September Program: Diane L. Richard, MEng, MBA – Finding Females: Ledgers are a Unique Looking Glass into Women’s Lives

Surviving small business ledgers document everyday business transactions that involved our ancestors, including our female ancestors—usually underrepresented in governmental records. Almost every kind of ledger examined mentions women transacting business, regardless of station in life and ethnicity. This webinar focuses on the many kinds of ledgers used by small businesses and discoverable by researchers. We will explore ledgers of general stores, cotton/tobacco pickers and midwives, just to name a few. In addition to placing individuals and families in space and time, relationship information is sometimes noted. Life events are sometimes indicated, including family members of an employer/employee, entries for free people of color (FPOC), the enslaved, and so much more!

Diane L. Richard, MEng & MBA, is a professional genealogist and founder of Mosaic Research and Project Management (MosaicRPM). With over 35 years of genealogy research experience, she has been working with clients professionally since 2004. Diane has written over 600 articles for Internet Genealogy and edited numerous publications, including the blog Upfront with NGS, and the North Carolina Genealogical Society journal.

As an international speaker, Diane has given hundreds of webinars and in-person programs on genealogy research strategies and record exploitation. She has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and published a book on African American research, “Tracing Your Ancestors — African American Research: A Practical Guide.” Diane’s special interests include researching formerly enslaved individuals, their descendants, and Free Persons of Color, as well as the often-overlooked lives of female ancestors. Tips, tricks, strategies & resources are also a focus.

Diane co-founded GenWebinars, offering live online genealogy webinars, and Tar Heel Discoveries, providing in-person research assistance. She serves as Vice President of NC Historical Records Online, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public access to North Carolina historical records. Learn more about Diane’s services and expertise through the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/GRIVALedgersSep2026