GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

19 April 2018

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for April 2018, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at www.gfo.org.

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

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Genealogy Problem Solvers are on the case

great grandfather and family

Saturday, April 21st, 9:30 – 11:30am

The challenge this month for our Genealogy Problem Solvers group has been submitted by Julie Ramos, convener of GFO’s Afro-American SIG. Its a classic Black family genealogical problem: identifying ancestral parents and siblings in the period following the Civil War, and then extending the family history back into slavery. Many of the sources are key not just to Black family research, but to any family before and after the US Civil War. As always, those who attend will have an opportunity to ask their own Brick Wall question on any subject, time period, etc., and if the resolution requires an extended response, it could be the challenge for a future meeting

GPS is a monthly support group where we help each other find information about a family line. We will learn to do a reasonably exhaustive search and develop research plans. The focus will shift depending on the needs of the group. Several experienced researchers have volunteered to help. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. For more information contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org.

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Come out to hear professional genealogist Leslie Brinkley Lawson as she discusses best practices in forensic genealogy research.

WHAT? Locating People In The Last Century
WHEN? Saturday, April 21st, 2 – 3pm
WHERE? GFO’s Library in the Multi-Purpose Room
HOW? Free & Open to the Public

Do you find it easier to find a person in 1880 than in 1980? If your answer is “yes,” then this is the presentation for you. Learn the skills you need to find those missing people in the 20th century…how to reassemble their lives; figure out where they went and where their children are today. We’ll touch on databases available on the internet, as well as other reference sources.

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What’s hot in Genealogy this May? Oh, this and that.

Virginia

Virginia Special Interest Group Meeting

Saturday, May 5th, at 10am
Virginia Genealogy Trivia Quiz

Come to our May meeting and test your knowledge of Virginia history and research. See just how much you know and where there are gaps in your knowledge.

We will have a list of questions taken from past meeting presentations. Then we will devote the remainder of our time for sharing and give everyone a chance to talk about their research problems, to ask questions, to share a new discovery, or a research technique or record group.

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Great Lakes Region Special Interest Group

Saturday May 12th, 9:30 am at GFO’s Library

We will look at the Ohio River as a major regional transit corridor, Judi Scott’s recent presentation on orphan trains, a genealogy visit to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and an ancestor’s puzzling move from Bohemia to Minnesota. You are invited to bring stories about your family and research in the Great Lakes Region. Questions? Contact Lynn at GreatLakes@gfo.org.

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Enrique Hurtado de Mendoza Collection of Cuban Genealogy

New online database!

Florida International University (FIU) has recently made its Enrique Hurtado de Mendoza Collection available online for free.

An article by FIU News calls this database the “Cuban equivalent of Ancestry.com.

The database online includes an extensive set of family trees, civil records, and sacramental documents.

We definitely recommend checking out this resource as you prepare for the May 19th GFO GenTalk, My Cuban Cousins.

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Cuban Cousins GenTalk

GFO’s May GenTalk is coming up!

Saturday, May 19th, 2pm Presenter: Janice Sellers

Janice Sellers says, “I was always told that I had cousins who had immigrated to Cuba, but no one could remember their names or even which branch of the family they were from. And Cuba is a difficult country to research. As more records have become available online, I was able to uncover enough clues to find and contact some of my Cuban cousins. In the summer of 2015, I traveled to Cuba to see what traces I could find of my family there.”

Janice is a professional genealogist who specializes in forensic, Jewish, black and newspaper research. She has presented numerous talks to diverse audiences at local, regional, state, and national events.

Come learn all you ever wanted to know about tracing your Cuban ancestors.

All GFO’s GenTalks are Free and Open to the Public!

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GFO’s DNA Beginners Class

Saturday, May 26th, 9am – noon at GFO’s Library

The class will tackle some major aspects of both AncestryDNA and MyHeritage to help you enhance your testing experience. As MyHeritage accepts autosomal tests from all the major companies, if you have tested, upload your raw data to the company before coming to class. It is always wise to be in more than one company’s database.

Finding common ancestors with your AncestryDNA test results can be difficult with few responses from matches, missing or locked pedigree charts, and no chromosome browser. We will explore a few methods to help you navigate AncestryDNA’s website to work around some of these obstacles.

MyHeritage might be the “new kid on the block”, but they are moving quickly to become a front runner in the autosomal DNA testing field. We will explore the new features that make it a company worth using.

All classes are free and anyone is welcomed. Please download the handouts and the evaluation feedback for class (available on the GFO calendar).

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CCG Spring Sem 2018

Clark County Spring Seminar

Friday – Sunday, May 25th – 27th
Registration Form

During an event-filled weekend, the Saturday seminar key speaker will be David Allen Lambert. Serving as chief genealogist for the venerable New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), David’s seminar topics include:
1) World War I Military;
2) Great Migration Era settler research; and
3) Probate & Deed Records research.

As an honored guest at the Seminar’s Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception Friday evening, David will share his genealogical gems, including some seemingly small finds that led to amazing stories. Clark County Genealogical Society is collaborating with Friends of Fort Vancouver to bring some of the wonderful Fort interpreters as guests.

Seminar seating is limited to 150 people.

Don’t delay! Sign up today!

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SATURDAY, April 21st

Genealogy Problem Solvers 9:30 – 11:30am

The GPS group tackles a classic Black family genealogy problem. See the full description at the top of this E-News.

Italian Interest Group Noon – 2pm

Resources When You Need Help – When you need research assistance, where can you turn? Learn useful resources to further your research, whether in the United States or in Italy. Facilitated by Keith Pyeatt.

Mission Statement – The Italian Special Interest Group is dedicated to promoting Italian family history and genealogy through education of members and the public in methodologies of sound genealogical research and providing the necessary tools and expertise to be successful.

GenTalk – Getting from “Then” to “Now”: Locating People in the Last Century 2 – 3pm

Presenter: Leslie Brinkley Lawson, FGC

Do you find it easier to find a person in 1880 than in 1980? If your answer is “yes,” then this is the presentation for you. Learn the skills you need to find those missing people in the 20th century…how to reassemble their lives; figure out where they went and where their children are today. We’ll touch on databases available on the internet, as well as other reference sources.

SUNDAY, April 22nd

Library Work Party 9am – Noon
Please Volunteer Some of Your Time!

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.

Heraldry/Coats of Arms Workshop 1 – 3pm

Sponsored by the Willamette Chapter Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century.

Free and Open to the Public. Click here for flyer.

Join us to explore Heraldry and the proper use of British Coats of Arms.

How are they regulated? Who is eligible for a Coat of Arms?

Learn how to locate your Gateway ancestor, the key to connecting with your ancestors in the nobility in Europe. What are the most accepted sources of lineage information.

The GFO has many great sources!