Free DNA Webinar - June 11, 2026 (1 pm ET) - Your DNA Guide

 It's great that Genealogy Friends have two special interest groups for the Beginner and Intermediate levels. In between these sessions, watch the blog for other opportunities to learn.  Thanks for sharing this, Kathy.

"DNA Talks. What's Your Story?" 

You don’t need to be a therapist or a tech expert to make a difference.

The truth is, your children and grandchildren need you—your stories, your perspective, your honesty about both strength and struggle.

In this free 45-minute live session, Diahan Southard, founder of Your DNA Guide, will share how story, science, and connection come together to build real resilience—and how you can use what you already have to help the rising generation lean in to family for connection.

Here's the link if you'd like to register:

https://diy.yourdnaguide.com/8421-webinar-jun-2026

DNA Webinar - register for free (June 19, 2026)

 

GEDmatch Official Website is a genealogy and DNA analysis platform that allows people to upload raw DNA data from various testing companies and compare it with other users’ data. Founded in 2010, GEDmatch provides tools for identifying genetic relatives, exploring ancestry, and conducting family history research beyond the limitations of individual DNA testing services. The platform is widely used by genealogists, adoptees, and family historians. 

GEDmatch offers a large collection of genetic genealogy tools, with core features available for free and additional advanced tools through its Tier 1 subscription. According to GEDmatch's official documentation, the main features include:

Free Features

• One-to-Many DNA Comparison
  • Compares your DNA kit against the entire GEDmatch database.
  • Identifies genetic relatives across multiple testing companies.
  • Provides contact information for matches when available.
• One-to-One Autosomal DNA Comparison
  • Compares two DNA kits directly.
  • Shows shared DNA segments and the amount of DNA shared.
  • Helps verify relationships and evaluate match quality.
• Admixture (Heritage) Analysis
  • Estimates ancestral and ethnic origins.
  • Displays the proportion of DNA associated with different geographic populations.
• Cross-Platform DNA Matching
  • Accepts DNA data from major testing companies, including AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and others.
  • Allows matching across databases rather than being limited to a single testing company.

ALL USERS can sign up for free for webinar on June 19, 2026 at 12 noon CT on this topic: 

"The Next Generation of GEDMatch - Live Preview" 

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5563744796617411927?utm_source=GMnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=may_2026

Library of Congress Webinar

 Discover the Library of Congress's genealogy resources and learn how to uncover the stories, records, and connections that bring your family history to life. 

The purpose of this event is to introduce members of the public to the resources at the Library of Congress that can be used for genealogical research. The Serial & Government Publications Division and Local History and Genealogy Section are collaborating to enhance access to genealogical resources like Chronicling America and the reference resources provided by the Local History and Genealogy Section for both offsite and onsite research. 

Webinar on June 10th at 5:30 central time.

Registration Link https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VBKj9TNzQKOltUt6OA3CYw#/registration 

GRIP Virtual Evening Sessions

 GRIP Virtual Evening Sessions are Free and Open to everyone, pre-register at https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/youre-invited-grip-virtual.../

MyHeritage - Free Access to U.S. Military Access Records from May 22-26, 2026

 Happy Searching!

https://blog.myheritage.com/2026/05/enjoy-free-access-to-u-s-military-records-on-myheritage-for-memorial-day/

From May 22–26, 2026, MyHeritage is opening free access to 35 U.S. military record collections containing more than 213 million historical records.

Even if you only have a few minutes, pick one ancestor and see what else you can learn about his or her military service.

Honoring Those Who Served on Memorial Day

 

How well do you know your hometown and the nearby towns and counties? I grew up 10 miles from Waterloo, New York in Seneca County. Learn about Waterloo and its claim to fame about Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. Where ever and whenever this tradition started, I'm glad we pause to remember our ancestors and others who served.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_(village),_New_York

https://time.com/5291026/memorial-day-started-birthplace-history/

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has an excellent webpage with Memorial Day history. 

https://www.cem.va.gov/history/Memorial-Day-history.asp#MemorialDay

Explore the VA site to also learn more about veterans' burial and memorial benefits, info about headstones/ markers/ medallions in various types of cemeteries, and how to request service records.

Glad to see some flags already displayed for this long Memorial Day weekend.  Check this link for other 2026 flag-flying days:

https://www.flags.com/Flag-Flying-Days-Holidays-Flag-Flying-Calendar-Half-Staff-Alerts?srsltid=AfmBOooPspBhxwfpcO-N0vG6CiCKa7V9e-o4h52Nl0Io5vNr-QhzNMtU

Newspapers.com Announces New Clipper

 The clipping tool on Newspapers.com has been updated to allow the selection of multiple areas on a single page and save them as a single clip. This will be helpful when an article covers multiple columns.

Drag a box around the first part of the article, hit the blue + icon to add another block. You can add up to 5 separate blocks on the same page. 

 Here is a link to the blog article.