DALLAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

DPL: Celebrate our Veterans - Military Records on Fold3
2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

Honor the service of our nation’s veterans while uncovering their stories through Fold3, a genealogy database available through the Dallas Public Library. This program will share successful research tips to help you make the most of Fold3, including how to browse collections, refine and customize search results, and even add your own stories and photos to honor those who served. Whether you’re tracing an ancestor’s military journey or preserving a veteran’s legacy, this session will show you how Fold3 can bring their history to life.

REGISTER

Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2025-11-22 12:00 - 14:00 | TX
Potluck lunch and Show and Tell story time. Please bring your family memorabilia and share their story along with something for the Potluck.

Location: Van Zandt County Sarah Norman Library, 317 First Monday Lane, Canton

DPL: Spanish Documents for Non-Spanish Speakers
2025-12-10 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

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 Daughters of the American Revolution.

REGISTER

Collin County Genealogy Meeting
2025-12-10 18:00 - 20:30 | Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Mark Lowe

Topic: Let There Be Light: Using Church Related Periodicals *

* TxSGS Partner Society Webinar

Register in advance for the meeting.

REGISTER

SOCIETY WEBSITE

HOGAR de Dallas Quarterly Meeting
2025-12-13 14:00 - 16:00 | TX
Speaker: Roberto Zuniga, AICP

Topic: ¡Viva Monterrey! Your Next Great Escape!

Location: Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive, Dallas, TX 75218

This presentation provides a thorough introduction to Monterrey, a city in the northeastern part of Nuevo León, Mexico. It outlines the city’s history from its establishment in the late 16th century to its present-day position as one of the most vibrant industrial and economic hubs in Latin America. We will look into important historical events, how Monterey’s city layout has changed over time, and the social and economic factors that influenced its development. We will particularly focus on the city’s industrial growth, the development of its infrastructure, and how education, innovation, and entrepreneurship have contributed to its progress.

Collin County Genealogy Meeting
2026-01-14 18:00 - 20:30 | Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Patti Gillespie

Topic: Taking a Genealogy Trip – Ready, Set, Let’s Go!

Register in advance for the meeting.

REGISTER

SOCIETY WEBSITE

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2026-01-20 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Speaker: Emily Villafranco

Topic: Genealogy Resources at the Traphene Hickman Library

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

Discover your family story with us! If you’re curious about your ancestry but aren’t sure where to begin, join our meeting exploring the library’s genealogy resources. Learn how to access the library’s Ancestry, FamilySearch, HeritageQuest, and our genealogy collection to uncover records, trace relatives, and start building your family tree. It’s a perfect introduction for beginners and anyone eager to dive into their roots.

This event is made possible through our partnership with the Traphene Hickman Library. Admission is always free

Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2026-01-24 14:00 - 15:00 | TX
Speaker: J. Mark Lowe (remote)

Topic: Let There Be Light: Using Church Related Periodicals for family research

J. Mark Lowe is a semi-retired professional genealogist, author, and teacher who researches primarily original records and manuscripts in the South. He has been researching families for over 55 years. Mark has published articles in several society publications. He is a former officer and Board member for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), Past-President of the Association of Professional Genealogists, a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association and was awarded the APG – Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award and an APG Lifetime Membership. He serves as the Course Coordinator for ‘Research in the South’ at IGHR (Georgia), SLIG (Utah), and TIGR (Texas). He also presents Webinars for Legacy Family Tree and has worked on several genealogical television series including Follow Your Past, African American Lives 2, Who Do You Think You Are? and UnXplained Events, and podcasts, including Twice Removed and Blast From My Past.

Location: Van Zandt County Sarah Norman Library, 317 First Monday Lane, Canton

Grand Prairie Genealogical Society Meeting
2026-02-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Grand Prarie Memorial Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prarie, TX, 75051, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Bernard Meisner

Program: Techniques and Strategies for More Effective Online Searching

As more genealogical records become available through the Internet it has become essential to formulate efficient searches to find the relevant information about your ancestors. One must not only know where to look for the information, but how to find it. This presentation will cover how to determine what information is available, where it is located, and how to use search tools such as filters, wildcards, relationships, complementary data sources, and tailored search engines to improve the likelihood of finding it.

Location: Inspire Room at the Grand Prairie Memorial Library

Bernard is a genealogist and lecturer based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. He began researching his family over 35 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, several triple- and quadruple-great grandparents, and his Meisner 8th great grandparents. He is a co-leader of the Dallas Genealogical Society’s German SIG, and a member of the Nation, Texas State, and Germanic Genealogical Societies. He has written several articles for the Texas State Genealogical Society’s quarterly magazine, Stirpes.Bernard retired from the National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters where he was the Chief of the Science & Training Branch. He is certified as a consulting meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society. He has taught at the Universities of Texas, Oklahoma and St. Thomas (Houston). Bernard earned a B.S. in physics/German from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in meteorology from the University of Hawaii. He has completed coursework of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research, The Family History AI Show Academy’s Introductory and Advanced courses, and attended the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh multiple times, completing courses in Irish, German, and Pennsylvania Research, Digital Research Skills, and Practical Genetic Genealogy.

Collin County Genealogy Meeting
2026-02-10 18:00 - 20:30 | Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Laurel Neuman

Topic: Texas General Land Office – Exciting New Records Available!

Register in advance for the meeting.

REGISTER

SOCIETY WEBSITE

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2026-02-17 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Speaker: Nicka Sewell-Smith (remote)

Topic: Beginning African-American Genealogy research

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

Get to the root of your African American family tree with family history tools and essential record collections at Ancestry.com. Nicka will walk you through the steps to discovering your family’s unique history through the 20th century and back to the 1870 Census.

This event is made possible through our partnership with the Traphene Hickman Library. Admission is always free

Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2026-02-21 14:00 - 15:00 | TX
Speaker: Thomas MacEntee (remote)

Due to early voting at the library, the monthly meeting will be virtual only. Email vanzandtgensoc@gmail.com to get setup to attend.

Location: Virtual Only

Collin County Genealogy Meeting
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:30 | Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Daniel Horowitz

Topic: MyHeritage Unique Technologies for Researching Your Family

Register in advance for the meeting.

REGISTER

SOCIETY WEBSITE

DPL: 250 Years of Us Book Club: The Frozen River
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:00 | TX
Virtual Only

In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, this book club explores history through both fiction and non-fiction that challenge familiar narratives and invite fresh perspectives on the American past. Each selection encourages readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and consider the people, choices, and hidden stories that shaped the nation.

March Selection: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

March’s selection blends historical fiction and true events to spotlight Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife whose diary offers a rare, detailed view of life in early America. The Frozen River follows a murder investigation in post-Revolutionary Maine, using Ballard’s observations to reveal the legal, social, and gender dynamics of the time. Through the lens of one woman’s meticulous records, the novel challenges traditional historical narratives and brings overlooked voices and everyday experiences to the forefront of America’s past.

REGISTER

DPL: Google My Maps: Visualizing Your Ancestors’ Lives
2026-04-08 13:00 - 14:30 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

Genealogy wiz Linda Debe, the Sleepless Genealogist, shows how to turn your family history into a rich, interactive visual adventure. Instead of just reading about where your ancestors lived, worked, and wandered, you’ll learn to plot their stories across time and place using Google My Maps—making discoveries easier to spot and family history more exciting than ever. Let the map-making magic begin!

REGISTER

Collin County Genealogy Meeting
2026-04-08 18:00 - 20:30 | Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Hannah Kubacak

Topic: Creating Custom Genealogy Maps with Google

Register in advance for the meeting.

REGISTER

SOCIETY WEBSITE

DPL: Better Together: A Wellness Gathering
2026-04-09 09:30 - 13:30 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Join us for a day designed to help you live well, stay sharp, and connect with others! Enjoy short, engaging sessions led by experts on topics like sleep and stress, brain and memory, caregiving and self-care, technology, and community connection. Free lunch is provided along with a genealogy collection tour.

REGISTER

Caprock Genealogy Conference
2026-04-11 09:00 - 16:00 | TX
Speaker: Bernard Meisner

Genealogy can feel solitary. Conferences remind us we’re not researching alone.

The Beginner: You’ve started your family tree. You’ve searched a few census records. You’re excited — but also unsure.

The Brick Wall Researcher: There’s one ancestor you just can’t figure out.

The Tech-Curious Genealogist: You’ve heard about AI tools or heard others mention digital workflows.

The Story Preserver: You’ve gathered research — but now what?

The Community Learner: Or maybe you simply enjoy being around others who love family history.

If you see yourself in any of these, this conference is for you!

Sessions

Create an Interactive Book to Share Your Research with Your Family

Genealogical Timelines: Valuable Research Tools

Incorporating Artificial Intelligence Into Your Genealogical Toolkit

Lost in Your Genealogical Research? Perhaps You Need a Map to Find Your Way!

LEARN MORE

REGISTER

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2026-04-21 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Speaker: Kim Richardson (remote)

Topic: A New Strategy for Brick Walls

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

Feeling buried in genealogy research? Get organized—and start solving mysteries.Learn a powerful new approach that helps you:

See connections and relationships instantly

View all your research at a glance

Automatically organize your work

Spot gaps, errors, and conflicts

Build a clear narrative (no more writer’s block)

Plan and brainstorm your way to success

Handout

This event is made possible through our partnership with the Traphene Hickman Library. Admission is always free

DPL: Incorporating Oral History into Your Research
2026-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

Family stories can dramatically enhance your genealogical research. In this program with Dallas Public Library’s own Ari Wilkins, learn how memories passed down through generations can help uncover names, dates, and places, while also revealing the reasons behind migrations, the stories behind marriages, and the personalities of those who came before us. Family stories and personal recollections often preserve details that traditional records leave out, making them a powerful tool for anyone exploring their roots.

REGISTER

Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2026-04-25 14:00 - 16:00 | TX
Topic: Techniques to Locate your Native American Ancestors

Join the Van Zandt County Genealogy Society at Van Zandt County Sarah Norman Library, located at 317 First Monday Lane (Hwy 859), Canton. You do not have to be a member to attend. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Email vanzandtgensoc@gmail.com to get setup to attend.

Location: Sarah Norman Library

DPL: 250 Years of Us Book Club: Crooked by Austin Grossman
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, this book club explores history through both fiction and non-fiction that challenge familiar narratives and invite fresh perspectives on the American past. Each selection encourages readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and consider the people, choices, and hidden stories that shaped the nation.

April Selection: Crooked by Austin Grossman

April’s selection takes a darkly imaginative turn, blending alternative history, political satire, and supernatural thriller. Crooked reimagines Richard Nixon as an unlikely defender of America, secretly battling occult forces and ancient cosmic threats lurking behind Cold War politics. Drawing on real historical figures and events, the novel plays with conspiracy, power, and paranoia to explore the anxieties that shaped modern America. Through this strange and inventive lens, Grossman offers a wildly original perspective on leadership, secrecy, and the hidden stories that might exist beneath the surface of the nation’s past.

REGISTER

Collin County Genealogy Meeting
2026-05-13 18:00 - 20:30 | Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Stuart Murray

Topic: Revolutionary War and Early America: 1775-1800

Register in advance for the meeting.

REGISTER

SOCIETY WEBSITE

DPL Exhibit: The Mexican American Museum of Texas presents "Spanish Texas during the American Revolution: Life and Legacy, 1775 – 1783"
2026-05-22 00:00 - 2026-07-31 23:59 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Discover a lesser-known story of the American Revolution at Spanish Texas during the American Revolution: Life and Legacy, 1775 – 1783,” a compelling new exhibit on the 8th floor of the Dallas Public Library. Designed and produced by The Mexican American Museum of Texas, this display highlights how Tejanos and Spanish settlers contributed to the American Revolution while navigating the challenges of daily life on the Texas frontier.

Through bilingual panels, descendant collaboration and interactive replicas, visitors will gain an authentic look at, among many other things, the food, medicine, work, leisure, and resilience of Tejano communities in a region dominated by Native peoples. Significantly, this exhibit expands the narrative of the American Revolution beyond the thirteen colonies, ensuring that the contributions of Texas Hispanos are properly recognized.

MORE INFO

DPL: 250 Years of Us Book Club: The Only Good Indians
2026-05-28 19:00 - 20:00 | TX
Virtual Only

In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, this book club explores history through both fiction and non-fiction that challenge familiar narratives and invite fresh perspectives on the American past. Each selection encourages readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and consider the people, choices, and hidden stories that shaped the nation.

May Selection: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

In May’s selection, we pivot to a gripping and unsettling novel that blends horror with contemporary Native American experience. Centered on four Blackfeet men haunted by a past hunting trip gone wrong, the story examines themes of cultural identity, tradition, guilt, and survival. Through suspense and sharp social insight, this selection invites readers to confront the lingering consequences of history and consider whose stories have too often been marginalized in the American narrative.

REGISTER

DPL: Digitizing Family Videos and Film
2026-06-03 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

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.

REGISTER

DPL: Oral History Pop-Up
2026-06-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Auditorium, Preston Royal Branch Library, 5626 Royal Lane, Dallas, Texas, 75229, United States
In-person Only

Oral history is essential to preserving and interpreting the voices and memories of individuals and communities involved in past events. They can be as simple as sharing stories from everyday life, to as complex to how you remember important events. All help us understand how the world used to be by those who experienced it. We will have the Vivid-Pix Memory Sation on loan from the Central Library to record participants rich history through storytelling. Bring records, photos and other items to scan in tandem with your story. Sign-ups are for 5-to-15-minute recording sessions.

To request an oral history session outside of this program or for more information please contact the Genealogy & History Division at 214-670-1433 or genealogy@dallas.gov

DPL: Hitting the Genealogy Bullseye with Chronology and Location
2026-06-17 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual and In-person

Join genealogist James M. Beidler for an engaging session on how chronology and geography can sharpen your family history research. Learn how building accurate timelines and understanding the places your ancestors lived can help separate individuals with similar names, uncover missing records, and solve stubborn research problems. Using practical examples and proven strategies, this program will demonstrate how “hitting the bullseye” with chronology and location can lead to more accurate and meaningful genealogical discoveries.

REGISTER

HCGS Summer Seminar
2026-06-20 08:30 - 15:30 | TX
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Ari Wilkins

Sessions

– Black and White Families in Southern Plantation Records – Mysterious Relatives – Reconstructing Communities Using Sanborn Maps, Census Records, and City Directories – Sources for Researching Rural Ancestor

MORE INFO

Location:

Sulphur Springs Senior Citizen Center301 Oak AveSulphur Springs, TX 75482

A graduate of Louisiana State University, Ms. Wilkins has been actively researching family history since 1998, specializing in African American research.Ms. Wilkins speaks nationally and locally. She has had the honor to speak at the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, Texas State Genealogical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, American Library Association, RootsTech, and a multitude of local societies.

DPL: Transcribe-a-Thon
2026-06-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Auditorium, Preston Royal Branch Library, 5626 Royal Lane, Dallas, Texas, 75229, United States
In-person Only

Advance historical research by transcribing past documents!

This program will introduce attendees to the transcription process and support those interested in starting to assist with local transcribing with Dallas Public Library projects or on a broader level with Smithsonian documents. It is recommended for attendees to bring their own laptops to get started with projects during the free working time; however, we will have a limited number of public computers available as well.

To learn more about each project click the links below:

DPL & DGS Joint Projects | Smithsonian Transcription Center
