The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, September 9, 2022 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PDT (Virtually)

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/4sksdsma

Topic: “German Immigrant Waves”

The 1700s “Pennsylvania Germans” were a different breed than the “German Americans” who immigrated in the 1800s. This presentation shows the differences in geography, economic class, religion, and aspirations of – as well as sources about – the two great waves of German immigration as well as reviewing “the basics” of German genealogy.

Presenter: James M. Beidler

He is interim executive director of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, author of four commercially published books, including The Family Tree Historical Atlas of Germany. Beidler also writes “Roots & Branches,” a weekly newspaper column and blog (at www.roots-branches.com ), and is a German Life magazine columnist.

More information: Visitors are always welcome. Our website is https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/

The German Interest Group of The Eastside GenealogicalSociety (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, April 1, 2022 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT– Virtually

Topic: “Useful Tools for Those with German Ancestors”

You don’t have to be a German expert to read your German ancestors’ records. Come learn how to be successful! This presentation shows online resources that can help you be successful. Extensive discussion will cover resources found in the FamilySearch Wiki. Other useful tools discussed will include free German webinars, the BYU script tutorial, the German Genealogy Record Transcription Closed Facebook group, the German Genealogy Family Search Community Group, Google Translate and the Google Translate App. We’ll close by discussing how to find records online using the FamilySearch catalog, Archion, Matricula, Archives, and town websites.

Presenter:  Dana Palmer, CG^®, CGL^(SM)

Dana specializes in lineage society applications, publishing family books, and Midwestern research – specifically Ohio. In addition to her client work, she reviews military repatriation cases, and is part of the Mayflower Silver Books team.

More information: Visitors are always welcome and may request the Zoom link no later than March 30th at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/contact/   

The German Interest Group of The Eastside GenealogicalSociety (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, March 4, 2022 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT– Virtually

Topic: “German Research – Understanding Culture, Places and Time Frames”

Discover the heritage of your German ancestors, what propelled them to come to America and how to find them in the old country.  Key pieces of US research that lead back to the home country.  Available research tools: online, printed, filmed and digitized materials.  Case studies that may provide insight into the research you have been reluctant to pursue.

Presenter:  Susan LeBlanc

Susan began researching her family history about fifty years ago.  She is a native of Portland, Oregon.  In 2010, she became an Accredited Genealogist through ICAPGen in the New England region.  She graduated from Brigham Young University in 2005 with a BGS Degree with a focus in Family History and in 1985 with an AA degree in Spanish.  For over twenty years she has volunteered in the LDS Family History Centers in Oregon.  In her work she gained extensive experience in using the LDS Family History Library and working in online databases.  Working to create accurate and complete family histories is one of her specialties.  She enjoys helping others research and teaching classes.  She has been associated with ICAPGen, Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Daughter of the American Revolution, Scappoose Historical Society and the Columbia County Museum Association.

More information: Visitors are always welcome and may request the Zoom link no later than March 2^nd at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/contact/   

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, February 4, 2022 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT– Virtually

Topic: “Using Family Search to Find German Records”

Learn how to search effectively, efficiently and specifically for German records in Family Search. Fully use the search filters, wildcards, images and other options to access the indexed and unindexed records available on the website.

Presenter:  Janet O’Conor Camarata

Janet is a genealogist with over 30 years experience. She is a seminar presenter, educator, and trainer in genealogy societies, libraries, retirement centers and senior centers across Washington. She has supported genealogy by volunteering in a variety of ways – newsletter editor, program coordinator, publicity, Education Director and past-president of South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).   She is the winner of the Washington State Genealogical Society Volunteer of the Year award for 2019.  Janet is a graduate of the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History program.  She has a B.A. (Education) degree from Central Washington University and a Master’s degree from Antioch University.  She also taught within The Boeing Company and at the University of Phoenix.

More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/ 

Visitors are always welcome and may request the Zoom link no later than February 2^nd using the Contact tab on our website.

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, January 7, 2022 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT– Virtually  

Topic: Why German Church Records? Why Archion?

The presentation will focus on using German church records for genealogy research, with emphasis on the Archion website.

Presenter:  Maggie Hein

Maggie’s primary genealogy focus is Germans, who migrated to Russia in 1766.  When she isn’t doing genealogy research, she is a tax accountant and co-owner of a CPA firm in the Chicago suburbs.

More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  Visitors are always welcome and may request an invitation by using the Contact tab on our website, no later than 2 days prior to the meeting.

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, December 3^rd, 2021 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT– Virtually

Put on your favorite festive gear and meet in Zoom for some holiday fun and genealogy sharing.  Melinda McRae will present a short feature on the Origins and Development of German Christmas Decorations. Afterwards, anyone can share about Germanic traditions for the holidays and maybe some recipes. If time permits, the topic may change to genealogy goals and plans for the upcoming year. Let’s share and support each other during our adventures!

Melinda McRae is the grand-daughter of 3 German immigrants (and one American- born Scot) and has been delving into her family history for decades. Currently, she is double-checking all her Stolz family research with the on-line church books on Archion – finding some errors and a lot of new people as well. She has an MA in European history with a focus on Germany.

More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  Visitors are always welcome and may request an invitation by using the Contact tab on our website, no later than 2 days prior to the meeting.

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, November 5, 2021 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PDT– Virtually

Topic: “Learning about my Oswald and Rendtorff Ancestors”

Janice will highlight the discoveries in her journey while researching the German branch of her family tree — New and surprising family stories, helpful research finds, historical context, gratifying contacts with others, joy of finding cousins, useful DNA finds, and a quick virtual trip to Gimbsheim, Germany will be included. She is excited to share the joy she has had finding these family stories and collaborating with others.

Presenter: Janice Leitzke

Janice’s love of family history began when her children started school, and she began recording their history in scrapbooks.  About the same time, her father wrote a book of his family history.  The two interests combined and she became involved in researching and recording her family’s genealogy. She was delighted to uncover information about her mother’s unknown early American roots as well as more details about her father’s German roots. She gets particularly excited learning about connections between family and historical events, and discovering new cousins. When Janice is not researching genealogy, she loves to travel, sew and read.

More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  Visitors are always welcome and may request an invitation by using the Contact tab on our website, no later than 2 days prior to the meeting.