THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

15 March 2018

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 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!

GFO’s Open House – A Success Story

Welcome and Many Thanks!!

Another GFO Open House has come and gone. Classes were attended by 652 people–this includes a lot of people counted more than once as many attended multiple classes.

We’d like to extend our warmest WELCOME to all our newest members who signed up for GFO Membership at last week’s Open House. All your membership benefits can be viewed HERE on our website!

A very special THANK YOU to everyone who played a part in our biggest educational event of the year:

Nanci Remington, who arranged all the speakers, collected all the information, posted the schedule online, and kept us all updated as things evolved.

Judith Leppert, who served as hostess all nine days, baking and making coffee and cleaning up afterward every day.

Thank you also to everyone who brought in goodies and treats to share at our coffee corner tables.

Early Bird Registration Ends Tomorrow!

Feeling Lost? Join Genealogy Problem Solvers (GPS) this Saturday, March 17th

This month’s Genealogy Problem Solvers (GPS) meets Saturday, March 17th, 9:30 – 11:30am

Location: GFO’s Multipurpose Room

This month’s brick wall is the 3rd great grandmother, Anna Rosetta (Halverson) French of one of our members.

The only documented fact is her death at age 36, and her marriage to William French in 1812 in Philadelphia. Only her mothers’ first name and married surname are known, and her sea captain father is said to be anything from a Slave Trader to a shipper of Catholics to the Colonies. He is dead before 1800.

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.

All of the GFO’s Special Interest Groups are FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC.

Finding James, GenTalk – Saturday, March 17th

Presenter: Kate Eakman

GFO’s Multipurpose Room, 2pm

Join us after the GPS meeting this Saturday to uncover as much information as possible about a U.S. serviceman who died on Utah Beach on D-Day during WWII. What followed was a study in dead ends, perseverance, and one of the most meaningful projects it has ever been Kate’s privilege to work on!

Kate Eakman holds an M.A. in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her career as a professional genealogist, Kate spent 20 years as a college history professor. Today she is a Senior Researcher for Legacy Tree Genealogists. Kate’s article “Writing the Professional Research Report: Style and Format” was awarded the APGQ Excellence Award for 2016.

All of the GFO’s GenTalks are FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC.

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Don’t Forget the Annual Member Meeting at 2 – 2:15pm

Find out who’s running for our various open offices, nominate someone (with their prior permission), or even throw your own hat in the ring.

Did someone say “French Canada”? Join Our Newest SIG this Sunday!

The French Canada Special Interest Group (SIG) will have its FIRST MEETING on Sunday, March 18th, 3:30 – 5pm.

Location: GFO’s Multipurpose Room

Bob LaMarche will be our fearless facilitator.

Please check the GFO CALENDAR for updates and class details.

The group will be discussing topics of interest in French Canada as well as Acadian genealogy and history.

Did you know the GFO has the 2nd largest French Canada collection outside of Canada?

Lost and Found Items

We found these poor abandoned coats, hats, and this single lonely, albeit lovely, earring after last week’s Open House.

Please call the GFO’s reception desk at 503-963-1932 to claim any of these items that may have wondered off your person last week.

We’ll hold these items until the end of March.

Sizzlin’ Hot Tips in Genealogy this Month…

Portland’s 77th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Aquinas Hall, 340 NE Clackamas St in Portland, 3:30 – 8pm, and doors open at 3 p.m.

Don’t miss out on this fun afternoon and evening filled with all things Irish! Authentic Irish music, song, and dance. Penny’s Puppet show for the children. Food and beverages available for purchase. More info HERE.

Overlooked – NYTimes Women’s Obituaries

This recent NYTimes article, accessible HERE, tells all about how the shape of history is often made without our awareness. The article also discusses how we choose to remember and who our documentation often allows us to remember.

Featured in these Obituaries…

Roots Tech 2018

Saturday, March 17th, 9am – 4:00pm
To see this year’s line up for classes and the teacher bios, visit roots.fgos.org. This is a free community event. All are welcome. Registration is to give us a count for the free lunch only. We look forward to seeing you!

At the GFO This Week…

SATURDAY, March 17th

Genealogy Problem Solvers (GPS) 9:30 – 11:30am

This is a free event designed to help attendees gather research tips from the best in the field! Join the fun every third Saturday of the month. If you’re a GFO member and have a genealogy problem for our experts to solve, email GPS@gfo.org today!

Annual Membership Meeting 2 – 2:15pm

Find out who’s running for office, nominate someone (with their prior permission), throw your hat in the ring, and be on hand for the GenTalk to immediately to follow.

GenTalk – Finding James 2pm

Presentation will start after the Membership Meeting.

Presenter Kate Eakman, MA

It sounded like an average assignment for professional genealogist Kate Eakman: uncover as much information as possible about a U.S. serviceman who died on Utah Beach on D-Day during WWII. What followed was a study in dead ends, perseverance, and one of the most meaningful projects it has ever been her privilege to work on.

SUNDAY, March 18th

Library Work Party 9am – noon

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!

French Canada Ancestry Group 3:30 – 5pm

Sharing stories of our history. Come and join this new group to learn more about French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. The group leader is Bob LaMarche.

WEDNESDAY, March 21st

Learn & Chat 10am – noon

At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan.

DNA Q&A 1 – 3pm

Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion.