THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 12 April 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
We’ve recently received a lot of questions from our wonderful members asking when their membership expires and how they can track this.

In response, we’re now providing your membership information right here with our weekly e-news blasts. If you want to forward our weekly e-news blasts to a friend, you can also delete your personal information before forwarding the message.

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Atlas of Historical County Boundaries?? It’s back!

The Newberry Library is pleased to announce that their interactive online maps resource is back up for use. AND they’re even bragging some pretty exciting new features for users:
▪ view a base layer map that allows an overlay of boundaries on top of cities, towns and other geographic features
▪ zoom in and out of maps for the level of detail desired
▪ select a date of interest from a drop-down box with all border change dates for that state
▪ view information about border changes in a hover box that changes as users hover over different counties
▪ expand the map view to full screen

To view (and to interact with!) the maps with all their new bells and whistles, click HERE.

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Don’t forget the GFO’s Spring Seminar! Sat. April 29th

REGISTER for SATURDAY’s SEMINAR

There are still PLENTY of seats available for the Saturday Session!!
Online registrations, in-person registration at the GFO Library, or mailed registration. Whatever way is easiest for you!

When APRIL 29TH, 10am – 4:30pm

Where THE MILWAUKIE CENTER (sponsored by the GFO)

Who JOHN PHILIP COLLETTA

What OUR ANCESTORS FROM OVERSEAS

How It’s so simple! Just click HERE to register right now online.
Please note, the Saturday Seminar is NOT sold out yet. Click HERE to register your seat!
John Philip Colletta is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. For twenty years, he worked part-time at the Library of Congress and taught workshops at the National Archives. This is a speaker you definitely don’t want to miss!

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Call for an especially EXCEL-lent volunteer!!

The GFO’s Data Extraction extraordinaire, Loretta Welsh, has recently released another cry for HELP!
Would you like to make a difference in genealogical and historical research across the continent?

We need an excel-genius to help consolidate Loretta’s multiple indexes currently wandering around in various excel documents, and then to format the resulting consolidated file before it can be sent for publication.
If this interests you, please contact Loretta at dataextraction@gfo.org.

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Thank Goodness for Good Indexing!!

Good News!
The Oregon Marriage CD volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been revised. They are now in PDF format, available on CD, USB drive, or as an electronic file you can receive by email. Any or all of the four volumes may be acquired through the following:
▪ Order at our library from the receptionist.
▪ Order by check payable to GFO and send to GFO – Oregon Marriages, 2505 S.E. 11th Ave., Suite B-18 Portland, OR 97202-1061.

Each volume is $10.00, please specify CD/USB/Email. Please add $2 for shipping each CD or USB. If you would like more information or want to pay with PayPal, send an email to research@gfo.org.

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Did you hear?? Legacy Family Tree Webinars hits the Big 5-0-0 this week.
The 500th webinar in its series of marvelous presentations on just about every aspect of genealogy you can imagine will be given this week.

And in recognition of hitting that milestone, Family Tree Webinars is offering free access to all 500 recorded presentations for the entire weekend. The free period starts on Friday and runs through Sunday evening.
To access the magic, go to www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com and browse or search for any topic or presenter and enjoy!

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This Week at the GFO…

SATURDAY, APRIL 15th
Genealogical Problem Solvers (GPS)  9:30 – 11:30am

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.

Italian Group noon – 2pm

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.
SUNDAY, APRIL 16th
EASTER HOLIDAY CLOSURE!! Please, please, please! We beg you! Go out and enjoy some colorful eggs and bunnies with family and friends! We’ll see you Monday, April 17th, from 9:30am.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19th
Learn & Chat 10am – noon

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.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 5 April 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 February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
We’ve recently received a lot of questions from our wonderful members asking when their membership expires and how they can track this.

In response, we’re now providing your membership information right here with our weekly e-news blasts. If you want to forward our weekly e-news blasts to a friend, you can also delete your personal information before forwarding the message.

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Labelers Needed for Sunday’s Library Work Party!

Sunday, April 9th, at the GFO, 9am – noon
We’re planning another amazing and busy Library Work Party this coming Sunday.

Our focus will be on getting a mounting plethora of new book labels on the Washington state collection.

All those interested should come out to lend a hand to our President, Laurel Smith, and the other library volunteers! We’d be so excited to see you, and to share with you the ins and outs of this whole re-labeling project.
As always, thank you for all you do in support of the GFO Library!

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Don’t forget the Colletta Spring Seminar! Sat. April 29th

REGISTER for SATURDAY’s SEMINAR

There are still PLENTY of seats available for the Saturday Session!!
Online registrations, in-person registration at the GFO Library, or mailed registration. Whatever way is easiest for you!

When APRIL 29TH, 10am – 4:30pm

Where THE MILWAUKIE CENTER

Who JOHN PHILIP COLLETTA

What OUR ANCESTORS FROM OVERSEAS

How It’s so simple! Just click HERE to register right now online.
Please note, the Saturday Seminar is NOT sold out yet. Click HERE to register your seat!
John Philip Colletta is one of America’s most popular genealogical lecturers. Knowledgeable, experienced and entertaining (what a genealogical catch!), he is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. For twenty years, he worked part-time at the Library of Congress and taught workshops at the National Archives.

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Dual Citizenship Allowance?? When did this start?

We recently received a patron question about U.S. regulation regarding these two topics and how they interact.
A great resource on these topics can be found HERE.

The specific question was when the U.S. government began allowing dual citizenship so that people originating in another country would not have to renounce their citizenship from their native land?

So when did all this get sorted as far as the U.S. allowing dual citizenship for naturalized immigrants?

Here’s an article about the history of the issue across both Europe and in regards to the U.S. law and practice.

Further specifics, and at the heart of answering the when question noted above from our patron last week, can be found via a look at the U.S. Supreme Court’s Afroyim v. Rusk ruling in 1967.

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Portland’s African American Heritage Project…

Rutherford Home, 1920, 833 NE Shaver, First home of the NAACP Credit Union.

The Architectural Heritage Center is currently welcoming submissions of photos, stories, or other documentation that may aid in the documentation of African American historic resources. To share your information, please contact Stephanie Whitlock, AHC Executive Director (stephanie@visitahc.org, tel. 503-231-7264) or Cathy Galbraith, MPD project lead (tel. 503-543-6813).

A community open house will be held on April 29, 2017 to collect additional stories and share progress on the project. To keep informed of this event and receive other information about this project, sign up for the AHC newsletter and follow them on Facebook.

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This Week at the GFO…

SATURDAY, APRIL 8th
Illinois Group 9:30 – 11:30am

The Illinois Interest Group is open to all interested researchers. Just drop in and share the workshop when you can and when you are interested.

At all the meeting times you will receive handouts and/or work sheets for each topic we cover. We focus on the state of Illinois, but the research techniques can be used on all states. This is the thirteenth year that this group has been meeting. The group leaders are Kristy Gravlin, call 630-621-5166 or email hannah @teleport.com, and Harlene Patterson.

Writers’ Forum 1 – 3pm

This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing, and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at peggyrbaldwin@gmail.com or 503-916-9410.
SUNDAY, APRIL 9th
Library Work Party 9am – Noon

There will be lots to do this Sunday at the GFO’s Library Work Party! This weekend we’re focusing on getting the Washington state books and other items outfitted with brand new labels! We’d love to see you there!! Any time you can spare is always a tremendous help.

Get Acquainted With… 1 – 3pm

This week’s topic is…the GFO’s brand new website! Learn about navigation, new features, and the wealth of resources available to you. Presented by Laurel Smith.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12th
Photoshop Elements 1:30 – 2:30pm

Join us to learn the basics of Photoshop Elements software to preserve, repair and present family history. Through the course of these meetings, held on the second Wednesday of each month, we will learn how to scan and organize photographs so they can be presented in your family history documentation, or displayed in your family décor. Taught by Sarah Holmes.

Get Acquainted With… 6 – 8pm

Missed the Sunday session? No problem at all!! This week’s topic continues to be all about the GFO’s brand new website! Learn about navigation, new features, and the wealth of resources available to you. Presented by Laurel Smith.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 29 March 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
We’ve recently received a lot of questions from our wonderful members asking when their membership expires and how they can track this.

In response, we’re now providing your membership information right here with our weekly e-news blasts. If you want to forward our weekly e-news blasts to a friend, you can also delete your personal information before forwarding the message.

***

No Foolin’! Early-Bird Registration for the Colletta Spring Seminar ends April 1st!

REGISTER for SATURDAY’s SEMINAR

And YES, OH YES, there are still seats available for the Saturday Session!!
Online registrations received by and mailed registrations postmarked by this Saturday, April 1st, will still be considered at the Early-Bird Registration rates.

When APRIL 29TH, 10am – 4:30pm

Where THE MILWAUKIE CENTER

Who JOHN PHILIP COLLETTA

What OUR ANCESTORS FROM OVERSEAS

How It’s so simple! Just click HERE to register right now online.
Please note, the Saturday Seminar is NOT sold out yet. Click HERE to register your seat!
John Philip Colletta is one of America’s most popular genealogical lecturers. Knowledgeable, experienced and entertaining (what a genealogical catch!), he is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. For twenty years, he worked part-time at the Library of Congress and taught workshops at the National Archives.

Continue reading →

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 22 March 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

Have a GFO Membership?? Please Consider Joining the GFO

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Don’t act so surprised! There’s still seating available for the Colletta Seminar on Saturday, April 29th!!

REGISTER for SATURDAY’s SEMINAR

When APRIL 29TH, 10am – 4:30pm

Where THE MILWAUKIE CENTER

Who JOHN PHILIP COLLETTA

What OUR ANCESTORS FROM OVERSEAS

How It’s so simple! Just click HERE to register right now online.
Again, the Saturday Seminar is NOT sold out yet. Click HERE now to register your seat!
John Philip Colletta is one of America’s most popular genealogical lecturers. Knowledgeable, experienced and entertaining (what a genealogical catch!), he is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. For twenty years, he worked part-time at the Library of Congress and taught workshops at the National Archives.

Continue reading →

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 15 March 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

Have a GFO Membership?? Please Consider Joining the GFO

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It’s the GFO Annual Open House!! March 18 – 26, 2017

Continue reading →

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 8 March 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

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Daylight Savings is this Sunday!
Don’t get stuck behind the times.

Remember to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday night, March 11th.
The official change-over is at 2am on Sunday morning, March 12th.

Continue reading →

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 3 March 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, 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 our new website (still gfo.org).

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GFO’s STAR This Month
Russ is a very valuable member of the team that brought the GFO’s new website live over this past year. Aside from organizing, formatting, and checking all the Useful Links, he added images to the website, tested forms, and entered loads of data for our search engine optimization. Most importantly though, his expertise allowed us to go live effortlessly by transitioning the website server and emails to the new hosting company. He also helped set up the Google Search app and Google Analytics, and he is always willing to work on the more technical challenges of keeping the website running.
We all thank you, Russ!

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Boy oh BOY! Have we got some hot tips in genealogy for you this week!!

Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree
The Southern California Genealogical Society is proud to present the 48th Annual Genealogical Jamboree and the Genetic Genealogy 2017 conferences, as well as their very popular JamboFree and Jamboree Extension Webinars. They are very excited about the outstanding line-up of speaker and events! June 8-11, 2017
Gateway to Germany
Hosted by the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society, this two-day event (April 7-8) will teach you all about how to know where to look among all those dusty old records, what those ancient maps are trying to tell you, and how to read German Gothic handwriting. Sign up HERE.
Classes in Clark County
These upcoming Spring genealogical classes are just a short drive from Portland! Check out the whole line up for the next few months HERE.
2017 International German Genealogy Conference
What better way to celebrate your German roots than to join with other like-minded curious researching souls for this year’s annual international Germanic Genealogy Conference. Don’t forget the Biergarten on Thursday! For more information about how this event works and how you can get involved, check out the details HERE. July 28-30, in Brooklyn Park, MN

Just when you thought you knew all about DNA!
This article from Scientific American’s Michael Balter showcases just how important DNA research and findings can be for unlocking the mysteries of our ancestors, no matter how distant.
U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION – AND – FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Join the Jewish Genealogical Society on March 12th at 10am, at the Congregation Ahavath Achim in SW Portland, for this wonderful presentation by Hal Bookbinder. More information HERE.
Sherman County, Oregon, A Historical Collection
This brand new local history website has been introduced by Sherry Kaseberg of Wasco, Oregon. Kaseberg’s collection honors the people who lived there, kept the records, preserved the stories and encouraged her interest. It’s truly the work of many, and will appeal to history enthusiasts and genealogists.

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Calling all Research Assistants!!

Bring Your Research Skills to the GFO and Share Your Knowledge With Others!
Can you spare a few hours of your time to help the GFO? We need volunteers to fill spots as Research Assistants (RAs).

Our most current need is for occasional Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jackie and Judith, some of our most experienced RA’s, have signed on to train all new RA’s. They will give you a tour of our collection, explain the duties of the job, and teach you how to access the databases on our computers.
What better way to enhance your own research skills!
If this sounds like fun to you, please send me a message at volunteer@gfo.org or call the reception desk at 503-963-1932. Or better yet, go to our website, www.gfo.org and check out our volunteer page to sign up online.

Whatever works best for you also works best for us!

Sincerely,
Cathy Lauer, GFO Volunteer Coordinator

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Oregon Marriages Available! How’s that!?

The first volume of the State of Oregon Marriage Index has been revised and is available for saleE.

This volume is available in PDF format that you can purchase HERE on CD or on a USB.

They’re priced at $10 each (shipping is $2.00 extra).

Call the library at (503) 963-1932 for any purchasing questions.

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There’s still room for more CANDIDATES for March’s elections at the GFO…

Curious what makes the GFO go?? So curious you want to have a direct impact on the process!? Here’s your chance.
Positions still in need of candidates:
▪ Endowment Committee (two positions)
▪ Vice President (one position)
▪ Treasurer (one position)
▪ Director-At-Large (one position)

.

If you have a candidate you’d like to put forward for one of the following Board Member positions, please email president@gfo.org or any of the existing Board or Staff contacts anytime from now until our Membership Meeting scheduled for Sat, March 25, 12:30pm – 1:00pm.

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Book Sales Associates, Incorporate Yourselves!!
As part of the GFO’s Open House Book Sales events, we need the help of someone or some severals who are very keen on books!

We need people for…

Friday, March 17th, preferably in the afternoon, to set up the book sales tables in preparation for the Open House festivities beginning March 18th. Volunteers and willing bookish fiends should make sure they’re ready to move tables, books, and leap small buildings in a single bound.

If you are able and willing to come in for some instructions on Wednesday, March 8th, in the early afternoon that would be oh so appreciated.

Please reply to GFO President, Laurel Smith, by emailing president@gfo.org.

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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?

SATURDAY, MARCH 4th
Virginia Interest Group 10am – noon

TOPIC: Beyond the Federal Census

Federal censuses are a great place to start when researching your family. You can often discover additional information in the Non-Population Schedules and the State and Territorial censuses. Elsie will cover what information can be found in these documents and how to access them.

SIG LeaderTraining 12:15 – 12:45pm

Evacuation training for Special Interest Group leaders and any other interested parties.

German Interest Group 1 – 3pm

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. This week’s focus? How-to German research, eg. Emigration and Immigration Records links to emigration resources might reveal an immigrant’s place of origin for each state in Germany and immigration sources for dozen of US ports: genmanroots.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 5th
Manuscripts Work Party 9am – Noon

Explore our manuscript, personal papers and Bible collection while we organize, scan and create finding aids. Drop in at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a message to manuscripts@gfo.org.
MONDAY, MARCH 6th
Free First Monday!! 9:30am – 5pm

Have a friend or family member interested in genealogy and other historical topics? Not sure where to start? Be sure to bring them by the GFO Library next Monday, as the first Monday of every month is free access to the “stacks” for non-members. Oh! And don’t forget about all the online subscription-only databases (Newspapers.com, HistoryGeo.com, World Edition of Ancestry.com, Fold3, and much, much more) that you can access on the GFO’s library computers.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8th
Get Acquainted With 6 – 8pm

Get acquainted with what?? Why, the GFO’s fine equipment! That’s what!! The presentation this month will including tips on how to use the library’s scanner, printer, and microfilm reader. Other topics will include connecting to wi-fi, using flash drives and email, and computer helps such as Snip-it. Presented by Nanci Remington.

This new monthly series is designed to help any and every GFO Library researcher become familiar with the resources available and how to use them. This class will be helpful to long-term members, new members, and even to our own research assistants! It will be offered on the second Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. and on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.