October TO Early November with South King County Genealogical Society
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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
OCTOBER TO EARLY NOVEMBER 2026 MEETINGS & EVENTS
All meetings are Pacific Time (PT) zone
Register at https://www.skcgs.org for all meetings unless otherwise stated.
Friday, October 2, 12:30 –2:30pm PT: German Interest Group (EGS)(Online). 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
Tuesday, October 6,1 – 2pm, PT: SKCGS Board meeting. Interested members write Board@skcgs.org for the zoom link.
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 (online). Topic: WikiTree Hacktoberfest 2026! 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).
Saturday, October 17, 10 – 11:30am PT: SKCGS Speaker Series (Online). Steven W. Morrison: Digging Up New Dirt and The Likely English Ancestry Of Deacon John Doan. 9:30am – 10am PT – Social time: sign in early to chat. 10am PT – Featured speaker presentation. DIGGING UP NEW DIRT – Unearthing the ‘REAL’ New England Immigrant. Do you believe that family associations know everything about their early New England ancestors? Well, guess again! Learn what nuggets you can uncover by rediscovering original records. So, with some surprising facts, sound analysis and a little historical context, you may just uncover the real secret about your elusive ancestor. Part 2: Follow the trials and tribulations of a small group of dedicated family researchers who set out to identify the ancestor of Deacon John Doane. While his activities in the Plymouth Colony are well documented, the Deacon’s life in his mother country was a complete mystery. Over decades, plausible theories were researched and eventually discarded as dead ends. Then the release of online records resulted in a wave of new discoveries. Comparative analysis from both sides of the pond eventually proved that a candidate from London, England was likely the youthful Deacon. A case study for anyone with a lost New England ancestor.
Monday, October 19, 1 – 2pm PT: Tech Users Group (Online). Topic: How Do YOU want to use AI as your Assistant? What tasks could lighten your work load, find and correct errors, or suggest gaps in your research? Read: No Marriage Record, No Problem: Proving the Marriage of John Dawson and Elizabeth “Betsy” Cessna as one example.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, October 26, 1 – 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
Tuesday, November 3,1 – 2pm PT (Online). SKCGS Board Meeting. Interested Members write Board@skcgs.org for the Zoom link.
Friday, November 6, 12:30 – 2:30 pm PT: EGS German Interest Group. (Online) Topic: Cemeteries in Central Europe.” Visitors welcome and more information at https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org/. Registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vOMA3cR1Qx2uvOyHJUMGUw
The customs associated with funerals and burials in German-language regions of Europe are substantially different from corresponding rituals in the United States. The layout and maintenance of cemeteries is also quite different. In this presentation, images are used to illustrate cemetery conditions and cultural customs associated with funerals and burials. The presenter demonstrates how the individual or family grave and its appearance are of great concern to Europeans. The question of death and burial records–often asked by North American researchers–is also discussed in detail.
Presenter Robert P. Minert, PhD received his doctoral degree from The Ohio State University in German language history and second language acquisition theory. He taught German language and history for ten years, and then became a professional family history researcher. Accredited by the Family History Library for research in Germany and Austria, he worked for twelve years as a private genealogical researcher. From 2003 to 2019, he served as a professor of family history at Brigham Young University.The author of more than 200 publications, he directs the research program German Immigrants in American Church Records [GIACR]; the series now consists of over 47 volumes.
Saturday, November 7,10 – 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, November 9,1 – 2pm PT. Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (Online). Topic: 23 and Me: Clustering, DNA comparison, & contacting matches. Listen: https://familylocket.com/rlp-411-23andme-clustering-and-chromosome-browser/. 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, November 1, 2– 3pm PT:WikiTree Users (online). Solving WT problems. Send your questions & issues to the group in advance so we can collaborate & find solutions. Wikitree Users collaborate to create the best collaborative tree on Earth. Join our free online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Wikitree-SIG.
Thursday, November 12,11am – 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.
Monday, November 16,1 – 2pm PT: Tech Users Group (Online). Topic: Share top genealogy & family history Tips & Tricks for effective research. 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
Advance notice!
Saturday November 21,10 am PT: SKCGS Speakers Series: MaryLynn Strickland presents Navigating the “Redesigned” BLM General Land Office Website. Much of the general information we have been able to find about our ancestors’ land acquisition has come from the BLM GLO records website. In July the website was redesigned and the interface is very different. MaryLynn will show how to navigate the site for finding records, related documents and map locations. She will also show some tricks for converting present day locations to legal land description to locate original patentees, other relatives and neighbors.
SKCGS SPEAKER SERIES
19 September 2026 Dr. Leah Larkin: Make the Most of Ancestry’s Pro Tools for DNA & More
17 October 2026 Steven W. Morrison: Digging Up New Dirt & The Likely English Ancestry Of Deacon John Doane
21 November 2026 MaryLynn Strickland: Navigating the “Redesigned” BLM GLO Website
16 January 2027 20 February 2027: Dr. Kimberly Nagy, MD: Dropsy, Quinsy, or Consumption: Just exactly what did my ancestor have?
20 March 2027 Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew, PLCGS: Extra, Extra! Decoding the Social History in Newspapers for Genealogical Insight
17 April 2027
15 May 2027 Steven W. Morrison, MPA: Irish Friends Migration to Pennsylvania – Uncovering an Ulster Family Story
19 June 2027 Craig R. Scott, CG: Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestor
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
Presenter: Debbie Gurtler, AG®, graduated with honors from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in Family History. She has made research trips to Spain, Portugal, Virginia, and North Carolina. Fluent in Spanish, she can also read genealogical documents in Portuguese, Italian, and French. Debbie holds five AG® credentials they include the U.S. Mid-South region, Spain, Mexico, Chile, and Portugal.
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