On February 17, 2023 BIGS Presents

At 10AM, Friday, Feb 17, 2023, on Zoom,

Elizabeth Williams Gomoll will present:

“Documents + DNA + Methods + Luck,”

Combining Tools to Find Biological Family

Finding an adopted child’s biological family is especially challenging for genealogists. This presentation uses a success story to show how good methodology combined with document research and DNA matches (plus a dose of good luck) finally put to rest a decades-old question.

Elizabeth Williams Gomell, A recipient of many awards, Liz is co-editor of Minnesota Genealogist, the quarterly journal of the Minnesota Genealogical Society and immediate past-president of the Association for Professional Genealogists Northland Chapter and has served on numerous boards and committees.

Liz is based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

So, please join us on February 17^th at 10AM for this informative presentation. The Zoom link will be available on our website bigenealogy.org on February 16^th, the day before the meeting.

Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary.

On January 20, 2023 BIGS Presents

At 10AM, Friday, Jan 20, 2023, on Zoom,

D. Joshua Taylor will present:

“Family History: What the Future Holds”

Curious about how family history might change in the coming years? This session examines the impact of new technologies, digital preservation, record access, and other factors that will impact the future of family history. Together we will explore the opportunities and challenges ahead for genealogists.

D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA is a nationally known and recognized speaker and author on genealogy and family history. Joshua is the President of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B). He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including RootsTech’s Distinguished Presenter Award, the Federation of Genealogical Societies Award of Merit, and the Rubincam Youth Award from the National Genealogical Society.

He holds an MLS (Archival Management) and an MA (History) from Simmons College and has been a featured genealogist on Who Do You Think You Are? with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Clarkson, Ashley Judd, Reba McEntire, and Rob Lowe. Joshua can also be seen taking America through their past as a host on the popular PBS series Genealogy Roadshow.

So, please join us on January 20^th at 10AM for this informative presentation. The Zoom link will be available on our website bigenealogy.org on January 19^th, the day before the meeting.

Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary.

BIGS Holiday Party
You are cordially invited to join the
BIGS Holiday Party
10AM, Friday, December 16, 2022
at the
Bainbridge Public Library
Food, door prizes, genealogy sharing and fellowship.
If you are in or around Bainbridge Island on December 16, please stop
by and say hello. It will be a very informal gathering. We love to meet
fellow genealogists and will put out our red carpet for you. Stop by for a
chat, a few refreshments, and make some new genealogy buddies.
Questions/comments? Contact us at bigenealogy.org
As usual, everyone is welcome. No membership or signup needed.

On November 18, 2022 BIGS Presents

At 10AM, Friday, Nov 18, 2022, on Zoom,

Dave Obee will present:

“Destination Canada”

When we say he wrote the book on this subject, we mean it. Dave is a distinguished British Columbian journalist and genealogist. In 2010, he published the book “Destination Canada: A Genealogical Guide to Immigration Records,” He will tell us how to find the more than 7 million people who arrived in Canada between 1815 and 1930. They came from Europe, Asia, and even from the United States.

Many sources such as ship passenger lists, border crossing records, and naturalization and citizenship documents can be found online. Other sources exist, of course, and we’ll learn about how to find information from those as well.

So, please join us on November 18^th at 10AM for this informative presentation. The Zoom link will be available on our website bigenealogy.org on November 17^th, the day before the meeting. Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary.

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society

At 10AM, Friday, Sept 16, 2022, on Zoom,

Gena Philibert-Ortega will present:

“WPA Historical Records Survey and YOUR Genealogy”

Between 1935 and 1943 the WPA (Works Progress Administration) employed more than 8 million people, most in construction but also in the arts and cultural areas. Perhaps one of your ancestors was involved. In this presentation, we will explore the WPA and specifically the Historical Records Survey and what genealogically relevant content you can find in books, archival collections, and online.

Gena Philibert-Ortega is an author, researcher, and instructor who has published two books and many articles as well as six editions of the Tracing Your Ancestors series from Moresehead Publishing. Her current research includes women’s repatriation and citizenship in the 20th century, foodways and community in fundraising cookbooks, and women’s material culture.

A Zoom link will be available on our website September 15^th, the day before the meeting. Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary.

On Friday, July 15, 2022

at 10AM at the Bainbridge Public Library and on Zoom,

Claire Smith will present: “Researching Your Ancestral Places”

Learn how to build place guides, find resources to research the history, geography and culture in the time and places your ancestors lived. Find out where to find historic maps, boundary changes, information about local history, and more.

It’s free, and the public is most welcome! Come by the Bainbridge Public Library prepared to mask or pick up your Zoom link at our website, on July 14, the day before the meeting, at http://www.bigenealogy.org under “Events.”

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society: The Emotional Roller Coaster of DNA Testing

10AM, Friday, June 17, 2022

At the Bainbridge Public Library and on Zoom,

Janice Lovelace will present: “The Emotional Roller Coaster of DNA Testing”

DNA Testing can prove otherwise unknown relationships. Such results can be totally unexpected and cause strong emotional ups and downs. How do you best handle previously unknown relatives or totally unexpected parentage? What about doner conception or non-responsive matches?

There are two ways to attend: Either come to the library prepared to mask, or pick up your Zoom invitation at our website, bigenealogy.org, on June 16, the day before the meeting and clicking on EVENTS. Janice will be speaking remotely.

Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary.

At 10AM, Friday, May 20, 2022, on Zoom,

Cari Taplin will present:

“How’d You Find That?!?”

Tips for Locating Obscure or Hidden Records

Sometimes the most amazing and useful family history information shows up in very unexpected places. Cari A. Taplin will be showing us how to find some of those hidden gems.

Cari’s family told her that she was related to Roy Rogers. That resulted in her search for her true heritage since the year 2000. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for state, local, and national societies. She provides speaking services through GenealogyPANTS, and lends help and shares her expertise as an administrator on the highly popular Facebook Group “The Genealogy Squad.” Cari currently works for Ancestry ProGenealogists. Her personal research focuses on the midwestern and Great Lakes states.

For your Zoom invitation, just go to our website, bigenealogy.org, on May 19, the day before the meeting and click on EVENTS.