GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Aug23 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 23, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. The current Insider newsletter awaits you HERE.

As a beginner or intermediate level DNA tester, are you struggling with finding common ancestors for your autosomal DNA matches? Are your matches not responding to your emails? Do your find it difficult to organize your DNA data to keep track of your connections? Then this class is for you!

WHERE? GFO’s Multipurpose Room
HOW? This class is completely FREE and open to the public!
WHEN? Saturday, August 25th, 9 a.m. – noon

Emily’s presentation “From atDNA Testing to Connecting the Family Dots: A beginner’s guide to autosomal testing and finding your common ancestors” will review autosomal DNA briefly, highlight the advantages and disadvantages for the five DNA testing companies, and focus on five steps to help discover your common ancestors, establish good communication with matches, and organize the information.

As a side bar, Emily will cover some tips on using AncestryDNA’s website to help you locate pedigree charts, matches’ emails, and getting around the lack of a chromosome browser.

Download the handout HERE and please bring it to class. You’ll also want to please review it before attending.

Think microfilm is too outdated to be useful? Think again!

According to a recent article from The Atlantic, “digital documents usually omit the context. The surrounding pages in the morning paper or the rest of the issue of a magazine or journal vanish when a single, specific article can be retrieved directly.”

Such easy, but limited access to research content can be detrimental to family history investigators who want more than the simple facts to post on their latest and greatest family trees.

We’re pleased to offer hundreds of microfilms at the GFO library, including Oregon land claim records from the earliest days of the state, foreign voter registration records, Native American records, and much more.

Read all about how microfilmed research is making a comeback in this article from The Atlantic HERE.

Donations to the library from Harold Hinds:

▪	Bounty and Donation Land Grants in British Colonial America

▪	The War if 1812: An annotated bibliography

▪	Mastering Immigration and Naturalization Records

▪	Tracing Your Civil Was Ancestor

▪	First Guide to Civil War Genealogy and Research

▪	Civil War Research Guide: A guide for researching your Civil War ancestor

▪	The Roster of the General Society of the War of 1812: 1989

▪	And the NGS Research in the States volumes for Massachusetts, Michigan, and Rhode Island

Did you know your GFO membership is worth $10 off when you join the Oregon Historical Society?
We’re pleased to be an affiliate of OHS and provide you this benefit.

When you sign up at the OHS all you need to do is note your membership on the application. (Including your GFO member number would be beneficial). If you’re joining in person or by phone, let the person you’re talking to know you are an affiliate member.

SATURDAY, August 25th

DNA Beginners Group 9 a.m. – noon

This Special Interest Group (SIG) will be led by the ever-knowledgable Emily Aulicino, whose presentation “From atDNA Testing to Connecting the Family Dots: A beginner’s guide to autosomal testing and finding your common ancestors” will review autosomal DNA briefly, highlight the advantages and disadvantages for the five DNA testing companies, and focus on five steps to help discover your common ancestors, establish good communication with matches, and organize the information.

Download the handout HERE and please review before class.

SUNDAY, August 26th

Library Work Party 9 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, August 29th

Bulletin Editorial Group (BEG) 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

First meeting of the new Bulletin Editorial Group (BEG). To all lovers of GFO’s quarterly publication, The Bulletin: Committee members help keep The Bulletin going strong by seeking articles and authors, keeping tabs on volunteer needs, and helping to recruit more participants.

If you’re interested in helping support The Bulletin, please plan to attend. If you have questions, please send them to Bulletin@gfo.org.

International German Genealogy Conference

Aug22 by Charles Hansen

10 months … $10,000 for a hotel room — NOT!

It’s a sure bet that you’ll STRIKE IT RICH! in your family research by attending the 2019 International German Genealogy Partnership conference June 15-17 in Sacramento, California. The opening of the conference is still 10 months away. But you’ll be able to start registering soon and can beat the rush to the programs of your choice.

You’ll hear from some of the top experts in German genealogy and history. You’ll connect with researchers from around the globe. And, unlike Gold Rush-era California, it won’t cost you $10,000 for a hotel room!

Back then, San Francisco’s Parker House was converted from a hotel to a casino to cash in on the gold rush. Professional gamblers paid $10,000 a month (in 1840 dollars) to run their games of chance in one of the rooms.*

Going out to eat will be a bargain nowadays, too. A breakfast for two — bread, cheese, butter, sardines and two bottles of beer — cost $43 at the height of the gold rush, the equivalent of about $1,200 today.

Being dead didn’t keep the money from pouring in, either. It was said a citizen of San Francisco died owing $41,000. Before his estate could be settled, the value of the real estate grew so quickly that even after paying his debts, his heirs had a yearly income of $40,000 [$1.2 million today].

Don’t you feel your net worth growing already? 🙂 See you in Sacramento!

*Source: Smithsonian Magazine

Stake your claim
The conference hotel is the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento. At $149 per night, you’re getting a deal, and your credit card won’t be charged until spring 2019.

Book a room

Registration alert
Early registration opens in November 2018. The top names in German genealogy will be presenting, and we could sell out quickly. Don’t delay when the announcement lands in your inbox.

Reach your target
An audience of 1,000 dedicated genealogists will want to hear about your service or product. Support the conference as a sponsor, vendor or advertiser.

Learn more

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Aug16 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 16, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. The current Insider newsletter awaits you HERE.

You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List.

Now come hear from the guru behind one of the most comprehensive reference lists there is online! GFO is proud to bring Cyndi Ingle in for our Fall Seminar November 3rd and 4th.

Topics include: Ten Resources I Use Every Day, Advanced Googling for Grandma, Unappreciated Treasures, Digital Research Plans, Google Maps & Google Earth and Online Resources for the Western U.S.

Register HERE now!

Genealogy Problem Solvers: GFO’s Multipurpose Room, Saturday, August 18th, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

James Harvey Knapp was an educator who founded the Knapp School in Pettis County, Missouri, but who were his parents?

James’s census records say he was born in New York and family theory states he was abandoned, or perhaps became an orphan and was raised by a relative. So far, the records show that James was born in New York in 1826, married in Michigan in 1848, and buried in Missouri in 1883.

Join the Genealogy Problems Solvers on Saturday, August 19th, at 9:30 a.m. in GFO’s Multipurpose Room and learn the team’s skills at navigating multiple state records as they try to track down the elusive Knapp parents.

GenTalk: GFO’s Multipurpose Room, Saturday, August 18th, 2 – 3 p.m.

Presenter: Leslie Brinkley Lawson

As genealogists, we love end-of-life records: death certificates, probate/estate paperwork, cemetery records, obituaries, etc. But in our personal lives, maybe we’re not so enthusiastic. Learn how to plan for the inevitable, for the sake of your genealogy research and for your loved ones. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be difficult, let Leslie show you how.

Leslie Brinkley Lawson is a full-time professional genealogist, specializing in forensic genealogy (missing / unknown heirs, and probate research). She is credentialed by the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG), and is a past president (2010-2015). She is the president of the Oregon Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and is a member of the GFO.

These monthly events are free and open to the public.

We’d like to know if any of you are going to the big 2018 conference held by the Federation of Genealogical Societies August 22-25 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

If you are, would you help share the GFOs new advertising card pictured above? This colorful new card offers visitors a discount to access GFO’s library. It also helps spread the word about our vast resources as the largest genealogy library in the Pacific Northwest.

If you are planning to attend the FGS meeting next week and would be willing to take some cards to the conference, please email us at president@gfo.org.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of GFO!

Councilman Wants To Eliminate All Funding For The Allen County Public Library

Proposed budget cuts would defund “the largest genealogy collection of any publicly-owned genealogy in the U.S.” Thousands of genealogists travel to this world famous genealogy collection every year, so this would affect local tourism earnings as well. Dick Eastman’s genealogy blog wrote about it HERE. You can see a response from the library director HERE. The $3.9 million budget cut plan comes from the same politician who believes that Amazon should replace public libraries.

Hamilton tickets to help rebuild Loiza, Puerto Rico library.

A small library outside Boston wanted to help a library in Loiza, Puerto Rico, which suffered substantial damage during Hurricane Maria last September.

It hoped to land a pair of tickets to the musical Hamilton to promote their raffle and reached out to Hamilton’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

They got their tickets and a whole lot more: a pledge to match donations up to $20,000. Read the full article HERE and find out how you can join this tremendous effort to help raise funds to repair Loiza’s library.

SATURDAY, August 18th

Genealogy Problem Solvers 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

This month the GPS team tries to track down the founder of the Knapp School in Pettis County, Missouri. Records have not yet revealed the parents of James Harvey Knapp. He was born in New York in 1826, married in Michigan in 1848, and buried in Missouri in 1883. Learn about the team’s skills at navigating multiple state records.
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.

GenTalk: Getting Ready to Check Out 2 – 3 p.m.

Don’t let your family history disappear. As genealogists, we love end-of-life records: death certificates, probate/estate paperwork, cemetery records, obituaries, etc. But in our personal lives, maybe we’re not so enthusiastic. Learn how to plan for the inevitable, for the sake of your genealogy research and for your loved ones. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be difficult, let Leslie Brinkley Lawson show you how.

SUNDAY, August 19th

Library Work Party 9 a.m. – noon

Family Tree Users’ Group 1 – 3 p.m.

Join other users who want to work through the 2017 Companion Guide to Family TreeMaker. Bring your laptop with 2017 version of FTM installed and an empty USB thumb drive. Facilitated by Joyce Grant-Worley. FTM@gfo.org

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Aug9 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 9, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. The current Insider newsletter awaits you HERE.

Did you catch the great story about the GFO on Portland’s Channel 2 on Monday? They did a great job showing what we do and gave us more than three minutes of air time!

KATU picked a good day to visit us. They had lots of action for their camera last Wednesday during our volunteer book relabeling blitz.

The news team of Special Projects Producer Stuart Tomlinson and Photojournalist Bob Foster interviewed GFO President Vince Patton, Library Chair Laurel Smith and Education Chair Kristin Parks. If you missed it on the air you can watch it here online.

James Harvey Knapp was an educator who founded the Knapp School in Pettis County, Missouri, but his parents remain unknown.

This event is free and open to the public.

As genealogists, we love end-of-life records: death certificates, probate/estate paperwork, cemetery records, obituaries, etc. But in our own lives, have we truly prepared for when we’re the ones who are leaving?

Full-time professional genealogist Leslie Brinkley Lawson tackles this important topic at this month’s GFO GenTalk.

Learn how to plan for the inevitable, for the sake of your genealogy research and for your loved ones. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be difficult, let Leslie show you how.

Saturday, August 18 at 2pm at the GFO library.

This event is free and open to the public.

Ever wish the online history of your cultural heritage could be preserved before we all have to be dug up by an archaeologist thousands of years from now?

Well, the Welsh Government have recently made steps toward such assurances.

“The decision by the Welsh Government to archive the dual-language websites and Twitter accounts will digitally preserve the Internet heritage of the Welsh nation.”

Read the full article HERE and be inspired!

South King County Genealogy Society – Fall Seminar 2018

Speaker: John Philip Colletta, PhD
When: Saturday, September 22nd, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Salish Hall at Green River College, 12401 SE 320th Street, Auburn, WA 98092
Topics: Archives and the Immigrant Experience
Register: http://skcgs.org/2018-seminar.html

LCGS September General Meeting – “Salem Witches”

Speaker: Jerri McCoy
When: Thursday, September 13th, 7 p.m.
Location: Somerset Retirement Apartments, 2025 Tibbets Drive, Longview, WA 98632 (in the dining room)

SUNDAY, August 12th

Library Work Party 9 a.m. – noon

TUESDAY, August 14th

GFO Board Meeting 6:10 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.

Come see what makes GFO so great at our monthly Board Meetings. These meetings take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. All are welcome.

WEDNESDAY, August 15th

Irish Interest Group 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Focus: This month Barb Schrag will present “Using the Irish Censuses.” Members of the GFO as well as their guests and any interested members of the public are welcomed to attend the Irish Genealogy SIG. One hour of each two-hour meeting will be spent on presentations about Irish history, genealogy, and resources while the second hour will focus on Irish Brick Wall questions.

The Irish group meets on the third Wednesday of the even months February,April, June, August, and October (there will be no meeting in December). Contact Irish@gfo.org for more information.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Aug2 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 2, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. The current Insider newsletter awaits you HERE.

Holy Labelers, Super-Volunteers! You got a ton done!

This was an all-hands-on-deck day to get GFO Library’s renumbering project back on track. And we had 43 volunteers show up to lend their very helpful hands!

Here are the total counts at the end of this momentous day of giving:

▪	43 volunteers

▪	188 hours of service donated

▪	2592 books re-labeled and re-shelved

▪	All done in in just 7 hours

▪	Fueled by two dozen donuts, one dozen bagels and six pizzas

GFO-GIvingWednesday-2018-6051

Laurel Smith is interviewed by Special Projects Producer Stuart Tomlinson and Photojournalist Bob Foster of KATU-TV.

We had a fun extra treat during Giving Wednesday.

KATU News came by to shoot a story about the GFO.
Watch for the report to air on the news on Channel 2 on Monday, August 6 during the 6pm hour. (Always subject to change if big news breaks.)
The story will appear on the KATU website after it airs.

GFO-GIvingWednesday-2018-6058

KATU also interviewed Kristin Parks and caught her in action as she stamped books before they headed back to the shelves.

You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List.

Now come hear from the guru behind one of the most comprehensive reference lists there is online! GFO is proud to bring Cyndi Ingle in for our Fall Seminar November 3rd and 4th.

Topics include: Ten Resources I Use Every Day, Advanced Googling for Grandma, Unappreciated Treasures, Digital Research Plans, Google Maps & Google Earth and Online Resources for the Western U.S.

Register HERE now!

Librarian working at the Pointe Coupee Parish Parish library in New Roads Louisiana in 1936

GFO’s Multipurpose Room, Saturday, August 18th, 2 – 3 p.m.

Presenter: Leslie Brinkley Lawson

This event is free and open to the public.

Click the image to view our past issues of The Forum Insider publication.

Contributions on all things genealogical wanted…

▪	Have some amazing research tip you know others would benefit from?

▪	Know about a wonderful online or book resource you want to share?

▪	Recently broke through a brick wall in your own family research?

▪	Found a great method for transferring your research data between databases and online subscriptions?

All of these topics and more are just the sort of article content we’re looking for to help us fill each issue of The Forum Insider at GFO.

We’re looking for articles of up to 2,000 words, with accredited pictures if available, as well as a 20-word bio of the contributing author if desired.

Our editorial staff can work with you to polish up your submission in time for publication. The Forum Insider publishes eight times a year, and we usually need articles two months prior to the publication month.

Interested in submitting? Email LauraDenise White and Ruth Summers at Insider@gfo.org today!

Check out this free, multi-day event, sponsored by the Historic Trust! August 6th – 11th

Vancouver is hosting quite a line-up of events centered on history, art, music, and literature from the area. All the programing details can be found HERE.

SATURDAY, August 4th

German Group 1 – 3 p.m.

Presenter: Tia Cobb

Tia will report on the Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe (SGGEE) conference that just took place in Calgary.

Other topics: the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) conference that will take place next June in Sacramento and German research in the U.S.

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, August 5th

Manuscripts Work Party 9 a.m. – noon

Explore our manuscript, personal papers, and Bible collections while we organize, scan, and create finding aids. Drop by at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a note to manuscripts@gfo.org.

MONDAY, August 6th

Free First Monday 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come out each first Monday of every month and splurge on all GFO’s wonderful resources for FREE. Explore our online databases like Fold3, World Library Edition of Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, and many more. Our analog and microfilm collections total some 49,000 items. Don’t miss out!

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society September Conference

Aug1 by Charles Hansen

Complete Poster

Conference Poster 2018.pdf (~444 KB)Show options

Message Body

Please forward this to your clients, patrons, mailing lists and colleagues! Also, there is a poster attached. Thank you for helping us promote this conference – we will be happy to help you in turn!

Have you registered for the “Harvest Your Family Tree” Conference, Sept. 28-30 in Kelowna, BC, Canada? If not, this is a gentle reminder that time is starting to run out!

There is still room in most classes but some are definitely getting full! Be sure to join us for a weekend of fun and learning with some of the world’s top speakers and some exciting new offerings in our Marketplace!

It’s a pleasant road-trip up the Okanogan Valley to Kelowna. BC’s third largest city has lots to offer, including beautiful scenery, a vibrant wine industry and, of course, great genealogy opportunities! Grab your passport and join us in Sept. With our low dollar, we are a bargain for our good friends to the south!

If you are already registered, you are invited to join our Facebook Conference site – lots of tips and great information is being shared! Find out more at: https://kdgswix.wixsite.com/kdgs.

Claire Smith-Burns

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society

Director, KDGS Family & Local History Resource Centre, Librarian@KDGS.ca

“Harvest Your Family Tree” Conference 2018, Conference@KDGS.ca

www.KDGS.ca

Visit us on Facebook: Kelowna & District Genealogical Society

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Jul26 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

26 July 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. The current Insider newsletter awaits you HERE.

VOLUNTEER BLITZ! Can you help?

This is an all-hands-on-deck day to get GFO Library’s renumbering project on track. It’ll make the library much easier to use once we are done.

The library will be closed all day Wednesday, August 1st, so we can make some stupendously HUGE progress. We will provide beverages and snacks, lunch and laughter and genealogical tidbits throughout the day, completely free!

Won’t you join us and bring a friend? Join us and help whip our library into the best shape it’s ever seen!

Julie Ann Kidd became a GFO member in 1971, when she was just in high school. We were saddened to learn that she passed away late last year.

Since her passing, her family has brought truckload after truckload of books, periodicals, manuscripts, and more as donations for the GFO.

This last weekend we had a wonderful surprise: We gained a working microfilm/microfiche reader thanks to the generosity of Ms. Kidd’s continued family donations!

Our second reader broke down a couple years back, and we have had no luck finding parts for such an ancient machine. We are indebted to Julie Ann Kidd for her phenomenal dedication to the GFO when she was alive, and we continue to benefit from the generosity of her family to this day.

Thank you again to the Kidd family!

Our Membership Committee needs another wonderful volunteer to help with processing applications for new and renewed memberships.

Could this be your calling?? The Membership Committee will provide all the training you could ever want. Skills and experience in excel and data entry is a plus.

If you’re interested and able to lend a hand on this committee, please email membership@gfo.org today!

Did you hear the news!?

For a limited time, GFO members will be able to get a MyHeritage Complete subscription for 50% off the normal price.

This is an exclusive offer for the members of FGS-member societies (like GFO) and it’s available through August 15th.

We also found the following hot tip: Did you know that MyHeritage lets you upload the data from a DNA test done with other companies (such as FTDNA, Ancestry, 23andMe)? And, the best part is, it’s free! If you are actively exploring DNA matches and also want to research more information, MyHeritage’s uploading service provides trees and sources that US based companies may not have.

DNA upload page can be found HERE.

SATURDAY, July 28th

Advance DNA Group 9 a.m. – noon

Two speakers | Two Handouts

Speaker 1: Herb Femling will present a case-study-oriented session to illustrate Advanced Excel tool capabilities and analytical concepts. High-level concepts and topics for leveraging the Data Analytics Power of Excel will include:

General Use of Excel in DNA & Genealogy Research,
Using Excel as a Database – Structuring your Data,
Importing Data from Other Sources (Genealogy Programs, FTDNA Exports, Gedmatch, etc.),
Adding/Appending Data using VLookup Function,
Advanced Filtering, Searching and Data Grouping,
Pivot Tables for Advanced Analysis and Database Queries, Mapping Chromosome Segments to Ancestors – Visual Phasing with Color Coding (DNA Painter Alternative), Combining Data from Multiple Testing Services for Match Management, Using Database to Aid in Triangulation.

Due to the broad variety of Excel skill levels, this session will not include a step-by-step process for all of examples covered. The emphasis will be on demonstrating how the tools available in Excel can enhance and accelerate your research process.

Speaker 2: Tim Janzen will give a presentation entitled “Working with Triangulated Groups.” This presentation will review the best techniques that allow you to create triangulated groups and utilize them optimally to solve genealogical research questions.

Handouts: Working with your Triangulated Groups and Excel Analysis Examples

Please also download, print, and bring to class the evaluation form which can be found HERE.

WEDNESDAY, August 1st

Giving Wednesday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

This is an all-hands-on-deck, all-day volunteer event. And we need YOUR help! All day, this date, we need as many volunteers as possible to help us get our re-cataloging, re-numbering, and re-labeling of our collection back on track.

Plus, we’ll provide pastries in the morning and pizza at lunch and dinner. Please come for an hour or more.

The library will be closed all day for this work party. We hope to see you!

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Jul19 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

18 July 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org,
or call our library at 503-963-1932.

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

The current Insider newsletter awaits you HERE.

A GFO member’s ancestor inherited land in Kansas, sold it, and used some of the money to send his wife and children to California. They made it. He never arrived.

Was he murdered?
Did he die of pneumonia?
Did he take the rest of the inheritance and split on his own?

Learn what our experts found at this week’s Genealogy Problem Solvers. This free meeting is Saturday, July 21th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the GFO library.

Remember, all our Special Interest Groups are free and open to the public!

Preserving Our Black History

“The physical vestiges of these communities are gradually disappearing.” The Washington Post reminds us of the importance the physical locations of African American homesteads have in our collective memory. Read the full article HERE.

What is DNA Research Missing?

This article by the Wall Street Journal explores both sides of DNA research for African Americans. Hot Tip: Don’t have a Wall Street Journal subscription? Search for “Wall Street Journal” at Multnomah County Library’s website, click on “Resource: Wall Street Journal,” then put in your Multnomah County Library card information to login, and search for the article title “For Some African-Americans, Genetic Testing Reopens Past Wounds” and finally, click on “Full Text” to read this article!

The Seattle Times’s Riveting Story of DNA Surprises

Read all about this case of how Ancestry.com provided an unexpected family reunion [HERE]. “The Affair, the Son and the Cousin Who Came to Dinner” brings to life the “flesh and bone” of genealogical inquiry.

You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List.

Now come hear from the guru behind one of the most comprehensive reference lists there is online! GFO is proud to bring Cyndi Ingle in for our Fall Seminar November 3rd and 4th.

Topics include: Ten Resources I Use Every Day, Advanced Googling for Grandma, Unappreciated Treasures, Digital Research Plans, Google Maps & Google Earth and Online Resources for the Western U.S.

Register HERE now!

Elizabeth Stepp serves as an RA, provides content for the Bulletin, and has assisted with the Membership Committee. She stepped into the role of Fundraising Chair, served on our board, and was instrumental in developing successful campaigns such as the one for our electronic microforms reader.

Liz also got the Grants Subcommittee going, helped to establish our diversity and inclusiveness statements as well as other policy-making documentation.

Thank you, Liz! We are so happy to have you as one of our rock-star volunteers.

Rhonda Stone, one of our long-time Research Assistants (RA), has resigned her position with GFO, and it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye.

She began her duties as an RA when we were still located on Gideon Street (oh, the memories!), and has been a weekly Tuesday-morning volunteer since that time. She has worked on many projects while assisting patrons at the library, plus she was on the Board of Directors, representing our Membership Committee.

Rhonda is very active in area lineage societies, being the current Regent of her Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) group, Recording Secretary for the Oregon State DAR Society, and President of Willamette Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century. She is a busy lady and wants to spend more time with her family.

Thank you so much, Rhonda! We will miss you and we wish you much happiness in your further ventures.

Several GFO members are acutely sensitive to fragrances. At a recent special interest group meeting, one person’s perfume or cologne was so strong that a member had to leave.

We ask for your help. Please avoid the use of fragrances before coming to the GFO for research, meetings or volunteer work.

The GFO is now on Twitter!

SATURDAY, July 21st

Genealogy Problem Solvers (GPS) 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

See details of this month’s topic above!

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.

GenTalk Voting Records: Genealogy’s Best Kept Secret 2 – 3 p.m.

Presenter: Pam Vestal

Looking for a date of birth or death? The date and court of naturalization? Where your ancestor disappeared to, or where he came from? His political outlook? Even what kind of house he lived in? Voting records may have the answer. These often-overlooked gems can be packed with genealogical information, and you won’t believe what they can tell us about our ancestors!

Pam Vestal entered the field of genealogy after a 21-year career as a professional writer. She does genealogical research for clients, has articles published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, and lectures up and down the West Coast.

SUNDAY, July 22nd

Library Work Party 9 a.m. – noon

There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help! Our work party at the GFO library today begins 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.

Family Tree Maker for Beginners 1 – 3 p.m.

Laurel Smith will be giving her quarterly session on Introduction to Family Tree Maker software. This is a beginning class for Family Tree Maker users and for those considering a purchase. Laurel gives a lively fast-paced description of the program and then takes questions. Our lab class, Family Tree Maker Users’ Group, dealing with the manual in detail will meet again on August 19th.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Jul12 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

12 July 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 May 2018, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. Simply scroll down at THIS page and click on the Insider 2018 May issue.

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

VOLUNTEER BLITZ! Can you help?

This is an all-hands-on-deck day to get GFO Library’s renumbering project on track. It’ll make the library much easier to use once we are done.

The library will be closed all day Wednesday, August 1st, so we can make some stupendously HUGE progress. We will provide beverages and snacks and laughter and genealogical tidbits throughout the day, completely free!

Won’t you join us and bring a friend? Join us and help whip our library into the best shape it’s ever seen!

Seminar Fall 2018 Ingle-CyndiSm

https://gfo.org/learn/fall-seminar-2018.html

You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List. Now come hear from the guru behind one of the most comprehensive reference lists there is online! The GFO is proud to bring Cyndi Ingle in for our Fall Seminar November 3 and 4.
Topics include: Ten Resources I Use Every Day, Advanced Googling for Grandma, Unappreciated Treasures, Digital Research Plans, Google Maps & Google Earth and Online Resources for the Western U.S.
Register [HERE] now!

Our hearts go out to our colleagues at the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society in Washington. They lost their library in a devastating fire.

We wanted to help them, so we offered them their pick from our surplus books. They advised they really needed items directly related to their county and only one of our surplus books fit that bill.

However, we also noticed they had a $1,000 fundraising goal online.

We are pleased to report that the GFO Board voted to donate $100 to their fundraising effort, and our contribution put them over the top of their goal. Best wishes to them as they recover!

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, there’s a big day of Prime Sales on Monday and Tuesday, July 16th and 17th.

This would be a great time to make sure you shop through smile.amazon.com. Your shopping makes a big difference!

Amazon donates to Genealogical Forum Of Oregon Inc when you shop Prime Day deals…IF you make sure to name GFO as the organization you want to support.

And don’t forget, this works all year long. Make a habit of going to smile.amazon.com for any of your shopping and GFO will benefit too. Best of it is, this doesn’t increase the prices you pay!

Thank you, as always, for all your continued support!

During the German Special Interest Group (SIG) session last week at GFO, guest speaker Fritz Juengling shared with the attendees that the Community Groups section at FamilySearch.org is now out of beta testing and is live for all to participate. (Free login required.)

These Community Groups can be accessed by going to the HELP menu in the upper right corner of FamilySearch.org’s home page and clicking on COMMUNITY. After signing in you can choose which group(s) you wish to join by going to MORE and clicking on GROUPS. This brings up a list of a little over a hundred groups. We know that’s a small number compared to Rootsweb lists, but the FamilySearch Community Groups currently offer three advantages.

1.	Most importantly they actually function.

2.	Fritz indicated that the Family History Consultants in Salt Lake are also participants. That means some significant expertise for receiving answers to your most challenging questions.

3.	You can post an image of what you are asking questions about.

FRIDAY, July 13th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30am – 1:30pm

This Friday we will continue to explore DNA testing, including our experiences with the tests and the results.

In our last meeting, everyone seemed to be very interested in this subject. If you have tested please bring your results, or if you want to share resources (books, websites) on DNA testing, please do. The group’s leader has bookmarked the major websites such as AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and a new site he’s just started to explore called GEDmatch. We’ll go through the process of downloading the raw data from AncestryDNA (if you have tested with them) and then uploading to FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritageDNA, or GEDmatch. Each will give a different result.

The group leader will also share two resources, books, for intermediate to advanced Hispanic research: Northern New Spain, A Research Guide, and Genealogical Encyclopedia of the Colonial Americas. The latter is available at the GFO library.
For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org.

SUNDAY, July 15th

No Work Party this Sunday Morning! See you the Sunday after.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Jul6 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

5 July 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 May 2018, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. Simply scroll down at THIS page and click on the Insider 2018 May issue.

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

Registration Now Open for GFO’s Fall Seminar

Early Bird Discount, Go!

This is a two-day event. Register for one day or for both days.

You can register and pay online, or download the registration form and send in payment. Note: Your registration is not complete until we receive payment. If the workshop is sold out before we receive your payment, you will be put on a waiting list.

Saturday Full-Day Seminar:

Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie, Oregon

Saturday, November 3rd, 10am to 4:30pm

Sunday Half-Day Seminar:

GFO Library, Sunday, November 4th, 9:30am – noon

Will move to larger venue if necessary.

Meet Your New Board

Dear GFO Members, Volunteers, and Guest Patrons!

We’re happy to introduce to you our 2018-2019 Board of Directors.

Front, left-to-right: Jane McGarvin, Loretta Welsh, Cathy Lauer, Sharyle Kingston.
Middle: Anne Wheeler, Bonnie Randolph, LauraDenise White.
Back: Vince Patton, Richard Crockett, Laurel Smith, Geoff Smith.

Unlock the Past in Seattle!

Featuring five DNA presentations, three Irish genealogy presentations, four renowned speakers (including Blaine Bettinger, Cyndi Ingle, Dr. Maurice Gleeson and Wayne Shepheard), and more!

WHAT: A full day conference in Seattle the day before the 14th Unlock the Past genealogy cruise.
WHERE: Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
WHEN: Thursday, September 6th, 9am – 5pm

Click HERE to book your tickets!

OSU Special Collections and Archives on Oregon Experience

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) recently worked with the Oregon State University (OSU) Special Collections and Archives crew to gather key material for episode 3 of season 12 in OPB’s historical series Oregon Experience.

Watch the full episode HERE.

Way to go, OSU’s Special Collections and Archives staff! Thanks for continuing to showcase and preserve our cultural history.

This week at GFO…

SATURDAY, July 7th

German Research, Half-Day Seminar 9:30am – noon

Presenter: Fritz Juengling, PhD, AG®
Registration: HERE

Meyers Gazetteer
Now online, indexed and fully searchable! In this lecture, you will learn the history of the project, and be taken through the site using one town as a case study. You will also learn how other, less well known features can help the researcher with research.

German Church & Civil Records
Learn how to read the old records. This class will detail the strategies that the experts use when reading old records. With a few tricks, some work and perseverance, a person can unlock these old records.

German Group 1 – 3pm

This meeting, we’ll be exploring websites for German research! 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, July 8th

Library Work Party 9am – Noon

Please Help! Handling a huge donation recently put us behind with our ongoing relabeling project. You can help us get back on track. Please join us for our work party at the GFO library. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9am, 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!

TUESDAY, July 10th

Board Meeting 6:10 – 8:10pm

This meeting is open to members, volunteers, and the general public. Come see what makes GFO run so smoothly! Or, come help add to the discussion of what we can do to make it run even better.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 23, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

Microfilm Is Back In Style!

Think microfilm is too outdated to be useful? Think again!

Thank you, donors! GFO’s Acquisitions Corner this week includes…

Donations to the library from Harold Hinds:

$10 Off OHS Membership for GFO Members

SATURDAY, August 25th

SUNDAY, August 26th

WEDNESDAY, August 29th

10 months … $10,000 for a hotel room — NOT!

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 16, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List.

Register HERE now!

Don’t Miss GFO’s Genealogy Problem Solvers & GenTalk This Saturday Afternoon

GenTalk: GFO’s Multipurpose Room, Saturday, August 18th, 2 – 3 p.m.

These monthly events are free and open to the public.

Going to FGS Conference in Fort Wayne? Please Help Spread GFO’s Message

We’d like to know if any of you are going to the big 2018 conference held by the Federation of Genealogical Societies August 22-25 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of GFO!

Genealogy in the news: Saving the World One Library at a Time

SATURDAY, August 18th

SUNDAY, August 19th

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 9, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

Did You See Us On TV? KATU News Profiles GFO

Those GPS Gumshoes are at it again! – Saturday, August 18th, 9:30 a.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

August GenTalk Addresses End Of Life Planning at GFO

Full-time professional genealogist Leslie Brinkley Lawson tackles this important topic at this month’s GFO GenTalk.

Saturday, August 18 at 2pm at the GFO library.

This event is free and open to the public.

Read the full article HERE and be inspired!

What’s hot in local genealogy??

SUNDAY, August 12th

TUESDAY, August 14th

WEDNESDAY, August 15th

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

August 2, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

Thank you for Giving Wednesday!

Holy Labelers, Super-Volunteers! You got a ton done!

Watch for us on KATU News

You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List.

Register HERE now!

GFO’s August GenTalk: Getting Ready to Check Out

GFO’s Multipurpose Room, Saturday, August 18th, 2 – 3 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

Contributions on all things genealogical wanted…

Interested in submitting? Email LauraDenise White and Ruth Summers at Insider@gfo.org today!

Check out this free, multi-day event, sponsored by the Historic Trust! August 6th – 11th

SATURDAY, August 4th

SUNDAY, August 5th

MONDAY, August 6th

Complete Poster

Message Body

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

26 July 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

New Microfilm Reader! Many Thanks to the Kidd Family!

Thank you again to the Kidd family!