Spanish Documents for Non-Spanish Speakers

Professional genealogist Katy Bodenhorn, B.A. in Family History & Genealogy and former director at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, will equip researchers without Spanish fluency with practical tools to decode the wealth of information in Spanish-language records. 

From civil registrations and church documents to immigration files, Katy will share strategies for tackling unfamiliar scripts and key terms, using translation aids, building word lists, analyzing context, and leveraging bilingual records. Her case-driven insights will help you move beyond literal translations to confidently interpret names, places, occupations, and relationships in both Latin American and U.S.-based collections.

This program is brought to you in part by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and General Levi Casey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and is available both in-person at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 8th floor AND online via Zoom. Register below for either option!