EVENTS SCHEDULE

I am available for online and in-person presentations. For more info, contact me at clairegebben@gmail.com.

Saturday, May 3, 2025
Keynote speaker for the Anchorage Genealogical Society Spring Seminar
German Migration Patterns
Since the 17th century, millions of German-speaking emigrants were leaving Europe for places far and wide, especially North America. Who were they? Why did they leave? The answer? It’s complicated. This talk explores waves of emigration in historical context, including wars, religious oppression, human and civil rights, weather, economics and other factors. Presentation also includes a look at patterns of settlement of German migrants on arrival in North America.
A Tale of Two Scotlands
Two Scotlands? If you have ancestors from Scotland, it’s possible they migrated from the Lowlands of Scotland to North America, or from the Highlands of Scotland, two distinct areas of the northern British Isles with divergent cultures, history and languages. Or, one might say “three Scotlands,” since thousands of Scots, aka the Scots-Irish, migrated in the 17th century from the Scottish Lowlands to the northern part of Ireland, then on to British North America. Who were these different Scots ancestors? Why did they leave? Where did they go? Presentation explores the ins and outs of Lowlands and Highlands Scottish migration history, a brief look at the Scots-Irish, and tips for genealogy research of Scottish ancestors.