This case study pieces togther the elusive origins of a 19-century Polish immigrant family. Through DNA analysis, historical records, and myth-busting research, we'll uncover a tale of poor Pennsylvania coal miners, lost homes, hidden siblings, and even an illicit still in the woods.
Learn how to navigate surname variations, reconstruct migration timelines, and use modern genealogy methods to bring the past to life.
About Our Speaker
Lisa Vogele is a professional genealogist and Certified Travel Associate (CTA). She is the Chief Tree Climber at Travel Your Tree: Where Ancestry Meets Adventure, a genealogy research & travel planning firm specializing in Italy & Ireland. Lisa is passionate about traveling in the footsteps of your ancestors to make or re-establish connections of personal, historical significance. In 2025, Lisa was the inaugural recipient of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Fellowship to study passport collections in Italian archives.
In 2016, Lisa authored Food & Folklore: A Year of Italian Festivals, a guidebook to assist travelers with incorporating heritage festivals into their itineraries, get off the beaten path, and experience local culture through food and historic events. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), earned a Certified in Genealogical Research from Boston University in 2019, and a Certified Travel Associate (CTA) credential. Her travel tips have been featured in the Huffington Post, 1000TravelTips.com, and Dream of Italy. She holds a Master's degree from Clemson University, was raised in Connecticut, and resides in Colorado.
Follow Lisa's travels and discoveries: @travelyourtree on Instagram and Facebook.
This program is not sponsored or endorsed by L.A. County Library