DPL: Exploring Dallas Public Library's Digital Collections
2025-02-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual & In-person

Dallas Public Library is proud to launch an updated digital collection, full of images and content to help you with your genealogy and historical research of Dallas and beyond! See how to search the updated collection in our new digital platform called ReCollect.

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Best Practices SIG
2025-02-22 10:30 - 13:00, 2025-03-22 10:30 - 13:00, 2025-04-26 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: Elizabeth Shown Mill’s FAN Club

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

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

Learn more about the Best Practices SIG.

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Meeting ID: 882 7359 7058

Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2025-02-22 14:00 - 16:00 | TX
Speaker: Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton

Topic: Researching Your Scottish and Irish Roots

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

A large percentage of American families have ancestors from Scotland and Ireland. Many of these immigrants eventually arrived in Texas. The resources available for those looking for Scottish and Irish ancestors have increased in recent years. Ms. Woolverton’s presentation will provide important information for both beginner genealogists and experienced researchers.

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

DPL: Meals & Memories: a Community Tasting for Black History Month
2025-02-22 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 Black History Month with food, community, and conversation. Enjoy a selection of small plates inspired by a traditional Arkansan-brunch created by Dallas chef Shanay Wise of Catering Done Wisely.

Arrive early to scan and record family photos and memories on Dallas Public Library’s mobile Vivid-Pix Memory Station. Participants will get a free USB of their digitized memories.

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.

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DGS General Meeting
2025-03-01 11:00 - 12:30 | 7th Floor – O’Hara Hall – J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Kathleen Murray

Topic: Irish Research: Discovering a Family Left Behind

Using a case study of an 1857 Irish immigrant to America, selected Irish resources will be introduced. Both text and web-based resources will illustrate a range of records and tools readily available for your research.

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Handout

Kathleen Murray holds a Certificate in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde and a PhD in Information Science from the University of North Texas. Before retiring in 2013, she conducted user studies for state and national digital library and Web archiving projects.She began researching her family history in 2003 and joined the Dallas Genealogical Society in 2009. She served as DGS vice-president in 2015-2016.Kathleen has presented research findings and educational programs at several local, regional, national, and international library and genealogy conferences.

DPL: Researching Texas Women
2025-03-05 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual & In-person

In honor of Texas Independence Day and Women’s History Month, we will discuss methods and methodology for researching your female ancestors in Texas. Learn about search strategies for searching online, and different traditional and non-traditional resources that you may use for uncovering the hidden history of Texas women.

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RootsTech
2025-03-06 00:00 - 2025-03-08 23:59 | TX
Join the world’s largest family discovery event

Plus an on-demand learning library available anytime

Brought to you by FamilySearch

MORE INFO

German Genealogy Group
2025-03-08 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: Bernard Meisner

Topic: Researching Bavarian Ancestors

The focus of this group is Germans who emigrated to various parts of the United States from the 1700’s through the 1900’s.

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

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Handout

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

Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society Meeting
2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Virtual

Speaker: Emily Coffman Richardson

Topic: Expanding Horizons: Local to International Genealogical Learning

Most individuals for whom genealogy is a hobby utilize their local genealogy society as place to go for education. However, even before the Zoom phenomenon, there were opportunities for learning from regional, state, national and international genealogical societies. This presentation will (re)introduce the participant to the multitude of learning experiences that are each uniquely designed and available to both the hobbyist and the professional genealogist.

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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Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:30 | TX
Topic: Tracing Your Family History on the US Census

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

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 US Census — the go to source for finding family. We will start with a short lesson on US Census basics, then we will go to the computers for some real-world researchBring your family information on paper, laptop (encouraged) or flash drive to our meeting and one of our genealogy detectives will work with you. Don’t have anything at all? We’ll give you a free USB memory stick containing our Genealogy Society starter kit, and help you start filling it.

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

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Speaker: Patti Gillespie

Topic: Birth to Death and In-Between: Finding, Using, and Integrating Religious Records in the United States

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

So much information and so little time! Religious records are another document group that sometimes seems complicated to find and use.

In this presentation, Patti will give us:

an overview with specific examples

why we want to look for religious records

what sorts of records might be found

who might be included in them

where to look for these documents

This presentation will simplify your religious records search experience.

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

Patti brings energy and humor to her classes. She is a believer in lifetime learning and inclusive presenting. An avid hobby genealogist for 30 years, Patti formed Family Lines & Stories, her own research company, 9 years ago. She stays busy researching for clients and speaking to groups, small and large, in and out of Texas. She continues as 5th term president of Wise County Genealogical Society while waiting for a willing soul to step up. A former teacher of French & English, Patti very much enjoys presenting.

Spring Seminar
2025-03-15 09:30 - 15:30 | 1st Floor – Auditorium, J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Presenters: The Ulster Historical Foundation, Fintan Mullan & Gillian Hunt

Topic: Honoring Your Shamrocks: Researching All Your Irish Ancestors

Sessions

Intro to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research

Using Land Records, Griffith’s Valuation, Tithe & Estate Records

Census Substitutes & Other Important Sources for the 18th & 19th Centuries

Emigration from the North of Ireland to North America

MORE INFO

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African American Genealogical Interest Group
2025-03-15 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-19 14:00 - 16:00 | 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.

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Meeting ID: 971 1676 5715

DPL: Organizing and Identifying Photograph Collections
2025-03-19 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual & In-person

We all have mounds of old unidentified family photos sitting in boxes. This lecture will offer step-by-step direction in organizing, preserving and cataloguing these precious collections for future generations. Learn how to identify, digitize in Dallas Public Library’s Creative Spaces: Heritage Lab and share collections using family trees and social media.

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DNA Special Interest Group
2025-03-20 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.

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

GPGS Lock-In
2025-03-21 18:00 - 22:00 | Grand Prarie Memorial Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prarie, TX, 75051, United States

Arlington Texas Stake Family History Seminar
2025-03-22 09:00 - 15:00 | TX
The Arlington Texas Family History Seminar is designed for local genealogists and researchers. This event promises to be an informative and engaging experience, with expert speakers sharing their knowledge on various aspects of family history research.

Location: 3809 Curt Dr., Arlington, TX 76016

Featured Speakers:

Our lineup includes experienced genealogists who will present on a range of topics, including:

Accessing the Records in the FamilySearch Research Wikis

Google for Genealogy

Family History Through Reunions and Vacations

Genealogy Resources In The Ft. Worth History Center Library

The Power of the Neighborhood For Gathering Information

Registration:

To secure your spot at this exciting event, please register by March 8, 2025. Although registration is not required, we would love to know who you are so we can prepare a seminar packet with all the handouts ahead of time.

MORE INFO

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DPL: Block by Block: Women, Quilts and Family History
2025-03-22 13:00 - 15:00 | 5th Floor – Hamon Room, J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young, Dallas, TX-Texas, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Throughout American history, women have used quilting to express their support for different political and social causes. They have quilted their beliefs, block by block, into their quilts. These quilts have been used to keep those fighting wars warm, to guide those traveling on the Underground Railroad, and to memorialize those we have lost. This Women’s History Month, Dallas quilter and lecturer Denise Bartosh will help us explore women’s quilting history and vintage quilts.

Bring a 5″ x 5″ block or square of fabric to make a community quilt to be displayed in the Fine Arts Unit.

This program is brought to you, in part, by genealogy funding through the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and the Gen. Levi Casey Chapter, NSDAR.

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DGS General Meeting
2025-04-05 11:00 - 12:30 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson

Topic: Immigration & Naturalization, Texas Style

The presentation will cover the extent to which Immigration and naturalization records in the geographic area that became Texas varied over time–due to changes in governments and the influx of American settlers–including the U.S. rules that came into play after Texas was admitted as a state.

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HANDOUT

DPL: Recording Family Stories with the Vivid-Pix Memory Station
2025-04-09 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual & In-person

Tell your family story the way YOU remember it! Dallas Public Library’s mobile Vivid-Pix Memory Station is a place to scan, record and share your family memories. This station has new software which allows you to seamlessly scan or upload multiple images quickly, restore them, and record a story to play over each photo in a digital video. Learn how to integrate this great technology into your photo and oral history preservation process.

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Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2025-04-10 18:30 - 20:30 | TX
Topic: Brick Wall Victories: How I finally found that relative who just wouldn’t be found

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

We’ve all had them — the ancestor or cousin you could not find. It was like you hit a brick wall! And now, you know the joy and satisfaction you felt when you “finally caught them.” During our program, members of the Cedar Hill Genealogical Society will share with us how they finally found them and what they did to catch them. If you have a research victory to tell us about, we will have a computer and projector available to display any pictures (jpg, bmp, tiff or png, please) notes, charts or diagrams (Docs, Sheets or Slides etc)

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

Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Speaker: Patti Gillespie

Topic: Birth to Death and In-Between: Finding, Using, and Integrating Religious Records in the US

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

So much information and so little time! Religious records are another document group that sometimes seems complicated to find and use.

In this presentation, Patti will give us:

an overview with specific examples

why we want to look for religious records

what sorts of records might be found

who might be included in them

where to look for these documents

This presentation will simplify your religious records search experience.

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

Patti brings energy and humor to her classes. She is a believer in lifetime learning and inclusive presenting. An avid hobby genealogist for 30 years, Patti formed Family Lines & Stories, her own research company, 9 years ago. She stays busy researching for clients and speaking to groups, small and large, in and out of Texas. She continues as 5th term president of Wise County Genealogical Society while waiting for a willing soul to step up. A former teacher of French & English, Patti very much enjoys presenting.

DPL: Researching your Arab American Family
2025-04-23 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual & In-person

April is Arab American History Month! Genealogy & History Manager Stephanie Bennett is a second generation Arab American and has been research her Arab American roots for over 10 years. Learn how to get started finding more information in U.S. records and repositories about your immigrant ancestors who came from Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East.

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Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2025-04-26 14:00 - 16:00 | TX
Speaker: Mic Barnette

Topic: Extend Your Direct Maternal Lineage: Take an mtDNA Test

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

Mic Barnette, will show what mtDNA is. (Hint: It’s more specialized than the ordinary DNA test most genealogists begin with.) He will also show how family researchers can use mtDNA to improve their family study, because mtDNA measures the matrilineal (mother) line. Mr. Barnette, a professional genealogist who is a library associate at the Dallas Public Library Genealogy Department, wrote a historical-genealogical column in the Houston Chronicle for many years. He lectures widely on family research, with particular specialization in DNA matters.

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

DGS General Meeting
2025-05-03 11:00 - 12:30 | 7th Floor – O’Hara Hall – J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Speaker: Thomas MacEntee

Topic: Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using Al

Board ElectionWe are electing our next board and need members to attend (in-person or virtual) to cast your vote!

Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI: Learn how to harness the power of artificial intelligence to assist in translating, transcribing, and summarizing a variety of genealogy records. A handwritten baptismal record from the 1800s? No problem. A faded newspaper obituary? No problem. We’ll cover the best AI platforms as well as how to craft a solid prompt to get you the results you need.

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HANDOUT

Who is Thomas MacEntee?

So, what if I told you that a Baby Boomer guy with a love of punk rock music but also Renaissance Art, somehow “fell” into the technology industry almost 40 years ago, and then left a lucrative career in information technology to pursue his love of family history and genealogy?

And that his passion for tracing his roots began over 45 years ago when he was watching the mini-series Roots on ABC Television at his great-grandparents’ house in February 1977?

While some might think these two elements – technology and historical research – are opposites. The truth is, “tech people” like Thomas are needed to guide today’s genealogists through the maze of options so they can deploy the best apps and devices as they break down those research brick walls.

Thomas MacEntee: author, educator, student, advocate, marketer, storyteller, entrepreneur, and that “genealogy guy” who helps you accomplish your family history goals.

DPL: Using Cemetery Research to Find Your Ancestors
2025-05-07 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Virtual & In-person Only

May is a month for memorializing those who have passed away, particularly U.S. military personnel who died in service. Learn all about cemetery records, specialized databases, and how to locate where a person is buried.

Special guests from the Dallas Genealogical Society will be available to answer questions about Dallas County cemetery research during the question and answer portion of the program.

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Cedar Hill Genealogy Society Monthly Program
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Speaker: Patti Gillespie

Topic: Birth to Death and In-Between: Finding, Using, and Integrating Religious Records in the United States

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

So much information and so little time! Religious records are another document group that sometimes seems complicated to find and use.

In this presentation, Patti will give us:

an overview with specific examples

why we want to look for religious records

what sorts of records might be found

who might be included in them

where to look for these documents

This presentation will simplify your religious records search experience.

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

Patti brings energy and humor to her classes. She is a believer in lifetime learning and inclusive presenting. An avid hobby genealogist for 30 years, Patti formed Family Lines & Stories, her own research company, 9 years ago. She stays busy researching for clients and speaking to groups, small and large, in and out of Texas. She continues as 5th term president of Wise County Genealogical Society while waiting for a willing soul to step up. A former teacher of French & English, Patti very much enjoys presenting.
