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.
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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.

2026 Greene County Chapter Calendar
  • 3 Jan 26​ - The U.S. National Archives: The Nation’s Attic
    • Speaker: Paula Stuart-Warren, Certified Genealogist®, FMGS, FUGA
    • Abstract: Sooner or later genealogical research leads to the treasures held in governmental archives. For federal government records in the United States that leads to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Researchers often use federal census, military and pension records, and passenger arrival records but these are only a fraction of the genealogically useful records in the custody of NARA. The records of the nation's civil, military and diplomatic activities are held by NARA. In Washington alone these records total more than 13 billion pieces of paper and a growing number of digitized pages. This session and the handout focus on the Washington, DC, area facilities, commonly called Archives I and II. Records, finding aids, website, catalog, access options, research tips, and some discussion on the regional locations are covered.
    • Bio: Paula is an internationally recognized genealogical educator, researcher, and consultant focusing on unusual resources, manuscripts, methodology, and analyzing records. She also specializes in the WPA, railroad records, and Native American research. She has spent extensive research time at libraries, courthouses, libraries, state archives, historical societies, and various locations of the U.S. National Archives. She is currently a coordinator and instructor for the GRIP Genealogy Institute has presented courses and sessions for Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Family Tree University, Texas Institute of Genealogical Research, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Ancestry Academy, and continues to present virtual seminars and webinars across the U.S. and in Canada. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, a former officer of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and is a Board-Certified Genealogist.  She is descended from eight ancestral countries and has researched family connections across the U.S. and Canada. She has her own educational website and blog at http://genealogybypaula.com and is enthusiastic about sharing knowledge and continuing education.
  • 7 Feb 26: Holy Headlines! Finding Family in Religious Newspapers
    • Speaker: Sunny Jane Morton (virtual)
    • Abstract: See the kinds of coverage about everyday people that appeared in denominational newspapers: obituaries, marriages, correspondence, migrations, job-related notices, local events and more. Learn finding strategies specific to religious newspapers, online and offline. Get a handy cheat sheet with denominational newspapers for major U.S. faiths.
    • Bio: Sunny Jane Morton is the Editor of NGS Magazine; a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine; and a past Editor of Ohio Genealogy News. She is co-author of How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, which received a book award from the National Genealogical Society, and author of the forthcoming Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States. Her book, Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy, is now in its 2nd edition. She is an instructor for GRIP Genealogy Institute, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and Family Tree University.​
  • 7 Mar 26: Tour of Dayton Ohio East FamilySearch Center in Fairborn
    • ​Join us for a tour of the FamilySearch Center in Fairborn at 10:00 a.m.
    • Location: 3060 Terry Dr, Fairborn, OH 45324 (just a few blocks from the intersection of Colonel Glenn Highway and Old Dayton Yellow Springs Road)
    • Since the 2020 pandemic, FamilySearch Centers have moved away from microfilm/microfiche to a totally digital format. Please join us at 10:00 am on March 7, 2026, at the Dayton Ohio East FamilySearch Center in Fairborn. This center opens at 10:00 am on Saturdays, so we will begin with a guided tour of this facility and its genealogy resources shortly after opening. Following the tour, we plan to convene a short chapter monthly meeting to conduct any business required. Please come prepared to explore your current FamilySearch genealogy questions using the computer terminals and other material at this center following our meeting.
  • 4 Apr 26: Revolutionary Choices: Exploring Loyalist and Patriot Roots at 250 Years
    • Speaker: Kathryn Lake Hogan (virtual)
    • Abstract: As families chose sides – Patriot or Loyalist – their descendants sent ripples across generations. Many who remained loyal to the British Crown found refuge in what would become Canada, communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Upper Canada. Others remained in the newly formed United States of America, fighting for independence. How do we trace those stories today?
    • Bio: A native of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada, including a mixture of Canadian, Loyalist and New England branches connecting her to England and Wales. But her passion doesn't stop at her own genealogy; Kathryn's mission is to help others find their ancestors in Canada. Kathryn is a graduate of ProGen 4 and the International Institute for Genealogical Studies, earning professional learning certificates in English and Canadian genealogy. The author of research guides featuring Canadian genealogy, Kathryn has written articles for CrossRoads, Family Tree Magazine, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the
      APG Quarterly. Having served in leadership roles for notable organizations such as Ontario Ancestors, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, she continues to champion greater accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in family history. 
  • 2 May 26 - No Meeting - join us at the OGS Annual Conference in Sharonville on 29 Apr - 2 May!
  • 6 Jun 26 - Using the Full Text Search at FamilySearch
    • Speaker:  Michael John Neill (virtual)
    • Abstract: This lecture discusses effective search techniques for utilizing the full-text search functionality at FamilySearch.  Determining what is in full-text search, how AI transcriptions and full-text transcriptions are different and how this changes our search strategies, wildcard and other keyword usage options, the differences between searching and filtering, creating effective strategies, and understanding what has been found. We will look at specific examples that can be expanded to listener's own research problems.
    • Bio: Michael John Neill has been an active genealogical researcher since the early 1980s and has researched his or his children’s families in most states east of the Mississippi River and several European countries. He has lectured nationally on a wide variety of genealogical topics, given day-long seminars, and regularly leads research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Michael has a master’s degree in mathematics and was formerly a community college mathematics instructor. His research interests include, methodology, land records, the immigrant experience, chain migration, and researching female ancestors. Genealogy Tip of the Day (and his sister site Rootdig) are written by Michael John Neill.
  • 4 Jul 26 - No Meeting - Happy Independence Day!
  • 1 Aug 26 - America at 250! Researching Your Revolutionary Ancestors
    • Speaker: Scott Norrick (virtual)
    • Abstract: 2026 marks the 250-year anniversary of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the time of America’s independence, the population of the American colonies was about 2.5 million. While 1776 is a pivotal year, the war for independence (the Revolutionary War) was fought from 1775-1783. About 200 thousand Americans served in the Patriots’ cause in some capacity. This presentation will provide a deep dive into discovering and researching your revolutionary ancestors. It will cover the top resources, strategies, websites, libraries, archives, and organizations for learning more about your ancestors at our nation’s founding. Resources and documents available at the National Archives, DAR, SAR, as well as state and local organizations will be included. The presentation will also reveal that many colonists did not support independence and supported the British/Tory cause. It is an exciting time to jump in and learn as much as you can about your revolutionary ancestors!
    • Bio: With an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a masters degree from Northwestern University, lead genealogist, Scott Norrick, combines over 30 years of family history research with the necessary skills and passion to provide meaningful and proven results. He has been published in the Indiana Genealogical Society's Indiana Genealogist, has presented at The Association of Professional Genealogists annual conference and to the Wisconsin Genealogical Society, and has been a featured guest on the radio show/podcast Extreme Genes. Having traced and documented thousands of ancestors and relatives in both the United States and Northern Europe, he is experienced with all of the latest and time-tested genealogical tools and resources.
  • 5 Sep 26 - Ancestry Pro Tools Part 1: Enhance Your Family Tree
    • Speaker: Kelli Jo Bergheimer (in person)
    • Abstract:  Have you heard about Ancestry’s new Pro Tools? For an additional fee per month, you can access some new tools to enhance your work with your family tree. Tree checker can help you locate errors in your tree. Many new smart filters can help you sort your tree by family line and other exciting ways. Other tools such as charts and reports, tree mapper, tree insights, and fan chart settings will be explored.
    • Bio: Kelli Jo Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, author, and international genealogical speaker. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in education: curriculum and instruction, and a master’s degree in business management. Kelli is the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide and also runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
  • 3 Oct 26 - Ancestry Pro Tools Part 2: Increase Your DNA Analysis
    • Speaker: Kelli Jo Bergheimer (in person)
    • Abstract:  Ancestry’s new Pro Tools can increase your ability to analyze your DNA matches. New filters have been added to enhance your DNA sorting. Colored dots have expanded. And the much-anticipated Enhanced shared matches tool is giving us another level of insight into our matches by showing us how our matches share DNA with each other.
    • Bio: Kelli Jo Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, author, and international genealogical speaker. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in education: curriculum and instruction, and a master’s degree in business management. Kelli is the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide and also runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
  • 7 Nov 26-TBD
  • 5 Dec 26 - Holiday Party

​Other calendar items of note:​​
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