Genealogy Cafe at RUMC

06/11/2026

Summer doesn’t mean that we stop our family research. If you were planning to visit the DAR Library in DC, note that the DAR is getting ready for a huge renovation which will involve a temporary relocation of the entire book collection. The last day to access the books in the library will be Thursday, 2 July. The restoration project begins on 6 July.

On the national level and in local communities, DAR collaborates with a variety of others to spread awareness of common objectives.

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

A well-deserved honor for Peter Broadbent!

06/02/2026

Check it out!

In case you missed the Library's recent two-part research workshop, "American Migration Routes From the Colonial Period to the Early Republic," recordings of the event are now up in our Family History playlist on YouTube.

Part One: https://youtu.be/gVAh0iTE_Qc
Part Two: https://youtu.be/P9L7RBPbpoA

The full Family History playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMBxwRsuTIghdV9GMMIVxILrM4jnSePFg

05/22/2026

And watch out for fire ants! Gitte Tessier speaks from experience. Wearing sandals in a Louisiana cemetery, she inadvertently stepped in a nest of fire ants while backing up to get a good photo shoot of her husband’s ancestor’s grave!

Visiting Cemeteries: Top 5 Tips for Family Historians

1. Be Respectful: Remember that every cemetery is sacred ground and someone’s final resting place. Bring a friend or let others know where you are going and when you'll return.

2. Do Your Homework: Research the cemetery, burial locations, and family connections before you go.

3. Document Everything: Take clear photos, record inscriptions, map locations, and note nearby graves.

4. Come Prepared: Bring water, bug spray, good walking shoes, a soft brush, and a charged phone or camera.

5. Give Back to the Community:
Help another family historian by fulfilling photo requests on Find A Grave or BillionGraves.

05/21/2026

New Revolutionary War files added to the LVA digital collections!

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce we have a new digital collection online just in time for the VA250 celebrations! The Land Office Military Certificates collection documents the second step of a three-step process for Revolutionary War veterans to obtain bounty land in return for their service.

The certificates are printed forms filled in with the name of the individual, his rank, whether he served in a state or a continental line unit and the length of such service. In 2022, we digitized the microfilm, which includes the records for around 7,500 Virginia Revolutionary War veterans' claims. We are excited that these records, so important to our understanding of the experiences of those who fought for independence, are now freely available online.

https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA&collectionId=81192215680005756&lang=en

VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission

05/15/2026

If your family was one of those displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park, this presentation might be of interest to you.

The Rappahannock County Library will be hosting a presentation by Bill Henry on the people who were displaced from their homes to form Shenandoah National Park. It is scheduled for Saturday, May 30th at 12:00 PM and is free to the public.

05/08/2026

New Culpeper County Historical Marker honoring Patriots of Color, both free and enslaved, who served in the Revolutionary War.

Congratulations to the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution for the unveiling of Culpeper’s Revolutionary War Patriots of Color Historical Marker held on April 25, 2026!

Many of these stories have been left untold. This event represented more than remembrance—it represented truth, recognition, and the importance of preserving history for future generations.

The Museum of Culpeper History, DAR/SAR members, descendants, researchers, and the entire community played an invaluable role in ensuring these Patriots of Color are remembered and honored—a contribution that will not be forgotten.

05/02/2026

You don’t have to stop learning during the warm season!