DALLAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

German Genealogy Group
2025-09-13 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

Speaker: Dr. Sabine Akabayoy

Topic: Bridging the Atlantic: German DNA for American Genealogists

The prevalence of DNA testing in Germany is much lower than in the US and data privacy is much stricter making it much more difficult to research DNA matches. In this presentation we will address differences in DNA genealogy between US and German researchers. This session will provide insights on which platform to find German DNA matches and how to increase our chances receiving an answer when contacting them.

We will also talk about migration within Europe and the impact on the ethnicity estimate and how we can utilize the ethnicity estimate to determine the location of our German ancestors. It is crucial to combine DNA results with traditional genealogical research so we will touch slightly on how to find records pointing to the place of origin prior to immigration that will also help filtering DNA matches.

Sabine was born in Germany. Her ancestors are from Hesse, Westphalia, East Prussia, Thuringia, Mecklenburg and Brandenburg. She immigrated to Israel and has a PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science and was a researcher at Harvard Medical School before she returned to Israel. Now she uses her research skills as a professional genealogist and translator, specializing on DNA genealogy, German genealogy, immigrants from Germany to the US and Israel, and Jewish genealogy.

The leaders of this group are Ann Broihier and Bernard Meisner. Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org. Learn more about the German Genealogy Group

JOIN CALL

Meeting ID: 867 5887 1312, Passcode: [REDACTED]

DNA Special Interest Group
2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:30 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

The DNA Special Interest Group explores the use of DNA as a genealogical tool. The goal is to help individuals understand and incorporate current DNA testing strategies and standards into their personal genealogy. Meeting are open to all.

This months meeting will be a presentation by Dave Vance, General Manager of Family Tree DNA: Three Tests- One Tree! Integrating Autosomal, Y DNA and MT-DNA Results Together

Those interested in the DNA SIG may sign up for email meeting notification:

By requesting to be added to the SIG Mailing List at DNA@dallasgenealogy.org

By joining the “DGS DNA Interest Group” Project through their personal page on Family Tree DNA (the person must have tested and be in the Family Tree DNA database)

JOIN CALL

Zoom Details: Meeting ID: 828 9186 6806 / Passcode: [REDACTED]

African American Genealogical Interest Group
2025-09-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-18 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-15 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-17 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-21 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-03-21 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:30 and 1 more date | 6th Floor – Classroom Brno (formerly Classroom B), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-Person and Virtual Event

The group discusses use of variety of sources, including census research, reconstruction and Freedman Bureau records, NARA combined military records of the U.S. Colored Troops, Plantation Slave records, Slave schedules and other records.

JOIN CALL

Meeting ID: 971 1676 5715

Best Practices SIG
2025-09-27 10:30 - 13:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Topic: Book Discussion: Your Stripped Bare Guide to Citing and Using History Sources

Liz will be leading the group on the study of Elizabeth Shown Mills newest book, Your Stripped Bare Guide to Citing and Using History Sources. Please be sure to bring your copy. I found this extremely helpful in being a quick reference, easy to use and understand. We will also be discussing the course of study for the upcoming months..so be sure to join!

You can contact Liz Kutz, the SIG leader at bestpractices@dallasgenealogy.org.

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

German Genealogy Group
2025-11-08 10:30 - 12:00 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

Speaker: Robin McDonough, Outreach & Programming Coordinator-Emerson History & Genealogy Center, St. Louis County Library

Topic: Using Ortsfamilienbücher to Research German Ancestors

Ortsfamilienbücher contain genealogical information about families within a specific town, village, or parish, sometimes going back to the beginning of written records. Learn about the Emerson History & Genealogy Center’s large collection of these books and how to use them.

Robin has been researching her family’s history for over twenty-five years and enjoys helping others do the same. She is a former high school history teacher and has a Master’s degree in education.

The leaders of this group are Ann Broihier and Bernard Meisner. Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org. Learn more about the German Genealogy Group

JOIN CALL

HANDOUT

Meeting ID: 867 5887 1312, Passcode: [REDACTED]

DNA Special Interest Group
2025-11-20 18:00 - 19:30 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual Event Only

Speaker: Jonny Perl

Topic: What are the Odds Video

When working with DNA for family history research, there are many scenarios where a “mystery match” will emerge. This person will share DNA with several people within a known tree, while their genealogical connection to the tree is not known. They could be someone with unknown or mistaken parentage, or simply an uncommunicative match. This webinar will show how “What are the Odds?” (WATO) can guide you towards answers to puzzles like these.

The DNA Special Interest Group explores the use of DNA as a genealogical tool. The goal is to help individuals understand and incorporate current DNA testing strategies and standards into their personal genealogy. Meeting are open to all.

Those interested in the DNA SIG may sign up for email meeting notification:

By requesting to be added to the SIG Mailing List at DNA@dallasgenealogy.org

By joining the “DGS DNA Interest Group” Project through their personal page on Family Tree DNA (the person must have tested and be in the Family Tree DNA database)

JOIN CALL

Zoom Details: Meeting ID: 828 9186 6806 / Passcode: [REDACTED]

Best Practices SIG
2025-11-22 10:30 - 13:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Topic: AI and FamilySearch Experimental Labs

The Best Practices SIG is for genealogists who want to learn advanced methodology skills and techniques. Liz will be leading our discussion on AI and FamilySearch Experimental Labs. We’ll be exploring the pros and cons and talking about how to make the most of these powerful tools to support our research.

“The only voice that documents have is the voice we give them.With every document we find, and every story we tell, we have a choice:We can take what we see at face value, report it devoid of context, and run the risk of misrepresenting the circumstances.Or we can seek the context we need to understand the record, the event, and the person.”

– Elizabeth Shown Mills

You can contact Liz Kutz, the SIG leader at bestpractices@dallasgenealogy.org.

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

Jewish Special Interest Group
2025-12-08 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-01-12 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-03-09 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-04-13 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-05-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Jewish Community Center of Dallas, 7900 Northaven Road, Dallas, TX, 75230, United States
In-person

The Jewish Genealogical Interest Group’s mission is to assist anyone to research their actual (or suspected) Jewish ancestral lines. Learn about alternative genealogy research methods and records specifically geared to finding your Jewish ancestors.

The group will meet in the Boardroom.

German Genealogy Group
2026-01-10 10:30 - 12:00 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

Speaker: Baerbel K. Johnson, AG®

Topic: Using Historic Newspapers to Learn More About Your German Ancestor

Historic newspapers can be a boon for family historians. They may include notices of births, marriages, or deaths, property sales, inventions, business licenses requested, intentions to emigrate, and more. Your ancestor may be mentioned in a news article. Historical information, such as local events, grocery prices, and advertisements can help you understand your ancestors’ world. Join us and learn how to use this amazing resource to enrich your family history!

Baerbel K. Johnson, AG®, is a professional genealogist who specializes in finding German ancestors. She recently retired after 32 years of service as research specialist at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Baerbel holds degrees in Family and Local History Studies and Sociology from BYU and has many years of extensive experience in European family history research with emphasis on Germany. She has published several journal articles, contributed material for several books, and lectured at various conferences. Her personal interest is in “putting flesh on the genealogical skeleton” by placing each individual within a proper social and historical context.

Baerbel is a member of NGS, ICAPGen, the German Professional Genealogists Association, and the German Society for Computer Genealogy.

The leaders of this group are Ann Broihier and Bernard Meisner. Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org. Learn more about the German Genealogy Group

JOIN CALL

HANDOUT

Meeting ID: 867 5887 1312, Passcode: [REDACTED]

DNA Special Interest Group
2026-01-15 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-03-19 18:00 - 19:30 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

The DNA Special Interest Group explores the use of DNA as a genealogical tool. The goal is to help individuals understand and incorporate current DNA testing strategies and standards into their personal genealogy. Meeting are open to all.

Those interested in the DNA SIG may sign up for email meeting notification:

By requesting to be added to the SIG Mailing List at DNA@dallasgenealogy.org

By joining the “DGS DNA Interest Group” Project through their personal page on Family Tree DNA (the person must have tested and be in the Family Tree DNA database)

JOIN CALL

Zoom Details: Meeting ID: 828 9186 6806 / Passcode: [REDACTED]

Best Practices SIG
2026-01-31 10:30 - 12:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

We’re excited to begin a new year and a new study focused on applying the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to our own family research.

This will be a hands-on, work/study group rather than a lecture series. Each participant will use their own research throughout the year, applying GPS principles to an unresolved research problem of their choosing—whether that means addressing a long-standing research challenge or advancing a family line with greater confidence.

Please come prepared to share a brief overview of your current research (5–7 minutes) so the group can become familiar with your project and help identify effective research strategies.

We’ll also spend a small portion of each meeting exploring how AI tools can support organization, planning, and analysis—always within a GPS framework.

Handouts:

Simple GPS Flow

Genealogical Proof Standard Overview

You can contact Liz Kutz, the SIG leader at bestpractices@dallasgenealogy.org.

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

Jewish Special Interest Group
2026-02-09 10:30 - 12:00 | TX
CANCELLED – this session has been cancelled.

The Jewish Genealogical Interest Group’s mission is to assist anyone to research their actual (or suspected) Jewish ancestral lines. Learn about alternative genealogy research methods and records specifically geared to finding your Jewish ancestors.

The group will meet in the Boardroom.

Best Practices SIG
2026-02-28 10:30 - 13:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

The Best Practices SIG is for genealogists who want to learn advanced methodology skills and techniques.

“The only voice that documents have is the voice we give them.With every document we find, and every story we tell, we have a choice:We can take what we see at face value, report it devoid of context, and run the risk of misrepresenting the circumstances.Or we can seek the context we need to understand the record, the event, and the person.”

– Elizabeth Shown Mills

You can contact Liz Kutz, the SIG leader at bestpractices@dallasgenealogy.org.

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

JOIN CALL

German Genealogy Group
2026-03-14 10:30 - 12:00 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

Speaker: Garry Finkell

Topic: Hudson Valley Palatine Loyalists in the Revolutionary War

I examine the general topic of the existence of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War. This is a subject that very few Americans are aware of. It has only been in the last couple of decades that there has been a serious examination of the topic in academic circles.

I then discuss the Loyalists from among the Palatine Germans, whose parents and grandparents settled in the Hudson River Valley of New York beginning in 1710 and continuing up to the war itself. I examine the reasons for their taking their position, including Lutheran theology and their lived experiences.

The aftermath of the war saw the exile of all Hudson Valley Loyalists, including the Palatines to Ontario, Canada. These exiles became the founders of English-speaking Canada, and I discuss their prominent position in Canadian history.

Throughout the presentation I include references to my Finckel ancestors who were among the Palatine Loyalists. I finish with a description of a trip that I took with my 3rd cousin, Donald Finkell to explore our part of Canada and to meet a 5th cousin, Paula Finkle who lives in Canada.

Garry Finkell Bio

Garry is from Albany, New York and joined Palatines to America (PalAm) in 2009. He is currently Vice-President of Palatines to America (PalAm), and he is a past president of the New York Chapter of PalAm. He maintained the YouTube channel for PalAm and the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP), as well as the Facebook page for the New York Chapter.

Garry is one of the representatives of PalAm to the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP). In addition, Garry is a member of the Board of Directors of the IGGP.

The leaders of this group are Ann Broihier and Bernard Meisner. Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org. Learn more about the German Genealogy Group

JOIN CALL

HANDOUT

Meeting ID: 867 5887 1312, Passcode: [REDACTED]

Best Practices SIG
2026-03-21 10:30 - 13:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Special DateFor March, we will meet on the third Saturday to avoid conflicting with the Spring Seminar.

The Best Practices SIG is for genealogists who want to learn advanced methodology skills and techniques.

“The only voice that documents have is the voice we give them.With every document we find, and every story we tell, we have a choice:We can take what we see at face value, report it devoid of context, and run the risk of misrepresenting the circumstances.Or we can seek the context we need to understand the record, the event, and the person.”

– Elizabeth Shown Mills

You can contact Liz Kutz, the SIG leader at bestpractices@dallasgenealogy.org.

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

JOIN CALL

Best Practices SIG
2026-04-25 10:30 - 13:00 | 8th Floor – McDermott Room, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Topic: Write a Research Plan and Open a Research Report.

The Best Practices SIG is for genealogists who want to learn advanced methodology skills and techniques.

“The only voice that documents have is the voice we give them.With every document we find, and every story we tell, we have a choice:We can take what we see at face value, report it devoid of context, and run the risk of misrepresenting the circumstances.Or we can seek the context we need to understand the record, the event, and the person.”

– Elizabeth Shown Mills

You can contact Liz Kutz, the SIG leader at bestpractices@dallasgenealogy.org.

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

JOIN CALL

German Genealogy Group
2026-05-09 10:30 - 12:00 | 6th Floor – TaiPei (Classroom D), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person and Virtual Event

Speaker: Bernard N. Meisner

Topic: Learning German Genealogy Through Videos: Tools, Tips and Trusted Sources

Which is your preferred learning style: Seeing, Listening, Reading, or Doing? For those researching their German ancestors, there are many video resources available for little or no cost. This presentation will include a number of those resources, for beginning, intermediate, and even advanced, researchers. You will also learn tips for using videos effectively in German genealogy.

The leaders of this group are Ann Broihier and Bernard Meisner. Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org. Learn more about the German Genealogy Group

JOIN CALL

HANDOUT

Meeting ID: 867 5887 1312, Passcode: [REDACTED]
