DALLAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Best Practices SIG
2026-08-22 10:30 - 13:00, 2026-10-24 10:30 - 13:00, 2026-11-28 10:30 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | 6th Floor – Classroom Brno (formerly Classroom B), 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

Van Zandt County Monthly Meeting
2026-08-22 14:00 - 16:00 | TX
Topic: Uncover your Scottish Roots

Van Zandt County Genealogy Society’s guest speaker is Sara Cochran. She is a full-time professional genealogist with over 25 years of experience. She especially enjoys breaking down brick walls, discovering the stories of black sheep ancestors, and helping individuals preserve their photographic legacy.

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: Volunteer Transcription Orientation
2026-08-25 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-08-29 14:00 - 15:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

Help Make Dallas History Searchable from Home! Join the Dallas Public Library’s Remote Volunteer Transcription Program and help unlock historic records for researchers, genealogists, homeowners and historians. Volunteers can work from anywhere, on their own schedule, transcribing historical documents into searchable text. No commute is required after the orientation—just a computer, internet access and an interest in preserving local history.

Volunteer Orientation Required

Before beginning work on the project, volunteers must sign up for a CERVIS account and register for one of the upcoming transcription orientations. https://cerv.is/0152gijZGBM

Current Project: City of Dallas Permit Books

Our current transcription project focuses on City of Dallas building permit inspectors’ log books dating from 1905 through the early 1970s. While no transcribing experience is required, a knowledge of Dallas street names and being able to read early 20th century handwriting is helpful.

In Partnership with FromThePage

The project is hosted through FromThePage, a collaborative transcription platform used by libraries, archives, and museums around the world. Training is provided by Genealogy & History staff.

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DPL: 250 Years of Us Book Club: The American Revolution and the Fate of the World
2026-08-27 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.

August Selection: The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by Richard Bell

In August’s selection, we broaden our view of the American Revolution beyond the thirteen colonies to examine its far-reaching global consequences. Richard Bell situates the conflict within a worldwide struggle among empires, exploring how events in North America reshaped international politics, trade, and ideas about liberty and self-government. By tracing connections across the Atlantic and beyond, the book challenges readers to see the Revolution not as an isolated national story, but as a transformative event that altered the course of world history and influenced movements for change far beyond the borders of the new United States.

Excerpts from Ken Burns’ THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will be shown in the book discussion group. These clips have been made possible through a library grant from PBS.

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DPL: Vivid-Pix Memory Station Open Hours
2026-08-28 13:00 - 17:00 | 8th Floor – Genealogy Section, J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person Only

During Vivid-Pix Memory Station Open Hours, you can scan and restore photographs, record the stories behind them, and create a personalized video that combines your images with audio recordings. Share family memories in your own voice, preserve the stories behind treasured photographs, and create a digital keepsake to pass down to future generations.

No need for an appointment. Drop in anytime during open hours and discover how easy it is to preserve your family’s history. The Vivid-Pix Memory Station combines photo scanning, restoration, and storytelling tools to help bring family memories to life.

MORE INFO

DGS General Meeting
2026-09-05 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: Laura Cubbage-Draper

Topic: Cluster and Collateral Research (FAN Principle) for Genealogical Problem Solving

Expanding our research beyond our direct ancestors can be the key that opens doors to unknown family. This lecture will cover strategies for researching our ancestor’s collateral relatives and community to help reconstruct families and solve genealogical problems.

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HANDOUT

Laura Cubbage-Draper, CG®, is a genealogical researcher and lecturer based in Metuchen, New Jersey. A Garden State native with deep Pennsylvania and German roots, she began researching her family in 1999 and earned the Certified Genealogist credential in 2024. Laura holds a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, is a graduate of ProGen 40, and has completed many courses at genealogical research institutes. She has spoken for local, state and national organizations, societies and libraries where she enjoys teaching about genealogical methodology and resources.

German Genealogy Group
2026-09-12 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: Bob Greiner

Topic: Germans Found in U.S. Federal Records on the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society Website

Bob Greiner will discuss the many resources available on the website of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS). He will describe various genealogical collections that MAGS has indexed and that are searchable by name on the website. These collections include unique records from churches and institutions, U.S. Department of State consulates in Germany, U.S. government Pension Bureau, and emigration notices from German legal newspapers. He will highlight specific examples of records that reference people from Texas.

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]

Bob Greiner is an expert genealogist who focuses on German family research, for his own family as well as to help others find their German ancestors. He has attained an exceptional proficiency in the interpretation of the old German Gothic or Kurrent script.

Bob has published books about several family lines, in print and online. He transcribed and published extractions of German church books from several locations. He also created and maintains a project that links hundreds of immigrant German families from the Pfalz region of Bavaria.

Bob is a regular contributor to the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS) publication Der Kurier, describing research methods for German immigrants in a column titled “Immigrant Connections.” He has also published research articles in the Maryland Genealogical Society Journal, the National Archives magazine Prologue, and the German Genealogical Group newsletter Der Ahnenforscher.

In addition to serving as the MAGS treasurer, Bob is a member of the Howard County (MD) Genealogical Society, the German Genealogy Group (NY), and volunteers at the Columbia (MD) FamilySearch Center. He also volunteers as a transcriber with the FamilySearch Germany Research Community.

Jewish Special Interest Group
2026-09-17 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-10-15 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-11-19 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-12-17 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.

DNA Special Interest Group
2026-09-17 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-11-19 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
2026-09-19 10:30 - 13:00 | 6th Floor – Classroom Brno (formerly Classroom B), J. Erik Jonnson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In-person & Virtual Event

Note: This is one week early due to the Dallas Genealogy Fall Seminar featuring Diana Elder

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

African American Genealogical Interest Group
2026-09-19 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-10-17 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-11-21 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-12-19 14:00 - 15:30 | 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

Fall Seminar featuring Diana Elder
2026-09-26 09:30 - 15:30 | Dallas Public Library – J Eric Jonsson, 1515 Young Street, DALLAS, TX, 75218, United States
Our Speaker: Diana Elder, AG, AGL

Topic: Genealogy Today: Using AI and DNA in Your Research

Sessions:

Solving a Family Mystery with DNA

Streamlining Genealogical Research Plans with AI: A Step-by-Step Guide

Efficient Locality Research with AI

From Complex to Clear: Transform Court Records with AI Tools

MORE INFO

REGISTER

DGS General Meeting
2026-10-03 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: Jeanette Sheliga

Topic: My Ancestor was a Postmaster

The Post Office Department is one of the largest non-military federal employers which employed many of our ancestors. Learn how to help tell their stories by researching postmaster appointments, salaries in The Official Register, postal maps, and more!

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Jeanette Sheliga

DGS General Meeting
2026-11-07 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: Annette Burke Lyttle

Topic: Finding and Using Digitized Manuscript Collections for Genealogical Research

Manuscript collections can contain genealogical gems. Letters, diaries, photographs, histories, and many more information-packed wonders reside in repositories around the world. Many repositories are digitizing parts of their collections and making them available online, so we don’t have to visit the repository to access the information we’re looking for, but finding these collections can still be a challenge. Learn how to search for online collections, use finding aids to determine their usefulness for our research, and locate amazing records.

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Annette Burke Lyttle, CG® owns Heritage Detective, LLC, providing professional genealogical services in research, education, and writing. She speaks on a variety of genealogical topics and loves helping people uncover and share their family stories. Annette is a course coordinator for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is a published writer whose research interests include Quaker ancestors and ancestral migrations in the United States. She is past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and editor of The Florida Genealogist.

German Genealogy Group
2026-11-14 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: TBA

Topic:

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]

DGS General Meeting
2026-12-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Lochwood Branch Library, 11221 Lochwood Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75218
In-person & Virtual Event

LocationContinuing our December tradition, we will meet at a branch library. This year we will be at the Lochwood branch.

Speaker: Sylvia Tracy Doolos

Topic: Tracing Female Ancestors Through Everyday Records

American women in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries left records, none unique to women. However, these records can provide unique insights when looked at through a historical lens as American women’s lives changed.

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Sylvia Tracy Doolos has pursued genealogy for more than forty-five years and has worked professionally for fifteen as the owner of New Leaf Genealogy. She serves as President of the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE) and is Past President of both the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH) and the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (CAPG).

A graduate of ProGen 48, Sylvia holds a B.A. in History with a minor in English focusing on linguistics and the ways language change affects historical records. She was recently honored with the Birdie Monk Holsclaw Award from the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies (CCGS).
