Genealogy Education Opportunities for April in Youngtown, Arizona

The West Valley Genealogical Society has issued the following press release:

Press Release:

The West Valley Genealogical Society & Library, 12222 N. 111th Ave., Youngtown, is pleased to announce additional educational opportunities for the month of April 2016.

April 15, 2016: Novice Genealogy, 1:00 – 3:00 PM.  This class, taught by an experienced genealogist, will assist those who are new to family history research.  Join others, who are also new to genealogy, and begin building your family tree.  You’ll learn how to locate your ancestors through the use of various types of resources such as: the census, pension lists, church records and more.  Registration required at www.azwvgs.org, click store/classes or events/classes.

April 21, 2016: Special Research Evening, 5:00 – 9:00 PM.  Everyone is welcome to attend this informal session.  You’re welcome to peruse the library’s extensive holdings and visit the state-of-the-art computer lab to access Ancestry, Fold 3, World Vital Records, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  Please bring a sack dinner; beverage and dessert provided with a $3.50 donation.  To register call 623-933-4945.

April 25, 2016:  Free Library Tour, 9:30 – 11:00 AM.  Are you curious about your ancestors and aren’t sure exactly “where or how” to begin researching?  This free tour provides the perfect starting-off point.  Join the Librarian as she guides you through the largest operating genealogical library in Arizona.  In addition to thousands of resources, covering every state and many other countries, the library holds many exclusive collections.  The tour will also include a visit to the state-of-the-art computer lab where access to Ancestry, Fold 3 and many other online resources are available.  To register call 623-933-4945.

Carole Roath-Publicity

West Valley Genealogical Society

publicity@azwvgs.org

Announcing Local Seminars, Conferences, and Educational Opportunities

February and March have always been busy months for genealogists in Southern Arizona. The Pima County Genealogy Society received notification of two conferences and one seminar coming up. All of these events require registration and have a registration deadline.

The Mesa FamilySearch Library is offering two mini-Family History conferences in response to our "need for more training." Below is the announcement:

The Mesa AZ FamilySearch Library is pleased to announce two Family History Conferences coming up in February and March, 2016.  The first conference will be held on Saturday, February 20, at the Red Mountain Institute building on the Maricopa Community College Red Mountain campus.  This facility is located near the 202 and McKellips Road, at 7126 E McKellips Road, Mesa.  The second conference will be held on Saturday, March 12, at the Peoria North LDS Stake Center on 22034 North 83^rd Avenue in Peoria.  Both conferences will offer classes from morning through late afternoon.  Lunches may be purchased.  Register online now for the February 20^th conference at www.mesafsl.org.  Registration for the March 12^th conference will be available in mid-February.  Please join us.

The following is a press release from the West Valley Genealogical Society about their upcoming seminar:

The West Valley Genealogical Society & Library will hold their annual seminar on February 27, 2016: 9:00 AM-3:30 PM at Lakeview United Methodist Church,10298 W. Thunderbird  Blvd, Sun City.  Rick and Pam Sayre will be the featured speakers.  They are both Certified Genealogists and Lecturers and are Fellows of Utah Genealogical Association. This dynamic duo will present their exclusive "Maps, Wonderful Maps" in an interactive session covering everything you need to know about using maps for family research.  An additional topic, "The Serial Set, American State Papers, and Territorial Papers" explores the foundation publications of the United States government and how to use these documents in an effective research plan.  With “Our National Treasure: The Library of Congress” we’ll learn how to research the vast holdings of our government….all without leaving home!  This is an all-inclusive seminar with breakfast, lunch, grand door prizes, and fabulous raffle baskets. The Society will also hold their Annual Duplicate Book Sale offering valuable, gently used, genealogy titles covering a wide range of topics…payment by cash or check. Please join us.  This premier event promises to have something for everyone from the novice to advanced researcher!  See www.azwvgs.org click Events or Store to register by February 18, 2016.

In addition, the West Valley Genealogical Society announced the following educational opportunities:

The West Valley Genealogical Society, 12222 N. 111 Ave, Youngtown, is offering the following educational opportunities.  Registration is required: see www.azwvgs.org click Store or Events/Classes for more details. PH; 623-9334945.

March 4, 2016: Family History Research in Salt Lake City, 10:00 AM - 12 Noon. This class covers everything you need to know about preparing for a research trip to the Family History Library.  In addition to covering an overview of the facility and its vast resources, you'll learn: what items to take and best practices for setting research objectives. If you don't have immediate plans to travel to the Family History Library, you're still welcome to attend this informative class in order to prepare for a future family research trip.

March 9, 16, 23, 30, 2016: Research Techniques II, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. This four session class is open to everyone, however, it is designed to build on your existing research skills.  An experienced genealogist will guide you through in-depth research using multiple resources such as land, church, immigration and naturalization records.  Also covers military and probate records and much more.

March 15, 2016: What to do with Your Genealogy Research, 1:00 - 3:00 PM.  This class centers on gathering and organizing your personal genealogical collection such as family heirlooms and books.  Also covers the importance of designating assignment to your heirs and why you should write your own obituary!   Learn how to find your way through estate auctions and to understand the heirloom appraisal process.

Two wonderful Seminars and PCGS General Meeting on February 21st

Green Valley Genealogical Society Annual Seminar will be at the Valley Presbyterian Church, 2800 S. Camino Del Sol, Green Valley. Judy Russell will be presenting Genealogy and the Law.  Please  visit GVGS website at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~azgvgs/ for information.

West Valley Genealogical Society Annual Seminar will be at the Lakeview United Methodist Church, 10298 W. Thunderbird, Sun City.  Dr. John Philip Colletta, Ph.D. will be presenting four topics:  Passenger Arrival Records, Naturalization Records, Lesser Used Federal Records and Our Immigrant Ancestors.  Visit http://www.azwvgs.org/seminar.asp for more information.

PCGS will also be holding our monthly meeting on February 21st.  Our speaker Daniela Moneta will be speaking on DNA and it's role in Genealogy.  Please visit our website at http://azpimagensoc.org/ for additional information.

WVGS Annual Seminar featuring Dr. John Colletta

WVGS Annual Seminar

Full Day Seminar - Saturday, February 21, 2015

Registration 8:30 - 9:00 am, Seminar 9:00 am-3:30 pm

Lakeview United Methodist Church - Smoot Hall

10298 West Thunderbird Road, Sun City, AZ.

Our speaker this year will be Dr. John Colletta. Those who have enjoyed one of Dr. Colletta’s lectures always are anxious to hear him again. Using engaging case studies and real-life examples, he combines his years of research experience and his proficiency in European languages and history with a sense of humor and the ability to make our ancestors come alive.

The topics he will be speaking about, are the following:

Passenger Arrival Records, Colonial Times to Mid-20th Century

This lecture begins with a discussion of sources for discovering the arrival time and place—and perhaps the ship—of an immigrant to colonial America. It then explores U.S. passenger arrival records, especially 1820-1957, available on microfilm and the Internet. It suggests what facts you need to begin your search and explains step-by-step how to conduct that search. Specific examples illustrate how to use Web sites, National Archives microfilmed indexes, book indexes, and other research tools.

Naturalization Records, Colonial Times to Mid-20th Century

This lecture addresses the legal means by which non-British settlers in colonial America could become naturalized citizens of Great Britain. It then explains U.S. naturalization laws and processes, which began in 1790, and describes the records that resulted from them. It considers the naturalization of both alien classes and individuals, and provides guidance on how to find an ancestor’s records, whether the naturalization occurred in a municipal, state or federal court. Pertinent research tools such as Internet sites, manuals and indexes are all demonstrated.

Lesser-Used Federal Records: Sources of Rich Detail about Ancestors’ Lives

Whenever the path of an ancestor’s life intersected with a federal government agency, paperwork was created. That paperwork fills our National Archives. Most of it has not been indexed, published, microfilmed or digitized, but some of it has. This lecture explores some of the more easily accessible paperwork that provides rich biographical detail about our ancestors. Discussion includes a selection from the following: 1) passport applications, 1791-1925; 2) homestead files, beginning 1863; 3) Civil War Income Tax records, 1862-72; 4) The Journals of Congress, 1789-1873; 5) Appointments of Postmasters, 1789-1971; 6) Federal Court records, 1789-1911; and 7) Civil War draft registrations, 1863-65.

Our Immigrant Ancestors: Pulling Together Each One’s Unique Personal Story

The immigrant experience was not the same for every one of the millions of English, Irish, Italians, Germans, Jews, and others who came to America. Each immigrant’s story is unique. Using three 19th-century case studies, this lecture describes the original records and published materials available to discover the particular facts of your own ancestor’s story. It discusses how to evaluate those facts and assemble them into a story that conveys both the drama and individuality of your ancestor’s emigration/immigration experience.

For more information about Dr. Colletta, check out his website, www.genealogyjohn.com.

Registration fee of $40 before 12/31/14; $45 effective 1/1/15
includes: Program, Contint'l Breakfast, Box Lunch, Beverages and Prizes.

Click here for the seminar flyer which has all the details about the seminar and can be printed for convenience to register for the seminar.