Welcome to Autumn

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PROGRAM UPDATES

All meetings are online except the in-person Research Group and Genealogy Help at KCLS Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton Main library branches. 

Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request.

Online meeting participants need to register for SKCGS Zoom meetings. Upon registration, Zoom will send a confirmation email with instructions on joining the meeting. https://www.skcgs.org

SEPTEMBER TO EARLY OCTOBER  2026 MEETINGS & EVENTS

All meetings are Pacific Time (PT) zone

Register at https://www.skcgs.org for all meetings unless otherwise stated.

Saturday, September 5, 10–11am PT: Family Tree Maker User Group (Online). Topic: General Q&A for the Family Tree Maker Program. Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG.

Tuesday, September 8,1– 2pm PT: SKCGS Board Meeting  (usually monthly on the first Tuesday)(Online). All interested members are invited; Write to Board@SKCGS.org for the zoom link.

Wednesday, September 9, 2– 3pm PT: WikiTree Users. Topic: Space Pages? Creating & Using this flexible tool. Bring your questions and examples. Wikitree Users collaborate to create the best collaborative tree on Earth. Join our free online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Wikitree-SIG. 

Thursday, September 10, 11am – 1pm PT: Genealogy Help with SKCGS at Renton Main Library (In-person) Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. 100 Mill Avenue S, Renton.

Friday, September 11, 12:30–2:30 pm PDT: EGS German Interest Group: “1816: The Year Without a Summer & Its Impact on German Migration” by  Carolyn Schott, CG^® 

Visitors welcome: https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org/. 

Registration is required: https://tinyurl.com/2s4z4c8z  

The eruption of Mt. Tambora in Indonesia unleashed a volcanic winter that reverberated around the globe, earning the year 1816 the name “The Year Without a Summer.” Immense quantities of volcanic ash drastically altered weather patterns and created unseasonably cold temperatures that caused crop failures and food shortages. This crisis prompted many Germans to seek new opportunities abroad, both in the U.S. and in the Russian Empire, which offered both land and religious freedom.

 This presentation discusses the intertwined environmental, economic, and social ramifications of the Year Without a Summer, highlighting its pivotal role in the history of German emigration.

Presenter Carolyn Schott, CG^® has researched her German ancestors for 30 years, following their wanderings through Eastern Europe before arriving in the U.S. She is a founder of the Black Sea German Research Community (www.blackseagr.org), a former board member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS), and author of the book, “Visiting Your Ancestral Town.”

Schott’s research has required her to research records in the U.S., Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Poland. The Black Sea German Research Community, which she helped found, is a website dedicated to helping people with hard-to-find information on their ethnic German ancestors who lived in areas bordering the Black Sea. She has been speaking on genealogy-related topics since 2007 and has been a regular speaker at the International German Genealogy conventions, the Foundation for East European Family History Studies, the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and other genealogy societies. This presentation will not be recorded.

Monday, September 14,1–2:pm PT: Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (Online).  Topic: Using DNA Matches as Clues to Build Your Tree. See Dare to Grab the Gold Ring: https://skcgs.blogspot.com/2024/04/dna-dare-to-grab-gold-ring.html,  How to Use DNA Relatives Clustering at 23andMe: https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/38509301730839-How-to-Use-DNA-Relatives-Clustering-at-23andMe & Building Family Trees with DNA Evidence: Beginner’s Guide: https://www.gedmatch.com/blog/building-family-trees-with-dna-evidence-beginners-guide/. We are genealogists who use DNA data as part of their research. Join the free email group for meeting notices and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy 

Thursday, September 17: Genealogy Help with SKCGS (in-person). Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer.

11am-1pm: Auburn Library: 1102 Auburn Way S, Auburn,

2-4pm:  Federal Way Main Library: 34200 1st Way S, Federal Way.

Friday, September 18, 1–3 pm: Research Workshop (In-person). For SKCGS Members only, In-person research at the Kent FamilySearch Center: 12817 SE 256th St, Kent. RSVP in advance to Winona Laird: 206-818-7610.

Saturday, September 19, 10–11:30 am PT: SKCGS Speaker Series. Dr. Leah Larkin: “Make the Most of Ancestry’s Pro Tools for DNA and More.” 

Leah Larkin, PhD, is a professional genealogist and educator known for her mathematical and biological approach to genetic genealogy. Dr. Larkin earned her doctorate in biology from the University of Texas at Austin, where she used DNA to study species relationships. She now applies those research skills to solving genealogical questions using DNA. Her brainchild, the What Are the Odds? tool at DNAPainter.com, has become an essential tool in our toolbox thanks to the web design skills of Jonny Perl. She also co-developed the revolutionary BanyanDNA tool for complex pedigrees. In addition to taking private clients, she blogs at TheDNAGeek.com; speaks at the local, national, and international level; and teaches with the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Applied Genealogy Institute, Family History Academy, and others. 

She said recently “I’ve been making heavy use of Ancestry’s Pro Tools, especially the non-DNA features (for a change).  I’ve also discovered a couple of third-party sites that fill some of the gaps in Pro Tools with powerful analytics for both genetic and traditional genealogy.  I’m excited to share these features with you soon. You won’t want to miss it!”

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Monday, September 21,1– 2 pm PT: Tech Users Group (Online). Topic: Find A Grave: Use & make it better. See: Find a Grave – Suggesting Edits and More Genealogy Tips & Tricks: https://youtu.be/-6xP-A9Fegk (15 mins). Tech User Group shares knowledge and explores technology tools, media, apps and websites. Join our free email group for meeting information and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG.

Monday, September 28 –2pm PT Genealogy Chat (Online). Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another! Join our free online group for Chat reminders and genealogy discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io.

Friday, October 2, 12:30 –2:30pm PT: German Interest Group (EGS). Topic: “German Research for the Everyday American” by  Karynne Moses. This lecture has three components: Unique sources for finding a German hometown in American records; Determining the exact location of the German town using Meyers Gazetteer and Hansen’s Map Guides; Locating the records available for that town using Archion, Matricula and Basia Famula. These are the basic steps that will help attendees locate their ancestors in German records. Presenter  Karynne Moses: Family history provided the perfect outlet for Karynne’s love of languages.  A German and Portuguese genealogist, she enjoys finding her clients’ ancestors and translating documents. While studying Family History/Genealogy at Brigham Young University (BYU), she worked under the direction of Dr. Robert Minert on the German Immigrants in American Church Records series.  She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2019. Visitors welcome. https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org/. Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CucqFLrdQzmZ5PFMyCCUPg. 

Saturday, October 3,10–11am PT: Family Tree Maker User Group (Online). Topic: General Q&A for the Family Tree Maker Program. Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG

Monday, October 12, 1– 2pm PT: Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (Online).  Topic: New Look at FamilyTree DNA. Y, mT & upgraded FamilyFinder. https://blog.familytreedna.com/family-finder-ngs-upgrade/. We are genealogists who use DNA data as part of their research. Join the free email group for meeting notices and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy

Wednesday, October 14, 2–3pm PT: WikiTree Users. Topic: OctoberFest! What are you excited to see this year? Let’s check out G2G to find out what’s happening. Wikitree Users collaborate to create the best collaborative tree on Earth. Join our free online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Wikitree-SIG. 

Thursday, October 15: Genealogy Help with SKCGS (in-person). Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer.

11am-1pm: Auburn Library: 1102 Auburn Way S, Auburn.

2-4pm:  Federal Way Main Library: 34200 1st Way S, Federal Way.

Friday, October 16, 1–3pm PT: Research Workshop. SKCGS Members only. In-person research at the Kent FamilySearch Center,12817 SE 256th St, Kent. RSVP in advance to Winona Laird 206-818-7610).

SKCGS SPEAKER SERIES

19 September 2026 Dr. Leah Larkin: Make the Most of Ancestry’s Pro Tools for DNA and More

17 October 2026 Steven W. Morrison: Digging Up New Dirt and The Likely  English Ancestry Of Deacon John Doane

21 November 2026 MaryLyn Strickland: Using the New Glorecords.blm.gov site

MEMBERSHIP:  We welcome guests to our meetings and special interest groups, which are free. Naturally we hope that visitors will want to become members. Support like yours helps us to educate and engage with our community to foster interest in family and local history. You can find more information about membership at our website at https://www.skcgs.org/support-skcgs/membership.

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SOUTH KING COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY