Did you know you can filter the GenFriends blog to find specific topics?

 

There's a wealth of information posted in the GenFriends blog. Were you too busy this summer to look at the blog?  Or, do you remember seeing something but can't find it now?

Try this:

(1) Open the GenFriends blog here: genfriends.blogspot.com

(2) Search on a label such as Take Action. 

The small image on this blog post shows all the current labels (listed alphabetically from 23andMe to Ziebold). When you are on the blog page, the labels are on the lower right side (you might need to scroll down to see them).

(3) Check out the specific blog posts that appear using my example (or your own filtering!).

https://genfriends.blogspot.com/search/label/Take%20Action

Do You Use Family Tree software or are considering it?

Watch your upcoming GenFriends email for information about a soon-to-be launched Family Tree Maker (FTM) User Group in our local area.

In the meantime, I suggest:

(1) Don't have this software that syncs to ancestry.com (if you want it to do so)?  Then, check out this official FTM website for features that may help you determine if you want to give this a try. https://www.mackiev.com/ftm/

(2) Already have the Family Tree Maker Software (latest version is 2024)?  Download the user handbook that is included in the software - 342 pages full of "how to's".  Focus on one area at a time.  Feel free to click and click when using the software - you'll be surprised what you learn by doing.

(3) Are you a Family Tree Maker advanced user?  Help our GenFriends community by adding a comment to this blog post with a couple of your favorite "tips & tricks".

MyHeritage - Free Access this weekend (Oct 31-Nov 1) for 1.7B records across 449 collections

 

ALL TREATS, NO TRICKS

This weekend, through Sunday (Nov. 1), MyHeritage is offering free access to more than 1.7 billion death, burial, cemetery, and obituary records across 449 collections worldwide. Grab that bowl of Halloween candy and look for those missing dates, residences, burial places, relatives, occupations, and other clues about your ancestor’s life. 

https://blog.myheritage.com/2026/10/unearth-your-family-history-with-free-access-to-death-records-this-halloween/

Note: This information was posted on ConferenceKeeper.org - feel free to subscribe to their free weekly email notifications related to this topic and many other genealogy news items and events.

Veteran's Day - Honoring Your Ancestors and Living Relatives

At last year's GenFriends "Show and Tell", I brought Plano Flags of Honor laminated cards about two ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War.  They again will be among the many veterans included in the amazing flags display at Red Tail Pavilion in Plano.

https://planoflagsofhonor.com/

Check this link (above) to see:

(1) Schedule of events from November 7-14, 2026

(2) How and when you can volunteer if interested

(3) How you can create an honor card online by uploading a photo and description.

https://planoflagsofhonor.com/honor-a-hero/ (online submission is using this link)

https://flags.planoflagsofhonor.com/ (use this link to search on examples of previous submissions such as my 6th great grandfather Bartram Round or my 4th great grandfather Gideon Wells) - you'll see that your honor cards can be downloaded and printed for your personal use (such as for your family history files).

Next Steps?

(1) Try to submit one person's information to honor. There's only room for about 100 words (about 500 characters). 

(2) Add to Comments to this blog post regarding the name of the person you submitted - so that others can walk the field and honor them too.

Family Gatherings - Food, Recipes, Memories

 

As we enter November, my holiday planning often includes pulling out the recipe box with favorites from my mother and me. Besides making the goodies for your holiday table, consider how you might like to add a family history twist!

Ideas: 

(1) Our GenFriends in person meeting refreshments sometimes have included a favorite homemade cookie recipe.

(2) I wrote a short story about some special tableware (Colonial dessert spoons) and also brought them to GenFriends "Show and Tell" one year.

(3) This year, I've signed up to attend one of these free library programs (links listed below.) My Grandma taught me how to make a jelly roll. My Mom and I made variations including our yummy pumpkin roll. I need to look through my Fanny Farmer recipe box and many other recipe books and files to see what else I may take to the library program. By doing so, I'll receive a PDF of what I share as well as what others share.

https://www.dallaslibrary.org/america250

Here's one of the many library locations offering this program: https://dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com/event/roots-and-recipes-541755

German Genealogy Resources & Free Webinar

Check these out if you have German ancestors. 

German Genealogy Collective The Place for German Genealogy, The tools you need for German Genealogical Success

9 Amazing Websites for Occupations in German Genealogy Blog Article by Katherine Schober

Free Live Webinar with Katherine Schober - 5 German Records You May Be Missing (and the Secrets They Could Reveal)

Choose from three live sessions next week – November 3, 4, or 5! Register below to save your spot and join us at the time that works best for you. Live Session Dates: Tuesday, November 3 at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT Wednesday, November 4 at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT Thursday, November 5 at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT Link to sign up: https://mailchi.mp/germanologyunlocked/german-records What if some of the biggest clues to your German family history are hiding in records you’ve never heard of? While church and vital records are often our go-to sources, there’s a whole world of lesser-known German documents that exist - records that might hold the key to your next big breakthrough! What You'll Discover in This Free Webinar: 5 overlooked German record types that could open up new avenues for your family history research. Surprising details about your ancestors and their everyday lives that traditional records may not reveal. Where to find these documents, including helpful websites, databases, and German archives. How to break through research roadblocks by using lesser-known sources to uncover family connections and fill in missing details. Whether you're just getting started or have been researching your German ancestors for years, you'll walk away excited and confident, with new sources and strategies to help move your research forward. Let's go! Join us live at 1:00 PM ET on November 3, 4, or 5 and find out what you’ve been missing! View your timezone here. Don’t miss this chance to untangle the confusion and unlock new family history discoveries. Sign up now!

Gen Friends Saturday Seminar - Diseases our Ancestors Faced & How Those Illnesses Changed Our World

 

Join Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries for our next free Saturday Seminar on November 21, 2026 in person at W.O. Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano, TX or via Zoom.

Zoom Room Opens at 10:15 am CT

Networking at the Library 10:15-10:40 am CT

Announcements & Program Begins 10:40 am CT

Email newsletter@genealogyfriends for Zoom info. 

This presentation reviews several of the major illnesses our ancestors dreaded but thankfully with which we rarely concern ourselves. We will use historical records including death records as well as modern investigations to tell the story of illnesses and how it impacted the lives of our ancestors and how these illnesses shaped our world today. 

Dr. Gregory C. Gardner is a semiretired physician, medical educator, and rheumatologist with over three decades of experience in clinical practice and academic medicine. He served for more than 30 years as a clinician and educator at the University of Washington and continues to contribute to medical education at the national level. Dr. Gardner also provides specialized rheumatology care to four Native American Tribes in Washington State. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Gardner is passionate about family history and enjoys sharing his research and teaching in this field. Outside of his professional pursuits, he finds joy in traveling with his spouse and spending time with his six beloved grandchildren. 

Handouts and recordings are available for members on our website. Membership is $30 per year and includes a bonus webinar library with presentations by Thomas MacEntee. https://www.genealogyfriends.org/membership.html

We'd love to see you at our next event!

Merging and Separating Identities: Advanced Techniques to Organize, Analyze and Solve

 Research Like A Pro Institute is offering a course coordinated by Jan Joyce, CG, CGL, AG - Merging and Separating Identities: Advanced Techniques to Organize, Analyze, and Solve. https://familylocket.com/product/merging-and-separating-identities/ 

Designed for genealogists ready to master the art of identity resolution, Merging & Separating Identities provides hands-on strategies for tackling complex merging and separating cases. This virtual institute course features engaging instruction, real-world case studies, and practical exercises where participants learn to apply analytical tools, mapping, and FAN club techniques under the guidance of course coordinator Jan Joyce.

Class meets weekly for seven weeks on Thursdays from January 7 to February 18 or February 25 (class may not meet on February 18 in which case there will be class on February 25) from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. MT.

Course Objectives

Implement a comprehensive Merging and Separating Identities Process to resolve cases, including:

1. Collect and Organize Evidence Systematically – Learn systems to organize large quantities of data, maximize that data to build identity dossiers, and correlate the information to resolve or support the resolution of complex cases.
2. Apply Proven Resolution Methods – Implement timelines, mapping, FAN club analysis, and other methodologies to merge or separate identities with confidence.

 

 Course Description

Merging and separating identities is a critical part of genealogical research and a fundamental challenge in the field. Discerning identities among individuals who share names, locations, birth years and other descriptors is a prevalent challenge for researchers of all levels. The course focuses on the scenarios including: same name and one location, same name and multiple locations, different names and  multiple locations.

Every session in the course will provide techniques and examples to help organize, analyze and solve M/S cases. Sessions will enhance each student’s proficiency identifying and gathering descriptors and resolving cases through:

• Identity Profiling – Systematically gather and organize descriptors including biographical, geographical, social, and familial characteristics to build comprehensive identity dossiers.
• Research Methodologies – Select and implement proven analytical methods such as timeline construction, onomastic analysis, geographic mapping, FAN club identification, contextual research, and negative evidence collection.
• Analytical Tools – Utilize spreadsheet techniques, visualization methods, and emerging technologies to correlate data, identify patterns, and resolve complex identity questions.

 

Identity resolution challenges are among the most complex issues facing genealogical researchers, as evidenced by the extensive literature devoted to the subject. This course addresses these challenges through a multi-faceted learning approach:

• Foundational Instruction – In-depth presentations covering theory, methodology, and practical application techniques.
• Applied Case Studies – Analysis of real-world examples that demonstrate successful problem-solving strategies and decision-making frameworks.
• Interactive Workshops and Exercises– Structured exercises providing hands-on experience with identity correlation and analysis methods.
• Common Data Set – A small group of records is used for pre-course preparation and classroom application, enabling students to practice techniques before, during, and after instruction.

 

Anticipated Target Audience

Intermediate / High Intermediate / Advanced

Designed for intermediate and advanced genealogists, this course offers the opportunity to learn and practices techniques that will help students to master identity resolution. Participants will refine analytical techniques, deepen their understanding of genealogical methodology, and develop the skills necessary to confidently resolve difficult merging and separating cases.

Prerequisites

The course integrates traditional and cutting-edge methodologies, from offline paper-and-pen techniques to digital tools including Microsoft Excel for data organization, AirTable for advanced data management and visualization, and artificial intelligence platforms for enhanced data gathering and analysis. Basic Excel familiarity is recommended to maximize course benefits.

Pre-course work is optional but strongly recommended. Students receive the Common Data Set and detailed instructions one month prior to the course. Participants typically invest 10-20 hours in preliminary analysis before the first session.

Technical Support Requirements

• Spreadsheet Proficiency – Students should have familiarity with spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets, or AirTable). The course focuses on applying spreadsheet functions for identity resolution rather than teaching spreadsheet basics.
• NGS Membership – Recommended for access to the comprehensive Literature Review database, which includes articles from National Genealogical Society Quarterly and National Genealogical Society Magazine.
• Database Access – FamilySearch (free) and Ancestry subscriptions provide access to the curated record set used for pre-course preparation and classroom exercises.

 

Course Materials

Rather than a standard syllabus, students receive a comprehensive toolkit of practical resources including fillable templates, reference guides, and analytical tools designed for immediate application and long-term use in genealogical research.

Recordings

Recordings of the sessions will be available for 14 days after the course has ended.

RootsMagic 12 is here!

RootsMagic 12 has been released and is on sale through October 31.

Upgrade for $19.95 and Purchase for $29.95

Some of the improvements are:

• New Family Tree View - one person in the middle with ancestors above and descendants below
• Sources Made Simpler - 18 templates based on Evidence Explained Version 4
• On this Day - List of births, marriages, and deaths in your tree that happened on today's date
• Additional AI Prompts in the AI Prompt Builder
• New Charts - Hourglass Fan Tree and Bow Tie Charts

Link for more info and to purchase

RootsTech 2027 Registration is Now Open

The world's premier family discovery event - 4-6 March 2027. Join in-person in Salt Lake City or online.

Why attend RootsTech 2027? It will be a celebration of the joy of connection: a family discovery event, an on-demand learning library, a way to grow closer to the people, places, and stories that matter most. 

Online - 200+ new online sessions, inspiring keynote sessions, connect with other RootsTech attendees, discover the latest family history technologies, and learn from a community of industry experts. 

In-person - Early bird pricing $99 for 3 day pass - 225+ exclusive sessions only available in Salt Lake City, 200+ exhibitors/sponsors in the Expo Hall. 

Link to Register https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/registration/

 

Genealogy Lock-In - October 16, 2026

 This will be the event's 25th year, featuring eight lectures.   

When: October 16, 2026 - 9:00 to 5:50 CT

Where: W.O. Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd., Plano or via Zoom

Registration is now open - https://plano.libnet.info/event/16733665

9:00 -  9:50 Building Your Digital Family History Archive | Difficulty: Intermediate

EvaAnne Johnson, Genealogy & Local History Librarian at Wilmette Public Library

While we are researching our family tree, we often collect a lot of digital files - from downloaded records and emailed documents to scanned photographs and mobile screenshots. What should we do with all these digital files, and how can we keep them organized? This presentation will cover the basics of digital preservation and outline practical steps for creating a well-structured Digital Family History Archive to safeguard your genealogy work.

 

10:00  -   10:50 Researching Your Scottish Ancestors | Difficulty: Intermediate

Erika A. Ward, PGCERT (Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies)

Do you have ancestors who emigrated from Scotland? Are you unsure of which records exist, how to use them, or where to find them? This class explores the rich landscape of Scottish historical sources- including census, church, civil, and immigration/emigration records- to help you uncover the stories hidden in your Scottish heritage.

 

11:00  -   11:50  Cluster Research, or Discovering You're Related to the Whole Block | Difficulty: Intermediate

Jessica M. Trotter, Genealogy Presenter and Researcher

As Aristotle noted, "Man is by nature a social animal"-he has family, society, and throughout history he has moved with them. This session includes tips, tricks, and examples of how researching the neighborhood and other associates of your ancestors can further your own research.

 

11:50 12:30 Lunch Break

12:30  -   1:50  Unlocking Your Roots: Starting Your Genealogy Journey | Difficulty: Beginner

    Barbara Coakley, Genealogy Researcher, Speaker, Author

Learn how to start your genealogy journey or update your skills using a repeatable research process. Begin with what you already know, frame your research question, explore essential records, and organize your discoveries.

 

2:00  -  2:50 Beyond the Family Tree: An Introduction to Oral History for Genealogy | Difficulty: Beginner

Adrienne Cain Darough, MLS, CA Assistant Director and Clinical Associate Professor, Institute for Oral History 

Genealogy often begins with documents, but it becomes powerful through storytelling.  This presentation explores   the fundamentals of oral history and how intentional interviewing can uncover context, culture, and connections that traditional records may miss. Learn how to plan, conduct, and preserve meaningful family interviews.

3:00  -  3:50 Texas & Southern Genealogy Resources at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History | Difficulty: Beginner

Margaret Schlankey, Assistant Director for Public Services, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, UT

The Briscoe Center has a vast collection of resources helpful to genealogists with roots in Texas and the American South. This presentation will go over what's available and how to access them.

 

4:00 - 4:50 Researching Your Revolutionary War Soldier: A Case Study |                        Difficulty: Intermediate

Craig R. Scott, CG, FUGA, President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc.

A Revolutionary War ancestor can be a goldmine of information if you know where to look. This lecture aims to examine types of service, compiled military service records, pension applications, settled accounts, and where other documents can be found using a step-by-step methodology in a case study.

5:00  -  5:50 Gen Z + Genealogy: Getting the Younger Generation Interested in Genealogy Research | Difficulty: Beginner

Carl Smith, MLIS, Manager of the Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus 

Do you have a passion for family history but are worried about who carries the genealogical torch after you? Join in for a special presentation on Gen Z + Genealogy where we'll discuss tips and tricks on how to foster understanding, communication, and participation with the younger generations, and ideas to better market genealogy to different age groups in ways that can increase interest in the topic all around.

September 19, 2026 Free Saturday Seminar: From Parlor to Platform: Women's Clubs & Organizations as Genealogical Sources

 

Join Genealogy Friends on Saturday, September 19, 2026 either in person at W.O. Haggard Library or via Zoom for our next Free Saturday Seminar.  (All Times Central Time)

10:00  Library Doors Open

10:15  Zoom Room Opens

10:15-10:40  Networking at Library & On Zoom

10:40  Announcements

10:45 Presentation Begins 

Discover how the women's club movement of the late 1800s took women from the parlor into hospitals, schools, and civic office - and left behind records that document them in their own right, not through the men in their lives. Includes a case study of a women's organization and tips on where these records survive.  

Email newsletter@genealogyfriends.org for Zoom information. 

Great Family Search Conference

 Free registration is still open for our free annual Great Family Search Genealogy Conference on Saturday, September 26th.  Come perfect your genealogy skills, learn some new things and make some new friends!  If you have friends or neighbors just getting started, we have classes for beginners too, so bring them along!  Plan to stay for lunch where you'll meet other like minded genealogists from all over North Texas. You can bring your own lunch or order a Market Street lunch box & water for $11.  The conference is free, and lunch payments go directly to Market Street.  If you order lunch, please register and complete your payment as instructed in the confirmation email.  

Registrations that have lunch orders must be completed and paid by Wednesday, September 23rd.  No refunds or cancellations of lunch orders after Wednesday.  

Register on our website: http://greatfamilysearch.com.

We have a great lineup of presenters and classes.  Online registration, presenter and class information is available on our website.  The class schedule is attached. 

Spared & Shared - Civil War Letters

 Brian at Civil War Records.com shared information about this website and facebook page. 

Billy Yank & Johnny Reb Letters contains thousands of Civil War-era letters and diaries transcribed by Will Griffing, both Union and Confederate. The site is free. There is also a Facebook page Spared & Shared, where he shares new letters that are noteworthy. 

Here is a link to the List of Letters by state. 

If you have any Civil War or Antebellus Letters that you are willing to share, he will transcribe them and include them in the collection. There is a link to contact him on the List of Letters page. 

 

Civil Right Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act of 2026 - Take Action!

From the Chicago Genealogical Society

Action Alert! 

H.R. 3087 

Support H.R. 3087, titled the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act of 2026

Established by the bipartisan Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board is a nonpartisan panel charged with expediting the review and public release of federal records concerning unresolved civil rights-era cases occurring between 1940 and 1979. Working with federal agencies, the Board applies new disclosure standards to make these records more accessible to victims’ families, legal organizations, journalists, scholars, and the public. By bringing these long-hidden investigative records to light, the Board seeks both to provide greater clarity and closure to victims’ relatives and to promote a more complete understanding of this important and troubled chapter in American history. See https://www.coldcaserecords.gov/ for more information on the board. 

 H.R. 3087, titled the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act of 2026, extends the operations of the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board through January 8, 2030. 

Key Provisions:

• Extends the Review Board deadline to January 8, 2030. 
• Directs state and local governments to send cold case files to the Archivist. 
• Allow the Board to pay state and local groups for copy and mail costs. 
• Permits public release of select personnel or medical files tied to cold cases from on or before January 1, 1990. 
• Establishes a clear rule that federal and local civil rights cold case files should have a goal of fast public disclosure. 

H.R. 3087 is important to genealogists because it would extend the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board and expand access to records from unresolved civil-rights cases dating from 1940–1979. These records may contain names, photographs, addresses, correspondence, witness information, and other details not found in traditional genealogical sources, helping descendants uncover family and community histories. Genealogists should support the bill’s reauthorization, the removal of the state and local government exemption, and continued funding for the preservation, digitization, indexing, and public accessibility of these records. Please contact your members of Congress to support this legislation at Congress.gov. 

 Any questions can be directed to advocacy@chicagogenealogy.org

Federal Record Access Issue - Federal Civilian Official Personnel Files - Take Action! It Just Takes a Minute

 From the National Genealogical Society

The National Archives and Records Administration recently published a notice in the Federal Register of its intent to adjust the records schedule for federal civilian employees. The public comment period is open, and the agency must receive responses by 24 August 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Genealogy Issue Federal civilian Official Personnel Folders (OPFs) can contain valuable genealogical information about a person’s government employment. Today, many OPFs for employees who left federal service before 1952 are archived at NARA. Later files generally remain under OPM control and are much harder to access. The 1952 cutoff was created for administrative filing purposes, not because the records on either side of that date have different historical value. In 2025, NARA proposed making OPFs for employees separated through 31 December 1973 permanent records, but this schedule has apparently not yet been approved. The National Genealogical Society and the Records Preservation and Access Coalition (RPAC) support that proposal and call on NARA to sign that record schedule. This new proposal, however, would allow OPFs for employees separated on or after 1 January 1974 to be destroyed after 65 years (right now, all post-1951 OPFs have a 129-year retention). RPAC seeks to: Preserve pre-1974 OPFs permanently. Make all employment years consistent with pre-1974 policy. Replace the arbitrary 1952 access cutoff with a rolling transfer of older civilian personnel files to NARA. This is simple: federal civilian personnel files should become more accessible as they age—not disappear. To submit your comments on the proposal, go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/NARA-26-0331-0008.

Submit Comments to NARA

Volunteer Opportunities: Support Genealogy Friends

Genealogy Friends is an all-volunteer organization. To keep the organization functioning, we need your help. 

Flexible & Remote Positions

Roles are 100% remote; you can contribute from home using tools like a word processor, spreadsheets, Weebly, Adobe Express, and Email Octopus. Training & support provided for all the tech tools. Most positions can be co-chaired by two people; these roles are ideal for people with limited availability. Email newsletter@genealogyfriends.org if you can help out. 

Updates at Ancestry

 Ancestry has updated their relationship predictions for close relationships. According to Diahan Southard, "They are now better at distinguishing your grandparent from your niece.... For the first time they aren't just using cMs and age to try to decide how people are related. They are taking into account the total number of segments, as well as how the matches relate to each other, so the shared matches of matches. This is really the first step in creating a genetic family tree." Here is a link to an Ancestry article about the change. 

There was also an update to the ThruLines tool. There are options for different views. 

August All-Day Virtual Seminar: Strategies for Genealogical Discoveries

 

Join Genealogy Friends on Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 9 to 3 CDT for Strategies for Genealogical Discoveries by J. Mark Lowe. 

Are you ready to tackle persistent challenges and uncover new family connections? Deepen your research skills and find new pathways to family stories in these four sessions:

• Making Those Early Census Records Talk to You
• Early Migration and Settlement Patterns
• Following a Civil Case Through Documents Filed in Court
• Using That Brick Wall as a Foundation

Register https://www.genealogyfriends.org/all-day-seminars.html 

If you are busy and can't attend in person, recordings will be available to watch later.