Our ancestors relied heavily on Justices of the Peace and the courts to settle disputes, even more so than today. Case files contain court testimony, lawyers' arguments, precedents, and a glimpse into the life of a community. Eilene will share some of her discoveries in lawsuit records to demonstrate the level of personal data you can glean from similar documents.
About Our Speaker
The author of two books of historical nonfiction, Eilene Lyon has spent decades researching families (hers and others) to piece together narrative stories about the past. Fortune's Frenzy: A California Gold Rush Odyssey, revealing previously unknown aspects of the Gold Rush, is a Spur Awards finalist and winner of a Will Rogers Bronze medallion. What Lies Beneath Colorado Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards explains the hidden personal trials and triumphs discovered in Colorado's oldest cemeteries.
Eilene lives in Durango, Colorado, where she explores the San Juan Mountains for plants, animals, history, and good food (wine optional). When it snows, the skis. When warm and dry, she hits the mountain bike trails. In summer, she doggedly coaxes food and flowers from the poor local soil.
She writes regularly on her blog, Myricopia, and has published articles in local and regional genealogy and history magazines. She shares her passion for family history by giving presentations on history, research, writing, and genealogy to local, regional, and national audiences, helping others to know their ancestors with greater compassion and historical context.
This program is not sponsored or endorsed by L.A. County Library