The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society invites community members to a talk titled What About our Criminal Ancestors? Saturday, April 19 at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara

The free program will be presented by professional genealogist Michelle Custer Bates, and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Zoom attendees must register in advance at SBGen.org.

Custer Bates is the creator and host of “The Criminal Genealogist” podcast, marketing manager for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, board member and newsletter editor for the Tulsa Genealogy Society, and a committee member for the Association of Professional Genealogists.

She works as a criminal paralegal at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Her genealogy business My Genealogy Roots specializes in working with attorneys to locate legal heirs in probate cases.

“As genealogists, we often uncover surprising and sometimes uncomfortable truths about our ancestors,” said Ted Tazer-Myers, president of the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society.

“Michelle’s work shines a light on the stories that many families have tucked away, and we’re honored to have her guide us through this fascinating aspect of genealogy,” he said.

The Genealogical Society’s meeting schedule:
9:30-10:30 a.m.: Special Interest Group meetings (in-person only).
10:30-11 a.m.: Brief society business meeting.
11 a.m.-noon: Custer Bates presentation.

Annual Genealogical Society memberships start at $40; visit SBGen.org to learn more.