Events

Many individuals and families migrated into North Carolina, especially in the colonial and pre-Civil War time period. Depending on who was immigrating and when, different locales in NC were hot spots for emigrants from abroad, either directly or via Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and beyond. As the state developed, resources were depleted, productive land became scarcer, settlers considered it too crowded, and we see a pattern of western migration. This migration often did not stop at the state borders. Many families spent a few years, a generation, or a few generations in North Carolina, often hopscotching across the state, east to west, before migrating to adjoining states and beyond. Professional genealogist Diane Richard will explore these years of migrating North Carolinians – the history of the times and the documentary trail left behind.

Did your ancestor serve on the local level, the state level, or the federal level in the American Revolution? How can you tell? Professional genealogist Bryna O'Sullivan will explain the different types of Revolutionary War army service and how the differences in service might have impacted where your ancestor was recorded. It will include a discussion of militia and Continental Line structures, the federal pension system, and more.

The Works Progress Administration (later changed to Work Projects Administration) (WPA) carried out many public works projects (many still visible today); however, the smaller projects were just as effective. Federal Project Number One consisted of 5 separate divisions/projects employing artists, musicians, actors and actresses, historians, researchers, and writers, to name a few. The Federal Art

Project, Federal Music Project, Federal Theatre Project, Federal Writers Project, and the Historical Records Survey contributed to the success of the WPA and to the employment record of the US. In this presentation, Ann Staley, CG®, CGL®, FNGS will provide information on each division/project and their contributions; however, the focus will mainly be on the last two – the Federal Writers Project, and the Historical Records Survey and some of the publications and inventories they created.

Ask anyone doing genealogy research for more than five minutes about how they organize their research, and you will get a wide variety of responses. Not only are practices variable, but almost no one believes that they have the ultimate solution. One problem is the move in the last twenty years to digital access and record keeping. No one electronic resource provides a fully integrated method. Another problem is that through trial and error through the digital options, some may be abandoned and then our research becomes scattered. 

This workshop does not pretend to offer a final solution, but it will assist the attendee by using a hands-on approach to trying out a variety of options including standard genealogy software, stand-alone "second brain" programs, online tools, OS-based note-taking apps, and word processing and spreadsheet programs.  There won't be time to try them all out. But pros and cons will be discussed. Paper organization such as binders and filing cabinet folders will NOT be discussed. 

Participating in the hands-on portions is not required. To take full advantage of the hands-on portions of the workshop, bring a laptop. Further instructions will be sent ahead of time.

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

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.