GenTalks
Gen(ealogy)Talks are less formal, genealogy-related presentations that now take place online live several months per year, on the third Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific). 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!
Some handouts from previous GenTalks can be found here, for a limited time.
Upcoming GenTalks:
Beyond the Click: The Power of Onsite Research in a Digital Age
BONUS GenTalk for September!
September 6 @ 2:30 p.m. PT (online)
Click here to register and obtain a Zoom link to this live presentation.
Presenter: Colette Hokanson, AG® and FamilySearch Research Specialist
In today’s world of digitized records and searchable databases, it’s easy to think that every answer to our family history questions is just a click away. Yet some of the most meaningful discoveries - those that bring our ancestors’ stories to life - still require us to step beyond the computer screen.
This session explores the irreplaceable value of onsite research: walking through cemeteries where generations rest, paging through local archives filled with documents never scanned, and swapping stories with relatives during spontaneous visits. These experiences reveal family history in ways no search bar can.
Colette Hokanson, AG® and FamilySearch Research Specialist, will share her personal experiences finding missing family from the mountains of Norway to the valleys of Wales. She’ll illustrate how combining traditional onsite research with the power of innovative tools—including artificial intelligence—can break through decades-old brick walls and open new paths of discovery.
This meeting will be recorded.
Digging Up New Dirt
A special 2-part GenTalk on how a New England family's immigrant ancestor was doggedly pursued for years - and found!
September 27 @ 11:00 a.m. PT (online), and
September 27 @ 1:00 p.m. PT (online)
Click here to register and obtain a Zoom link to these live presentations.
Presenter: Steven Waltz Morrison, MPA
11:00 a.m. Part 1: Unearthing the REAL New England Immigrant
Do you believe that family associations know everything about their early New England ancestors? Well, guess again! While Deacon John Doane’s activities in the Plymouth Colony are well documented, his life in his mother country was a complete mystery. Learn what nuggets YOU might uncover about your elusive ancestor by revisiting original records and adding a little historical context to your timeline.
1:00 p.m. Part 2: Finding, Proving, and Publishing
Follow the trials and tribulations of a small group of dedicated family researchers who set out to identify the ancestor of Deacon John Doane. Over a decades-long search, 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 the likely youthful Deacon. A case study for the ages for anyone with a lost New England ancestor.
Our speaker, Steven Waltz Morrison, MPA, is past-president of both the Puget Sound APG Chapter and the Olympia Genealogical Society. He has presented at the annual NGS conference, the British Institute, and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. In 2016, Steven received the Scholar Award from the American Society of Genealogists.
In 2026, Steven will co-coordinate (with GFO’s own Geri Auerbach) the first genealogical institute course focusing on the Northwest states presented by the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. The course will feature 23 topics.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Finding Elusive Ancestors with FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search
October 18 @ 2:30 p.m. PT (online)
Click here to register and obtain a Zoom link to this live presentation.
Presenter: Julia A. Anderson, MA, AG®, AGL™
Do you think you've searched everything on FamilySearch? Think again! FamilySearch’s powerful new Full-Text Search tool is unlocking billions of previously unsearchable records - revealing names, places, and stories hidden deep within digitized documents. In this class, you'll learn how to use this groundbreaking feature to uncover ancestors who’ve slipped through the cracks. Discover smart search strategies, see real-life examples, and leave with practical tips to apply to your own research.
Our speaker, Julia A. Anderson, has a master's degree in history and education and is an Accredited Genealogist and Accredited Genealogist Lecturer with expertise in the United States Gulf South Region. She works full-time at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she manages the United States and Canada research team. She also teaches online genealogy research classes for Salt Lake Community College. Julia owns and manages Anderson Genealogical Research, LLC, volunteers as a commissioner on the board of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen), and is the Conference Chair for the Utah Genealogical Association.
This meeting will be recorded.
Accredited Genealogist and AG are registered trademarks of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.
Accredited Genealogist Lecturer and AGL are trademarks of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.
Certified Genealogist, CG, Certified Genetic Genealogist, CGG, Certified Genealogical Lecturer, and CGL are all registered trademarks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
