Colorado Chapter - Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society

09/24/2026

📣 Don't Forget to Register!

There's still time to register for the Colorado Chapter of Palatines to America Seminar on October 3! We hope you'll join us for a day of learning, sharing, and connecting with fellow family historians.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.copalam.us/

📅 Upcoming Focus Group October 13 at 6:30 PM (MT) via Zoom

This month's focus group will feature a discussion of Arcinsys, an important online resource for German genealogy research. Arcinsys provides access to archival finding aids and records from archives in Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Germany, making it a valuable tool for those researching German ancestors.

🔗 Explore Arcinsys: https://www.arcinsys.de/

To receive the Zoom link, please email Jennifer at [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you at the seminar and the focus group!

Zugangsadressen zu den Startseiten der Archiviformationssysteme Arcinsys Hessen und Arcinsys Niedersachsen mit Bremen sowie Arcinsys Schleswig-Holstein mit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern im Internet.

09/18/2026

📣 Come Say Hello!

The Colorado Chapter of Palatines to America is excited to be part of Family History Discovery Day in Longmont on Saturday, September 19!

If you have an interest in genealogy, family history, DNA, preserving family stories, or learning more about your German roots, be sure to stop by our table.

We'll be sharing information about:
🔹 Monthly Focus Groups
🔹 Educational Programs
🔹 Research Resources
🔹 German Genealogy Research
🔹 Upcoming Events

Bring your questions, meet fellow researchers, and discover how our organization can help you uncover your family's story.

We can't wait to meet you!

🌳 It’s almost time for Family History Discovery Day!

In addition to DNA tables, books & resources, a family heirloom display, Q&A help stations, and more, we have some amazing FREE classes lined up! Whether you’re just getting started or looking for new ways to explore your family’s story, come learn with us. 🔎📚

📅 Saturday, September 19
🕙 Event hours: 10 AM–4 PM | Classes begin at 10:30 AM
📍 In person only — 1721 Red Cloud Road, Longmont, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Here’s the class lineup:

🌳 Genealogy 101
Mark Fearer • 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM

🤖 Introduction to Using AI for Genealogy Research
Bobski Masson • 10:30 AM & 1:30 PM

🏔️ Colorado Roots: Tracing 250 Years of Colorado People and Place
Sylvia Tracy Doolos • 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM

🧬 Introduction to Using DNA to Help Find Your Ancestors
Bobski Masson • 11:30 AM & 2:30 PM

🤝 Reunion Planning
Rob Stevens • 11:30 AM

📖 Sharing Your Family History
Rob Stevens • 12:30 PM

🔎 The Timeline Detective: Find Clues Hiding in Plain Sight
Shannon Hames • 12:30 PM & 1:30 PM

🎓 Genealogical Educational Opportunities
Glenn York • 1:30 PM & 2:30 PM

Bring your curiosity, your questions, and a friend! We can’t wait to see you there. 💚

09/15/2026

Don’t forget to register for our COPALAM Fall Seminar coming up on Saturday, October 3, 2026! We’re thrilled to welcome Gail Shaffer Blankenau, a nationally recognized genealogist, historian, and lecturer known for her expertise in Germanic and Swiss research.

Gail will present four in‑depth sessions packed with practical guidance:

• Power Combination: German Church Records and Farm Histories — Interpreting church books, understanding farm names, and extending your ancestral lines.
• Finding Family in Numbers: How to Find and Navigate German Census Records — Using census data to uncover family structures and migration clues.
• Finding Your Germanic Home Village and Parish — Techniques for locating ancestral villages, parish boundaries, and regional archives.
• Mountain Peaks and Trails: Your Swiss Ancestral Journey — Navigating Swiss records, cantonal differences, and strategies for tracing Swiss roots.

This hybrid seminar offers both in‑person and virtual attendance. All registrants will receive 30‑day access to the recording, and in‑person attendees who register by September 7 will be entered to win lunch with Gail.

We hope you’ll join us for this fantastic day of learning and discovery.
Register today!

Colorado Palatines to America Fall Seminar. Seminar is in-person and by ZOOM 3 October 2026, Time 9:30 am - 4:30 pm The Colorado Chapter of Palatines to America is pleased to announce that Gail Shaffer Blankenau, a professional genealogist, historian, speaker, and author who holds an MA degree in hi...

08/25/2026

Upcoming Genealogy Events

🗓️ Fall Seminar – October 3rd
Featuring Gail Blankenau
Join us for a full‑day seminar with genealogist Gail Blankenau at the Highlands Ranch Senior Center.
Learn advanced research strategies, historical context, and documentation techniques to strengthen your family history work.

Date: Saturday, October 3
Location: Highlands Ranch Senior Center
Registration: Now open at https://www.copalam.us/

🗓️ Focus Group – September 15th (Zoom)
FamilySearch Full‑Text Search
Discover how to use FamilySearch’s powerful Full‑Text Search to uncover hidden records and new research leads.

Date: Tuesday, September 15
Time: 6:30 PM MDT
Format: Zoom‑only
Access: Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link
Cost: Free and open to all

Colorado Palatines to America Fall Seminar. Seminar is in-person and by ZOOM 3 October 2026, Time 9:30 am - 4:30 pm The Colorado Chapter of Palatines to America is pleased to announce that Gail Shaffer Blankenau, a professional genealogist, historian, speaker, and author who holds an MA degree in hi...

08/16/2026

Registration is officially open for our October 3 hybrid seminar! Join us in person at Highlands Ranch Senior Center or via Zoom as Gail Blankenau presents four in‑depth sessions on Germanic and Swiss genealogy. Don’t miss this chance to deepen your research skills—register today at https://www.copalam.us/

08/07/2026

🍁 Registration is NOW OPEN for the COPALAM Fall Seminar 2026!
Join us on Saturday, October 3, 2026, for a full day of learning, discovery, and community. Whether you attend in‑person or via Zoom, this seminar is packed with expert guidance to help you advance your German and Swiss genealogy research.

Featured Speaker:
Gail Shaffer Blankenau — Genealogist • Author • Research Specialist

Topics Include:
• German Church Records
• German Census Research
• Finding Your Home Village
• Swiss Ancestral Research

📅 Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Format: In‑Person & Zoom
🎟 Register Today: www.copalam.us

07/06/2026

We’ve got a great lineup of genealogy learning opportunities coming up—both local and online!

🧭 Monthly Focus Group
Tuesday, August 11 • 6:30 PM MDT
Zoom Only
Featuring Karen Ellingson
Free and Frugal Genealogy Resources
Email Jennifer Bigham for the Zoom link: [email protected]

🍂 Fall Seminar
Saturday, October 3 • All Day
Featuring Gail Blankenau
Topics include:
• Power Combination: German Church Records & Farm Histories
• Navigating German Census Records
• Finding Your Germanic Home Village & Parish
• Swiss Ancestral Research

🇩🇪 Bonus Learning Opportunity!
Katherine Schober of Germanology Unlocked is hosting a webinar on Archion next week—July 7, 8, or 9.
Register here: https://us.list-manage.com/nf33pRcNIR0?e=7ed4cf083a&c2id=4bb296270bb1d9a0ba721024cd48a2b6

06/29/2026

Colorado Chapter Palatines to America enjoyed a fantastic research day at the Denver Public Library’s James K. Jeffrey Genealogy Collection!

Our members explored new resources, uncovered family history clues, and connected with fellow researchers. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

06/08/2026

Excited to dig into your German ancestry? Join us for the Colorado Chapter of Palatines to America’s research trip at the Denver Public Library on June 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Let’s explore our roots together and make some great discoveries.

RSVP by emailing Jennifer Bigham at [email protected].

05/12/2026

📚✨ Ready to Dig Into Your German Roots? 🇩🇪
Join the Colorado Chapter Palatines to America for a Research Trip to the Denver Public Library!

🗓 June 27, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM
📍 Denver Public Library – 10 W. 14th Street, 5th Floor

We’ll explore DPL’s extensive genealogy collections together and help one another make real research progress.

📬 Please confirm your attendance by emailing Jennifer Bigham at [email protected].

Let’s chase our German roots—side by side.