Longmont Genealogical Society
Past Programs And Events For the Year 2025
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Upcoming Programs for 2025
January 8, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present via Zoom) |
![]() Mark Rabideau presents: "German–Prussian Genealogy — Essentials" Description: German Genealogy is NOT like American, African, or Asian. There are numerous reasons why:
BIO: Mark Rabideau, a member of the National Genealogical Society, the A.F. G.S. and the C.C.G.S. Speaker's Bureau has more than 20 years of Genealogy and Historical Research experience (including blogging, public speaking, client research), and is extremely active in providing hard to obtain genealogical source information to researchers all over the world. Semi–retired, he remains involved in the technology field. In addition to his involvement with PEP, Inc., Mark, along with his wife Becky, Mark is co-founder and owner of eirenicon, L.L.C., a small consulting firm providing world class business development and management consulting support. He is also the author of hundreds of genealogy articles and created and maintains internet-based genealogy environments for the Castle Rock and Columbine Genealogical Societies. Mark also created and maintains one of the internet's largest individually owned and managed repositories of West Prussia, East Prussia and Pomerania with maps, histories, source documents. Please go to his website www.many-roads.com for more areas of expertise and many other genealogical resources. |
February 12, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present in–person) |
![]() Chris M. Pederson presents: "New Mexico Hispanic Research Techniques" Description: Hispanic research is especially fascinating because there are excellent record collections documenting births, marriage, and deaths, which have been preserved by the Catholic Church for hundreds of years and are now available online. We will use a case study from my wife's Hispanic ancestry to discover where to find the records and how to use them. BIO: I was first introduced to family research over 30 years ago when I was told that my grandfather had traced our family back to the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia in 1755. Then in 2015, while watching TV with my wife, a commercial came on for Ancestry DNA. My wife said, "I want to do that!" When the results arrived, I shared them with my 90–year–old father–in–law who responded, "I want to do that, too!" And so began my passion for genetic genealogy. I have since built a large family tree tracing my wife's ancestry through the Spanish Colonial period, from the Conquistadors through New Mexico and then to Southern Colorado. DNA results have led to several startling and unexpected discoveries for me and for my friends and now for my many clients. |
March 12, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present in–person) |
![]() Sylvia Tracy–Doolos presents: "Irish Research Uncovered: Who, When, and Where to Search" Description: Irish research can be tricky, but knowing all you can about your ancestors in North America is the most important factor. Success can be achieved with a wee bit of luck and a good amount of research. Learn how to build a body of knowledge that will help you jump the pond! BIO: Sylvia Tracy–Doolos has been interested in genealogy for forty years and working as a professional genealogist for over ten as the owner of New Leaf Genealogy. She is Past President of the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History, President of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE–FHS). Sylvia is currently involved as a genealogical volunteer with both the Denver Public Library, and the Carbon Valley Library, and is an active member of several other genealogy societies, including LGS. She is a proud graduate of ProGen48 and has a B.A. in History with a minor in English focusing on linguistics so she could study how language changes affected record keeping. |
April 9, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present on Zoom) |
![]() Eilene Lyon presents: "Road Trips: Digging deep into the archives before you hit the gas" Description: Over a decade ago, I set out on my first road trip to collect information about my ancestors and visit the places they lived. I jokingly refer to these as my "Dead Ancestor Tours" but I also visit living relatives. I wasn't completely unprepared for this three–week trip, but knowing what I do now, after many such trips, I could have accomplished more. The most successful trips come about because of preparation time, well spent. I will not be covering the National Archives or Library of Congress in this talk. BIO: Eilene Lyon has spent decades researching families (hers and others) to piece together narrative stories about the past. She writes regularly on her blog, Myricopia (Meer–uh–COPE–ee–uh), and has published articles in local and regional genealogy and history magazines. A lover of the great outdoors, Eilene lives in Durango, Colorado, where she enjoys mountain biking, skiing, bird and plant identification, and hiking with her two enthusiastic mutts. She has a BS in Environmental Biology with additional qualifications in Geographic Information Systems, Chemistry, and Accounting. She also spent ten years as a licensed real estate broker. She shares her passion for family history by giving presentations on research, writing, and genealogy to local, regional, and national audiences, helping others to know their ancestors with greater compassion and historical context. |
May 14, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present on Zoom) |
![]() Carol Darrow presents: "Opening Up the Bureau of Land Management" Description: Land records account for one–fourth of most family histories. Welcome to the Bureau of Land Management at glorecords.blm.gov. There are documents dealing with Cash Sales of land across the U.S. plus Military Bounty Land assignments and, after 1862, Homestead patents "to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain." Let's find your ancestors there. BIO: Carol Darrow has been a professional genealogist for the past 25 years. She currently teaches free Beginning Genealogy classes on Zoom and facilitates a WriteNOW family writing group also on Zoom. Check cogensoc.us to register. |
June 11, 2025
1:00 PM Only for June; Meeting will be Zoom Only, No In-person Attendance * (Speaker will present on Zoom) * Due to a church activity |
![]() Kate Smith presents: "What NGS Can Do for You as an Individual and Your Society as an Organization" Description: This session will provide an overview of individual and organization membership with NGS, and explain the different purposes for each type and the benefits offered. There will be information on where to find various resources on the NGS website and opportunities to ask questions. If time allows, there may be highlights of the NGS 2025 Family History Conference and other NGS updates. BIO: Kate Smith is the Organizations and Communities Manager at the National Genealogical Society (NGS). At NGS, she supports and champions organization members, primarily through work with the Delegate Council and Organization Administrators. Kate also helps with NGS's FORUM online communities platform, communications and marketing efforts, and events including FOCUS, the SLAM! Idea Showcase, and the NGS Family History Conference. Kate is in Kansas City, Missouri, and is involved with several professional and community organizations. |
July 9, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom ( In Person or on Zoom depending on how YOU attend) |
![]() The Program will be a Series of Round Table Discussions Description: The LGS Education Committee will hold a series of 4 Round Table Discussions. The moderators will move between four stations, three tables plus the Zoom session. Each session will last 25 minutes, and each of the four groups will participate in all four topics. The value of the Discussions will depend on your participation! Thanks to our LGS members for leading our discussions. Round Table Topics and moderators
Vertical Files, led by Barb Gardner Your ancestor's local library or historical center
may hold a treasure of offline information. Many places collect donations
from the public and store it in (vertical) file drawers. Ask for your local
ancestors surnames, city information, churches, businesses and you may get a
selection of valuable documents to fill in research gaps.
Research Options Prior to 1850, led by Gail Lewis Many documents prior to 1850 that were in existence may
now be lost or destroyed. The censuses only gave us head–of–households,
grave markers are old and many unreadable or even buried. So what records are still
available and where can I find them? We will discuss ideas and discover what files we can find.
Using AI to Enhance Your Research, led by Bobski Masson Let's explore how AI or Artificial Intelligence can help streamline
your research process — organizing data, searching historical records, analyzing
DNA results, and highlighting patterns you might miss. AI
tools can offer fresh insights and make your genealogy work more efficient.
LGS Listening Station, led by Margaret Lindblom LGS wants to enhance your genealogy journey and have some fun.
What do you like/don't like about recent programs and activities? What do you want
LGS to offer? What do you want with the December Potluck?
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August 13, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present in person) |
![]() Glenn York presents: "Locating your ancestral records in the National Archives" Description: Numerous interactions between your ancestors and the federal government generated records that have been preserved by the National Archives. The National Archives operates fifteen research centers and seventeen Presidential Libraries/Museums. This presentation provides information on the preservation of these records by the federal government. We will explore the types of information in these records along with how you can locate and access them. BIO: Glenn York is an avid genealogist with decades of research experience at numerous facilities across the United States. Glenn began researching by pouring over microfilm at the National Archives and reading books at the Library of Congress in the 1980s while living in the Washington DC area. In 2024, Glenn attended the week-long Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) held at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Glenn is past President of the Larimer County Genealogical Society and serves as the delegate to the National Genealogical Society for the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society, Genealogical Speakers Guild, and many other genealogical and historical societies. |
September 10, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present in person) |
![]() Dina Carson presents: "Blitzkrieg Genealogy: How Throwing Out Your Research Plan Can Yield Exciting Results" Description: A standard research plan helps you to focus your research in order to answer a specific question. But what if the search for the answer causes you to miss other information about your ancestors? The blitzkrieg approach allows you to search in a much wider way and what you stumble across can be just as exciting as answering a targeted research question. The blitzkrieg approach is not haphazard, though. It too focuses your research, although in a different way. Combining a standard research plan with a blitzkrieg approach can yield exciting ... and unexpected ... results. BIO: Dina Carson has been involved in genealogy for more than three decades, and is currently the coordinator of the Boulder Pioneers Project, a comprehensive look at the original source documents for Boulder County during the Territorial period (1859-1876). She is the author of more than 100 annotated indexes of Boulder County source materials. She lectures frequently to genealogical societies throughout the state and is working with the Colorado State Archives on state-wide indexing projects. Dina is the author of 10 books about publishing and genealogy including, Publish Your Family History: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing the Stories of Your Ancestors, and two recent books, Map Your US Research: A Workbook for Genealogists and Colorado's Historical Assets: A Research Guide for Genealogists, Local Historians and History Buffs. Dina brings her experience with all phases of book publishing to help first-time self-publishers create quality family or local histories that are both believable and achievable. When she's not at a computer working on a publishing project, you can find her photographing the pioneer cemeteries of Colorado or deep in the bowels of an archive researching something. |
October 8, 2025
1:00 PM Hybrid In–person & Zoom (Speaker will present in person) |
![]() Roger Dudley presents: The Story of "In Their Time" Description: Recollections of the seeds of the book first conceived in 1975 and how it evolved into the book In Their Time: A Timeline Journal for Placing Family Events into Historical Context 1000-2076. BIO: A Denver native with 50 years of genealogical experience as researcher, lecturer and writer. Librarian and archivist in the Western History and Genealogy Department of the Denver Public Library for 14 years until retiring in 2019. Member of NGS, Colorado Genealogical Society, BA in Speech Communication, University of Northern Colorado, MLS Masters in Library Science from Emporia State University. |
Special Event Longmont LDS Church October 11, 2025 |
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The Longmont Genealogical Society is proud to be planning an interactive and fun educational event designed to
introduce and promote genealogical research and family history exploration for all the members of our community.
Scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, this free, drop–in event will feature many opportunities for people
of any level of interest from beginners to the more experienced.
Some of the tables of interest planned for your browsing will be: * Our Information Table with a variety of genealogical forms and experienced people to explain each. * A Reference Table full of "How to" books, "Where to Start" books, and a large variety of books to help you get started. * Q & A Tables with experienced society members to answer some of your lingering genealogy questions. * A Junior Genealogist's Table for parents and their children with games to heighten their curiosity of their ancestors. * A DNA Table to give you some insight into how we might use DNA to find those elusive ancestors. In addition to these tables, we will be offering a variety of short classes on topics such as "How to Use Ancestry & Family Search websites", "Using DNA and AI to discover hidden details", "How to Start your Family History Project", plus others. Plan to join us on Saturday, October 11th, 10:00am – 2:00pm to explore the many opportunities we have planned for everyone on any researching level. Drop in and explore the world of finding your ancestors. |