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Past Program Reviews
2014
We all gain from sharing our
knowledge and experiences with others. The society greatly
appreciates the fantastic presentations we have had during
the past few years. Here is a listing of some of
those memorable events. Give them a big round of applause !
|
Go to Past Programs Main Index or Year 2015 Evening 2013
Jan/2014 |
 Tyler
Hancock - National Vice-Chair, Lineage Research presents
"Spain's Involvement in the American Revolution" - When most
people think of the American Revolution, the New England area
is what comes to mind. Automatically, they think of the Boston
Tea Party, Lexington and Concord, and Valley Forge. They
certainly do not give thought to Spain’s role in helping the
colonies secure their independence from Great Britain. In
fact, very few people even know that Spain played an integral
role. Proving lineage to an American Revolutionary patriot is
something familiar to most genealogists. Many, in fact,
have helped in proving lineage for the Daughters of the
American Revolution. But, to prove lineage and service
for Spanish patriots is something with which they are not
familiar. What types of patriotic service were rendered, what
dates are included, and what documents are required to prove
lineage and service back to a Spanish patriot? It’s an
exciting and rewarding journey to dig into Spain's involvement
in the American Revolutionary War. |
Feb/2014 |
 Maria Sutton
is the award-winning author of The Night Sky: A Journey
from Dachau to Denver and Back. Born in the barracks of
Germany’s former Wehrmacht command center, which had been
converted to house Europe’s Displaced Persons after WWII, she
immigrated to America in 1951, along with her Mother,
Step-father, and sister. At age 13, she overheard a
conversation that led her on a worldwide search for a stranger
named Josef Kurek. Her book, The Night Sky: A
Journey from Dachau to Denver and Back is the culmination of
her 43-year search for her biological father, who disappeared
shortly after her birth in war-torn Germany. Without
knowing the spelling of his name, nor his date and place of
birth, Maria was able to find him – proving that with
unwavering determination, anything is possible. Maria
graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of
Science in Finance and Accounting and has also attended the
John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University. She has been employed by the U. S.
government in several capacities throughout her Federal
career, receiving many awards for her writing and
investigative skills. The above title is available from
Johnson Books, an imprint of Big Earth Publishing. Her
memoir will be translated into several languages, including
German, Polish, and Ukrainian. Maria and her family reside in
Golden, Colorado. |
Mar/2014 |
 "The African
Experiences of Hayes Perkins" - presented by John Martin. In
this continuation of a talk given to the Longmont Genealogical
Society in November 2011, John will present an illustrated
overview of the African travels of Hayes Perkins, his first
cousin thrice removed. Google Earth maps drawn from Hayes
Perkins five-volume diary will trace Perkins paths through:
West Africa to a logging camp on the Niger River (1906-07);
North Africa down the Nile to the Heart of Africa Mission
(1913-1915); Central Africa to the diamond mining fields of
the Congo (1918-1920); Southern Africa by rail North from
Durban following the path of journalist Isaac Marcosson
(1923); the width of the continent east to west from Mombasa
to Matadi (1927-28); and, finally, the Sahara from Algiers to
Ft. Lamy (1952). Further information on the worldwide travels
of Hayes Perkins can be found at the website
http://hayeshereandthere.com/. John Martin retired from
teaching mathematics at the University of Colorado in 2011 to
take up farming full-time at Stonebridge Farm CSA. |
Apr/2014 |
 Castle
Garden --Immigrant Reception Center in New York, 1855-1890 by
Presenter: Carol Cooke Darrow, CG. Castle Garden was opened by
the city of New York to provide a safe immigrant reception
center for the 8 million people who came to the United States
between 1855 and 1890 through New York City. Carol will review
some immigrant history, the story of Castle Garden, the
processing of immigrants that took place there, and the
available records for this important location. Carol Cooke
Darrow has been a certified genealogist since 2005. She is the
past president of the Colorado Genealogical Society and has
written a book on researching tax records. Visit her website
at www.unravelingyourpast.net. |
May/2014 |
 "Images of
America: History and Genealogy of the towns named Highlandlake
and Mead as early as 1871” - Pauli Driver Smith has lived in
Highlandlake for the past 30 years and has intimate knowledge
of local family trees. She was able to digitize over 5,000
photos borrowed from townspeople, as well as documenting
historical information and delightful stories. Early residents
were ambitious in the usual occupations of the late
1800s. These settlers were also well educated. It wasn’t
long before they established a school, church and lending
library. Women residents promoted women’s suffrage, supporting
Colorado as the second state to give women the vote. Church
members hired a woman pastor. Both men and women served on the
school board. In contrast, in January of 1990, scenes were
filmed at Highland Lake for the movie “Die Hard II” using area
buildings and scenery. |
Jun/2014 |
 Dina Carson
presents - "Non-Population US Census Schedules 1850-1880:
Agricultural, Industry, Mortality, Slaves, Social Statistics,
State, School and other Specialized Census Records." The
Census Bureau has been collecting more than personal data
since 1810 when they started asking questions about how things
were made in the United States. By 1850 they had established
six separate schedules to gather data on the population,
slaves, mortality, agriculture, manufacturing and social
statistics. While these schedules are not as helpful for
typical genealogical tasks such as establishing relationships,
they are helpful for learning about how and ancestor lived.
Census schedules can help you find pensioners and veterans. If
you have Native American ancestry, the Indian Census Schedules
are invaluable. It wasn't only the Federal government that
collected census data, so did states, some cities, school
districts and others. If you have only been using the Federal
Census Schedules to find your family, you may be missing some
valuable information. Join us and learn what else you can
learn from these special Censuses. |
July/2014 |
 Summer Pot Luck - Starts at 12:00 NOON! Bring a Dish to share & your own eating utensils. Society will furnish the drinks. Don't miss the wonderful food, good company and festive spirit of this fun event. There will be a short presentation by Margaret Kamigaki on what's on our web site after lunch. Be thinking of other things we might post there! |
Aug/2014 |
 Pat Roberts presents - "Probate Research" - The probate talk tells what probate is, the process gone through, and how to locate the records. Pat is a former present of the Boulder Genealogical Society and the Colorado Council of Genealogy Societies and an excellent teacher. She also teaches a series of genealogy classes through SeniorNet at Longmont Front Range Community College. |
Sep/2014 |
 Paul
Flanders presents - "Misperceptions and Mischaracterizations
prior to the American Civil War." Northern and Southern
activists built a hatred for each other through
mischaracterizations based on misperceptions of the other
region. Southerners believed their slave-based economy
to be a superior lifestyle, and they didn’t want to be
criticized by northern abolitionists. They felt they had to
revolt in order to not have their lifestyle
destroyed. Paul Flanders taught high school
history and English for 33 years, then retired and found time
to pursue old and new fascinations. They include writing
fiction, storytelling, giving talks to community groups,
playing competitive bridge and not-so-competitive tennis,
serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), as well
as other endeavors. |
Oct/2014 |
 Denny L.
Hopper is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
American Legion, the F.B.I. National Academy Associates and
other professional organizations. He is currently the
President of the Longs Peak Chapter of the Colorado Society of
the Sons of the American Revolution. He is a descendant of the
Revolutionary War Patriots, Harmon Hopper, Thomas Goin, Conrad
Keck, Heinrick Keck, Thomas Brooks, Eli McVay, John McVay,
John Lynch, Aaron Lynch, John Owsley, John Barton, William
Kirk, Robert Ellison, Nicolas Cain, James Allison, Griffen
Stallings, Moses Bartlett, and the War of 1812 Patriots
Michael Shoffner and George Sharp. Several of his published
genealogical works include: Deep in the Holler – Hopper and
Kin of Leatherwood - Claiborne and Union Counties; The Tall
Grass – Plow Shares and Fertile Soil – Early Settlers of
Kansas and Nebraska and their Descendants. He currently lives
northwest of Boulder, Colorado where he continues his
investigative research and writing. His talk will give
us information on how to search for our own Patriots and learn
more about the Colorado National Guard. Be sure to bring your
husband and male friends - this program is sure to catch their
interest and inspire them to begin their own patriotic search! |
Nov/2014 |
 Sandstone, St. Vrain and the Sand Creek Massacre" presented by Harry Ross. The year 1864 was a significant year for residents of the St. Vrain Valley, especially Morse Coffin, who was an eye-witness to the "incident" at a peaceful Indian village in southeastern Colorado. "All history is Local" if you know where and how to find it.” |
Dec/2014 |
 Christmas
Pot Luck - Bring a Dish to share & your own eating
utensils. Society will furnish the drinks. Don't miss
the wonderful food, good company and festive spirit of this
event. One of our favorites - Jon Chandler will be back
with more of his stories and wonderful music. Put this on your
calendar cuz' you won't want to miss it. Bring a friend to
enjoy the program and great food with you. Elections for
2015 officers and board committee members will be held. Be
sure to attend and use your privilege as a member to
vote! |