German Genealogy Made Possible: A Roadmap for Research, Records, and Trees

FamilySearch and the German Genealogy Collective are offering a free one-day online event on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Link to save your seat - https://germangenealogycollective.com/fs-ggc-call

More information will be available soon. 

DNA Group Changes

 

Genealogy Friends DNA Special Interest Group has been meeting for a couple of years now and has evolved to intermediate and advanced topics. We are adding a second group that focuses on Beginning DNA topics. 

We would like your input to design programs for both groups that match your interests and experience. Please take a few minutes to answer the survey. 

  Survey Link 

Dallas Genealogical Society - Mastering the Search: German Genealogical Research Strategies

 

March 28, 2026 - Join in person at the downtown Dallas Public Library or via Zoom. 

Sessions: 

• Overcoming the Language Barrier in German Genealogy
• German Genealogy on the Internet: Beyond the Basics
• Finding and Using German Church Records
• Telling Their Story: Adding Character to Your German-American Genealogical Narrative

Link to More Information and Registration

It's Time for RootsTech 2026!

 

Find Relatives at Roots Tech is "live" now

https://www.familysearch.org/en/connect/8a37fa20-0398-41a6-b391-0b33657a9976/

If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so here:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/registration/online/

2026 Texas State Family History Conference - A Journey of Discovery

 

This year the 2026 TxSGS Family History Conference will be at the Riley Center on the campus of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 6-7, 2026. It will be a hybrid event with 10 speakers in person. These presentations will be livestreamed to our virtual audience and recorded for registrants to view after the conference. In addition, there will also be a robust library of on-demand recordings that will also be accessible to registrants following the conference. 

This conference is being designed to inspire genealogists at all stages of their research as they explore new records, methodologies, technologies, and perspectives. We will explore the adventure of genealogical research - those exciting moments of discovery, the creative problem-solving, and the thrill of piecing together family stories. 

Save the Dates: November 6-7, 2026 And Come to Fort Worth!

TxSGS Offers Genealogy Essentials Class

 

Genealogy Essentials: Building a Strong Foundation for Family History February 2 - March 13, 2026| Online Course | $80

Are you just starting out on your family history journey? Have you been  researching for a while but want to jump start your research with new skills and resources? Unsure how to navigate the mountains of documents and  details you’ve inherited from relatives? The Texas State Genealogical  Society (TxSGS) understands the challenges beginners and other  researchers face—that’s why we’ve created “Genealogy Essentials,” a  flexible, online program designed with you in mind. TxSGS is again offering Genealogy Essentials – Course 1, our  comprehensive, eight-session curriculum aimed at beginners and  those who want to review the basic principles necessary to be successful as a genealogist. The pre-recorded lectures will all be released on  February 2, 2026, allowing students to watch sessions on their schedule.  A homework assignment booklet is included which will help participants  practice what they have learned in the courses. A recording of instructor  interviews addressing frequently asked questions will be available weekly  to provide additional information. “In designing ‘Genealogy Essentials,’ we aimed to create an accessible,  flexible program that helps participants build a strong foundation in  genealogy,” said Emily Richardson, TxSGS president and course  coordinator. “From understanding basic research concepts to evaluating  sources and organizing family documents, this course empowers learners  to discover their heritage with confidence.” All participants will enjoy access to the course materials—including  detailed handouts and session recordings—through March 13, 2026,  allowing ample time for review and reinforcement. No prior experience  is required; all you need is a computer with audio.

Learn More & Register Now

July Genealogy News

 2025 National Archives Genealogy Series

Recordings are available https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-series/2025 for the presentations:

• Revealing Ties to Espionage in the Office of Strategic Services Records
• From the Territory of Montana to the Republic of Vietnam: Researching Native American Veterans in the National Archives, 1881-1966
• Washington DC, Law and Order: Cops and Robbers, 1861-1991
• Disaster Preparedness and Response for Family Collections
• Research Immigrant Ancestors: Alien Registration (AR-2) Forms

Past Event recordings are also available https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-series

Thomas MacEntee Amazon Prime Day Special - Free E Books

25 books written by Thomas MacEntee are free to download during Amazon Prime Days July 7 -July 11, 2025.  Link to article https://genealogybargains.com/amazon-prime-day-free-genealogy-ebooks/.

175,000 New Historical Records Released by Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland

The Virtual Treasury of Ireland was launched in 2022 and is working to reconstruct the records lost in the fire in 1922 at the Public Record Office of Ireland. Here is a link to a post on Dick Eastman's blog about the new records and the website https://wwweogncom.wildapricot.org/page-18080/13516932.

Black Pearls of Genealogy

This is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and honoring Black family histories. 

https://thebpog.org/home-two/

Newspapers.com Added Page Category Options

Page Categories like politics, disaster, sport, etc. help you find what you're looking for faster. When you apply a Page Category filter to your search you will see results where your search term appears on pages related to the category.  Here is a link to their blog post about this feature https://blog.newspapers.com/explore-our-new-page-categories-options/?xid=8822&utm_source=Internal&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Find_July-2025

6th Annual 24-Hour Genealogy Webinar Marathon!

The 6th Annual 24-Hour Genealogy Webinar Marathon, hosted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars and MyHeritage, is coming to a screen near you on April 3–4, 2025! The marathon kicks off on Thursday, April 3 at 4 P.M. Central (U.S.) and runs straight through to Friday, April 4 at 4 P.M. Central — that's 24 hours of nonstop learning, inspiration, and discovery.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from a powerhouse lineup of genealogy experts and educators from around the globe. Whether you're looking to dive deeper into DNA, break through brick walls, use AI for research, or explore your family's origins, there's something here for every genealogist — from beginner to pro.

Every session is completely free to attend live, but spots are limited per session, so be sure to register early to save your seat! Explore the full schedule and register now at: https://familytreewebinars.com/24-marathon/.

Genealogy News

⬥ For those conducting New York City research, 1949 death certificates have been transferred to the New York City Municipal Archives. They are currently being processed, so stay tuned for an availability update. And more than 40,000 marriage licenses (1914–1924) for the Bronx are digitized and now online at Historical Vital Records site. However, that site does not name index the licenses. Use the NYC Marriage Index site or Ancestry index to obtain license numbers.  

⬥  MyHeritage has just launched a major and groundbreaking new DNA product: Ancient Origins, a feature that complements their DNA ethnicity reports and traces your origins up to 10,000 years into the past. Ancient Origins allows MyHeritage DNA customers to discover the ancient populations they descend from, such as Imperial Romans, Norse Vikings, Phoenicians, and Ancient Egyptians. Read more about Ancient Origins on the MyHeritage blog.

⬥  The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is now shipping orders of its groundbreaking textbook, Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice. With 575 pages, it is the first comprehensive primer for professional genealogists who are interested in exploring the specialty areas and skills required to build a career in this emerging field. Meet the authors and purchase Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice at the NGS booth at RootsTech in Salt Lake City 6-8 March 2025. Or order your copy through the NGS Store.

⬥  Celebrate Black History Month with some free webinars from Legacy Family Tree. They are offering these 5 webinars for free during the month of February 2025.

⬥  The topic of the next Mondays with Myrt will be AI and photo analysis. Mark Thompson, from the Family History AI Show podcast, will be the special guest. Join this free LIVE streaming virtual meeting where attendees may participate in the LIVE chat on February 3^rd starting at 11am at YouTube.

⬥  Registration will open February 4^th for the GRIP Genealogy Institute. Nine virtual courses will be offered from 22-27 June 2025, and eight in-person courses offered from 13-18 July 2025. More information here.

⬥  Fold3 announces a new collection of Virginia military records. The Virginia Department of Military Affairs Records Collection contains information on Virginia military personnel who served between 1876 and 1947, including veterans from the Spanish-American War, WWI, and WWII. Learn more in this recent Fold3 blogpost or go straight to the collection Search. Reminder that Fold3 is available through many libraries. Also Fold3 related – Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries will present Using Fold3 to Your Advantage, featuring Craig R. Scott, at the next Saturday Seminar, February 15, 2025.

⬥  Genealogy Bank recently added new content from 169 titles including 134 newspapers added for the first time. View the newspaper title, location, and date range in this list to see if the newly added content is relevant to your research.

⬥  Storied has acquired the AI company “Memory Lane,” which will leverage AI to “make building family trees more easily, storytelling more seamless, and help you to make new discoveries.” Their new pricing structure, with plans as low as $20 per year, provides access to over 1 billion historical records in addition to platforms for building a family tree and creating Storied Books.

The Snapshot Interviews 

The Snapshot Interviews are a series of free, engaging, 30-minute conversations with leading voices in genealogy. With a strong focus on audience participation, each session incorporates questions submitted by attendees, making every interview interactive and uniquely tailored. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just starting your journey, these interviews provide fresh ideas, practical tips, and inspiration—all in just half an hour!

The debut of The Snapshot Interviews features two well-known names in forensic genealogy, Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais and Michael S. Ramage. Together, they bring unparalleled expertise to the field and are the co-authors of the highly anticipated book, Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice. The first interview, with Catherine and Michael, launches on February 12th at 6:30 PM Central US. 

Join the conversation and sign up today to be part of The Snapshot Interviews. Explore the rest of the 2025 schedule and register now.

 Genealogy News

Celebrate 18 years of Fold3 with a 40% discount! Buy now. Offer ends 27 January 2025.

The Names & Stories project at MyHeritage has been completed, adding 11.6 billion new records! These records were extracted from historical newspapers spanning all 50 U.S. states, as well as Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Read more about this historic achievement at the MyHeritage Blog.

The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook, by Thomas MacEntee, is available for free with Kindle Unlimited. Amazon link here.

Registration for Applied Genealogy Institute's Spring 2025 Session will open from January 15th - January 22nd, 2025! There will be five exciting classes held this session. You can review the dates, cost, and class outlines on the website: https://appliedgen.institute/spring-2025-classes/

American Ancestors is hosting a Virtual Open House Webinar on Wednesday, January 29th, from 3:00-4:00pm. During the open house you will learn how the databases, genealogists, and millions of unique collections at American Ancestors can help! This discussion will highlight the many benefits and services available to members. This will be a great way to find out if American Ancestors would be useful to your research. Learn More and Register.

Registration is open for the Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group with Cyndi Ingle. Saturdays, 4pm, Feb 15-March 29, 2025. $95. These Zoom sessions will be a beginner/low-intermediate level class to study the book “Mastering Genealogical Proof” by Thomas W. Jones. Click here for more information.

The Roundtable Recap - Land Records blog post in November shares information and links we discussed during the November Roundtable meeting. If you are interested in an additional live presentation concerning land records, The Mesquite Historical and Genealogical Society is hosting a seminar on the subject January 9, 2025. Genealogist Sara Cochran will be speaking about the value of State and Federal land records and the many ways they can be helpful in research. Click here to register for this Zoom meeting.

Find the Generation of Connection with Your Mystery DNA Matches is a free webinar being presented by YourDNAGuide on January 16, 2025. Register here to learn these helpful steps.

The National Genealogical Society is offering its Foundations in Family History course. Details can be found here. Also, if you purchase a new NGS gift membership through January 31, 2025, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of five valuable prizes to be given away on February 3, 2025. More information is available in the Upfront with NGS blog.

Registration is now open for more than 170 upcoming live webinars in 2025 at Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Many of these are free to view live and for the following 7 days.

FamilySearch celebrated its 130^th anniversary as an organization in 2024 along with the 25^th anniversary of their popular website, FamilySearch.org. Highlights of their year can be found in the FamilySearch Year in Review 2024 blog post.

MyHeritage celebrated their 20^th anniversary in 2024. The blog post, Wrapping Up 2024: MyHeritage Year in Review, has a month by month recap of their year and also includes interesting statistics such as 13 billion historical records added.

RootsTech will be held March 6^th – 8^th. Information about speakers, registration, in-person and online classes, and more can be found here.

Just in case you missed the holiday sale at Ancestry, they are currently offering 50% off 6-month memberships. The sales ends January 16^th.

Genealogy Websites

Check out these genealogy websites:

Old Job Titles From German Church Records 

http://baseportal.de/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/JGorsler/Berufs/Beruf&localparams=1

Alte Berufsbezeichnungen aus Kirchenbüchern is a list of 3,179 alphabetically listed entries of occupations along with their descriptions. There is a search feature (Suchen). The website doesn't have an English option but you can use the translate this website in Chrome once you find the occupation to get an English version of the explanation. 

Odessa A German-Russian Genealogical Library

http://www.odessa3.org/  

A digital library dedicated to the cultural and family history of the millions of Germans who emigrated from Russia in the 1800s and their descendants. The collection is primarily digitized books and records plus indexes of microfilms and research aids. The website is free and provided by Roger Ehrich. 

International German Genealogy Partnership Conference  

https://iggp.org/2025-iggp-conference/

"Celebrate Your German-Speaking Ancestor" conference will be held June 13-15, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Registration opens December 1, 2024.

Applied Genealogical Institute Spring 2025

https://appliedgen.institute/

The Spring 2025 schedule is available for AppGen. They have courses on Irish Research, Southern States Research, Land Records in Public States, Genealogy & The Law, and Write As You Research. 

GRIP Genealogical Institute 2025

https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/

GRIP 2025 virtual class week will be 22-27 June 2025 and In-Person in Pittsburgh, PA will be 13-18 July 2025. Registration Opens February 4, 2025.

Digitize New York

https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/content/digitize-new-york

The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society has two digitization centers that are working to preserve at-risk documents. A list of the completed projects is available on the website.  

Voting 

https://stlgs.blogspot.com/2024/11/voting-in-americaa-genealogical.html

The St. Louis Genealogical Society has an interesting blog post about the history of voting in America with links to resources.