THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News 25 May 2016

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 go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-May.pdf.

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Who’s the GFO Star this month?! That’s right, it’s our very own Liz Porter!

Liz Porter has taken on the HUGE task of updating the OPALS system by entering all our periodicals into the database, making the system more user friendly – Liz has become our periodicals expert! She learned the catalog and task so quickly! While Sarah and Laurel were unavailable, she learned to create labels to keep things moving. Her work is very accurate – and she has such a sweet disposition.

Thank you, Liz!

Note from the Editor: GFO Stars can be nominated by any of our patrons, visitors, or members. Simply fill out a nomination slip by the front door of the Library and add your nominee to the box on the wall above the donations jar.

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Goin’ for the Gold! Help us reach 100 Reviews on Facebook…

We need your input and we need your love!
And it only takes a couple of clicks…honest.
Step One Log into your Facebook page.

Step Two Go to the GFO’s Facebook page from your Facebook page.

Step Three Click the “Tell People What You Think” link at the top of the feed.

Step Four Click on the star rating of your choice (five! oh please pick five stars!!).

Step Five Type a review in the pop-up box.

It’s that easy. This is a great way to help others find out about the GFO, which will let us continue providing all the great genealogical programs and services you already enjoy so much!

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What’s Hot This Week in Genealogy??

In Case You Missed It – The U.S. MIDWEST edition:
Almost 1,000 (983) new and updated Free Historic newspaper Links have been added to the 12 Midwest States’ free “newspaper link lists”:

Check out the whole list of states available HERE. And don’t forget to check out the free tutorials at the top of the same page!

Digital Library? Prince William, is that really you??
FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO PRE-1918
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY DEEDS is now available at this LINK.

You can retrieve PDF images of documents as early as 1731. Please remember that there are a number of significant gaps in Prince William deeds prior to 1865, as a result of the Civil War.

Those gaps may be overcome by using rent rolls, land tax lists, loose papers, court orders, and an old index. The latter item, Prince William County Deeds Index, 1731-1827, compiled by Charlotte Cain, is available at http://eservice.pwcgov.org/library/digitalLibrary/ in addition to several early tax lists transcribed by Greg Mason.

Ron Turner’s website contains many collections of Prince William loose papers, including documents from lost deed books. http://www.pwcvirginia.com/pwcvabookspublishedworks.htm.

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Interviewing for Oral Histories Class – June 5th

Family history is often about gathering oral histories and stories from family members, and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon is here to help!
Description: The Oral History Project is a key part of the OJMCHE’s mission to preserve and present the history of Oregon’s Jewish community The central goal is to develop a community oral history archive that provides a chronicle of the experiences of the Jews of Oregon. The project began by documenting the lives of the former residents of South Portland in the 1970s. Efforts have also included the testimonies of Holocaust survivors and liberators of death camps. Several focused efforts are currently underway to collect multiple histories from within particular geographic or communal areas throughout the state.

Bio: Anne LeVant Prahl, the Curator of Collections at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, has been working in collections management since 1987. She began doing oral history by interviewing former members of Texas’ Black gospel quartets for the Texas Music Museum as part of her masters work in anthropology at the University of Texas. In Oregon, as part of her position of curator, she runs the oral history program for the museum, training interviewers, identifying interview subjects, and maintaining the collection of nearly 700 oral histories.

The meeting starts at 11 AM, June 5th.

SPECIAL VENUE
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
1953 NW Kearney St.
Portland OR 97209
Phone: 503.226.3600

There is no cost for this program. A donation to the JGSO or OJMCHE would be appreciated.

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TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!  
The GFO’s Irish Interest Group is in need of a brave new soul to lead the researching ranks of our Irish descendants beyond the terrors of seemingly insurmountable brick walls and through swamps of information overloads in our modern researching age.

Could this be you? If destiny’s calling, please give the library a call at 503-963-1932 or email volunteer@gfo.org to help out in this very vital way!

Visit the Irish Interest Group website for a peek at what they’ve been up to, and what we’ll all be missing with the upcoming retirement of their fearless leader, Suzanne Lemon, after September 17, 2016.

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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?

SATURDAY, MAY 28th
DNA Basics 9am – 11am

As this session is a little shorter than normal, no formal presentation will be given, although we can explore the websites for each of the three main DNA companies (Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe). Regardless, we will focus on your questions and problems so everyone is more confident on what the three types of testing can and cannot do for your genealogy. Don’t forget your handouts HERE!

Please send your questions and problems to Emily at aulicino@hevanet.com before class.

Facilitators: Emily Aulicino and possibly Lisa McCullough

Website: http://gfo.org/intgrp/dna.htm

Italian Group (Monthly Program) 11am – 1pm

Ciao to everyone interested in Italian genealogy research. This is a great opportunity to learn, share, and enjoy others with a common interest. Italian genealogy research in the Portland area now has a home. Come join our group. Facilitated by Keith Pyeatt

British Group 1pm – 3pm

Focus: Researching in the British Isles: England, Wales, Scotland, and Scots-Irish. We try to have speakers who provide interesting experiences or online databases for research in these countries. One hour of the two hour meeting is devoted to Brick Wall questions. Questions may be directed to: Duane Funk at duanefunk@comcast.net.
MONDAY, MAY 30th – THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1st
Learn & Chat 10am – noon

Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Connie Lenzen.

DNA Q&A 1pm – 2pm

Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions.