The annual summertime Brown Bag Lecture Series at Tread of Pioneers Museum kicked off last week with a presentation from Jayne Hill about genealogy searches, during which she revealed her discovery that her ancestors included prostitutes and pirates.

The series continues at noon Friday when longtime rancher Bill Gay discusses “The Gay Family Ranching Tradition in the Yampa Valley.”

Other scheduled speakers include:

• July 15: Jim Crawford discusses Steamboat Springs’ founding father with “James H. Crawford: Military Man, Town Founder, Politician and So Much More.”
• July 22: Local historian and rancher Jim Stanko discusses “Cemetery History and Pioneer Tales.” This presentation will take place at Steamboat Springs Cemetery.
• July 29: Mountaineering pioneer Bob Beverly shares his experiences with “Early-day Hiking and Climbing in the Zirkel-Dome Wilderness.”
• Aug. 5: A panel of locals discusses the Tread of Pioneers Museum’s newest exhibit — “Sign of the Times: The 1960s.”
• Aug. 12: Laurel Watson, curator of the Hayden Heritage Center, presents “The Foundation of Quarter Horses in Northwestern Colorado.”
• Aug. 19: Cheri Brunner Daschle brings her family research and history to light in “The Brunner Family of Chokecherry Lane.”
• Aug. 26: The Brown Bag Lecture Series steps outside for a free Windy Ridge archaeology hike from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The hike will be led by Yampatika and U.S. Forest Service officials. Register by calling 871-9151.
• Sept. 2: Arianthe Stettner discusses one of Steamboat Springs’ favorite writers, John R. Burroughs, in “Books, Buildings and Burroughs.”

Each lecture is at Tread of Pioneers Museum, Eighth and Oak streets, unless otherwise noted. The events are free. Take a lunch. Call 879-2214 for more information.