Online Research Class

Collin College (formerly CCCCD) is offering a class in using the internet for genealogy research. The class will meet Tuesday nights from 3/1 to 4/5 from 6:30 to 9:00 at the Courtyard Center. The class focuses on finding and using websites to research your Family History.

Salt Lake City Research Trip Comes to an End

We've had a successful week researching at the Family Library in Salt Lake City. Today we're headed home. If you would like a chance to research at the largest genealogy library in the world, check out the Gen Friends 2011 research trip. More information will be available soon. Stay Tuned.

At the Family History Library I was able to work with original and published records from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Wurttemberg and Hessen all in the same week. Records available vary by location but can include vital records, probate records, land records, court records, compiled genealogies, cemetery records, histories, maps, coroners records, and more.

In addition to the film and published records, the Family History Library has subscriptions to many websites that aren't available to us from home. One researcher found info on the unit her ancestor served in during the Civil War on the Alexander Street site. I found newspapers from St. Louis, Missouri that included an account of the death of one of my ancestors at the BYU digital newspaper collection.

On the international floor there are translators available to help you understand and read the records generated by your ancestor in non-english speaking countries. You can easily save the images from the microfilms or books in digital format on a thumb drive, or you can print paper copies, or both. Other than being able to interview your ancestors, pretty much all you can ask for to do your research is available.

All this in the company of other Gen Friends members - it has been a great week. Think about joining us in 2011.

Last Chance - Research Trip to Salt Lake City

Do you need to get away? Why not join us on our research retreat to Salt Lake City? When is it? November 30th to December 5th. We'll start the trip with a tour of the Family History Library - where you can research ancestors all over the world. There will be help available if you get stuck or just need a sounding board. Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Radisson and Salt Lake Plaza - but they will be released on October 31st so don't delay. If you have questions, email Barbara Coakley at bjc1620@sbcglobal.net or check out the link above. We'd love to have you.

LearnN

On October 23rd Gen Friends is sponsoring a LearnN at Haggard Library. This is a great opportunity to learn about two great software packages.

Jennifer Pitts is going to demonstrate Picasa - this is a free - yes free - package that you can use to organize and touch up photos.

Barbara Coakley is going to demonstrate Family Atlas. Family Atlas is a package to help you map your family history. You can upload a gedcom file from your genealogy program then create. personalize and publish colorful maps that chart your family's migration around the world or pinpoint important events in your family history. Roots Magic has agreed to give us a $10 discount off the price of the software, that's $19.95 instead of the regular price at $29.95.

If you are planning on attending, email Linda Cosper at s-lcosper@juno.com. A $10 donation would be appreciated. As always, everything we collect is used to purchase materials for the genealogy section at Haggard Library. Check out the link above for more details.

Trip to Salt Lake City

Join us in Salt Lake City! From November 30th through December 5th a group of us will be researching at the world's largest genealogy library - The Family History Library. Going with a group is a good way to visit the library for the first time. We'll have an orientation by library personnel at 3 pm on 11/30 and a professional genealogist will be available throughout the trip to help if you get stuck on your research. If you are interested check out the link above and email Barbara Coakley at bjc1620@sbcglobal.net

Beginning Genealogy Class

Collin College is offering Genealogy- Getting Started. The class will be on Tuesday nights from Sept 7th through October 12th from 6:30-9:00. If you are just getting started on your family history you'll learn where to start, how to research and how to organize what you find. If you have been doing research for a while, the class can help you get back to basics, learn how to analyze what you find and research more efficiently and effectively. The class is taught by Barbara Coakley. Barbara is an experienced researcher. She has been teaching genealogy and lecturing for more than 10 years.

August 21 Saturday Seminar - Using Google

Join us Saturday, August 21, for our next Seminar. Barbara Coakley will speak to us on "Using Google for your Genealogical Research."

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Download the flyer.

Digital Scrapbooking Workshop

Last month, Ruthie Matthews, did a presentation for us on using Creative Memories Story Book Creator Plus software to create a digital scrapbook. These are a great way to preserve the work you've done on your Family History and a share it with relatives.

The Software is available for purchase on her website, you can download the software or order it on CD. There are also free Story Book Creator templates that you can download from her website and others that are available for purchase.

Ruthie has also agreed to help us learn to use the software with a hands on workshop on August 14th at a location to be determined.

Based on interest we'll either have an all day workshop (10-3) or half day workshop (10-12) and cost will be determined based on length of workshop. Proceeds go to purchase materials for the Genealogy Section at Haggard Library.

What you'll need for the Workshop:
• A laptop
• Story Book Creator Plus Software and templates (if you haven't installed the software before the workshop, we'll help you do that as well)
• Digital Pictures

If you are interested please email Barbara Coakley at bcoakley@crww.com by June 30th.

Handout from June's Saturday Seminar

We had such a great turnout at the June Seminar, we ran out of handouts! Here is a digital copy of it to download.

July 17th Saturday Seminar

Join us Saturday, July 17, for our next Seminar. Tresa Tatyrek will speak to us on "How to Use Heritage Quest."

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Download the flyer.

June Newsletter

The newsletter for June has been published. Download it here!

June Saturday Seminar

Join us June 19 for our regular Saturday Seminar - Don Raney will speak on "Early American Migration Routes."

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Download the flyer.

Dining Event at On The Border - May 20, 2010

Dine at your convenience on Thursday, May 20th, 2010, at ON THE BORDER in Plano, TX. Ten percent of your meal ticket will be donated to Genealogy Friends’ in support of the W.O. Haggard Library Genealogy Department.

Bring as many friends as you like; just be sure you give the coupon attached to the flier to your waiter. On The Border will donate 10% as a Thank You to Genealogy Friends for the generous work it does teaching genealogy and providing new material for the Genealogy Department.

We thank On The Border for their kind acknowledgment of Genealogy Friends efforts.

Download the flyer with coupon

May 15 Saturday Seminar

Join us Saturday, May 15, when Ruthie Mathews speaks to us about Creative Memories Digital Scrapbooking and Bob McGuire speaks on Family Keepsakes. Download the flyer.

Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll finish around 12:30. We meet in the Program room of the W.O. Haggard Jr. Library (2501 Coit Rd., Plano).

April Newsletter

Our April newsletter is now online!

Next Saturday Seminar - April 17

Join us for our Saturday Seminar on April 17th when Dan Spigel, producer and director of the film “House of Generals” will present "Fighting Hate Through Film." It is the story of his mother’s family during the Russian Revolution through the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Download the flyer.

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am and we'll end at 12:30 pm.

Dining Out Event - April 22

Join Genealogy Friends at On The Border (1505 Central Expressway, Plano) for a nice meal, great company, fun and a drawing for door prizes. All for $20.00 which includes the meal, tax and gratuity (pre-payment is encouraged). Proceeds will be used to purchase needed resources for the genealogy department of the Haggard Library. Download the flyer for more information.

Next Saturday Seminar - March 20

Join us on Saturday, March 20, for our next Saturday Seminar and get two topics for the price of one! Barbara Coakley will present "Analyzing Records: Find all the Clues" and Brenda Kellow and Jean Funk will present "Genealogy Jeopardy"

We meet at the program room of the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd. Doors open at 10:15 am, we'll get started at 10:30 and end at 12:30 pm.