THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News 25 May 2016

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-May.pdf.

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Who’s the GFO Star this month?! That’s right, it’s our very own Liz Porter!

Liz Porter has taken on the HUGE task of updating the OPALS system by entering all our periodicals into the database, making the system more user friendly – Liz has become our periodicals expert! She learned the catalog and task so quickly! While Sarah and Laurel were unavailable, she learned to create labels to keep things moving. Her work is very accurate – and she has such a sweet disposition.

Thank you, Liz!

Note from the Editor: GFO Stars can be nominated by any of our patrons, visitors, or members. Simply fill out a nomination slip by the front door of the Library and add your nominee to the box on the wall above the donations jar.

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Goin’ for the Gold! Help us reach 100 Reviews on Facebook…

We need your input and we need your love!
And it only takes a couple of clicks…honest.
Step One Log into your Facebook page.

Step Two Go to the GFO’s Facebook page from your Facebook page.

Step Three Click the “Tell People What You Think” link at the top of the feed.

Step Four Click on the star rating of your choice (five! oh please pick five stars!!).

Step Five Type a review in the pop-up box.

It’s that easy. This is a great way to help others find out about the GFO, which will let us continue providing all the great genealogical programs and services you already enjoy so much!

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What’s Hot This Week in Genealogy??

In Case You Missed It – The U.S. MIDWEST edition:
Almost 1,000 (983) new and updated Free Historic newspaper Links have been added to the 12 Midwest States’ free “newspaper link lists”:

Check out the whole list of states available HERE. And don’t forget to check out the free tutorials at the top of the same page!

Digital Library? Prince William, is that really you??
FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO PRE-1918
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY DEEDS is now available at this LINK.

You can retrieve PDF images of documents as early as 1731. Please remember that there are a number of significant gaps in Prince William deeds prior to 1865, as a result of the Civil War.

Those gaps may be overcome by using rent rolls, land tax lists, loose papers, court orders, and an old index. The latter item, Prince William County Deeds Index, 1731-1827, compiled by Charlotte Cain, is available at http://eservice.pwcgov.org/library/digitalLibrary/ in addition to several early tax lists transcribed by Greg Mason.

Ron Turner’s website contains many collections of Prince William loose papers, including documents from lost deed books. http://www.pwcvirginia.com/pwcvabookspublishedworks.htm.

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Interviewing for Oral Histories Class – June 5th

Family history is often about gathering oral histories and stories from family members, and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon is here to help!
Description: The Oral History Project is a key part of the OJMCHE’s mission to preserve and present the history of Oregon’s Jewish community The central goal is to develop a community oral history archive that provides a chronicle of the experiences of the Jews of Oregon. The project began by documenting the lives of the former residents of South Portland in the 1970s. Efforts have also included the testimonies of Holocaust survivors and liberators of death camps. Several focused efforts are currently underway to collect multiple histories from within particular geographic or communal areas throughout the state.

Bio: Anne LeVant Prahl, the Curator of Collections at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, has been working in collections management since 1987. She began doing oral history by interviewing former members of Texas’ Black gospel quartets for the Texas Music Museum as part of her masters work in anthropology at the University of Texas. In Oregon, as part of her position of curator, she runs the oral history program for the museum, training interviewers, identifying interview subjects, and maintaining the collection of nearly 700 oral histories.

The meeting starts at 11 AM, June 5th.

SPECIAL VENUE
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
1953 NW Kearney St.
Portland OR 97209
Phone: 503.226.3600

There is no cost for this program. A donation to the JGSO or OJMCHE would be appreciated.

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TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!  
The GFO’s Irish Interest Group is in need of a brave new soul to lead the researching ranks of our Irish descendants beyond the terrors of seemingly insurmountable brick walls and through swamps of information overloads in our modern researching age.

Could this be you? If destiny’s calling, please give the library a call at 503-963-1932 or email volunteer@gfo.org to help out in this very vital way!

Visit the Irish Interest Group website for a peek at what they’ve been up to, and what we’ll all be missing with the upcoming retirement of their fearless leader, Suzanne Lemon, after September 17, 2016.

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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?

SATURDAY, MAY 28th
DNA Basics 9am – 11am

As this session is a little shorter than normal, no formal presentation will be given, although we can explore the websites for each of the three main DNA companies (Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe). Regardless, we will focus on your questions and problems so everyone is more confident on what the three types of testing can and cannot do for your genealogy. Don’t forget your handouts HERE!

Please send your questions and problems to Emily at aulicino@hevanet.com before class.

Facilitators: Emily Aulicino and possibly Lisa McCullough

Website: http://gfo.org/intgrp/dna.htm

Italian Group (Monthly Program) 11am – 1pm

Ciao to everyone interested in Italian genealogy research. This is a great opportunity to learn, share, and enjoy others with a common interest. Italian genealogy research in the Portland area now has a home. Come join our group. Facilitated by Keith Pyeatt

British Group 1pm – 3pm

Focus: Researching in the British Isles: England, Wales, Scotland, and Scots-Irish. We try to have speakers who provide interesting experiences or online databases for research in these countries. One hour of the two hour meeting is devoted to Brick Wall questions. Questions may be directed to: Duane Funk at duanefunk@comcast.net.
MONDAY, MAY 30th – THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1st
Learn & Chat 10am – noon

Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Connie Lenzen.

DNA Q&A 1pm – 2pm

Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News 18 May 2016

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-May.pdf.

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Rate and Review Us On Facebook

In love with the GFO? Here’s your chance to tell the world!!
Step One Log into your Facebook page.

Step Two Go to the GFO’s Facebook page from your Facebook page.

Step Three Click the “Tell People What You Think” link at the top of the feed.

Step Four Click on the star rating of your choice (five! oh please pick five stars!!).

Step Five Type a review in the pop-up box.

It’s that easy, and it will help others find out about the GFO, which will let us continue providing all the great genealogical programs and services you already enjoy so much!

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Save the Date for GFO’s July 31st Workshop!

The GFO proudly presents…
Digital Photos: Scanning, Preparing, Organizing, and Sharing & Legacy Family Tree Software
Come join us for this amazing workshop opportunity with Geoffrey Rasmussen on Sunday, July 31, 2016, from 9:30am to 2:00pm.

Learn from the best to organize and share your digital photos by using Google’s new Google Photos! Geoffrey Rasmussen will teach you the best practices for digitizing, preserving and enhancing your photograph collections. He will also give tips on how you can readily access your collections on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Click HERE to sign up now!

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Just in case you didn’t get enough…genealogy, that is!

Summer Genealogy Fest is July 30th in Eugene, OR
It’s not too late to take advantage of the early-bird fees.

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▪ Postmarked by June 1st: Includes registration, lunch and snack for $65.00.

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▪ Postmarked June 2-July 15th: Includes registration, lunch and snack for $75.00.

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▪ Postmarked after July 15th or in-person registration on the 30th: Includes registration only for $75.00. (Please note that the facility does not allow outside food and/or drinks in the facility.)

Registrations and course lists can be viewed HERE.

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Don’t forget to pick up your free books just outside the GFO!!

Free to a Good Home:
Don’t forget to check the “Free” books table in the lobby outside the GFO Library front door. Throughout the summer, we’ll be adding LOTS of free books out there, to make room for new donations. SOMEBODY is looking for each of these items, is it you? Check back frequently, you never know when you might find just the right thing!

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And if you’d like to purchase one of our surplus books…

GFO’s Surplus Books List
AbeBooks recently received the following review from one of our surplus books customers:

“Thank you for the incredibly fast processing of this order. Media mail can really be slow but I received the book today in perfect shape. Keep up the good work!”

Ahhhhh, shucks! And thank you!!

If you’d like to view our Surplus Books, consider clicking HERE.

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Don’t get left out! Become a GFO member today for access to all sorts of great stuff.
Membership gives you access to our quarterly publication, the Bulletin.
June’s Bulletin will feature…
An article about how to use, what was it called again…PERSI!

Also, sign up and read all about “When Index is a ‘Dirty Word.’ ” Or perhaps a family history mystery is more your style?

GFO Members will be receiving their complimentary copy of the Bulletin for the month of June in the next week. Wouldn’t you like one too?

Membership applications are available HERE for the brave of heart! Or for a taste of what you’ve been missing, view some of our Spotlight Articles.

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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?

SATURDAY, MAY 21st
Hunting and Gathering 9:30am – 11:30am

This weeks problem stretches from Ireland to Harney County, Oregon. Adam George came to the U.S. around 1870, married and had children in Canada and Nevada before settling in Oregon. The question – where was he born? Come to see what clues he may have left along the way.

Free to members. Visitors may request a guest pass at education@gfo.org.
Buttons, History and Genealogy? (Monthly Program) 2pm – 4pm
Our guest, Dorothy Krugner, is a long-time lover of history, historical fashion, and button collecting. Join us on May 21st to learn more about the buttons you might have noticed in photographs of your ancestors. And as you might have guessed, buttons can be used to date your mystery photos. Buttons have a genealogy, too!

Irish Group meeting has been cancelled Come see us at the next meeting, scheduled for September 17th.
SUNDAY, MAY 15th
Library Work Party! 9am – noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9am and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so and you’re welcome to do the same. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there!