Intermediate & Advanced DNA Seminar: Early Registration Deadline Soon!
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is pleased to host our fall seminar focused on intermediate and advanced DNA topics. The seminar will be held online.
Our featured speaker is Paul Woodbury, veteran of hundreds of genealogy cases and senior researcher on the DNA Team at Legacy Tree Genealogists. This seminar will introduce you to topics that are not commonly offered, from constructing a DNA-assisted proof argument, to finding misattributed ancestry (more common than realized!), to handling false positives in endogamous populations. Even the most experienced genealogist will learn something new!
As a bonus, seminar registration includes a special session on the evening of Friday, November 1, “Intro to DNA for Beginners”, also taught by Mr. Woodbury.
Register now and save $10! Early registration deadline is October 20.
Where do you start if you are tracing ancestry to Mexico? Learn the most helpful record types for Mexican and Mexico Spanish colonial genealogy research and where to find them. This class will also address tips for dealing with the language barrier.
Presenter Moises Garza’s passion for genealogy started in the cotton fields of west Texas. As a migrant worker, he worked in the fields next to his father, Lauro Garza, who had a sharp memory and told countless stories about his own ancestors. Moises has pursued genealogy since 1998, first with his own family and then helping countless others in their own quest to find their ancestors. He has published 60 books on genealogy and he continues with this passion by publishing and creating resources to help clients in their own search.
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon’s Open House is next week!
We have just added two new classes.
Also, we are pleased to announce viewing parties for most classes. You can easily make a day of attending a class, meeting GFO members in-person, and researching at the largest genealogical library in the northwest! All at no charge.
This year’s Open House features more than 20 classes across a wide variety of interests.
* Discover the History of Your House * GFO’s African American Special Interest Group
* RootsMagic, the Swiss Army Knife of Personal Genealogy Software * Getting Started with Family Tree Maker * Germans in America – U. S. Records * Lineage Society Panel – How to Document your Eligibility * Using the FamilySearch Catalog * Find a Grave: Fabulous and/or Frustrating? * Military Bounty Land: 1776-1855 * Getting Started with AncestryDNA * Getting Started with Latin American Research * Finding German Church Records at Archion and Matricula * Following Your Ancestor Through Swedish Church Records * English Civil Records * The 10,000,000 Names Project (and one member’s discoveries) * Records and Research in New York State, 18th-19th Centuries * The Great Lakes, Gateway to Western Migration * Genealogy Problem Solvers (GPS) Special Interest Group * Introduction to British Records, and Where to Find Them * Access to GFO Resources from Home
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is pleased to announce our annual Open House, March 16 – 24, 2024.
Registration and details can be found at https://gfo.org/openhouse.
This year’s Open House features more than 20 classes across a wide variety of interests. Most classes are online, including:
* GFO’s Afircan American Special Interest Group
* RootsMagic, the Swiss Army Knife of Personal Genealogy Software * Getting Started with Family Tree Maker * Germans in America – U. S. Records * Lineage Society Panel – How to Document your Eligibility * Using the FamilySearch Catalog * Find a Grave: Fabulous and/or Frustrating? * Military Bounty Land: 1776-1855 * Getting Started with AncestryDNA * Getting Started with Latin American Research * Finding German Church Records at Archion and Matricula * Following Your Ancestor Through Swedish Church Records * English Civil Records * Records and Research in New York State, 18th-19th Centuries * The Great Lakes, Gateway to Western Migration * Genealogy Problem Solvers (GPS) Special Interest Group * Introduction to British Records, and Where to Find Them * Access to GFO Resources from Home
Both in-person and online events are free of charge.
This online seminar is hosted by Genealogical Forum of Oregon and offers a full day of techniques and tips to get the most out researching on the computer. From using common apps in creative ways to squeezing the most out of Google, you are sure to learn something new! The main speaker is the charismatic and always entertaining Thomas MacEntee.
Session 1 – You Use WHAT for Your Genealogy?
Session 2 – Google Tools for Genealogists
Session 3 – Genealogy Tech with Thomas
Session 4 – Tech Troubleshooting – What Would You Do?
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon (GFO) hosts its annual Virtual Open House offering 23 free presentations March 26-April 2. Last year, attendees filled more than 2,000 virtual seats at our Open House.
Whether you want to understand that genetics test you just mailed away, or want to learn how to build your family tree, the GFO has something for everyone. This year includes presentations focusing specifically on African American, Canadian, Irish, German, Latino, Polish, and British heritages.
Equally important, our classes teach you how to pursue your family history, wherever your family’s past takes you, using the most modern software, tools, and methods. This year’s special topics include:
A full day of DNA classes for beginners. Getting Help Solving Tough Research Problems. Online Newspapers. How and Why to Record Your Oldest Relative’s Life Story The Modern U.S. Census including the nearly released 1950 census.
There is no fee, but pre-registration is required for each session. Find out more at https://gfo.org/openhouse
About Us
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located at 2505 S.E. 11th Avenue, Portland. GFO is an independent, all-volunteer organization operating the largest genealogical library in the Pacific Northwest. GFO holdings include an expansive collection of resources to assist anyone interested in pursuing their family history, irrespective of the location. Although the physical library is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic, online classes and meetings have continued virtually. GFO researchers also respond to email and phone queries about genealogy and history. You can learn more about the GFO’s mission and activities, along with our publications and resources at https://gfo.org/.
2505 SE 11th Avenue, Suite B-18, Portland, Oregon 97202-1061 · gfo.org · 503-963-1932 · info@gfo.org
Genealogy library hosts talk on early Chinese women in Oregon
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon, a local genealogical library, is hosting a free talk focused on the lives of the first groups of Chinese women to immigrate to Oregon. This virtual event will occur at 2:30 pm Saturday, January 15; pre-registration is required.
Archaeologists and authors Dr. Chuimei Ho and Dr. Bennet Bronson will present an illustrated lecture at the GFO’s monthly GenTalk on the topic of “Merchants’ Wives, Prostitutes and Identities In Between: Early Chinese Women in Portland.”
Dr. Chuimei Ho was born in Hong Kong and received her Ph.D. in art history and archaeology from the University of London in 1984. She arrived in the U.S. in 1987 and served as adjunct curator at the Field Museum from 1989 to 2006. In 2001 she became a founder and first president of the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, and in 2008 she founded the Chinese in Northwest America Research Committee (CINARC) with Bennet Bronson.
Dr. Bennet Bronson received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. He was Curator of Asian Archaeology and Ethnology at Chicago’s Field Museum from 1971 to 2008, has done archaeological work in Guatemala, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, and has published two books with Chuimei Ho; Splendors of the Forbidden City, Coming Home in Gold Brocade: Chinese in Early Northwest America, and Three Chinese Temples in California.
GenTalks are monthly presentations on a wide variety of topics of genealogical interest currently provided via Zoom and always available to the public for free. If interested, sign up ahead of time at gfo.org/gentalk.
The GFO appreciates any publicity for its events. A graphic, suitable for use on a FB page, is attached.
About Us The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located at 2505 S.E. 11th Avenue, Portland. As a secular, all-volunteer organization, we operate the largest genealogical library in the Pacific Northwest. GFO holdings include an expansive collection of resources to assist anyone interested in pursuing their own family’s genealogy, irrespective of the location. Although the physical library is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic, online talks and classes have continued virtually. GFO researchers also respond to the members and the public’s emailed queries about genealogy and history. You can learn more about GFO’s mission, activities, along with our publications and resources at https://gfo.org/.
You are cordially invited to an online “wedding” re caption – and index ing party!
On Tuesday, Nov. 30, the Genea logi cal Forum of Oregon is spon sor ing an on line event to index Mult nomah County mar riage records from 1917-1924.
Way back in 1981, the GFO acquired the county’s original mar riage regis ter books for 1885-1924. Over four decades, dedi cated volun teers have indexed the registers to 1916. But we get many requests in the “missing” years, so it’s time to finish the job!
These records have proven to be an in valu able source for Oregon and Southern Wash ing ton re searchers.
For the first time, GFO is trying out our annual volun teer work party as a one-day, inter active event entirely on line. You can join the fun for the whole day or even just an hour. You do not need to be a mem ber, just willing to dedicate a little time to support genealogy. For more infor mation and to RSVP, please visit http://gfo.org/givingtuesday.
(Portland, Oregon, 08/24/2021) — The Genealogical Forum of Oregon has received a $1,400 federal American Rescue Plan Act grant for digitizing our holdings. The money will permit the purchase of a much-needed scanner that can be used by our trained volunteers. Records will then be made available to members at home via the GFO website. Prior to the pandemic, digitization was done on a modest basis, mainly to protect our periodicals. Patrons only had access to the digitized images onsite at our library.
In the past year, due to the pandemic, a team of dedicated volunteers moved more than 150 annual classes online and has transferred more than 334,000 pages of records onto the GFO’s website. This grant will increase that effort.
The GFO received the grant in a highly competitive process; less than a third of the total funding requested was approved. Grants were made possible thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and provided by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, through the Library Services and Technology Act. The grants application process was administered by the State Library of Oregon.
The federal funds were included in the American Rescue Plan Act to help libraries, museums, and related nonprofits promote digital inclusion and connectivity, address needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and support efforts to provide equitable service to communities.
GFO Vice President Susie Chodorow, who secured the grant, says, “The majority of our members identify as 65 years and older. Many are living with disabilities, especially mobility concerns. It’s imperative that we continue to offer online services. This grant will help us work towards our goal of making our collections accessible online as quickly as possible for use by our members.”
We greatly appreciate Congress’s support of the American Rescue Plan Act. It is directly benefiting the residents of Oregon.
For more information about the federal library grants, please visit the Institute of Museum and Library Services at https://imls.gov. More information about American Rescue Plan Act grants awarded by the State Library of Oregon, is available at https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/lstagrants/arpaawards.
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Editors: For more information, contact GFO President Vince Patton at president@gfo.org
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1946 to promote, preserve and publish genealogical history. The GFO operates the largest genealogy library in the Pacific Northwest and offers more than 150 classes each year.
Genealogical Forum of Oregon 2505 SE 11th Ave., B-18 Portland, OR 97202 gfo.org
“New” Records! Historic Washington Donation Land Claims
For years, researchers have relied on the Genealogical Forum of Oregon (GFO) to provide them with print or digital images of Oregon Donation Land Claims from the 1800s quickly and at a reasonable price.
To be honest, the GFO didn’t realize it had these treasures in the library’s microfilm drawers, as no one had time to explore them earlier.
This makes for an exceptional set of land records for the first settlers of the Pacific Northwest. A GFO volunteer has fully indexed the names of these 1070 original landholder claims.
GFO Members can get free digital images of claims by using the Lookup form in the website’s MemberSpace.
The GFO has digitized only one Washington land claim so far. As more are requested and scanned, they will be added to MemberSpace.
Non-members can order copies for a small fee. Our customers say they’re surprised how quickly we send the copies to them.
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1946 to promote, preserve and publish genealogical history. The GFO operates the largest genealogy library in the Pacific Northwest and offers more than 170 classes each year, many now online.
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