Founded 1991
1500 Shenandoah Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22308
Telephone: (703) 768-4101 |
|
Monday, September 9
Entering Information onto Find A Grave Workshop (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 214
Instructor: Linda MacLachlan.
Purpose of the workshop is to learn how to add information onto the Find A Grave website.
Workshop is limited to 10 folks. There are 6 computers in the room for folks to use. If the workshop is full, at least 4 people will need to bring their laptops. I-Pads and phones don't work for this workshop.
To enter information on Find A Grave, you need to have a free account. Please set one up ahead of time and remember to bring the id and password with you to the workshop.
To register, please send an email with your name and phone number, workshop name and date to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net. |
|
|
|
Monday, September 16
German SIG: (Special Interest Group)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Pohick Regional Library
Speaker: TBD
Subject matter under development and meetings to resume in September
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, September 17
Collecting the Revolution: The DAR’s Source Guides on Research in the States (General Meeting)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall Room 112
Presenter: Eric G. Grundset, MLS, Former Director, DAR Library
Discussion: An avid genealogist, he has published eleven books including Research in Virginia for the National Genealogical Society, African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War (2001) and with Steven B. Rhodes Genealogical Research at the DAR, Washington, D.C., 2nd edition (2004). “Our field’s most important bibliographic work to appear in the past decade is Eric G. Grundset’s series of source guides to the American Revolutionary era. To say that Grundset’s work is comprehensive is an understatement. His lifetime of study, across a career as Library Director and Director of Publications for the National Society Daughters of the American"
Eric joined the staff of the DAR as Library Director in 1983 and retired in 2018 after 35 years service. He has served as a former board member and vice president of the National Genealogical Society, as well as a board member and president of the Virginia Genealogical Society.
He has received the prestigious Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship and a Certificate of Appreciation for his superlative series of definitive state-based bibliographies of the American Revolution. To quote from the nomination:
“Our field’s most important bibliographic work to appear in the past decade is Eric G. Grundset’s series of source guides to the American Revolutionary era. To say that Grundset’s work is comprehensive is an understatement. His lifetime of study, across a career as Library Director and Director of Publications for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is now compiled into eight oversized volumes and one only-PDF study focusing on nine key states—nearly 7,000 pages of explicitly cited materials. Grundset’s coverage of books, periodicals, manuscripts, and maps—in print, online, and buried in archives—embraces all regions, ethnic groups, and churches, as well as individual families and political and military leaders.”
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, September 24
Solving Research Problems and Dead Ends Part 2 (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 201
Instructor: Chuck Mason.
This is Part 2 of the class. Part 1 was on Aug 15th.
In Part 1 you learned how to gather and evaluate evidence to solve a problem about an ancestor. Session 2 will include a hands-on problem solving workshop.
To register, please send an email with your name, phone number, class subject, and date of class to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, September 28
MVGS 4th Annual Conference (Conference)
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall Room 112
REMINISCE, DISCOVER, PRESERVE
MVGS has changed our "Lock-In" event to a "Conference" and changed the timeframe from spring to fall. The venue is basically the same, just a name change.
Classes will be presented on 28 September from 9AM until 3:15PM.
Tell your friends...
As our flyer states "Stay Tuned."
|
|
|
|
Monday, October 7
Entering Information onto Find A Grave Workshop (Training and Education)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall room 214
Instructor: Linda MacLachlan.
Purpose of the workshop is to learn how to add information onto the Find A Grave website.
Workshop is limited to 10 folks. There are 6 computers in the room for folks to use. If the workshop is full, at least 4 folks will need to bring their laptops. I-Pads and phones don't work for this workshop.
To enter info on Find A Grave, you will need a free account. Please set one up ahead of time and remember to bring the id and password with you to the workshop.
To register, please send an email with your name and phone number, workshop name and date to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net. |
|
|
|
Monday, October 7
African American Genealogy Study Group (Special Interest Group)
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Centreville Regional Library, Meeting Room 1&2
Instructor: Steve Walker
Join fellow genealogists researching African American ancestors in this facilitated study group. Share your brick wall challenges and research success stories. We'll learn from each other. Centreville & Virginia Room program.
Follow the Virginia Room genealogy program HERE. One more of these meetings is planned for 2 December.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, October 10
Everything Family Tree Maker [FTM] (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 217
Instructor: Charles Gearhart.
Family Tree Maker [FTM] software makes it easier than ever to "discover" your family story, "preserve" your legacy and "share" your unique heritage with friends and relatives. This class will review the "Windows" version of FTM 2019, yes I said 2019, demonstrating and discussing the additional/modified tree-building tools and integrated Web searching methods. The latest 2019 version is to be introduced "summer of 2019." If your FTM is on your laptop, bring it to this class and follow along with the instructor as the class discusses their individual techniques. You can be a new user or a seasoned pro, all are welcome.
To register, please send an email with your name, phone number, class subject, and date of class to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net. |
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 15
"How to Get a Good Digital Photo from Old Photos and Introduction to RootsMagic" (General Meeting)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall Room 112
Presenter: Gary Petranek.
Discussion: The photographic portion of this presentation will cover such topics as understanding DPI and Resolution; where can you get photos of relatives from the past? scanning and printing photos; how to get good images from a computer screen; how to get good pictures using a cell phone from a photo in a picture frame; copying documents using your cell phone; how to scan large documents and photos; and how to get good tombstone pictures.
Gary will also present an introduction to RootsMagic, an award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, RootsMagic may be the perfect tool for you!
Gary retired from IBM after 41 years. He has been the Co-Director of the Washington DC Family History Center in Kensington, MD for the past 13 years. He has been doing genealogy research for 20+ years and has been an avid photographer “my whole life.” Gary hosts a RootsMagic user group once a month at the Family History Center.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 22
Overview of Doing Genealogy Research in Ireland (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 217
Instructor: Paul McFarland.
You may have been told that researching Irish genealogy is very difficult, if not downright impossible. Like all ethnic genealogy, Irish research is difficult. But, it definitely is not impossible. Most people can start with some knowledge of their Irish roots, even if only an ancestor's family name, when they start looking. While it is true that a lot of priceless records were lost in the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office in Dublin, there are many, many more sources of information than you have probably been led to believe. That doesn't mean finding your ancestors is as easy as ABC; it just means it is not impossible. But where to start? This presentation will give you some starting points to help you with your research. You will learn that almost all Irish research can be conducted right here in the US and that going to Ireland to do research before exhausting all resources in the US will be a wasted research trip but a lovely vacation. The lecture will provide you with an orientation to the many newer Irish resources which are available sometimes in Ireland and often, on Ancestry or Family Search, which are expanding the available knowledge base.
To register, please send an email with your name, phone number, class subject, and date of class to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net. |
|
|
|
Monday, November 4
Using Familysearch.org Workshop (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 214
Instructor: Linda MacLachlan.
Purpose of the workshop is to learn how to use the Familysearch.org website more effectively
Workshop is limited to 10 people. There are 6 computers in the room for folks to use. If the workshop is full, at least 4 people will need to bring their laptops. I-Pads and phones don't work for this workshop.
To do anything on Familysearch.org you need a free account. If you don't already have one, please set one up ahead of time and remember to bring the id and password with you to the workshop.
To register, please send an email with your name and phone number, workshop name and date to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comast.net. |
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 12
Overview of Genealogy Research in Ohio (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 217
Instructor: Janice Reid.
The purpose of this class is to provide the participant with suggested resources for finding genealogical information on ancestors who lived in Ohio. Discussion will cover repositories, on-line resources, vital records, and other sources within Ohio.
To register, please send an email with your name, phone number, class subject, and date of class to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net. |
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 19
Genealogy, DNA, and Unknown Parentage Cases: Strategies for Success. (General Meeting)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall Room 112
Presenter: Shannon Combs-Bennett
Discussion: Whether you are adopted or simply do not know the parentage of an ancestor there are strategies for using DNA with your genealogy to bring greater success in these cases. In this lecture you will learn tips for successfully incorporating your DNA results into traditional genealogy research, how to reach out to matches, plus learn about the pitfalls and setbacks which can come with this type of research.
Shannon is an award-winning author, presenter and lecturer on topics ranging from genealogy methodology to DNA. Shannon has a BS in Biology with an emphasis in genetics from Indiana University. She also completed the Boston University certificate program, earned her PLCGS – American Records from The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, and is currently enrolled in the Glasgow University of Strathclyde masters program studying Genealogical, Heraldic, and Paleographic Studies.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, November 21
Church Records for Genealogical Research (Training and Education)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hollin Hall room 201
Instructor: Chuck Mason.
Note - This class was originally scheduled in Nov 2018 but was cancelled due to snow.
Many of the early settlers of the American Colonies came to find religious freedom. The church was an important part of our ancestors' lives. In small communities it was often the center of their social lives. The records kept vary from one denomination to another. Even the denominations that kept very few records can play a very critical part in documenting our ancestors, especially in the time-period before vital records began.
To register, please send an email with your name, phone number, class subject, and date of class to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net
|
|
|
|
Monday, December 2
Using Familysearch.org Workshop (Training and Education)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall room 214
Instructor: Linda MacLachlan.
Purpose of the workshop is to learn how to use the Familysearch.org website more effectively.
Workshop is limited to 10 folks. There are 6 computers in the room for folks to use. If the workshop is full, at least 4 people will need to bring their own laptops. I-Pads and phones don't work for this workshop.
To do anything on Familysearch.org you need to have a free account. If you don't already have one, please set up an account ahead of time and remember to bring the id and password with you to the workshop.
To register, please send an emaily with your name, phone number, workshop name and date to Amy Breedlove at albreedlove@comcast.net. |
|
|
|
Monday, December 2
African American Genealogy Study Group (Special Interest Group)
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Centreville Regional Library, Meeting Room 1&2
Instructor: Steve Walker
Join fellow genealogists researching African American ancestors in this facilitated study group. Share your brick wall challenges and research success stories. We'll learn from each other. Centreville & Virginia Room program.
Follow the Virginia Room genealogy program HERE.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, December 10
MVGS Christmas Party (General Meeting)
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Hollin Hall Room 112
NOTE that the 2019 party will be conducted one week earlier, on the 2nd Tuesday of December.
|
|
|
|
|
