Transforming Genealogical Research into Engaging Narratives

Specializing in Scandinavian-American and Midwestern-American genealogy, history, social trends, and public education.

Engaging, Educational, and Entertaining.

Genealogy Services

01. Engaging Presentations

Informative talks tailored for libraries, historical societies, and genealogical societies. Eleanor motivates researchers with engaging and entertaining storytelling.

Research consultation with archival card catalog

02. Research Consultations

One-on-one expert guidance helping families uncover hidden stories, resolve long-standing questions, and break through genealogical brick walls.

03. Workshops & Training

Hands-on sessions designed to enhance your research skills, from analyzing historical records to mastering online databases.

Bringing History to Life

Beyond the dates and documents, genealogy is about connecting with the lived experiences of our ancestors. Whether it's tracing a lineage through a rural Midwestern farming community or tracking an immigrant's journey across the Atlantic, the goal is to weave data into a compelling narrative.

The faces in these vintage photographs are a reminder of why this work matters. They are not just names on a census record; they are the foundation of our present.

Speaking & Events

Eleanor has delivered over 100+ presentations nationwide, featuring engagements at RootsTech, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and libraries across the US and Canada.

Upcoming Appearances

Date	Event / Organization	Topic
Sep 17, 2026	Heritage Quest Research Library (Zoom)	Getting the Scoop on Digitized Historical Newspapers
Sep 17-19, 2026	We Are Cousins, TX (Zoom)	Getting the Scoop on Digitized Historical Newspapers
Sep 18-19, 2026	North Carolina Genealogical Society (Zoom)	Getting the Scoop on Digitized Historical Newspapers
Sep 26, 2026	Norwegian-American Gen. Assoc, MN (In-Person)	"This was a Viking Hub"
Nov 7, 2026	Wisconsin Historical Society (Zoom)	Sifting through Cookbooks for Our Female Ancestors
Nov 17, 2026	Rochester Genealogical Society, NY (Zoom)	Life-Changing Boat Ride: Immigration & Naturalization
Nov 19, 2026	Washington County Library, MN (In-Person)	Genealogy 101
Nov 20, 2026	Bayport Public Library, MN (In-Person)	Genealogy 101
Dec 3, 2026	Ontario Genealogical Society, Canada (Zoom)	How Religion in Norway Affected Our Ancestors
Dec 12, 2026	Stark Library, OH (Zoom)	Sifting through Cookbooks for Our Female Ancestors
Jan 28, 2027	Dakota County Historical Society (Zoom)	Farming, Factories, and The Frontier
Dec 4, 2027	Solano County Genealogical Society, CA (Zoom)	Our Black Sheep and Their Prison Records

See Previous Appearances →

Presentation Catalog

Eleanor presents on a wide variety of topics and welcomes the opportunity to develop custom presentations tailored to your organization's focus.

General Genealogy & Methodology

Genealogy 101: How to get started on your genealogical journey
Ancestry.com: How-to's and what'll you finds
How to Use FamilySearch.org
Roaming the Stacks: Looking to the library to help fill holes
“Where Did I Put That?”: How to organize your genealogical research
I Love to Tell the Story: How to present your genealogical research
“Oh It's Somewhere Around Here”: What is hiding in your storage areas
Hop In for a Genealogy Road Trip: How to plan a genealogical jaunt
Google Workspace for Genealogical Research
Farming, Factories, and The Frontier: Midwest genealogy basics
Finding Aids Come to the Rescue
Our Black Sheep and Their Prison Records
Westward Ho!: Migration methods of the United States
Can You Dig It?: Upper Midwest miners and their records
Sifting through Cookbooks to Find Our Female Ancestors
I Have a Question: Digging for genealogy clues
Getting the Scoop on Digitized Historical Newspapers
Life-Changing Boat RIdes: American immigration and naturalization

Scandinavian & Norwegian Genealogy

“I'm Going to Norway!?”: A Genealogical Trip of a Lifetime
Scrolling through Norwegian Genealogy Resources Online
“Jeg bor i amerika”: Norwegians in America
“There They Are!”: Finding your ancestor in Norwegian documents
“This was a Viking hub”: The sentence that led to a genealogical quest
Digitalarkivet: What to know and how to do it
Ole Oleson had a Farm: How to find a farm in a Norwegian haystack
How Religion in Norway Affected Our Ancestors
The Borders and Boarders of Norway: The people who called Norway home
Norwegian Folklore and The Tenacious Norwegians who Collected the Stories
The Restauration 200 Years Later: America's First Norwegian Immigrants

Trivia Games & Specialty Topics

United States Genealogy Trivia
Wisconsin Genealogy Trivia
Book Cases: Novel-Inspired Genealogy (Available starting March 2026)

What Groups Are Saying

“The knowledge and helpful hints shared motivated many of us to stop procrastinating and finally tackle this less than desirable task.”

— Wisconsin Genealogy Group

“The insights she shared provided beginners with a blueprint for informed library research, while reminding the more advanced of our members to get back to the libraries!”

— California Genealogy Group

About Eleanor Brinsko, MLIS

Founded by Eleanor Brinsko in 2015, Carlon Genealogical Services specializes in genealogy presentations and private research, helping individuals discover their family history.

Eleanor is an international genealogy presenter and professional genealogist with a focus on Scandinavian-American and Midwestern-American family history. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) and has spoken to libraries, historical societies, and genealogical societies across the US and Canada.

Get in Touch

Have a research question, want to book a presentation, or just want to say hello? Fill out the form below and Eleanor will get back to you.