THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition July 25, 2019

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

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

September Half-Day Seminar Registration Now Open!

Newspapers can provide information about births, deaths, marriages, moves, business, naturalizations, court cases, and more. The GFO provides access to several newspaper subscription sites, plus additional databases. Join GFO’s Janice Selllers for a half-day workshop for an overview of what is available and techniques to help improve your chances of finding information about your relatives. Janice is a professional genealogist who specializes in forensic, Jewish, Black, and newspaper research. The session will be held in the GFO Library, Sunday, Sept. 8, from 9:30 a.m. – Noon. For more detailed information, download the flyer. Registration is $25.00 for GFO members, $30.00 for non-members. Register before Aug. 12 and save $5.00!

Register Here

Mark your Calendar for the GFO Fall Seminar!

The 2019 GFO Fall Seminar, featuring Fritz Jeungling, Ph.D., AG, will be an exceptional educational opportunity that we are exited to be bringing to our membership and the community at large. Dr. Juengling is an Accredited Genealogist® (through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists) for Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, and he is certified by the Verband deutschsprachiger Berufsgenealogen. He is also a German, Dutch, and Scandinavian Research Consultant at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The full-day session on Saturday, October 5th, will be held at the Center for Self Enhancement (3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland) and will focus on German Research, while the half-day presentation at the GFO Library on Sunday, October 6th, will provide an introduction to Dutch research. Download the flyer for full details. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and register early!

Register Here

Beginners’ Boot Camp Returns

On Tuesday, August 20, join Laurel Smith for a full day of beginning genealogy from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the GFO Library. There will be sessions about the census, vital records, discussions about genealogy software and database use, organizing your research, using Ancestry.com, and more — all geared toward beginners — but basic computer skills are a prerequisite. All communications are done via email, and you must be able to download and print the class notes. Bring a sack lunch, snacks, and a beverage so you can keep going as the class does. GFO members may attend for free, non-members $20.

Register Here

Summer DNA eConference

Join the GFO’s own DNA group leader, Emily Aulicino, one of the featured speakers at Family History Fanatics’ second annual Summer of DNA eConference coming up on Friday, August 9th.

Featured this year: Daniel Horowitz – Theory of Family Relativity and Other MyHeritage Tools Donna Rutherford – Testing Family Members: Why and Who to Choose Emily Aulicino – atDNA: Verify, Correct, Expand Leah Larkin – When Your Tree Is a Banyan: Working with Endogamy and DNA The live online sessions will begin at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, August 9th. Live Chat will permit questions during the presentations as well as participation in a fifth-hour panel discussion where questions about any of the topics or anything else related to DNA and genetic genealogy may be asked. Sessions will be recorded and available to all registered attendees for 30 days after the eConference. Early bird registration is only $19.99 until July 31st. Regular registration price is $24.99 after July 31st. Learn more at the website and register today.

Online Registration Deadline approaching for 2019 FGS Conference

The Federation of Genealogical Societies 2019 FGS National Family History Conference is coming up soon at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, August 21-24. In cooperation with sponsoring local societies, corporate sponsors, and partner organizations, the FGS 2019 conference program offers a new full four-day format jam-packed with topics of interest to every genealogist from beginner to expert. If you are making last minute plans to attend, note that Online Conference Registration for this event closes on August 2, 2019. Mailed in registrations must be postmarked by July 29, 2019. Registrations will be accepted on-site at the Omni Shoreham Hotel starting Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 3:00 p.m.

Surplus Book: Let Portland History Rub You the Right Way

Here’s a fun piece of Portland History that most people walk right over. In 1983, C.A. Gossett traveled Portland, knelt on corner after corner and made rubbings of the builders names and construction dates stamped into Portland’s sidewalks between 1900 and 1930. He writes, “These “sidewalk signatures” are part of the historic character of many neighborhoods and business districts in Portland.”

Portland’s Historic Sidewalk Signatures” is a 79 page paperback book. Our surplus copy is in excellent condition, with a previous owner’s book plate on a front page. There are no other markings in the book. Our price: $10 if you pickup at the GFO. $14 if we mail it to you. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it. (Please don’t just come to the library first to get it.)

Survey Results: Genealogy Myths

Wrapping up our series on genealogical myths, 62.5% of respondents reported believing, at one time or another, that the courthouse burned, and all the records are gone. “All” is where this belief turns to myth. The internet has many sites that refute common myths. We even have a page on the GFO website, courtesy of Dick Eastman. Genealogy Myths: Real, Fool’s Gold, or Both?

In our survey, more than one answer could be selected. 62.5% The courthouse burned (or flooded, was destroyed) and all the records are gone. 18.8% Hey look, it’s our family crest! 14.6% Our ancestors came over on the Mayflower. 10.4% Our family always spelled the name as … 10.4% Source citations are just for professionals. 10.4% Three brothers came to America. One went north, one went south and the third went west … 6.3% A town in England, (or Norway, Germany, etc.) is named for our family. 6.3% All the records you need to do your family history are online. 4.2% It’s in print. It must be true! 4.2% Our ancestor was a stowaway on a ship. 4.2% Our ancestor was burned at the stake as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. 4.2% We have the same surname—so we have to be related.

New Survey: The Impact of Storms

This week, we’re asking about a specific type of natural disaster. Were your ancestors ever affected by a tornado, cyclone, or hurricane? Take the survey now.

Take the Survey Now

This week at GFO …

Saturday, July 27th DNA Advanced Group 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tim Janzen’s topic: “Auto-clustering Autosomal DNA Tools used for Genealogical Research”. The handout can be downloaded here. Emily Aulicino’s topic: a discussion among attendees on various aspects of law enforcement using DNA. This will include the views of various people affected by major crimes, the ethics, the law, what your choices are regarding your test, etc. We welcome your opinion in an orderly discussion. Hopefully, for those of you who are on the fence about the topic or are concerned regarding your DNA test, this will help you realize what is happening and what you can and cannot do about your DNA. If you would like more information about this group or have questions, please contact the facilitators at dna@gfo.org. Sunday, July 28th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – 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. Wednesday, July 31st Open Late to 8:00 p.m.