What are GenTalks?
GenTalks are less formal, genealogy-related presentations that take place at the GFO library several months per year, generally on the third Saturday at 2 p.m. GenTalks are free and open to the public, so, member or not, check out our Calendar page and come spend an hour or so with us!
Upcoming GenTalks:
Another Look at the Women in Your Family Tree
Saturday, Aug. 17 from 2 - 3 p.m.
Presenter: Barb Schrag
“Why don't I recognize all those names on my DNA match list?” Half of your ancestry comes from women, yet we tend to focus our genealogical searches on men. No wonder those matches are mysterious! Let's talk about a comprehensive genealogy, of all of the descendants of your third great grandparents. Not only will you begin seeing the relationships, but you'll be creating the genealogy that future generations can refer to and build on.
Barb Schrag is a member of the Clark County Genealogical Society as well as the GFO, where she formerly served as Book Sales chair. She has given numerous presentations to both organizations.
Evernote for Genealogy, part 2
Saturday, Sept. 21 from 2 - 3 p.m.
Presenter: Dale Deatherage
Evernote is a cloud-based app designed for note taking, organizing, task lists, and archiving. What makes this program especially useful is the ability to search all your notes and find whatever you are looking for. Notes can be made up of written information (handwritten, typed, PDF), audio files, photos, even video files, and once created can be viewed and worked on across all of your electronic platforms (IOS, Android, laptop, desktop, phone, or tablet).
This GenTalk is a continuation of Dale's Evernote for Genealogy presentation at the Open House in March. He will review the basics, and spend more time helping you dial in some of the more advanced features.
Discovering Your Ancestor’s Life in Records of Death
Saturday, Oct. 19 from 2 - 3 p.m.
Presenter: Pam Vestal
Sometimes the best way to learn about an ancestor's life is to dig into the mountain of paperwork created by his death. We'll explore the surprisingly abundant information that is collected when a death occurs and glimpse just how much these records can reveal, not only about our ancestors' deaths, but also about their lives.
Pam Vestal entered the field of genealogy after a 21-year career as a professional writer. She does genealogical research for clients, has articles published in the Assn. of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, and lectures up and down the West Coast.
Scanning and Archiving Your Family Photos and Documents
Saturday, Nov. 16 from 2 - 3 p.m.
Presenter: Lori Washburn
Whether you want to scan just a few photos, have inherited a box of photos, or plan on visiting a relative who might have photos, this class is for you. We will briefly discuss scanners and then learn how to scan and archive those precious photos and documents, as well as how to file the scans. We will also touch on the basics of touching up your scans.
Some of the GenTalks we have offered in the past:
June 2019
Locating Land with the GLO, HistoryGeo and GFO
Presented by: Kristin Parks
April 2019
Computer Lab: InDesign
Presented by: Jay Fraser, Retired Layout Editor, GFO Bulletin
March 2019
Following American Migrations: The First 100 Years
Presented by: Patricia Oberndorf
February 2019
Google Searching for Genealogy
Presented by: Kristin Parks & Joann Taylor
November 2018
Research & Writing: A Pulitzer Winner's Tips
Presented by: Tom Hallman, Jr.
October 2018
Digging for Ancestral Gold
Presented by: Laurence Overmire
September 2018
Analyze Your Ancestor's Handwriting
Presented by: Joyce Brizendine
August 2018
Getting Ready to Check Out: End of Life Planning
Presented by: Leslie Lawson, FCG
July 2018
Voting Records: Genealogy's Best Kept Secret
Presented by: Pam Vestal
June 2018
The Pre-Digital Family Photo Collection & Its Uses in Visualizing Your Personal Family History
Presented by: Harold Hinds, Ph.D.
May 2018
My Cuban Cousins
Presented by: Janice Sellers
April 2018
Getting from Then to Now: Locating People in the Last Century
Presented by: Leslie Lawson, FCG
March 2018
Finding James: A WWII Repatriation Project
Presented by: Kate Eakman, MA
January 2018
Making the Most of Your DNA Holiday Gift
Presented by: Lisa McCullough
December 2017
Personal Archiving
Presented by: LauraDenise White, MARM, GFO Resident Archivist
November 2017
Paper & Spit: Making First Contact with a Match
Presented by: Don Anderson
October 2017
Write It Up!
Presented by: Marti Dell, Co-Editor, GFO Bulletin
September 2017
Switched at Birth: Unraveling a Century-Old Mystery with DNA
Presented by: Alice Collins Plebuch
June 2017
Capturing and Bringing to Life Your U.S. Farm Ancestor
Presented by: Harold Hinds, Ph.D.
May 2017
Vanport
Presented by: Zita Podany, author
March 2017
French Prairie Oregon Settlement & The GFO's French-Canadian Collection
Presented by: Gerry Lenzen and Susan LeBlanc, AG
January 2017
Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery
Presented by: Linda Werts, Board Member, Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery
November 2016
What the U.S. Census Tells Us about Your Potential Native American Ancestors
Presented by: Kate Eakman, MA
September 2016
Map Guides to German Parish Records
Presented by: Keith & Darlene Pyeatt
June 2016
Church Records: Their Location & Value for Family Historians
Presented by: Harold Hinds, Ph.D.
May 2016
Buttons, History...and Genealogy?
Presented by: Dorothy Krugner
April 2016
Beyond Names & Places: Filling in the Stories of Our Female Ancestors
Presented by: Pam Vestal
March 2016
From Native American to Scottish: The Journey to Find My First Parents
Presented by: Don Anderson
February 2016
Research in Eastern Canada
Presented by: Thomas Higgins
January 2016
Discover Your House History
Presented by: Connie Lenzen, CG
