Religion shaped the journeys of countless families who crossed the Atlantic in search of freedom. This presentation explores both the European upheavals that pushed people away and the American regions that welcomed them. America has always been a nation of religious diversity. Except for the earliest colonial days, there has never been a “state religion.” Churches not only nurtured communities but also preserved vital records before official state registration, making them invaluable resources for genealogists today.

Peggy Lauritzen

Peggy, a lifelong genealogist, has been an active teacher and lecturer in the field for many years. Along with her husband, Kerry Lauritzen, she has served as director of their local Family History Center in central Ohio. Miss Peggy, as she is affectionately called, is known among her colleagues for her care and compassion. She is an expert in Ohio, mid-Southern, and Appalachian research and has written several Legacy research guides. She has been a featured writer for Reminisce Magazine and has been an instructor for Ancestry Academy. In 2018, she was elected a fellow of the Ohio Genealogical Society.​