Newspapers provide researchers more than birth, marriage and death notices.  The social side columns are insights into the life and times of our ancestors by showing reports family visits, anniversary parties, galas, local elections and of course tragedies like murders accidents.  Locating the local paper is the next step whether the newspaper is in hardcopy, on microfilm, or online and tips on how to locate that elusive paper.  Presented by Trish Little-Taylor at a monthly meeting of the Fairfax Genealogical Society.

Genealogy is made up of a variety of fields.  One of the lesser known research avenues is building histories.  The history of a home, business, or simple building can tell a researcher an amazing amount of information.  In this presentation, learn how to research the history of a building and how to use that research in genealogy.  Research into Colonial North America can be extremely difficult, and at times, highly specialized.  This presentation will also discuss the importance of history in your research; tips and tricks for finding early records; what records are available and where to find them; how to evaluate research materials for accuracy; and the use of social history to put ancestors in context.  Presented by Shannon Combs-Bennett at a meeting of the Fairfax Genealogical Society. 

Professional Genealogist, Shannon Combs-Bennett, will guide you through the DNA testing process for genealogy at the Alexandria Public Library. Are you curious about what your DNA can tell you about your family history? Do you have a family you are curious about? Maybe you have taken a DNA test and now have no idea what to do with the information! This presentation will guide you through the DNA testing process for genealogy by teaching you the basics of autosomal DNA testing – what it can and cannot tell you, and how you can meet others who share ancestry with you.

An orientation class taught by reference librarians that is offered regularly.  It is designed as a basic introduction for genealogical researchers using the Library of Congress collections.  Each session includes an introduction to genealogical research: what it is and what it involves; the Local History and Genealogy resources and collections: compiled family histories, local histories, city directories, telephone books, the reference collection, how to search the Library's online catalog, and an overview of automated resources on the Internet. How to locate published census schedules and indexes, ship passenger lists, military service and pension records, military lists and registers, cemetery records, church records and registers, court records, land records, and registers of births will be included.  First Floor, LJ-139B Thomas Jefferson Building.  Registration required.

Presented by Sharon Hodges at the Virginia Beach Genealogical Society monthly meeting, this presentation will cover arriving in New York City pre-1855, through the Barge Office, Castle Garden, and Ellis Island.

In this Intermediate Genealogy Workshop, Library of Virginia reference archivists Dawn Tinnell and Bill Bynum introduce you to the types of records in the Library's collections and help you get started with your Virginia-based genealogical research. Plan to arrive early to sign up for a Library of Virginia card at the circulation desk before the workshop begins. Cost: $20.00-$25.00. For more information, contact ashley.ramey@lva.virginia.gov or 804.692.3001.  Registration required.

 

Learn how genetic genealogy is helping to expand our knowledge about human migration at the Alexandria Public Library. Dr. Miguel Vilar, Lead Scientist for National Geographic Project, will explain how he NGS project uses the newest genetic and collaborative technologies to discover new aspects of human migration and help participants understand their shared origins. Registration is required. Contact Megan at mzimmerman@alexlibraryva.org

Presented by Errol Somay. Please call (434) 846-0501 for more information.

 

Learn from German genealogy specialist Jim Beidler about how to trace your German roots online.   Monthly meeting of Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. Free, open to the public, No registration required.  Visit http://www.mvgenealogy.org.