Events

OGS members share their discoveries by using methodologies or resources discussed in the year’s programs.

Bring goodies to share for our annual Christmas party.

Court cases appealed to the Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court are an extremely useful tool in genealogy and history research.  The case files include civil, criminal, and chancery (equity) cases, with the majority of cases involving debts, damages or land disputes.  The files often include transcripts from the circuit court case which are not kept at the local level and can add valuable details to a family story.  This program by Missouri state archivist Christina Miller will explore what types of records exist and how you can access them. 

Join us as professional genealogist Scott Norrick discusses the background, reasons, and challenges inherent in the three distinct waves of migration to America: from Scotland to the Irish province of Ulster in the 17th century, from Ulster to American in the 18th century, and fanning out to America's frontier in the 19th century. Special emphasis will be placed on the cultural, political, social, and religious influences that shaped their decisions and movements. 

Despite the dearth of sources providing direct evidence of an enslaved person’s identity or relationships, the standards for achieving genealogical proof are the same that apply to all ethnicities. Further, the principal antebellum sources of information about enslaved ancestors are records created by or with respect to slaveholding families. This lecture by Certified Genealogist LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson will provide examples of the many records that are useful in researching the genealogies of both groups, emphasizing strategies for meeting genealogy standards and sources of particular relevance to enslaved people.