogy and Food.Family.Ephemera, as well as the GenealogyBank and Legacy Family Tree Webinars blogs.

Philibert-Ortega has taught material culture and social history at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and is a frequent presenter at seminars and conferences.

Her professional associations include the American Quilt Study Group, Association of Gravestone Studies, and National Genealogical Society. She has conducted research for PBS, HGTV, and the Travel Channel, and has collaborated on research for the Gemological Institute of America.

Philibert-Ortega’s current research projects focus on American cemeteries, cookbooks, signature quilts, and 20th-century women’s lives.

Seminar topics to assist enhance family research include:

Tracing Roots: The Evolution and Historical Significance of Birth Certificates
Explore the history of U.S. birth certificates and their profound impact on genealogical research, significance as legal documents, and impact on establishing personal identities, inheritance rights, and citizenship claims.

Beyond the Grave: Unveiling the Material Culture of Death
Death certificates, obituaries, and burial places are key to genealogical research, but what more could be discovered? Delve into the significance of objects and symbols surrounding historical death and mourning including gravestones, clothing and ephemera.

Uncovering Herstory: Exploring Unconventional Sources for Tracing Female Ancestors
While historical records often focus on male lineage, this presentation aims to shed light on the incredible stories of women who have been overlooked throughout history. Discover alternative resources to help uncover the hidden narratives of our female ancestors including manuscript collections, oral histories, diaries, letters, textiles and cookbooks.

Visual Ancestral Stories: Harnessing the Power of Images in Genealogy
Delve into the world of utilizing images to unlock the hidden narratives of our ancestors. Explore the impact postcards, photographs, stereographs, and posters can have in enhancing the understanding of family history.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/56skb8s2. Learn more about the Genealogical Society at SBGen.org.