DALLAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

2024 Virtual Family History Conference
2024-05-16 08:00 - 2024-05-18 17:00 (America/Chicago) | TX

DPL: Meals & Memories: a Community Tasting for Asian American & Pacific Islander Month
2024-05-18 16:00 - 18:00 | 7th Floor – O’Hara Hall – J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Years of history and tradition are contained in the food we eat every day. Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with food, community, and conversation. Enjoy a selection of small plates created by Daisy Chuskul, chef and owner of Bangkok Inn, a family-owned restaurant serving Dallas since 1982.

Bring your family photos and recipes and get a chance to use Dallas Public Library’s mobile Vivid-Pix Memory Station – a place to scan, restore and record your family memories. Participants will get a free USB of their digitized memories.

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Meals and Memories is a series of FREE programs designed to the honor family history & genealogy preserved in our ancestral foodways through food, conversation, and preservation. This after-hours series is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and the General Levi Casey Chapter, NSDAR.

DPL: Basic Genealogy Research using Fold3
2024-05-22 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

With Memorial Day fast approaching, it’s time to research your ancestors who served in the military. Fold3 is a database specializing in historical military records and is available to use from home with your Dallas Public Library card. During this program, our genealogy specialist will show you how to effectively navigate the database (including how to find all the amazing non-military sources), how to use the search tools, and how to memorialize your military veteran ancestor.

Additionally, learn about how to record your or a family member’s military service through Dallas Public Library’s Veterans Oral History Project.

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DPL: Preserving Family Memories: Video & Film
2024-06-05 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Camcorder tapes, VHS, VHS-C, 8 mm film – the opportunities to make home movies in the 20th century seem endless. Now, it ends up being hard to find the equipment to view your forgotten treasures and harder still to digitize it for free. Join Genealogy & History Manager Stephanie Bennett to learn about the ins and outs of family movie digitization and how the Heritage Lab located on the 8th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library can help you make your precious family memories easier to share with loved ones.

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DPL: Hispanic Genealogy Research with HOGAR de Dallas
2024-06-22 10:00 - 12:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Are you wanting to learn more about your Hispanic heritage? Members of the Hispanic Organization for Genealogy and Research (HOGAR) de Dallas will be on hand to help you with your research. Get a tour of Dallas Public Library’s top ten genealogy collection and learn how to use the library’s resources to find YOUR family’s history. No registration required. https://dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com/event/hispanic-genealogy-research-hogar-de-dallas-364710

DPL: Using Ephemera in Family History Research
2024-07-10 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Ephemera is a fancy word for items that were intended to have a temporary nature, often hand-written and disposable, that have persisted through the years. This could include postcards, ticket stubs, and other items you might find in a scrapbook. Utilizing ephemera can help deepen our family histories, provide visual and/or other context to a location or culture, and make tangible memories we might not have lived ourselves. See real-life examples of how ephemera helped bring a family history story back to life.

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DPL: Preserving Family Memories: Audio Recordings
2024-07-24 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

The sound of a loved one’s voice = irreplaceable family memories. Learn how to digitize and preserve your audio recordings stored on cassette tapes, microcassette tapes and LPs. Hear from one of Dallas Public Library’s librarians on how to edit your audio, and share your precious family memories using the Heritage Lab located on the 8th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.

After the program, in person attendees will get a tour of the Creative Spaces: Heritage Lab, a place to digitize irreplaceable family memories and create new ways to celebrate them. It is generously supported by the Dallas Genealogical Society, the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and the General Levi Casey Chapter, NSDAR.

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Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2024-08-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Van Zandt County Sarah Norman Library, 317 First Monday Lane (Hwy 859), Canton, Texas
Speaker: Jeanette Sheliga

Topic: Creating a Locality Guide

Location: Main County Library, 317 First Monday Lane, Canton

Most genealogists know what it is like to have too many leads to research at once, especiallywhen they are traveling to an unfamiliar area to find family history. Creating a locality guide foran area where one is researching is a good tool for organizing data and using time wisely.Examples of information in a locality guide are dates that vital records started being kept in thearea, locations of maps and research repositories, and locations/lists of cemeteries. Ms. Sheliga’spresentation is a hands-on session where participants can work on creating their own LocalityGuides.

As with most of the Society’s events, the Aug. 24 meeting is free, membership is not required,and refreshments will be served.

Ms. Sheliga is a professional genealogist with 22 years of experience. She has lectured around the country on research matters since 2011, and is President of the Virtual Genealogical Association.

DPL: Organize your Family History Research with Zotero
2024-09-04 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Even the best researchers struggle to stay organized—whether its records you can’t remember the origin of, forgetting which sites you have already checked, or keeping track of those minute details about individual ancestors and relatives, organization is key.

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share your research! Librarian Kat Johnston will present on how to use this tool to organize your genealogy and family history research.

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Grand Prairie Genealogical Society Meeting
2024-09-05 18:30 - 20:30 | Grand Prarie Memorial Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prarie, TX, 75051, United States
In-person Event

Speaker: Bernard Meisner

Program: State and Territorial Censuses – Underused Genealogical Tools

Bernard has spoken to our group in the past. He will be speaking on State and Territorial Censuses and their value. Genealogists researching American families are familiar with the decennial federal census records. In this presentation, learn about the state and territorial censuses and their value in filling in the gaps between the federal census years, and providing additional information concerning the families, their occupations, and the places they lived.

More records have become available online even since William Dollarhide’s updated five volume set, Census Substitutes & State Census Records, 3rd Edition, was published in 2020! In particular, this presentation will provide specific information concerning Texas and the surrounding states.

Location: Inspire Room at the Grand Prairie Memorial Library

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2024-09-12 18:30 - 20:30 | TX
Topic: Tracing Your Family History on the Internet

Location: New Library: 450 Pioneer Trail in Cedar Hill (lower-level event room)

This is help for those just starting their family history research and a refresher for the rest of us. This class will get you started using the many resources of the internet to find your ancestors and their stories. Cedar Hill volunteers start with a short lesson on genealogy basics then go to the computers and experienced volunteers will get you started and assist in your search.

Bring your family information on paper, laptop (encouraged) or flash drive to our meeting and one of our genealogy detectives will work with you. Please bring you laptop with you if you have your family information on it.Don’t have anything at all? CHGS will give you a free USB memory stick containing our Genealogy Society starter kit, and help you start filling it.Our program begins at 7:00pm Thursday, September 12th, but please join us at 6:30 PM for socializing, free genealogy help, and snacks. Admission is free and guests are always welcome.

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DPL: Get Started with Your Genealogy
2024-09-15 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

No registration required. If you’ve never taken the plunge to look into your family’s history, this program will help you know how to get started! Genealogy & History staff take you back to the beginning with step-by-step instructions on how to get started researching YOUR family’s history. Learn how to set reasonable goals for your research, how to create an online tree and how to navigate popular genealogical websites.

After the program, staff are available to assist beginning researchers on library computers.

DPL: Genealogy Research using the Periodical Source Index (PERSI)
2024-09-18 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is the premier subject index for genealogy and local history periodicals and is searchable by name, locality and subject. In 2022, the PERSI database moved and is now FREE and indexed through Allen County Public Library’s world-class Genealogy Center. Learn how to search this family history treasure trove and how it can enhance your genealogy research.

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Van Zandt Genealogical Society Annual Seminar
2024-09-21 08:30 - 16:00 | TX
Speaker: Jim Thornhill

Topics:

Mapping Your Ancestors Using Google Earth

You Just Thought You Owned that Land!

Creating Context

Dead Men Talking

Jim Thornhill is a professional Genealogist and owner of Heroes of the Past, a company providing research, training, and speaking services as well as writing family histories and genealogy related articles.

After 15 years of family history research, he embarked on a second career, applying his existing experience in research, critical thinking, writing, and speaking to genealogy and started Heroes of the Past, Discover your Heritage.

Jim is a graduate of the Gen Proof and Pro-Gen professional genealogy course, Texas and Advanced Southern Research and has attended countless live classes and virtual presentations. He is Past President of the Dallas Genealogical Society, and author for Stirpes, the Journal of the Texas State Genealogical Society, and has spoken for the National Genealogical Society, The Texas State Genealogical Society, and many local societies in North Texas, including ours.

Jim is a native Texan and has lived in the Dallas area his entire life and has family roots in pre-civil war Texas and Mississippi.

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Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries Seminar
2024-09-21 09:30 - 15:00 | TX
Topic: Research: From Planning to Writing

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Topics:

J. Mark Lowe – Ready-Set-Plan! Developing a One-Step Research PlanLearn a simple technique for breaking down difficult research problems into manageable segments. Learn to get more research done while remaining focused.

Diana Elder – Research Logs: The Key to Organizing your Family HistoryResearch logs are key in tracking negative and positive searches so you can make progress in your research. Learn about various types of logs, then follow a case study showing how the research log was key in solving the problem.

Lisa Stokes – Elements of a Genealogical Source CitationDo genealogy source citations overwhelm you? Are you ever tempted to skip creating citations for your research altogether? Learn a color-coding system and template strategy to make crafting citations clear and simple.

Lisa Alzo – Writing Your Family History Step-by-StepYou can’t edit a blank page! The most difficult part of any writing project is getting started! This session will teach youhow to organize your material and divide your writing tasks into small manageable pieces, how to incorporate socialhistory and other elements into your story, and how to overcome writer’s block!.

DPL: Hitting Genealogy Paydirt using Manuscript Collections
2024-10-09 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Manuscript collections can be a goldmine of information for family history researchers. Learn about where to find collections, how they are organized, how to use a finding aid, and the variety of interesting items that can be found in the collections.

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Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society Meeting
2024-10-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Virtual

Speaker: Kelvin L. Meyers

Topic: I Thee Wed… or Not

Why can’t I find marriage record for my ancestor? This lecture looks at marriage customs and laws in the colonial and early days of America helping to highlight why there may not be a marriage record and other sources to circumvent the lack of marriage records.

Meet and greet at 6:00 pm with short business meeting at 6:30 pm then the program. The meeting is free to all but you must register in advance.

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A fifth generation Texan and professional forensic genealogist since 1996, Kelvin is a frequent speaker to genealogical societies and family associations throughout the United States. Kelvin works with several mineral companies in Texas researching heirs throughout the US and the world to holdings in Texas. Kelvin works with estate and probate attorneys throughout the US identifying missing and unknown heirs to estates.

He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogist, a past President of the Lone Star Chapter of APG and is the current President of the Forensic Special Interest Group.

In 2016 Kelvin published Research in Texas for NGS (National Genealogical Society) Research in the States series. Kelvin is also the cofounder and former director of the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) sponsored by the Texas State Genealogical Society.

The Dallas Genealogical Society awarded Kelvin the Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck Distinguished Service Award in December of 2018.

The Texas State Genealogical Society made Kelvin a Fellow of the society in 2023.

He recently completed the chapter, “Mineral Rights and the Forensic Genealogist” in the upcoming NGS book, Forensic Genealogy Theory and Practice, edited by Michael Ramage and Catherine Desmarais.

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2024-10-10 18:30 - 20:30 | TX
Topic: Family Naming Customs

Speaker: Bernard Meisner

Location: New Library: 450 Pioneer Trail in Cedar Hill (lower-level event room)

Names are a valuable source of information. They can indicate gender, marital status, birthplace, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and position within a family or even within a society. However, naming practices vary enormously across the globe. If you know your ancestors followed a particular naming custom, you can use it to provide clues to the names of earlier generations. Naming customs can also be used to differentiate between two sets of same-name parents having children in the same town, or to the likelihood of a “missing” child in a family.

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The program begins at 7:00pm and socializing starts at 6:30 PM for free genealogy help, and snacks. Admission is free and guests are always welcome. Learn More

PresenterBernard is a genealogist and lecturer based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. He began researching his family over 30 years ago and enjoys sharing lessons learned from that experience, including his mistakes. Although he knew only one grandparent (his maternal grandfather) he has successfully identified all of his great-great grandparents, many triple- and quadruple-great grandparents, and his Meisner 8th great grandparents.

DPL: Family History Day at Dallas Public Library
2024-10-18 09:00 - 17:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Celebrate Family History Month with a day of genealogy fun-filled events brought to you by the Genealogy Network of Texas (GNT), a state-wide initiative to connect libraries/genealogical societies and provide educational and research opportunities!

Six FREE programs will be live streamed from genealogy speakers in Texas and throughout the U.S. available for both in-person and online attendees. In-person attendees get a chance to win prizes, get one-on-one research help, and learn how to get started with their research and memory preservation at Dallas Public Library’s top 10 genealogy collection.

Event Schedule:

9-9:50 a.m. – U.S. Naturalization: The Records, The Laws and the Impact – Irene B. Walters, Librarian, Houston Public Library’s Family History Research Center

10-10:50 a.m. – Genealogy Resources at the Texas General Land Office – Kevin Klaus, Texas General Land Office Research Room Team Leader and Information Specialist

11-11:50 a.m. – So You Discovered You Have a Colonial Ancestor. Now What? – Craig R. Scott, MA, CG, FUGA, President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc.

11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m. – Lunch on your own! (In-person attendees will receive a list of nearby lunch venues to go to or order from)

12:50-1:50 p.m. – Genealogy Research at Dallas Public Library (an in-person only event!) – Stephanie Bennett, MLIS, Unit Manager Genealogy & History, Dallas Public Library

2-2:50 p.m. – I’ve Found My Irish Immigrant Ancestor. Now What? – Claire Bradley, MA, Director of Irish Studies of the International Institute of Genealogical Studies

3-3:50 p.m. – Writing Your Family Story: Learning to Assess and Compile Your Research – Emily Coffman Richardson, Genealogist with KinSearchers, Director-at-Large, TxSGS

4-4:50 p.m. – Proven Methods for Breaking Down Genealogical Brick Walls – Leslie Tomlinson, MFA, CG

The Genealogy Network of Texas is spearheaded by the Genealogy Center of the Waco-McLennan County Library. Co-sponsors include the Central Texas Genealogical Society, The Genealogy Center and the Texas State Genealogical Society.

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DPL: Gravestone Symbols and Burial Societies
2024-10-23 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

There’s more to our ancestors and relatives’ final resting places than just the words on the headstone. Headstone symbols, cemetery location, and the section of the cemetery can all tell us more about the life of an ancestor or relative. Burial societies existed to support communities through the death and burial process; fraternal organizations also often provided support after a death. Learn more about the clues lurking beneath the surface.

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DPL Exhibit - The American Revolution Experience
2024-11-01 00:00 - 2024-11-30 23:59 | Dallas Public Library – J Eric Jonsson, 1515 Young Street, DALLAS, TX, 75218, United States
In-person

Open now! The General Levi Casey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is hosting a new traveling exhibit in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust. Come see it now at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. The exhibit will be on display through the month of November. Don’t miss it!

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DPL: A History of the U.S. Marine Corps
2024-11-06 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Just in time for Veterans’ Day, we follow the history of the USMC and its veterans through 249 years of service. Learn about how the U.S. Marine Corps started, key battles that the Marine Corps participated in, and more! Explore how to trace a Marine Corps unit’s military history to better understand the life and service of the USMC veteran in your family. Librarian Samantha Diaz will also spotlight DPL’s Veterans Oral History Project interviews recorded at the Dallas Public Library.

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Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2024-11-14 18:30 - 20:30 | TX
Topic: FamilySearch.org Overview

Speaker: Kris & Karl Rencher & Virginia Ochoa Morrison

Location: New Library: 450 Pioneer Trail in Cedar Hill (lower-level event room)

Most of us are familiar with FamilySearch.org. It is free and enables the user to search, perhaps, the most extensive collection of historical records available to genealogists. These records create a paper trail for your ancestors and can lead you to important details about their life. Enter a name, and they’ll look for it in birth certificates, marriage registrations, census records, and other official documents. Our program will get the beginner started exploring this incredible family history resource. Us old hands we’ll see what’s new since their last visit.

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The program begins at 7:00pm and socializing starts at 6:30 PM for free genealogy help, and snacks. Admission is free and guests are always welcome. Learn More

DPL: Resources for Native American Research
2024-11-20 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

Are there rumors of Native American ancestry in your family tree? Are you uncertain as to where to start your Native American heritage research? Learn about different resources (both online and in-print) that can help you get started.

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DPL: Sharing Family Stories & Holiday Traditions
2024-12-11 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

In our last Wednesday genealogy program of the year, we invite you to share a family history story or holiday tradition! Don’t feel like being in the spotlight? Don’t worry, there will be fun, interactive holiday activities to participate in with a genealogy twist. And as an added bonus, if you join us in-person, make sure to grab a cup of complimentary hot chocolate to get in the holiday spirit!

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DPL: FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search – An AI Innovation
2025-01-08 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual

FamilySearch is using AI (artificial intelligence) to help genealogy researchers find records more easily! Over 100 million searchable records are available, including U.S. land and probate records and Mexican notarial records. Learn strategies for using FamilySearch’s experimental text-search feature to find records that you might spend hours trying to find otherwise.

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Root Seekers Monthly Meeting
2025-01-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Tri-County Library, 132 E Market St, Mabank, Texas, 75147
Topic: The Battle of New Orleans and the Veterans Who Came to Texas

Major General Andrew Jackson owed Britian a debt of retaliatory vengeance fromhis imprisonment during the Revolutionary War. He vowed that should our forcesmeet, he would pay the debt. On 8 January 1815, Jackson’s army regulars, frontiermilitiamen, free blacks, New Orleans aristocrats, Choctaw tribesmen and the piratesled by Jean Lafitte numbered 4500. They presented the British with an unexpectedonslaught which was the fruit of an honorable union and defeated the invaders in aspan of 30 minutes with a glorious victory. Many of the heroes of the Battle ofNew Orleans made their way to the Tri-County Area here in Texas.

We will remember them!

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Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society Meeting
2025-01-09 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Virtual

Speaker: Sara Cochran

Topic: Using State and Federal Deed Records

Our speaker, Sara Cochran, will speak to us on the value of using State and Federal deed records ingenealogical research. Land records can be genealogical goldmines, even if your ancestor wasn’tthe deed holder. We start with an overview of how land transferred from the government to privatehands and between individuals. Then consider the power of land records to answer genealogicalquestions, and look at tips for finding and using these records. Includes a live look at Full-TextSearch.

Meet and greet at 6:00 pm with short business meeting at 6:30 pm then the program. The meeting is free to all but you must register in advance.

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TxSGS Genealogy Essentials
2025-01-13 00:00 - 2025-02-25 23:59 | TX
The Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) is pleased to announce the launch of its new online education program, “Genealogy Essentials,” designed specifically for individuals interested in beginning or expanding their family history research skills and dedicated to “Building a Strong Foundation for Family History.”

This first offering in this program is a comprehensive, eight-session curriculum that will be released over four weeks starting January 13, 2025, with two sessions made available each week. Participants can access the video-based lessons at their convenience, complete practical homework assignments, and engage in guided Zoom discussions with expert instructors each Saturday. For those who are unable to attend live Zoom sessions, recordings will be provided.

“In designing ‘Genealogy Essentials,’ we aimed to create an accessible, flexible program that helps participants build a strong foundation in genealogy,” said Emily Richardson, incoming TxSGS president and course coordinator. “From understanding basic research concepts to evaluating sources and organizing family documents, this course empowers learners to discover their heritage with confidence.”

All participants will enjoy access to the course materials—including detailed handouts and Zoom session recordings—through February 25, 2025, allowing ample time for review and reinforcement. No prior experience is required; all you need is a computer with audio.

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All in the Family: Using Collateral Research to Build Your Family Tree
2025-01-20 03:00 - 03:30 | Bedford Public Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Drive, Bedford, Texas, 76021, United States
Speaker: Sandra Crawley
