Thank You For Offering Your Genealogy Books & More!
You
warmed our hearts here at GFO with your offers of help for the
genealogy library in Paradise, California, which burned to the ground
last year. Thank you to those who reached out. One
GFO member has even offered to drive more materials to Paradise when
she goes to visit family the end of June—so please keep those donations
coming.
To help with the process, we have developed a list of books that are being donated. Here is a link to them. We would like to try to avoid duplicate books. Many
of the books on the list are part of incomplete runs of sets published
by societies in Oregon and Washington. Some of the reference books are
older editions that have been updated. Perhaps you have something that
is newer or better than what we are donating—or something that will add
more volumes to a series. We
were sadly lacking materials that focus on California, but Douglas
County Genealogy Society came to the rescue. The books they have offered
are on the list in red. We hope some of the societies located in
California will pitch in to help too. Any questions may be directed to library@gfo.org.
At
noon this Saturday, May 18, the GFO will host a remote video
presentation with two guests speaking from different locations. The
focus will introduce us to Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. The
Middle Passage was the stage of the triangular trade route in which
millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the New World as part
of the Atlantic slave trade. Evelyn
Aniton McDowell, Ph.D., CPA, CGMA, is an Associate Professor of
Accounting at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She is the
founder and president of Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle
Passage, a heritage society for descendants of Africans who were
enslaved or indentured in colonial America and in the United States of
America. Through genealogical research, she has found more than 35
enslaved ancestors. LaBrenda
Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG®, CGL(SM), is the Registrar General of
SDUSMP, responsible for reviewing the sufficiency of applications. She
is also a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and a
frequent speaker at national conferences and Institutes. In 2016 she
published a guide for researching African Americans in her home county
of Laurens, South Carolina. We hope you’ll join us. All our special interest group meetings are free and open to the public. More information? Email us @ african_american@gfo.org.
GFO’s Connie Lenzen Receives National Award!
Big congratulations to our own Connie Lenzen! Last week, the National Genealogical Society named her as this year’s NGS Fellow. Fellowship
in the National Genealogical Society recognizes outstanding work in
genealogy or the related fields of history, biography, or heraldry, in
addition to outstanding service to the National Genealogical Society. Connie is a highly-regarded, contributing author to national and local genealogical publications. She won the NGS Quarterly’s
1995 Award of Excellence and is a two-time winner of the International
Society of Family History Writers and Editors Award. From 2005 to 2008,
she served as president of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She
joined the NGS Board of Directors in 2004. That year, the Society was
facing financial insolvency, and its future was in question. With her
fellow board members, Connie worked tirelessly to ensure its survival.
She served on the board for six years, 2004–2010. As chair of the
Education Committee, she managed and edited the revised Home Study
Course, 2005 revision. By the time she retired from the Board, NGS was
again on firm ground. Its membership was strong, and its educational
programs were flourishing. Connie is a professional, certified genealogist and has been a member of the GFO for 45 years. We couldn’t be more proud of you, Connie! Congratulations!
PMUG College: Learn Reunion Genealogy Software
The Portland Mac Users Group returns to the GFO on Wednesday, May 22, with a lesson many GFO members could use.
Learn Reunion, the genealogy software written specifically for Macintosh computers.
The class covers: * Basics of Reunion interface * Options for printing * Attaching media files to your family * Sharing information between Mac and iOS To register: Call 503-228-1779 or email college@pmug.org Bring your Mac to participate with instruction. If you would like additional information about this class, please email us at college@pmug.org. PMUG College is free to GFO and PMUG members, $10 to non-members.
Just a reminder that there are only 12 seats left for our upcoming Beginners’ Boot Camp on June 10. It’s
a great way to get started in your family tree research. GFO members
get in free! Seats are limited so sign up online now. Registration
closes June 6. Join
Laurel Smith at the GFO for a day of beginning genealogy. There will be
sessions about the census, vital records, immigration and
naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use,
organizing your research and more — all geared toward beginners. Bring a
sack lunch so the discussion can continue while we eat.
We at the GFO have lost a good friend. George
Thomas Brown was a longtime member of the Genealogical Forum of Oregon.
George was inspired to deeply investigate the world of French-Canadian
genealogy. His research was amazing—solving 200-year-old mysteries. He
would wear his beret and red sash with gusto and pride when making
presentations. In
2016, George Thomas Brown generously donated his entire French-Canada
collection, 137 boxes of books, to the GFO. It took many months to
classify and label everything. These amazing materials made the GFO a
primary research facility for French Canada resources. Read more about
George’s long, memorable life. https://gfo.org/george-brown
Only 1 Day Left to Save $30 on Family Tree Maker Upgrade!
Judging
by the turnout we had at GFO for the Family Tree Maker Roadshow, lots
of folks have this software. So we thought we’d better pass on this
message about the upgrade: Only one day left to preorder the upgrade for $29.99 (save $30.) You must have FTM 2017 to order this discounted upgrade. Sale was posted May 14, so is scheduled to end May 17. Don’t delay! Check your email or use this link.
Survey Results: DNA #1: Autosomal Testing
Of 102 responses, 93.1% of you report having taken an autosomal DNA test. Of
those, 75 report having tested at AncestryDNA, followed by Family Tree
DNA (48), 23andme (34), My Heritage (12), and Living DNA (7).
New Survey: DNA #2
Which DNA tests have you or close relatives had done? Y-DNA is passed from father to son. mtDNA is passed from mother to a child of either gender. Click to take this week’s survey:
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.
We
will have a remote presentation with two guests from the Sons and
Daughters of the United States Middle Passage, the lineage society whose
membership is available only to those whose ancestors were forcibly
brought to this country during the slave trade. Our speakers will be
Evelyn McDowell, Ph.D., the society’s president, and LaBrenda
Garrett-Nelson, a board member and also a Certified Genealogist(TM). For
more information, contact us at african_american@gfo.org.
Sunday, May 19th
Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Of
course 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.
Paula
is providing the group a show and tell of the separate program
“Charting Companion” that works with FTM. It is for users of Windows but
may give Mac users some ideas of alternate possibilities. With any
remaining time, we’ll be looking at: media categories and notes in
chapter 6, basic viewing of the mapping function from chapter 7, and
finding duplicate people covered in chapter 14. Join other users who
want to work through the 2017 Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker.
Bring
your laptop. Come 30 minutes earlier if you’ve never been or have
skipped sessions. You might need an update of the “fake” practice tree
we are using. Facilitated by Joyce Grant-Worley.FTM@gfo.org
Sharing
stories of our history. Come and join this group to learn more about
French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. The group leader is Bob LaMarche. FrCan@gfo.org
Wednesday, May 22nd
PMUG College 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Portland Mac Users Group College: Reunion genealogy software on the Mac. * Basics of the Reunion interface * Options for printing * Attaching media files to y our family * Sharing information between Mac and iOS
Big thanks to Susie and Chris for coming in last Sunday to help us sort and box hundreds of books to donate to the Paradise Genealogical Society in northern California. Paradise
lost their entire library to wildfires last year. They’ve found a new
building to rent and have decided they’d like to rebuild their
collection. It’s a daunting task; they lost everything. The GFO is in a good position to help. Here’s what we’re doing. We
spent the weekend culling out more than 550 surplus books which we’re
donating to them. Plus, we’re giving them brand new copies of all of the
GFO’s 55 publications which we print. We’d
like to challenge all the other genealogical societies on the west
coast: If you’re in a similar position to be able to help, we urge you
to do the same. If you know someone in another genealogical society, please share this with them.
The
GFO is pleased to unveil a new index to Early Oregon Wills, Probate
Intestate Estates, and Oregon Guardianship records from the first
half-century of Multnomah County, Oregon. These
records were compiled as abstracts back in the 1930s and 40s by local
members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. They had never been
indexed until GFO volunteers Eileen Chamberlin and Loretta Welsh began
the task several months ago.
Many contain important information about relatives in other states and countries, and a few give small family charts. These indexes to Multnomah County Estates, Wills, and Guardianship Abstracts 1852-1901, 1904, & 1908 are available to search on the GFO website. Included in the index are names of the deceased and their heirs, and indicates if the heir was out of the state or country. If you find a record you want, you can order a copy.
Have you signed up for our next Beginners’ Boot Camp on June 10? It’s
a great way to get started in your family tree research. GFO members
get in free! Seats are limited so sign up online now. Registration
closes June 6. Join
Laurel Smith at the GFO for a day of beginning genealogy. There will be
sessions about the census, vital records, immigration and
naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use,
organizing your research and more — all geared toward beginners. Bring a
sack lunch so the discussion can continue while we eat.
In
1838, Georgetown University sold 272 enslaved men, women, and children
to plantations in Louisiana. Thousands of descendants are alive today. American Ancestors has partnered with the GU272 Memory Project,
which seeks to document the stories, family history, and legacy of
these individuals and their descendants. Learn about GU272 genealogical
research and American Ancestors’ new website, which features a
searchable database of descendants, oral histories of descendants, and
research tools for GU272 descendants and their families. Presented by Meaghan E. H. Siekman, Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press. Thursday, May 23rd, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
The
International German Genealogy Partnership is sending out a reminder
that Friday May 10th 2019 is the deadline for registering, updating
registration and paying for their upcoming 2019 multi-track Conference, Strike it Rich! With Connections to Discoveries, being held Saturday – Monday June 15th – 17th, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento, CA. The conference schedule provides a full description of events. Additional information and registration information can be found on their online registration page.
Survey: Recent Immigrants Arrived a Century Ago
Last week a large majority of you told us your first immigrant ancestors arrived in the 1600s. This week, we asked when your most recent immigrants arrived in North America. 53.8 % say they came between 1850 & 1899 31.6 % say they came between 1900 & 1949 1.7 % say 1950 or after
New Survey: DNA #1
Autosomal DNA is inherited from both parents. Therefore, an autosomal DNA test may be taken by either a male or a female. Have you had this test done? Click to take this week’s survey:
Saturday, May 11th Great Lakes Region SIG 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Our topic is maps! Historic maps and modern mapping tools can be great ways to learn more about your family’s story. We will look at how the land in the region was divided and sold, the township system, how a map often reflects the particular culture or agenda of its creator, and the amazing Google Earth. Then be prepared for a quick Great Lakes Region trivia game before we look at our brick walls and success stories. If your ancestors were in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or Ontario CANADA, or if you simply want to come hear about this fascinating topic, you are most welcome. For more information contact Lynn Rossing at GreatLakes@gfo.org Writers’ Forum 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 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 writers@gfo.org. Sunday, May 12th Library Closed. We will be closed all day in celebration of Mother’s Day. We will open at our regular time on Monday, May 13th. Wednesday, May 15th Learn and Chat 10:00 a.m. – noon At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan and Sandy Alto. Questions? learnandchat@gfo.org. DNA Q&A 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 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. Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition May 2, 2019 For more information visit www.gfo.org. Contact us at info@gfo.org or 503-963-1932. Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
Spring Seminar Attracts Many New Faces
We
were positively thrilled to see so many new faces at our Spring Seminar
last weekend. Thank you all for coming to hear Tony Burroughs speak
about African American genealogy. Attendees
liked Tony’s lessons so much, they didn’t want him to leave. And Tony
was happy to stay to answer their questions, long after the lectures
were done. Many people liked the new venue at the Center for Self Enhancement too. With tiered seating, there wasn’t a bad view in the house. We’d
like to extend a special thanks to those who drove down from Seattle to
attend both Saturday and Sunday’s seminars. Thank you for making the
trip!
Top: Seattle attendees meet Tony. Bottom: Tony Burroughs signs copies of his book.
Call for Help for a Burned Genealogy Library
Last fall, the “Camp Fire” wildfire swept through Northern California, burning the Paradise Genealogical Society‘s library to the ground. Look at the photo. There’s nothing left.
The Paradise Genealogical Society Library on 14 November 2018. Photo: CalFire.
We’re trying to help them get back on their feet, and we need your help to do it. The GFO is pulling surplus books galore off our sales shelves, to send to Paradise to help them reboot their library. We need to sort them to make sure we’re not sending them a bunch of duplicates. Please help us this Sunday morning, May 5, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the GFO Library. Our weekly work party will tackle this project first, before we address any of our ongoing activities.
Free First Monday Coming … with Late Hours!
Remember,
next Monday, May 6th, the GFO Library is free to everyone. No day use
fees. Plus, this month we’re staying open late until 8:00 p.m. Come see
what we have to help you find your ancestors.
Reminder: Keep Your Private Data Private at the Library
If you use your own personal login to access a website at the GFO Library, please be sure to log off when you are done. We
don’t want someone coming to the same computer after you and
accidentally messing up your family tree information stored on a site
like Ancestry. Just
today, we found three people signed in an hour after they left the
library. Since the reminder stickers on each computer may not stand out
enough, we’re offering this reminder here as well.
The Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society 2019 Spring Workshop will feature Pam Vestal on Saturday, May 18th, at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. Sign-in begins at 10:00 a.m. and workshop lectures begin at 11:00 a.m. Cost of the workshop is $40.00 without lunch and $52.50 with lunch (soup, salad, roll, cookie, and beverage). Pam’s topics: ▪ Finding What You Need and Using What You Find ▪ Filling in the Stories of Our Female Ancestors ▪ Why They Left, Where They Went, Journey Tales For more information, see the full seminar description. You can also download a registration form. Or contact Georga at 541-296-2882 or georga.foster@gmail.com
Survey Results: Many Long-Ago Immigrants
Last
week we asked you when your first known immigrant ancestor arrived in
North America. A large majority have deep roots extending back to
colonial times. ▪ 71.5 % answered 1600s. ▪ 2.8 % said they came even earlier, pre-1600. ▪ 9% said the 1700s. ▪ 15.3% said the 1800s. ▪ 1.4% said the 1900s.
New Survey: Recent Immigrant Ancestors
Last week we asked about your first ancestor to arrive in the U.S. This week we ask about your most recent immigrants.
When you shop Mother’s Day gifts at smile.amazon.com/ch/93-6026015, AmazonSmile donates to Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Inc. In fact, you can support us all year long by using that link to shop!
This
week we’re featuring a 786-page tome documenting the early history of
Colonial Virginia. If you have Virginia roots, you may well find your
ancestors named here. This is not merely a historical description of the
times, it includes many lists of original Land Grant landowners and
plantation owners, deed by deed, complete with locations. Kegley’s Virginia Frontier, The Beginning of the Southwest, The Roanoke of Colonial Days, 1740-1783 includes maps and illustrations.
Published
by The Southwest Virginia Historical Society and written by F. B.
Kegley, this is “Copy #1203 of the Second Printing of 1938.” This
book is in good condition with immaculate pages, no marks of any kind
inside. There are a few spots on the cover and a small separation
between the back cover and the spine. Price with pick-up at GFO: $40. Price with shipping: $50. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it.
Please Help! We Need a Webmaster
Do you have any background in website management? Our talented volunteer webmaster is leaving, and we need someone to take her place. Web
design skills are not needed since our website provider has a template
we follow. But we do have hundreds of pages on our site since we offer
so many indexes and resources. These need updating when our volunteers
finish each project. Please contact president@gfo.org if you have any questions or wish to volunteer. Thank you.
Saturday, May 4th Virginia Group 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. This month, we will begin with a discussion of Native American history in North Carolina, with an emphasis on Cherokee genealogy. Then, we will move on to general research in North Carolina using resources beyond census and vital records. We’ll use examples from personal research to look at a variety of records and where to find them.
For additional information, check out the group’s blog: Virginia Roots and Vines. You can also contact group leaders Judi Scott and Carol Currency at virginia@gfo.org German Group 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The speaker / die Sprecherin: Mary Ebner The topic / das Thema: “How to interpret DNA” Bring in your chart(s) to share. You might even find a relative in the group! Sunday, May 5th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. As mentioned above, we’d love to have you help us sort surplus books we plan to donate to the Paradise Genealogical Society after their devastating fire. 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. Monday, May 6th GFO Free Monday 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. GFO open for free to non-members. Wednesday, May 8th PMUG College: Safe and Healthy Macs 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Essential strategies to keep your Mac safe and healthy. Free for GFO and PMUG members. For more info, see: https://www.pmug.org/blog//
Please remember that we will be closed all day as we host the GFO’s Spring Seminar offsite. We will reopen for our regular hours on Sunday, April 28th, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Tony Burroughs’ Lessons Can Apply to Everyone Tony
Burroughs is one of the top experts in African American genealogy, but
everyone, regardless of ethnic heritage, will find valuable lessons in
his seminars. Do
you have southern roots? Your ancestors may well have interacted with
African Americans and landed in records detailing both. Do you have early colonial roots? Slavery existed in the north on a wider scale than many realize. This weekend, April 27 and 28, the GFO is proud to bring Tony Burroughs to town.
Burroughs is bringing six lessons to the GFO Spring Seminar from which anyone can learn. Burroughs told Portland’s The Skanner newspaper, “People need to understand, ‘What is fundamental genealogy? What are the methods of genealogical research?'” Come learn from the founder and CEO of the Center for Black Genealogy.We have cut our usual seminar price in half for this event, thanks to generous support from The Skanner Foundation. Sign up now!
More Great Reasons to Attend Spring Seminar!
If
great genealogy lessons are not enough incentive, here are more
benefits you can get from attending this weekend’s Spring Seminar: New Members Special: 1-year membership gets 2 extra months free. 2-year membership gets 4 extra months free. Available only to attendees. Our Raffle has GREAT prizes! Here’s just some of what we have: * Roots Magic software – 2 copies * Family Tree Maker software – 2 copies * Free One-on-One Lesson in Family Tree Maker with Laurel Smith * History Geo – 3 months access – 2 subscriptions * Newspapers.com – 1 Year Access * Fold 3 – 1 Year Access * Virtual Genealogical Association – 1 Year Membership – 2 copies * GFO Membership – 1 Year * GFO Fall Seminar with Fritz Juengling – 1 Free Registration * Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers – 1 Free Membership Raffle tickets cost $1 for 1 ticket or $5 for 6 tickets. Books for Sale! The GFO will have surplus books on deep discount. Heritage Quest will bring their large library of genealogy books for sale, too. Bring a little extra cash and see what you go home with!
Just For Fun Survey Results: You’ve Got Deep Oregon Roots!
We had a great response to last week’s survey and boy were we suprised! 64.3% had ancestors who arrived in Oregon before 1899. 33.3% had 4th or 5th great-grandparents who were the first to come to the state. See the breakdowns below.
New Survey: Your Immigrants
This week’s survey asks: When did your first known immigrant ancestor arrive in North America?**
The Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society is sponsoring a Spring Workshop with Pam Vestal on Saturday, May 18th, at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. Sign-in is at 10:00 a.m., and the workshop lectures begin at 11:00 a.m. The workshop is $40.00 without lunch and $52.50 with lunch (soup, salad, roll, cookie, and beverage). Pam’s topics: ▪ Finding What You Need and Using What You Find ▪ Filling in the Stories of Our Female Ancestors ▪ Why They Left, Where They Went, Journey Tales For more information, see the full seminar description. You can also download a registration form. Or contact Georga at 541-296-2882 or georga.foster@gmail.com
Feature of the Week:The Book of Trinity College, Dublin, 1591-1891 Irish
researchers take heed! This surplus book was printed in 1892 in
Belfast, Ireland, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Trinity College
in Dublin. It includes illustrations of Queen Elizabeth, buildings on campus, and even a fold-out map of the college. Overall,
this book is in average condition. Its pages are in fine shape, text
and illustrations are immaculate, and are all still bound together
securely. However,
the cover is attached at the back, but not on the spine. The edges of
the cover also show wear. This is a former library book which shows
stamps inside and a library label on its spine.
The Book of Trinity College, Dublin, 1591-1891 was published by Marcus Ward & Co., Limited, Royal Ulster Works, London and New York. Our price: $25 – Pick up at GFO $35 – Shipped to you Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy this piece of Irish history.
Please Help! We Need a Webmaster
Do you have any background in website management? Our talented volunteer webmaster is leaving, and we need someone to take her place. Web
design skills are not needed since our website provider has a template
we follow. But we do have hundreds of pages on our site since we offer
so many indexes and resources. These need updating when our volunteers
finish each project. Please contact president@gfo.org if you have any questions or wish to volunteer. Thank you.
Saturday, April, 27th The GFO will be closed all day. GFO Saturday Full-Day Spring Seminar 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Featuring Tony Burroughs. Join us at the Center for Self Enhancement (SEI), 3920 N Kerby Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA. Registration Required. Sunday, April, 28th GFO Sunday Half-Day Spring Seminar 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Featuring Tony Burroughs. This half-day will be held at the GFO. Registration Required. The GFO will be open for it’s regular hours 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May, 1st Learn and Chat 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time, you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan. DNA Q&A 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more complicated inquiries. Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org Open Late until 8:00 p.m.
Have You Signed Up Yet? You’ve
seen him on TV tracking the ancestors of Oprah and Smokey Robinson. Now
come hear Tony Burroughs the founder and CEO of the Center for Black
Genealogy. Come learn from the master himself. He’s won multiple honors over the years and has been featured on national and international television programs. Burroughs
is bringing six lessons to the GFO Spring Seminar from which anyone can
learn, regardless of ethnic heritage. Burroughs told Portland’s The Skanner newspaper, “People need to understand, ‘What is fundamental genealogy? What are the methods of genealogical research?'” We have cut our usual seminar price in half for this event, thanks to generous support from The Skanner Foundation.
Volunteers Still Needed for Spring Seminar!
Thank
you to everyone who has already volunteered for our Spring Seminar! We
still could use another person or two, so if you’re thinking about
helping out, we’d love to hear from you.
▪ Date: Saturday, April 27th ▪ Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ▪ Place: Center for Self Enhancement (SEI), 3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland
Help Needed: Raffle Table Helpers ▪ Stand at the raffle table during breaks and part of lunch, selling tickets ▪ Help count/sort tickets ▪ All day or during lunch (10:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.) ▪ Raffle tables will be set up so volunteers can see and hear the speaker/screen. Raffle Ticket Sellers/Ambassadors ▪ Arrive 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th ▪ Circulate among attendees chatting up the GFO before the seminar starts ▪ During lunch & breaks, mingle with attendees, esp. those who look bored/confused Book Seller (1 person) ▪ Sell books in afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Morning is covered) ▪ Book sales tables will be set up so volunteers can see and hear the speaker/screen. Friday Set-up @ SEI (the more the merrier!) ▪ 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. @ SEI on Friday, April 26th ▪ Help arrange tables, hang signs, load/unload stuff ▪ You don’t have to attend on Saturday to help on Friday To volunteer, please email seminar@gfo.org. Thanks!
GFO Becomes Reserve-Only Library
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon has a significant change to announce, one we do not take lightly. The GFO Library is now a non-circulating research library. We will no longer check out materials. We need to protect our valuable holdings, and to ensure that all of our materials are available at all times, in the library, for researchers. There has been an increase in patrons from out of the area who visit us on a research trip. It’s a shame if the item they came in to use is not available. It also turned out we were out of step with most other genealogy libraries, which hold everything in reserve. In the grand scheme, only 10% of our holdings were available to be checked out, so this change will not affect the vast majority of the research materials you rely on. Any materials currently checked out must be returned by their due date. No renewals or extensions will be granted. The Library Committee deliberated this carefully, over many months, before recommending this change, and the Board of Directors has unanimously approved it.
GenTalk this Saturday, April 20th!
Please join us for our free, monthly GenTalk Saturday, April 20th 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. where presenter Jay Fraser, Retired Layout Editor of the GFO Bulletin, will discuss Adobe InDesign®️ Basics.
Genealogy
research isn’t just about finding the answer, it’s also about
communicating the answer to others. From writing a book or assembling a
photo album with stories, Adobe InDesign®️ can help make the look of
your project more professional. InDesign®️ gives you excellent control
of typography, page design, and book organization. It also has dynamic
tools like indexing, cross-referencing, and table of contents. Begin to
learn the basics of this powerful program in this special, two-hour
GenTalk. If you own InDesign®️, please bring your laptop with the program loaded. Otherwise, you may follow along with the demonstration.
The mammoth Oregon Burial Site Guide
is probably the most comprehensive compilation ever made of burial
sites in our state. The work put into it reflects a truly astounding
effort. This
1180 page tome includes county-by-county compilations of cemetery
locations at sites public, private, and otherwise, even some on family
farms. Cemeteries owned by fraternal orders like the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Noble Order of Redmen are revealed. Names
of the buried have been gleaned from signs and cemetery records,
compiled by Dean H. Byrd with the help of Stanley R. Clarke and Janice
M. Healy and published in 2001. This 7-pound encyclopedia can be yours for: $ 5 if you pick it up in person at the GFO. $15 if we ship it to you. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like your very own copy.
Survey: How Deep Are Your Oregon Roots?
Many Oregonians have deep multi-generational roots here. Others are recent transplants. How long ago did your kin arrive in Oregon? Who was the first of your ancestors to arrive?
Last Week’s Results: 45% of you attend one of our Full-day Seminars. 35% of you attend both! And our Special Interest Groups appear popular. 57% say they attend 1 to 3 groups.
Saturday, April 20th Genealogy Problem Solvers 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Another Brick Wall comes tumbling down! Finding the Irish Townland, Ancestors, and Kin of Patrick Powers Military documents reported Patrick Powers as a native of Ireland who came to the U,S, and then became a U,S, citizen in 1892 by virtue of his U.S. military service. His descendants knew nothing of his Irish roots or his family connections as his early death resulted in almost no verbal history for him. April’s Genealogy Problem Solvers presentation will demonstrate the use of a wide range of records in both the U.S. and Ireland, including detailed examination of Catholic Parish records, Civil records, and Valuation Renewal Books. Utilizing these records, we will pinpoint Patrick’s birthplace and identify some of his ancestors as well as additional kin. We will focus on how detailed examination of many records, the use of spreadsheets, a timeline, and even a distant DNA connection can contribute to finding the story of an elusive ancestor. Join us to learn how these techniques can help you in organizing your research. For more information or to inquire about how the group might help with your brick wall, contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org. African American Ancestry Group 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. The focus of this group is researching African American ancestry. If you know of any other people interested in African American genealogy, tell them about the group. You do not have to be a GFO member to participate! For more information, contact us at african_american@gfo.org. GenTalk 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our free, monthly GenTalk where presenter Jay Fraser, Retired Layout Editor of the GFO Bulletin, will discuss Adobe InDesign®️ Basics. Learn how to make your projects more professional using the dynamic tools in this program. If you own InDesign®️, please bring your laptop with the program loaded. Otherwise, you may follow along with the demonstration. WEDNESDAY, April 24th PMUG College 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Portland Mac Users Group College: Traversing the web on browsers and email. This class is free for GFO and PMUG members.
You’ve seen him on TV tracking the ancestors of Oprah and Smokey Robinson. The GFO’s Spring Seminar speaker started out in genealogy well before Alex Haley’s Roots
came out. Tony Burroughs quickly realized he wasn’t satisfied with what
had been written for Black genealogy. So, he literally wrote the book
on the topic: Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree. He’s won multiple honors over the years and has been featured on national and international television programs. Burroughs
is bringing six lessons to the GFO Spring Seminar from which anyone can
learn, regardless of ethnic heritage. Burroughs told Portland’s The Skanner newspaper, “People need to understand, ‘What is fundamental genealogy? What are the methods of genealogical research?'” Come learn from the master himself.We have cut our usual seminar price in half for this event, thanks to generous support from The Skanner Foundation.
Spring
has sprung, and that means it’s time for the GFO Spring Seminar! Our
seminars are all-volunteer events, which means that if you’re planning
to attend, we would love a few of you to sign up to help. ▪ Date: Saturday, April 27th ▪ Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ▪ Place: Center for Self Enhancement (SEI), 3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland
Help Needed:Raffle Table Helpers (2-5 people) ▪ Stand at the raffle table during breaks and part of lunch, selling tickets ▪ Help count/sort tickets ▪ 2-3 people all day, 1-2 people 10:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. ▪ Raffle tables will be set up so volunteers can see and hear the speaker/screen. Raffle Ticket Sellers/Ambassadors (2-5 people) ▪ Arrive 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th ▪ Circulate among attendees chatting up the GFO before the seminar starts ▪ During lunch & breaks, mingle with attendees, esp. those who look bored/confused Book Seller (1 person) ▪ Sell books in afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Morning is covered) ▪ Book sales tables will be set up so volunteers can see and hear the speaker/screen. Friday Set-up @ SEI (the more the merrier!) ▪ 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. @ SEI on Friday, April 26th ▪ Help arrange tables, hang signs, load/unload stuff ▪ You don’t have to attend on Saturday to help on Friday To volunteer, please email seminar@gfo.org. Thanks!
Reminder: Vote by May 6th
If you are a GFO member, please remember to return your ballot in this year’s election. We have three board positions, one endowment committee position, and a change in the bylaws for your consideration. The deadline for your physical ballot to reach us at the library is Monday, May 6th at 8 p.m.
Survey: How Many Events Bring You In?
This week’s survey asks: How many educational events do you attend at the GFO? We’d love to know which kinds of classes, seminars, and special interest groups bring you to the GFO most often. As
for last week’s poll, thank you for giving us your feedback about the
Open House. Most respondents liked the lessons on PERSI, J-STOR, DNA,
Genealogy & the Law, and Writing. They’d
like to see next year’s classes include a German Day, southern state
records, military resources, women ancestors, early Colonial research,
Evernote, and Dropbox. We’re already planning next year’s events, so this feedback is extremely valuable!
We have a surplus book set available with valuable military listings. Gen. Cullum’s Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy lists names of men to pass through West Point from 1910-1920.
Pages
appear clean with no extraneous marks; a few show small signs of age.
There are no loose pages, but bindings are beginning to show signs of
wear. These are former library books with stamps on and in them and evidence of removed labels, with scuffing and wear to the covers. This two-volume set from 1920 is available for $40. Contact booksales@gfo.org to buy them.
Free Webinar: “Researching Women in Archives”
Library of Congress On April 18th, American Ancestors offers a free webinar called “Researching Women in Archives” at Noon Pacific Time. “Women
make up 50% of your ancestry, yet their lives, experiences, and even
complete names are all too often forgotten by written history. Although
often overlooked in official records, throughout time women have been
the keepers of family and personal history. When they survive, diaries,
letters, account books, family Bibles, samplers, organization records,
and more can reveal more about a woman’s daily life than any government
document. Archivist Judy Lucey will discuss how these unique records and
manuscripts can be used to piece together a family story and how
digging in the archives can hit genealogical gold.”
FRIDAY, April 12th Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. This month: Finding your Hispanic ancestors from Mexico, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California). Beginning and intermediate researchers are welcome. Some subjects will include online parish records, Hispanic genealogy societies, Family History Library/FamilySearch.org. Ancestry.com, solving genealogical problems, methodology of organizing your research, etc. Of course this group will also be about sharing our research experiences, and having fun. If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about this up and coming group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate. For questions or comments, please email Vince Ramirez at sw@gfo.org. SATURDAY, April 13th Great Lakes Region Group 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. This week: Our topic is cemeteries! GFO’s own Laurel Smith will talk about locating the right cemetery and planning a visit to a cemetery, with a brief look at Billion Graves and a more in-depth look at Find A Grave. Laurel is a skilled genealogist and engaging presenter. You will likely leave this event with a toolbox full of new ideas for your own family history research. For more information contact Lynn Rossing at GreatLakes@gfo.org Writers’ Forum 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 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 writers@gfo.org or 503-916-9410. SUNDAY, April 14th Library Work Party 9:00 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. Family Tree Maker for Beginners 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Laurel Smith will show new and beginning users how to navigate this dynamicc software; how to import a tree or start a new one; and explore a few of the tools new users will need. Facilitated by Laurel Smith. FTM@gfo.org French Canada Group 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Sharing stories of our history. Come and join this group to learn more about French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. The group leader, Bob LaMarche, can be reached at FrCan@gfo.org. WEDNESDAY, April 17th Learn & Chat 10:00 a.m. – noon At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise, but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time, you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others, and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan and Sandy Alto who can be reached at Learnandchat@gfo.org. DNA Q&A 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 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. Send questions to dna_qa@gfo.org Irish Group 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The first hour will be our guest speaker, Robert Burke, on the Irish language. After that we will have the opportunity to try to crack open our member, Jennefer White’s, brick wall. You can read about her challenge here. Focus: Although all of the island of Ireland is included, our primary focus is the genealogical research of the Republic of Ireland, also known as the Irish Free State, Éire, Ireland, and Southern Ireland. 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. Contact Irish@gfo.org for more information.
You’ve seen him on TV tracking the ancestors of Oprah and Smokey Robinson. Now come learn from Tony Burroughs in person! He’s a master of research methods anyone can employ, and the founder of the founder and CEO of the Center for Black Genealogy. The Skanner interviewed Tony this week and has just published a story. This is a two-day event. Register for one or both days. We have cut our usual seminar price in half for this event, thanks to generous support from The Skanner Foundation.Saturday, April 27th, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Center for Self Enhancement (SEI) 3920 N. Kerby Avenue Portland, Oregon Venue Location Topics: * The Six Phases of African American Genealogy * Black Biographies, Autobiographies and Family Histories * From Census to Slavery * Mixing Online & Offline Resources Sunday, April 28th, 9:30 a.m. – noon Genealogical Forum of Oregon 2505 SE 11th Avenue #B-18 Portland, Oregon Venue Location Topics: * Farmers, Tenant Farmers, and Share Croppers * Forty Acres and A Mule: Hidden Land Records in the National Archives
Tell Us What Helped You the Most at GFO’s Open House!
We were completely blown away by how many of you were able to join us for the Genealogical Forum of Oregon’s annual Open House. We met a lot of new faces, and we’re glad more people are learning we’re here. This year’s Open House set records for us. We’ve never had so many people visit in one week. Attendance was double last year! Please let us know what was your favorite classes were and what topics you’d like to see in the future.
The
Hatfields and the McCoys may be remembered as America’s most famous
feud, “but it was relatively brief and subdued compared to the violence
in Breathitt County, Kentucky.” T.R.C.
Hutton explores the politically motivated murders from the Civil War
though the Progressive Era in “Bloody Breathitt – Politics and Violence
in the Appalachian South.” We have a surplus copy of this book available in our bookstore. It’s brand new, superb condition and hard cover. Price: $36. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it.
The French Canada group will meet a week early this month! Please join us on Sunday, April 14th at 3:30 p.m. since Easter is on the third Sunday of April this year (which is our usual meeting time). The topic is “Our Gateway Ancestors to New France and Acadia.” We
will discuss ancestors who came into Montreal, Quebec, Acadia (now
greater Nova Scotia) and if known elsewhere: how and why they came,
their stories, our common ancestors, and more. Thanks, Bob LaMarche FrCan@gfo.org
Lost and Found: Left Behind at the Open House
Did you leave a bright pink Columbia jacket with a purple interior behind during the Open House last Tuesday, March 26th? We had classes that day about Evernote, Religious Radicals, Ancestry.com and Online Family Trees that day. Call in, name the size, and we’ll set it aside for you. 503-963-1932.
Where Should I Park for the GFO?
We know parking can be a hassle. (Welcome to Portland.) Here are your best options when coming to the GFO: A new lot has opened so we have three paid lots very close. Two are on 10th Avenue: At Division and ¼ block north of Division. These are all-day lots. These may be best for you. Park. Relax. Learn without worrying about expiring parking. The third is right behind our building off 11th ave. This allows 3-hour Maximum parking. You cannot return and feed the meter and stay longer. City
Center Parking does not disclose how long you can park until you see
the digital entry screen on the payment machine. They patrol and tow
from those lots at all hours. Be careful to read the instructions. If you find a spot on the street, read signs carefully about maximum times allowed. WARNING: A number of spots on Division right next to the Ford Building become instant tow-away zones at 4pm during rush hour. If
you have a disabled permit, you may park for an unlimited amount of
time in any legal parking space marked 1 hour or more. (But towing
restrictions apply at rush hour.) On Sunday only any legal street spot is not subject to any time limits.
SATURDAY, April 6th Virginia Group 10 a.m. – noon Join the Virginia Interest Group the first Saturday of each month (September-June) from 10:00 am – Noon. For more information see our blog: “Virginia Roots and Vines.” This month: The first of a two-part series on North Carolina. This session will focus on the history and settlement of North Carolina, beginning with the early explorers. Like Virginia, the geography of North Carolina influenced how the colony was settled. We will discuss the peoples who migrated into the colony: Moravians, Quakers, Germans, Scots, etc., why they were there and where they settled. Many of us whose ancestors were from these areas have a family story of a “Cherokee princess in our lineage so a discussion of the local Native Americans is also included. As time allows, there will be some discussion of specific records for these various groups. You can reach this group’s leaders, Judi Scott and Carol Currency, at Virginia@gfo.org. German Group 1 – 3 p.m. This month: The Presenter / der Moderator : Lew Exner The Topics / die Themen: 1) An hour airier video of the state of Bavaria (Bayern), and 2) Bring a research problem and see if we can all help. 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. SATURDAY, April 7th Manuscripts Work Party 9 a.m. – noon Explore our manuscript, personal papers and Bible collection 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 if you have questions! WEDNESDAY, April 10th PMUG College 6 – 8 p.m. Portland Mac Users Group College: 10 crucial questions about the Mac High Sierra and Mojave operating systems. Free for all GFO and PMUG members. For more information, visit their website.
Only three days left! Friday, March 29th – Sunday, Mar. 31st
Wow! Just wow! We’re blown away by how many people are coming to the annual GFO Open House this week! Irish Day kicked things off last weekend with our classroom jammed with enthusiastic genealogists. We thought attendance might drop during the week, but we were wrong! By the half way point more people had joined us than in all 9 days last year. By
the time this email goes out, we still have 3 more days of classes
left. Friday, March 29 will include classes on Citing Sources, Mexican
Ancestry, & Ohio River Area Research. Closing weekend, March 30
& 31 features DNA Days. Please come down! All of the classes are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Ingredients for a successful Open House: ▪ Great Speakers ▪ Free Access to Library ▪ Drool-inducing treats! Meet our Coffee Queen! Judith Leppert comes every morning to our Open House this week to make fresh coffee and share her latest home-baked treats! Come see what she brings during the rest of this week through Sunday, March 31. Thank you, Judith!
Another Brick Wall Comes Tumbling Down! United States and Irish Record Research…
Military
documents reported Patrick Powers as a native of Ireland who came to
the US and then became a US citizen in 1892 by virtue of his US military
service. His descendants knew nothing of his Irish roots or his family
connections as his early death resulted in almost no verbal history for
him. April’s
Genealogy Problem Solvers presentation will demonstrate the use of a
wide range of records in both the US and Ireland, including detailed
examination of Catholic Parish records, Valuation Renewal Books, and
Civil records. Utilizing these records, we will pinpoint Patrick’s
birthplace, and identify some of his ancestors as well as additional
kin. We will focus on how detailed examination of many records, the use
of spreadsheets, a timeline, and even a distant DNA connection can
contribute to finding the story of an elusive ancestor. Join
us Saturday, April 20th, at 9:30 a.m. to learn how this technique can
help you in organizing your research. For more information contact Katie
Daly at GPS@gfo.org.
Did you see the marvelous story about the GFO in the Oregonian? Tom Hallman, Oregonian’s Pulitzer winning feature writer, wrote about us on Sunday, March 24. Many people coming to the Open House say they learned about the GFO for the first time from this story. You can read it online here.
GFO Hall of Fame Nominations Needed by May 1st
The Hall of Fame Award is our way of honoring GFO members who have performed outstanding service to the Forum. The
award is limited to one person per year, except in the case where a
pair of members has worked together or the Board waives the limitation. A
nomination may be made by any Forum member and the recipient will be
selected from the panel of nominations by a majority vote of the Board
of Directors. The recipient must have a well-documented history of… * Service * Leadership * Accomplishment …in
more than one facet of the Forum over a significant period of time.
Please include examples of how this nominee fulfilled all three
categories. Any current GFO Member may nominate a member for the Hall of Fame. Please send nominations to secretary@gfo.org before May 1st.
Beginning
on Saturday, June 15, 2019, Sacramento will host the second
international conference of the International German Genealogy
Partnership (IGGP). More than 700 people are expected to attend the
conference to focus on the history and genealogy of those with German
ancestry, wherever they live in the world. Regular pricing ends April 15th. Don’t forget to sign up soon!
We Regret the Error… We apologize for a typo in the Financial Report in our most recent Forum Insider. The GFO posted a gain in February of $5,388.24, not a loss.
FRIDAY, March 29th OPEN HOUSE – Citing Sources, Mexican Ancestry, & Ohio River Area Research 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, March 30th & 31st OPEN HOUSE – DNA Days! 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. Two sessions with guest speaker Barbara Rae-Venter are sold out: Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. All others are open on walk-in basis until the room is full. Please also be sure to check our Open House website. MONDAY, April 1st Free First Monday! 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Please note! We’re open late (until 8 p.m.) for this month’s Free First Monday. Stop by after work! Come visit our research library each first Monday of every month and splurge on all GFO’s wonderful resources for FREE. Explore our online databases like Fold3, Ancestry World Library Edition, Newspapers.com, and many more. Our analog and microfilm collections total over 50,000 items. Don’t miss out! WEDNESDAY, April 3rd Library Open Late Until 8 p.m. Learn & Chat 10 a.m. – noon At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan. DNA Q&A 1 – 3 p.m. Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions. Questions? Email the facilitators dna_qa@gfo.org.
Have you ever wanted to attend a genealogy conference but couldn’t afford to? Now you can! Please join us at the GFO for its biggest event of the year! Nine days of classes are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 33 classes are open on a walk-in basis. The 4 presentations requiring registration are completely full. We have a few theme days. Saturday, March 23 kicks off with Irish Day. Wednesday, March 27 is Finding Family Day. Tracking living relatives? Birth parents? This is the day for you. Closing weekend, March 30-31 features DNA Days. Click on the “Class Descriptions” link above, or view our Calendar page for a complete list of subjects and class times so you don’t miss a single moment. We guarantee you’ll learn something new and exciting about the wonderful world of genealogy!
2 Copies of Family Tree Maker in Open House Raffle!
Coming to our Open House? Bring a little cash to spare. You could win one of two copies of Family Tree Maker software! Each is valued at $89.95. $1 for 1 ticket. $5 for 6 tickets. Exact change is appreciated! You do not have to be present to win. But be sure to write your name and phone number on the raffle ticket you leave in our box. The drawings will be at the end of the Open House, March 31.
Your Open House Surveys Reveal…
And some of your comments included . . . ▪ Can’t wait! ▪ Wish I could do genealogy every day. ▪ Lots of choices. Looks well planned. Thanks. ▪ I’m excited to come to the presentations! ▪ Thank
you so much for offering this opportunity for me to expand my knowledge
of a variety of subjects. Along with the chance to meet new people and
perhaps even make a cousin connection, you never know. ▪ It’s the best event of the year! ▪ Thanks for making this happen. Now please take this week’s survey! We’d love to know which Open House classes look the most interesting to you.
Anne
is a dedicated, regular Sunday volunteer who usually beats everyone
else into the library. Among other things she is a pro at locating
misplaced books, earning her the name of “Finder of Lost Things.” Amazingly,
she has volunteered at the library every Sunday but one for over three
years. Anne is always willing to help where needed and even stepped up
to serve as Director at Large when asked. She has also served on the
Disaster Preparedness and Grants Committees. We are pleased to present her with this honor for her long and distinguished service at the GFO.
E-News Coordinator Needed by May 1st!!
Our E-News Coordinator is retiring after April 31st this year and we need your help to fill the impending vacancy. ▪ Do you love gathering genealogy news items and distributing them to the world? ▪ Are you tech savvy-ish and above all a stickler for details? ▪ Do you have 1-3 hours you can donate each week to a wonderful cause? ▪ Is finding fun, vintage, and public domain images via google searches your favorite pastime? Training is available from April 1st through April 30th.
Email news@gfo.org if you have interest in filling this extremely valuable volunteer spot.
Book of the Week: Civil War Letters
During
the Civil War in 1862 and 1963, John Parkurst wrote 55 letters to his
wife, Lizzie (Pearson) Parkhurst, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The
Massachusetts Archives calls these “one of the most compelling personal
accounts of a soldier’s life during the Civil War anywhere.” “I was a little seasick this morning bu am better now. We live on hard crackers and boiled ham & water.” The letters not only relate his experiences, but frequently refer to his children, parents, and their lives. Fair warning: these letters are unvarnished and reveal great prejudice against African Americans. This reprint of the transcribed letters is available for purchase from the GFO Bookstore for $5.00. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you are interested.
FRIDAY, March 22nd Beginning Genealogy 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
This class session is sold out. SATURDAY, March 23rd OPEN HOUSE – Discover Your Irish Roots 10 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. SUNDAY, March 24th OPEN HOUSE – Beginning Genealogy 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This class session is sold out. MONDAY, March 25th OPEN HOUSE – Legalities, Pennsylvania, & Online Resources 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. TUESDAY, March 26th OPEN HOUSE – Evernote, Religious Radicals, Ancestry.com, & Online Family Trees 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. WEDNESDAY, March 27th OPEN HOUSE – Family Connections & Biological Connections 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. THURSDAY, March 28th OPEN HOUSE – Multnomah County Library Resources, Write It Up, Trip Planning, & Software Advice 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. FRIDAY, March 29th OPEN HOUSE – Citing Sources, Mexican Ancestry, & Ohio River Area Research 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, March 30th & 31st OPEN HOUSE – DNA Focus Days! 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. See the full detailed class list here. Two sessions with guest speaker Barbara Rae-Venter are sold out. All others are open on walk-in basis. Please also be sure to check our Open House website.
Member Meeting and GenTalk this Saturday, March 16th
Are you a GFO Member?
Please join us for the General Membership meeting this Saturday from 2 –
2:15 p.m., immediately followed by our free March GenTalk. At
the Membership meeting, find out who’s running for office, nominate
someone (with their prior permission), or even throw your hat in the
ring.
What’s the GenTalk topic this month?Following American Migrations: The First 100 Years by Tricia Oberndorf From
the end of the Revolutionary War through the 19th century, Americans
and immigrants moved westward from the eastern seaboard to the interior
and ultimately to the far west coast. This presentation will discuss who
moved westward, the reasons why they moved, the routes they may have
taken, and the things you may discover for them along the way. Tricia
Oberndorf has been engaged in genealogy research for 30 years, the last
six years professionally. Her research has spanned most of the United
States, from the colonial period to the 20th century. Her ancestors were
not ones to stay in one place very long, prompting her to learn about
U.S. migration. Living in Columbia County, Oregon, she has also become
engaged in local history and research there, volunteering with the
Columbia County Historical Museum.
GFO Hall of Fame Nominations Needed by May 1st
Please be sure to send your nominations to secretary@gfo.org before May 1st! The Hall of Fame Award is our way of honoring GFO members who have performed outstanding service to the Forum. The
award is limited to one person per year, except in the case where a
pair of members has worked together or the Board waives the limitation. A
nomination may be made by any Forum member and the recipient will be
selected from the panel of nominations by a majority vote of the Board
of Directors. The
recipient must have a well-documented history of service, leadership
and accomplishment in more than one facet of the Forum over a
significant period of time. Please include examples of how this nominee
fulfilled all three categories.
This Week’s Survey: Open House!
Our biggest event of the year is a little over a week away. . We’d love to know if you’re planning to attend! Please let us know if we should expect you by taking our survey. Just click on the button below.
Download the class notes for the presentations you plan to attend. Print them or not depending on your preference. Review them before attending. Bring them with you when you come for the class. Step 1. Visit GFO’s online calendar. View by week for better detail.
Step 2. Scroll to the week of GFO’s Open House.
Step 3. Click on the class you want to attend and click on the link to download.
We hope to see you at many of our upcoming, completely FREE Open House events, beginning in less than 10 days!
GFO’s Irish Special Interest Group is busy this month!
1. The
All Ireland Cultural Society (AICS) has a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
and invited the GFO to have a table there. As the Irish SIG, we plan to
have someone join GFO president, Vince Patton, to help spread the word
about our group and extend an invitation to join us in researching our
Irish ancestors. * 1. We
have a program for our meeting on April 17. Jennefer White contacted us
through the GFO website asking for help with a brick wall. She did a
very nice job of sharing with us what she knows, and where she has
looked for information. Before the April meeting we will share her
information. What a great opportunity for us to brainstorm and learn
from each other about strategies and resources. Perhaps we can help her
breakdown that wall! * 1. At
our last meeting Tom O’Brien let us know that he must step down from
the Corresponding Secretary position. We are looking for someone to
volunteer to take over that position from him. The primary duties are to
maintain the email list of members of our group in a computer format.
Tom has shared his file with us. Then, when meeting reminders need to go
out, or if someone else has an announcement (ex. when we share Jennefer
White’s brick wall info), the secretary sends it out to our members. If you might be interested, or have any questions, please let us know by contacting us by email at Irish@gfo.org. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all.
Surplus Books of the Week: 1850 California Census Index
If you know someone with deep California roots back to the Gold Rush era, pass this on! We have not just one, but two copies of this book to spare: Index to the 1850 Census of California. Both were published by Genealogical Publishing Company in 1972 and are in good condition. You can have either one for $24 per book. Contact booksales@gfo.org if interested.
Urgent call for a Webmaster!
Our wonderful GFO Webmaster, Maggie McNair, must step away from this important role. Do you have website experience? We Need You! Fortunately, our website service already provides a stable template so the design is already set, and our CMS is user friendly. However, we have a deep website with many searchable records and we need someone to help keep the site updated. Please contact president@gfo.org if you have the skills and some spare time to offer us. This is a volunteer position. In fact, the GFO is all-volunteer. We have no paid staff of any kind. Thank you, Maggie, for all your work on the website over the last few years!
Amnesty Reminder: Please Return GFO Books
Our recent inventory revealed a troubling statistic: 193 books are missing from our library. Collectively, these are worth thousands of dollars and many cannot be replaced. Might you have one at home that you perhaps forgot to return? Please
check your home, car, etc., and help us find our missing books. If you
find a GFO book, please return it, no questions asked. If it was checked out, we will waive overdue fees on books returned by March 31st.
SATURDAY, March 16th Genealogy Problem Solvers 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. William P Smith, Farmer, Klondike gold prospector, college trustee, acquaintance of President Hubert Hoover, Quaker, and soldier, who were his parents? And, how did a good Quaker wind-up carrying a musket for General Sherman? How was he connected to the Quaker marriage certificate for Benjamin Smith and Elizabeth Pearson found in his granddaughter’s effects? Come find out how the answers to these questions and more were found in War Department records. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. For more information contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org. African American Ancestry Group 12 – 2 p.m. Freedmen’s Bureau records are overlooked by far too many researchers. The records have not been the easiest to work with, but now that they are online and indexed, they can yield a wealth of information more easily. These documents can include marriage dates, children’s birth dates, school records, work contracts, and, most importantly, the name of an applicant’s most recent slave holder. Learn why these records can be key to finding out more about your family. If you know of any other people interested in African American genealogy, tell them about the group. You do not have to be a GFO member to participate! For more information, contact us at African_American@gfo.org. General Membership Meeting 2 – 2:15 p.m. Find out who’s running for office, nominate someone (with their prior permission), throw your hat in the ring, and be on hand for the GenTalk to follow. GenTalk: Following American Migrations: The First 100 Years 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Presenter: Tricia Oberndorf From the end of the Revolutionary War through the 19th century, Americans and immigrants moved westward from the eastern seaboard to the interior and ultimately to the far west coast. This presentation will discuss who moved westward, the reasons why they moved, the routes they may have taken, and the things you may discover for them along the way. Tricia Oberndorf has been engaged in genealogy research for 30 years, the last six years professionally. Her research has spanned most of the United States, from the colonial period to the 20th century. Her ancestors were not ones to stay in one place very long, prompting her to learn about U.S. migration. Living in Columbia County, Oregon, she has also become engaged in local history and research there, volunteering with the Columbia County Historical Museum. SUNDAY, March 17th 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. Family Tree Maker 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. Send Joyce a question at FTM@gfo.org. French Canada Group 3:30 – 5 p.m. Sharing stories of our history. Come and join this group to learn more about French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. The group leader is Bob LaMarche. Send him a note at FrCan@gfo.org. WEDNESDAY, March 19th Learn & Chat 10 a.m. – noon At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan and Sandy Alto, who can both be reached at learnandchat@gfo.org. DNA Q&A 1 – 3 p.m. 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. Questions?Please email Lisa at dna_lm@gfo.org. Library Open Late Until 8 p.m.
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