Our meetings are held on the 1st Saturday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Greene County Records Center and Archives in Xenia, Ohio (535 Ledbetter Rd)* Please note that we are in the process of transitioning our meeting locations and some presentations may have a different location listed.
All meetings are free and open to the public; unless noted otherwise, registration is not required.
*We will have a Zoom link for our meetings if you are unable to attend in person. Please email us using the form on the contact page if you would like the link.
All meetings are free and open to the public; unless noted otherwise, registration is not required.
*We will have a Zoom link for our meetings if you are unable to attend in person. Please email us using the form on the contact page if you would like the link.
2024 Greene County Chapter Calendar
Other calendar items of note:
- 6 Jan 24: Getting Things Done and Family History: Productivity Tips and Tools
- Speaker: Diana Elder (virtual)
- Abstract: How do you stay productive when you have numerous genealogy projects? Learn a system to capture to-do items, prioritize projects, and erase overwhelm.
- Bio: Diana Elder AGⓇ is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States and serves as a Commissioner for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-authored the companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence. She created the study group and eCourse that teach the Research Like a Pro process through videos and learning modules. Diana and her daughter, Nicole, share research tips on their website, Family Locket (https://familylocket.com/), and are the hosts of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. Diana teaches regularly at genealogy conferences such as RootsTech and the National Genealogy Society Conference. She also presents webinars and seminars to local genealogy societies across the United States.
- 3 Feb 24: Book Discussion: Buried Secrets: Looking for Frank and Ida, the true genealogical detective story of my quest to discover my grandparents’ hidden past
- Speaker: Anne Hanson (virtual)
- Abstract: When Anne Hanson’s dad first asked her to investigate the secret past of his parents, little did she know what she was getting into. For two decades, despite all her digging, she failed to unearth even the tiniest speck of evidence that the families of her grandparents, Frank and Ida Hanson, had ever existed. If her quest were a detective novel, its title would have been, “The Case of the Missing Ancestors.”
Finally, Anne unearthed her grandparents’ true identities and the secrets they took to their graves. Journeying into an early twentieth century drama of pain and heartache, she solved a mystery from an era when a young couple, thwarted by social conventions, could simply vanish and create new lives. They radically altered their family destiny, with aftereffects that reverberated for generations.
Yet Buried Secrets: Looking for Frank and Ida is, ultimately, a love story. When she learned the truth of her grandparents’ past, Anne comprehended the true depth of their love. Buried Secrets also illuminates the love between a dad and the daughter who gave him answers he had longed for his entire life. - Bio: Anne Hanson, an inveterate explorer of the unknown, has always followed when her curiosity beckoned. She crossed the ocean for her African Studies degree, and as a reporter would drive endless miles across town to get the story. Finally, when investigating her grandparents’ secrets, she journeyed into a bygone century, her vehicle painstaking and detailed research.
Anne has written for the Boston Globe and numerous newspapers, as well as for corporate publications and the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s American Ancestors magazine. Although she loathes first drafts, Anne loves whipping unfinished writing into shape.
When she is not sleuthing or writing, Anne, a lover of food, foreign languages, and local history, can often be found photographing plants and trees during open-air exercise sessions, or creating art with repurposed objects. During the day, she works for a software company. Her favorite authors include English novelists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries such as Jane Austen, Anthony Trollope, and Barbara Pym.
A Wesleyan University graduate, Anne grew up in suburban Philadelphia, where she attended Quaker schools. She now lives with her husband just outside Boston, Massachusetts.
- 2 Mar 24: America 250-Ohio
- Speaker: Ms. Taylor Tomu, Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist, America 250-Ohio Commission
- Abstract: Ms. Tomu will discuss the America 250-Ohio Commission and the plans for Ohio to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday
- 6 Apr 24: Civil War Graves in Greene County, Ohio
- Speakers: Cathy Leininger and Diana Nelson (in person)
- Abstract: Do you have a Civil War ancestor? Is this family lore, or do you have proof? The Greene County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society spent 25 years and many volunteers proving 1328 Civil War veterans who are buried in Greene County, Ohio. This effort was at the request of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War who will use the data in their online database. We collected about 40 paper and online resources which were checked to verify these veterans. Cases of unmarked, moved markers and mistaken identity were (mostly) sorted out.
- Bio:
- Catherine Sidenstick Leininger has been doing genealogy and has been a member of the Greene County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society for over 20 years. She is the co-author of this presentation and co-editor of the quarterly genealogy newsletter Leaves of Greene with Diana Robinson Nelson. Her ancestor surnames from Greene County from both sides of the family are: Sidenstick, Ellis, Sroufe, Oxley, Frost, Boots, Bartlett, Campbell, and Dean, most of whom owned land and were farmers starting in 1803 in Beavercreek, Yellow Springs, Oldtown, New Jasper, Jamestown and Bowersville.
- Diana has 30 year’s experience in researching her Acadian, Irish, and Colonial New England roots as well as her husband’s Jewish family and her niece’s southern ancestry. Since beginning to work with DNA in 2008, she has unraveled several cases of misattributed parentage. She currently serves as treasurer, newsletter editor, and education chair of the Greene County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. She holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.
- 4 May 24: The Home Archivist: Preserving Family Records Like A Pro!
- Speaker: Melissa Barker (virtual)
- Abstract: Learn from a professional archivist how to preserve, protect, and archive family records, photographs, and artifacts. Best practices for organization, purchasing archival materials and practical records preservation that any home archivist can achieve! Learn how to process your collection of genealogical records from start to finish. Learn the steps archivists use to process small and large records collections at the archives and how you can use these steps to get a handle on your family records collections!
- Bio: Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives. She is affectionally known as The Archive Lady to the genealogy community. She lectures, teaches, and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in archives and records preservation. She conducts virtual presentations across the United States and other countries for various genealogy groups and societies. She writes a popular blog entitled A Genealogist in the Archives and is a well-known published book reviewer. She has been a Professional Genealogist for the past 19 years with expertise in Tennessee records. She has been researching her own family history for the past 33 years.
- 1 Jun 24: Wanted! Seeking Unknown Parents
- Speaker: Dana Palmer (in person)
- Abstract: Are you struggling to find your ancestors’ parents? Learn how to bust those brick walls and find your family by using a variety of sources. This lecture examines two case studies for a husband and wife and how kinship was proven. The couple were both from Ohio, married in Indiana, moved to Illinois, and finally settled in Nebraska. We’ll explore how kinship was proven for both the groom and bride and how to overcome the lack of traditional records which should have listed the parent’s names.
- Bio: Dana Palmer, CG®, CGL(SM) specializes in lineage society applications, publishing family books, and Midwestern research – specifically Ohio. In addition to her client work, she reviews military repatriation cases, and is part of the Mayflower Silver Books team.
- 6 Jul 24: No meeting - Happy Independence Day!
- 3 Aug 24: AI and Genealogy: Trouble Ahead?
- Speaker: Thomas MacEntee (virtual)
- Abstract: While AI (artificial intelligence) might be the current “hot” buzz word, the fact is that many genealogy vendors and even genealogists have already been using this technology for years. The AI industry is at a crossroads and within the next five years, it will permeate almost every aspect of business and society. Learn how AI is currently being used to improve the genealogy experience, and whether or not you should seek out other uses of artificial intelligence for your own genealogy research.
- Bio: Thomas MacEntee of Genealogy Bargains, is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.
- 7 Sep 24: From Unknown DNA Match to Known Match
- Speaker: Kelli Bergheimer (in person)
- Abstract: The hard part of figuring out your DNA match lists is where to start and what to do. Learn tips for identifying cousins in your match list. We will use a match at AncestryDNA to explore how to move those unknown matches into your family tree.
- Bio: Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and national genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as a DNA report editor for Legacy Tree Genealogists and a contributor for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business--Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker's Guild.
- 5 Oct 24: Germans to America's Midwest, 1848-1900
- Speaker: Scott Norrick (virtual)
- Abstract: Over 46 million Americans have some German ancestry. The largest German immigration wave to America was 1848-1900, and the majority of those that came then settled in America’s Midwest. This presentation will examine the reasons why so many Germans were leaving their homeland during this period as well as why so many settled in America’s Midwest. In addition, the presentation will cover:
- German immigration trends
- Ports of departure and arrival
- Midwest German hotspots
- Local example of German settlement
- Cultural influences brought to the Midwest
- Top sites for researching your German ancestors
- Bio: Scott Norrick’s passion is connecting people to their past. While providing a list of names, dates and places for ancestors is a start, Scott enjoys helping others discover the stories of triumphs and tribulations that defined our ancestors’ lives. He does this by assisting others with breaking down their genealogical brick walls and by helping them document the rich stories of their family history.
His areas of expertise include research in the American Midwest along with the immigration to the Midwest from Britain, Ireland, and Germanic countries.
He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University. With over 30 years of family history research experience, he is familiar with all the latest and time-tested genealogical tools. Through his company Ancestral Past, he welcomes the opportunity to assist others on their genealogy journey. He has presented to dozens of genealogical societies, history centers and libraries. He also recently presented to the Association of Professional Genealogists.
- 2 Nov 24: Driving the National Road & Route 40 in Ohio – Then and Now
- Speaker: William Flood (in person)
- Abstract:
- Bio:
- 7 Dec 24: Chapter Holiday Party
Other calendar items of note:
- 29 Feb - 2 Mar 24: RootsTech, Virtual and Salt Lake City, UT
- 16 Mar 24: Routes for Roots, Piqua, OH
- 23 Mar 24: Family History Jamboree 2024, Centerville, OH
- 10-13 Apr 24: Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) Annual Conference, Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center, Sandusky, OH
- 16-18 May 24: National Genealogical Society Virtual Family History Conference