Blue-Collar Ancestry: Tracing Your Steelworker Roots
Take a deep dive into the lives of your steelworker ancestors.
Professional genealogist Kate Townsend will guide participants through essential records and research strategies, including how to find employment files, union records, company newsletters, historic photographs, and more. Plus, local archivists will deliver lightning talks showcasing lesser-known resources within their collections that hold significant genealogical value related to the steel industry.
The program will also highlight the History Center’s multi-year partnership with Ancestry.com to digitize over 100,000 employee files from the Jones & Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh Works. A significant portion of these records is now searchable online, offering a rare opportunity to explore the individual experiences of steelworkers across generations.
Admission
Tickets are $10 for non-members and $5 for members. Virtual option is available.
Live captioning will be provided for this event. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available upon request. Please contact us at [email protected] in advance to request accommodations.
About the Series
Blue-Collar Ancestry is a new genealogy series presented by the Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center. Each installment will explore a specific industry, with a focus on locating key genealogical records to illuminate the working lives of your ancestors.
About the Speaker
Kate is a former professional investigator turned genealogist, specializing in Pennsylvania genealogical research. She also has experience with records from Ohio, West Virginia, and New York City, as well as expertise in immigration, naturalization, and court records. Kate owns Family History Investigations LLC.
Kate has spoken at national and local genealogical societies, libraries, and conferences, including the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, and RootsTech.
Kate completed Boston University’s Certificate in Genealogical Research in May 2020. Since then, she has completed continuing education at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She is a graduate of ProGen 58. She previously served as the Vice-Chair, Chair, and Immediate Past-Chair of the National Genealogical Society Delegate Council. Kate holds the Certified Genealogist® credential as of February 2024.
Although Kate has been working on her own family history since she was sixteen, her interest in investigating and researching on a professional level was piqued when she served as an Archives Technician at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) while completing her undergraduate studies. She worked as a resource for amateur and professional genealogical researchers, alike, assisting them in conducting database and archives records research. Additionally, she gained experience with primary source documents in her first position with NARA, where she worked in the holdings maintenance department, preserving and cataloging records dating back to the 1800s.