Whatcom Genealogical Society

10/13/2026

Have you heard of Full Text Search but don’t know how to use it? Join SVGS on 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝐩𝐦 at the Burlington Public Library for “𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉” 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠.

FamilySearch has billions of records and most of them are unindexed and cannot be located using a typical search. Learn how FamilySearch Full Text Search unlocks the secrets to millions of unindexed records.

Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing [email protected].

10/11/2026

Meet Me at the Seattle Public Library!
We welcomed you more than 3.4 million times last year—thanks for being part of our community!
www.spl.org/MeetMe

10/11/2026

Join us for our next webinar. Register Today:https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4797732638928388184

10/10/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Diana Elder, AG®, AGL™, to the Seattle Genealogical Society this Saturday!

AI in Genealogical Research: A Practical Approach

Saturday, 10 October at 1 PM Pacific
Register here: https://bit.ly/4rSC17s

Curious about how AI can help with your family history research? Diana will walk through hands-on examples of AI assisting with common research tasks. Topics will include:

How to write a good prompt, so the AI knows its role, your goal, and the format you want back.

Using AI to turn raw data into timelines and spot inconsistencies across records.

Which tools suit which tasks, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, NotebookLM, and Perplexity.

You will have a chance to see the tools in action, learn what they do well and where they fall short, and leave with practical tips for your own research.

Diana is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States. She is the author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-author of Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence.

10/07/2026

10/06/2026

Meeting Reminder

For our October 12, 2026 meeting we will be viewing a 2024 RootsTech presentation by Alyssa Gamble Martinez on "Finding your Ancestor's Origin Story: Strategies for US Immigration Records." We meet at the Pavilion in Pioneer Park, 2007 Cherry Street, in Ferndale. Visitors are always welcome to attend. Doors open at 1:30 and the meeting will begin at 2pm.

10/05/2026

Looking for the marriage that connects two branches of your family tree?

Explore millions of indexed English marriage records dating from 1538 to 1973. Depending on the record, you may discover an ancestor’s name and age, spouse, marriage date and place, and the names of their fathers. Marriage banns are also included.

Start searching and see what new family connections you can uncover.

🔗 - https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1473015?cid=SO-00065233

10/05/2026

As the season changes, it’s the perfect time to uncover new chapters of your family history. What are you most excited to learn this month? 👇

Oct 7th | 11 am MT | Virtual Event
"Beyond the Beginning: Advancing Your Native American Genealogy Research" with Nicka Sewell Smith

Building on her beginner tips, Nicka Sewell-Smith shares how to navigate complex record systems to trace Indigenous ancestry. Learn how to decode historical paper trails and turn research barriers into clues.

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/4zgvypB

Oct 8th | 2 pm MT | Facebook Live
AncestryDNA Origins Update Focused
Join us live as we break down the latest AncestryDNA ethnicity updates. Learn how these new insights apply to your DNA results and help refine your origins.

Oct 14th | 11 am MT | Virtual Event
"Family Tree Building 101" with Crista Cowan

Perfect for beginners, this step-by-step session shows you how to enter essential details and organize your Ancestry tree with confidence. Learn how to avoid common mistakes and build a strong foundation for your research.

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/4dUIEjL

Oct 20th | 2 pm MT | Facebook Live
Ancestry Records Deep Dive

Explore both new and classic record collections to get the most out of your searches. We'll share strategies for using these resources to uncover hidden details in your family story.

Oct 21st | 11 am MT | Virtual Event
"Beyond the Ledger: History, Digitization, and Discovery in British Colonial Enslavement Registers" with Nicka Sewell Smith

Go behind the scenes of Ancestry's project digitizing nearly 4 million 19th-century "Slave Returns." Discover the history of these registers and learn key search strategies to trace ancestors and reclaim their stories.

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/4AuYA5V

Oct 28th | 11 am MT | Virtual Event
"Skeletons in the Closet: Finding (and Facing) Your Family's Best-Kept Secrets" with Crista Cowan

In this special Halloween webinar, learn how to uncover the hidden stories and sensitive secrets in your family tree. We'll cover which records reveal the truth and how to handle surprising discoveries with care.

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/3TDoR1w

10/01/2026

Sunday, Oct. 18 - Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island 36th Annual Family History Workshop. Seating is limited! Reserve your spot soon. Seating is limited! Reserve your spot soon.

10/01/2026

Looking forward to talking to all of you at Florida Genealogical Society on Saturday!

Even if you are not a member, you can register and join us online here: https://www.fgstampa.org/