THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 04 January 2017
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!
Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for January 2017, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” –> “Our Publications” menu at our new website (still gfo.org).
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Start the year off with a bang! January’s GenTalk is around the corner!!
WHEN Jan 21, 2017 at 2 pm
WHERE: the GFO Library
WHAT Lone Fir Cemetery
As always this event is free and open to the public, so be sure to let your friends know soon!!
The Lone Fir Cemetery is a rich source of genealogical and historical information about our Portland-area pioneers. Their stories are inspiring, heroic, despicable, heartbreaking, and above all, interesting.
Click HERE for more information.
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MARK THOSE CALENDARS, FOLKS, AND MARK ‘EM QUICK!!
It’s Practical Genealogy at The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon on January 8, 2017 @ 10:30am, at Congregation Ahavath Achim, 3225 Southwest Barbur Boulevard, Portland, OR 97239. Click HERE for more info.
Free Webinars on North Carolina Research on Jan 20th, Feb 17th, and March 17th. Simply click HERE, HERE, and HERE.
GFO’s Research Practicum on Sat. Feb 25th, for intermediate to advanced researchers. Hurry, hurry!! Space is limited to 20 seats, so click HERE today to sign up.
GFO’s OPEN HOUSE Sat. Mar 18th through Sun. Mar 26th, with each new day bringing you a new variety of subjects! And all the events are free. Wow-wee!! Check our website for daily events and times.
GFO’s Spring Seminar with John Philip Colletta on Sat. Apr 29th and 30th. Signing up early has never been easier! Simply click HERE and then scroll to the second “Register Now” button on the page.
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And now! Introducing the new and improved “Get Acquainted With…” Special Interest Group at GFO!!
“Get acquainted with what?!” you may be asking. Well, with the GFO, that’s what!
GFO President Laurel Smith and Manuscripts Chair Nanci Remington are giving duplicate presentations one Sunday and Wednesday each month (check the calendar for these moving dates) about what’s in the GFO library and how to utilize its extraordinary resources.
The duplicate presentations are so that if you can’t come on a Sunday, then maybe, hopefully, if the world’s not yet ended by then, you can come to the Wednesday session.
This month, this very next Sunday and the following Wednesday in fact, Laurel and Nanci will be giving tips on the new organization of the books in the library, along with an explanation of what all those pesky call numbers mean and how to find them using our online library catalog. Did you know we have an online catalog? Totally accessible from your own home? Well, if you didn’t, then you better plan on coming this Sunday from 1-3pm, or this next Wednesday from 6-8pm so you can learn all about it!!
The GFO online library catalog is under Resources at our new website HERE.
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Just one hot link in genealogy is maybe all you’ll need this week…
You know how you can read a census…well, sort of…but can you interpret the information??
This article (CLICK HERE) from Family History Daily has some of the best census-reading advice and tips you could ever gather.
If you find the article’s information leads you to a story you’d like to share about your own research, be sure to let us know!! Shorter stories (a few paragraphs) can be sent to insider@gfo.org, and longer stories (a few pages) can be sent to bulletin@gfo.org.
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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7th
Virginia Interest Group 10am – Noon
Research in Virginia can be difficult, with the complication of “burned counties”, as well as the ordinary difficulties of using historical documents. But it is not impossible. We discuss the history of Virginia and explore various methods to do sound genealogy research. We hope to foster collaboration among our many Virginia researchers and work on our varied research problems, our “brick walls”, together. Each month we will have a discussion or presentation on a topic related to our research. There will also be time each meeting for discussion, suggestions, and perhaps research on individual research. We’ll also explore the settlement of Kentucky, the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Judi Scott (judiscot@gmail.com) and Carol Surrency (lcsurr@gmail.com) are the group’s leaders.
German Interest Group 1pm – 3pm
This month’s speaker: Judith Leppert
Topics: German script and hints on tracing one of her family lines.
The German Interest Group was formed in the spring of 2011. It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. One goal is to provide information on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8th
Maps Work Party 9am – Noon
We are planning to continue working on this project on the second Sunday of the month from 9:00 am until noon or whenever you get bored or tired–but we doubt you will!! Come when you can, as we’d love to see you! Doris Cruickshank is our fearless map project coordinator for this Sunday’s party.
Get Acquainted With… 1pm – 3pm
January’s Topic: GFO’s online library catalog. Learn what you can do at home to prepare for your visit and gain an understanding about what all those call numbers really mean. Learn where the resources are hiding and become more efficient with the time you spend at the GFO.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11th
Photoshop Elements 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Join us for a discussion of how to use Photoshop Elements to present your family history research, pictures and stories. We discuss scanning techniques, photo restoration, creating pages for presentation, resources and anything else participants want to know related to this topic. All are welcome, from beginners to more advanced users. Come and learn and share your ideas and questions. Taught by Sarah Holmes.
Get Acquainted With… 6pm – 8pm
Second January Session: GFO’s online library catalog. Learn what you can do at home to prepare for your visit and gain an understanding about what all those call numbers really mean. Learn where the resources are hiding and become more efficient with the time you spend at the GFO. Remember, we’re doing two repeat sessions so that those who can’t make one can come to the other.