Previous DGS Meetings/Events

Ellis Island and NYC Library Bus Trip - Oct 9, 2008

Leaves at 7am sharp Thursday, October 9, 2008 from Aldersgate United Methodist Church parking lot (on Route 202 just north of Fairfax Shopping Center) & returns about 7pm.
ITINERARY: New Jersey/New York City bus stops:
1. Liberty State Park in New Jersey with ferry departure at 10am to Ellis Island.
2. New York City Public Library at 455 Fifth Ave: Genealogy (research); digital collection
LUNCH: You may wish to pack a lunch even though we have been told food is available.
RETURN: Bus picks up at Battery Park in Manhattan at 4pm sharp and at NYC Public Library at 4:30pm sharp. Bus to arrive in Delaware about 7 PM.
COST: Ellis Island $55 (includes bus, ferry ticket and tour by Tom Bernardin, a licensed tour guide and foremost expert on Ellis Island) - space for 30 people);
Library $25 for bus - library admission free (space for 17 people)
Make checks out to "Delaware Genealogical Society"
DEADLINE: All payments must be made by October 3rd.
CONTACT: Diane Eckles at (302)-475-2954

NOTE DIFFERENT PLACE:
7:30 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at the Delaware History Museum (across Market Street from the Delaware Historical Society (DHS))
SPEAKER: Bruce Burgoyne on German Auxiliary Troops-the Hessians
ABSTRACT: Bruce Burgoyne will speak on the role of the German Auxiliary Troops (the Hessians) in the American Revolution
BACKGROUND: Bruce Burgoyne is a world renowned expert on the German Auxiliary Troops (the Hessians) and has transcribed and translated several Hession diaries].

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE:
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE in Room 209B
7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm).
SPEAKER: Noel Kurht on The Mayflower Society
ABSTRACT: Noel Kurht speak on the historical background of The Mayflower Society and of the Mayflower Compact. He will also outline the entrance requirements and the sources required to become a member.
BACKGROUND: Noel Kurht is President of the local Mayflower Society in Delaware [national web site: Mayflower Society]

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE:
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE in Room 209B
7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm).
SPEAKER: Toni Young on Becoming American/Remaining Jewish
ABSTRACT: Toni Young is an author of Becoming American/Remaining Jewish [at books.google.com] and will describe the genealogical resources she used to write her book, the story of Wilmington, Delaware's first jewish community, 1879-1924.
BACKGROUND: Toni Young chairs United Jewish Council's Global Operations: Israel & Overseas Coordinating Council and is a Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. She is a past chair of Israel Initiatives formerly known as P2K. Toni was the first woman to serve as the President of the Jewish Federation of Delaware.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE:
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE in Room 209B.
7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm).
SPEAKER: Moira Conlan or Tom Summers on Cooperative Agreement between Delaware Public Archives and ancestry.com
ABSTRACT: Details and timing of the cooperative agreement between Delaware Public Archives and Ancestry.com to digitize thousands of records of the Delaware Public Archives and making them available.
BACKGROUND: Tom Summers is Manager of Outreach Services at the Delaware Public Archives

7:30pm sharp on Tuesday November 18, 2008 at Delaware Historical Society (DHS) 505 N Market St, Wilmington DE. (Doors open at 7pm, library closes at 9:30pm):
Anne Happoldt on Genealogy of Three Delaware Members of the Confederate Military
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss three Delaware members of the Confederate military explaining her research methods and resources. Anne is a member of a group which is compiling biographys using census and other records (e.g. newspaper articles including obituaries, Beers' Atlas, Delaware Public Archives manuscripts, tax lists, genealogies and histories) of the first ever roster of Delaware Confederate citizens and soldiers who served the South. The soldier's names are being added to a Delaware Confederate Monument. Extensive biographies with photographs and signatures have been found for some (such as Samuel Batson Hearn.
BACKGROUND: Anne Happoldt is a member of the Georgetown Historical Society, the Downstate Delaware Genealogists and of Dover's Colonel Hasslett Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. See http://www.descv.org/DelawareConfederates.html for some of the Delaware Confederate military she has research (search page on "Happoldt").

TBD on TBD 2009 at Delaware Historical Society (DHS) 505 N Market St, Wilmington DE. (The library closes at 9:30pm):
Lee Hagenbach, President of the Gracelawn Cemetery, on Cemetery Records.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss cemetery records
BACKGROUND: Lee Hagenbach is the President of the Gracelawn Cemetery.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE:
Tuesday October 21, 2008 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE in Room 209B. (The library closes at 9pm):
Robert J. Plowman, Ph.Don Delaware County (PA) Archives.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss the holdings of the Delaware County (PA) Archives which include (among others) administrations 1790-1920, births and deaths 1893-1906 (only), civil cases 1797-1929, marriages 1885 – 1928, naturalizations 1795-1990, orphans' court 1790-1925 and wills 1789-1924.
BACKGROUND: Robert J. Plowman, Ph.D., is the County Archivist of the Delaware County PA. He was formerly the Assistant Regional Administrator for NARA's MidAtlantic Region.

NOTE DIFFERENT PLACE:
7:30pm sharp on Tuesday September 16, 2008 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE in Room 209A. (The library closes at 9pm):
Bruce A. Bendler, Ph.D on Looking for Old Newark--and a Few Detours Along the Way.
BACKGROUND: Bruce A. Bendler, Ph.D, is an Adjunct Professor in the History Department at the University of Delaware teaching cources in "Colonial America" and "Revolutionary Delaware" and an Adjunct Professor at Wesley College. He is author of "Colonial Delaware Records 1681-1713" (1992), "Colonial Delaware Assemblymen, 1682-1776" (1989) and "The Manlove Family A Genealogical History" (1977).

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE:
Tuesday May 20, 2008 at Woodlawn Library on Bancroft Parkway: 7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm). Tom Kemp, Director, Genealogy Products at NewsBank Inc. since 2005 on Historical Newspapers On-Line, including GenealogyBank.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss the status of Historical Newspapers On-Line.
BACKGROUND: Prior to joining NewsBank, Thomas Jay Kemp, MLS, a well-known librarian and archivist, is the Chair of the Genealogy Committee of the American Library Association (ALA) and a past chair of the ALA history section. He is a member of the board of directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the editor of the Local History & Genealogy Librarian and Local History & Genealogy Librarian News.
He is the author of numerous books and articles including International Vital Records Handbook, 4th Edition (2000); The Genealogist's Virtual Library: Full-text Books on the World Wide Web (2000); The American Census Handbook (2000); Virtual Roots: A Guide to Genealogy and Local History on the World Wide Web (1997); and the Connecticut Researcher's Handbook (1981). His articles have appeared in Library Journal, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Newsletter, NAGARA Clearinghouse, School Library Journal, Archival Outlook, Illinois Library Reporter, Connecticut Libraries, and many other publications. Click here for a Sep 2007 interview of Tom Kemp by Dick Eastman for Roots Television.

Tuesday April 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Historical Society of Delaware (The library closes at 9:30pm). Member Presentations:
Heather Doherty, Charting Migrations Using Tax, Census, Orphan and Probate Records
Kay Schorah, Historical Newspaper Findings
Caroline Sparks, Census Enlightenments

NOTE SPECIAL TIME, DAY AND PLACE: 9am Saturday Morning March 15, 2008 field trip to the University of Delaware Morris Library, Class of 1941 Lecture Room: turn left immediately after main entrance; speaker (at 9:30am): Rebecca Knight, Overview of Genealogical Resources at Morris Library, followed by a tour and free time to research. Bag lunch suggested; cafe closed, but room open with vending machines. Morris Library is at 181 S. College Ave. Map for Directions Visitor's parking lot across College Ave. from Morris Library is no longer available.
Parking.. closest parking: Perkins Garage on Academy St. (pay) and W of Trabant Student Center on W. Main St. between College Ave. and Elkton Rd. (pay): cost $.30/half hr ($3 max) on Sat., but bring your parking ticket to the meeting for validation.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: Feb 19, 2008 at Woodlawn Library on Bancroft Parkway: 7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm) Donna Aviles, author of children's books Fly Little Bird, Fly! and Beyond the Orphan Train, will speak about the Orphan Train Movement and the search of one orphan (Oliver) for his brother Edward.
ABSTRACT: Donna Nordmark Aviles is the granddaughter of Oliver Nordmark who with his brother Edward were plucked as young boys from their New York orphanage in 1906 and placed on an Orphan Train to Kansas. Being sent to different farms, they lost track of one another. Beyond the Orphan train is the story of Oliver's search for his brother. Donna lives in Hockessin, Delaware.

Jan 15, 2008 at Woodlawn Library on Bancroft Parkway: 7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm).
SPEAKER: Tom Summers, Manager of Outreach Service at the Delaware State Archives, on Orphans' Court Records at the Delaware State Archives
ABSTRACT:

NO DECEMBER MEETING - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Nov 20, 2007 at 7:30pm at the Historical Society of Delaware
speaker: Jefferson Moak Chief Archivist for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the National Archives and Records Administration on Overview of Resources at the National Archives Mid-Atlantic Region
ABSTRACT: The Overview will include substitutes for finding people who were listed in the 1890 U.S. census, now destroyed.
BACKGROUND: Jefferson Moak, Chief Archivist for the Mid Atlantic Branch of the National Archives and Records Administration, joined the staff in 2000 following a 29-year career working with Philadelphia history. He has produced several guides to Philadelphia research, including Atlases of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Street Name Changes, Architectural Research in Philadelphia, and a recent work on the original land development patterns within parts of Philadelphia County from 1682 to 1750. He also taught at Spring Garden College for several years and annually assists with a historic preservation class at the University of Pennsylvania that concentrates on researching Philadelphia's architectural heritage.

NOTE SPECIAL TIME, DAY AND PLACE:
DGS 30th Anniversary Dinner on Sunday Oct 21, 2007
The 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the Delaware Genealogical Society
at the Brandywine Country Club
Speaker: Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak: Remembering Our Ancestors
ABSTRACT: Megan will share with us her favorite stories from her two books Honoring Our Ancestors and In Search of Our Ancestors. Let yourself be amused, amazed and touched by stories of the many creative ways people have developed to pay tribute to those who came before us, as well as tales of how some stubborn brick walls have come tumbling down in the most unexpected ways. You'll leave convinced that our ancestors want to be found as much as we want to find them, and equipped with some creative ways to pay tribute to them.

Sep 18, 2007 at 7:30pm speaker: Tom Gallagher, Belief of Older Order Amish at the Historical Society of Delaware
ABSTRACT: Tom will discuss the Belief of the Older Order Amish and how they maintain their religious beliefs in an era of changing times.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: May 15, 2007 at Woodlawn Library on Bancroft Parkway: 7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm). Member Presentations:
Tom Doherty: The Civil War Surgeon and the Blind Doctor
Ralph E. Nelson: I Know Where I Cone From -- Do You? (health issues)

Apr 17, 2007 speaker: Tom Summers of Delaware State Archives on Home Town Delaware Photograph Collection at the Historical Society of Delaware

Mar 24, 2007 (Saturday) at 11:00am Field Trip to Fort Delaware Conference Center. Refreshments will be served to attendees if register by Tuesday, March 20, with Margaret David [email] or phone: (302)478-0947

On Saturday, we are looking forward to an exciting field trip to the new Conference and Records Center of the Fort Delaware Society. The planned program will include instruction on how to research their extensive holdings of Civil War records and a tour of the new facilities.

How to get there?: The Conference Center is located in the area under the Reedy Point Bridge on Route 9. From north or south on Route 1, go East on Route 72 to Delaware City; turn south (right) onto Route 9 and follow the Map & Travel Directions according to the Fort Delaware Society.
Supplemental Directions: go East on Route 72 to Delaware City; then cross the small bridge by Wiso's Crab House and make a sharp right turn into the Fort DuPont area. If you go over the large canal bridge, you have gone too far! Follow signs to Grassland and Governor Bacon but DO NOT go into Grasslands area-that is where administrative offices are located. Continue on until you see the Fort Delaware Society sign near the Governor Bacon Health Center. You can see the Fort from there. Parking is very easy.

If you drive upstate and take Route 9, cross the Reedy Point Bridge and take a sharp left turn; follow the Map & Travel Directions according to the Fort Delaware Society.

This is a "field trip" you will really enjoy!

Transcription Projects -- Work Day
No Experience Necessary!
Learn How to Read Old Handwriting Next Session TBA New Castle County Brandywine Library (1300 Foulk Road, Wilmington) Room 209A
Join your fellow genealogists for a hands-on session transcribing records.
Help the society advance its transcription projects, while working in a congenial and supportive environment.
Experienced volunteers will be present to answer your questions. Bring your laptop!
If you have any questions please contact:

Kay Schorah at (302)-328-8764 or Margaret David at (302)-478-0947.

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NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: Jan 16, 2007 at Woodlawn Library on Bancroft Parkway: 7-8:50pm (The library closes at 9pm):
Dianne Clark-Streatt Probates and Wills in New Castle Co

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: 7:00pm Tue Nov 21, 2006 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE. (The library closes at 9pm):
Peter Williams on Researching Your Welsh Roots in Delaware.
BACKGROUND: Peter Williams is an expert on Welsh research in the United States. Founder of the Welsh Society of Delaware and a director of the National Welsh American Foundation, Peter was made a member of the Gorsedd at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1999. He is editor of Celticinfo.com and author of The Sacred Places of Wales, The Long, Hard Struggle: A History of Wales, An Alphabetical Guide to Wales and the Welsh, The Book of Wales, The History of Wales in Verse, The Seven Wonders of Wales: a New Look.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: 7:00pm Tue Oct 17, 2006 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE. (The library closes at 9pm):
Marcia Adams on Using Oral History to Enhance Your Genealogy.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss speak on the techniques used doing oral interviews.
BACKGROUND: Marcia Adams is secretary of the Pencader Area Historical Association.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: 7:00pm Tue Sep 19, 2006 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE. (The library closes at 9pm):
Ginger Farrow of Finders Keepers on Reuniting Adoptees with Birth Parents.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss how to start a search for one's birth parents.
BACKGROUND: Ginger Farrow of Bear, Delaware and has been an adoption searcher for the past 20 years. She is the contact for Finders Keepers and the Adoption Forum of Delaware. She is researching black market adoption with the Veil. The Veil was an unwed mother's home in Middletown, Delaware with Dr. Jerome Niles. If there are any Veil babies she would love to help them. Many have falsified Original Birth Certificates, but some don't. Some Veil babies are in touch with each other over the Internet. Contact Ginger Farrow by email

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: 7:00pm Tue May 16, 2006 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE. :
NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE:
Members Night, Short presentations by members

Dolores Sparks: title TBA

Pat Tucker: title TBA

Richard Stazesky: title TBA

Tom Doherty: Finding a German Town of Origin
To bring refreshments, please contact Margaret David by email or at 302-478-0947.

NOTE EARLIER TIME AND DIFFERENT PLACE: 7:00pm Tue Apr 18, 2006 at Brandywine Hundred Library, Foulk Road, Wilmington DE. :
Robert Barnes and John Slack on History of Pencader.
ABSTRACT: The speakers will discuss will discuss the history of the Pencader area, which is named after a town in Wales. They will also talk about some of the families who have lived in that area.
BACKGROUND: Robert Barnes is an author and historian. John Slack is from the Pencader Heritage Area Association.

7:30pm Tue Mar 21, 2006 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Michael Dixon on Delaware Through the Lens.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss photography in Delaware and dating old photographs. From the Delaware Humanities Forum: "Since photography was introduced, this method of recording moments in time has provide people with visual records of places, people and events in Delaware. This slide-illustrated program, using many old pictures and postcards of Delaware, presents the role photography has played in depicting people and landscapes in Delaware since the 19th century. It concludes with a discussion on how to identify photographs commonly found in family collections and provides basic tips on preserving this visual heritage." If there is time he will try to help with dating personal photos.
BACKGROUND: Michael Dixon is an historian and award-winning writer who has been chronicling and disseminating historical information on the Delmarva Peninsula for nearly three decades. He is an adjunct instructor at the University of Delaware where he teaches courses in the history of mass media and criminal justice. In addition he is a visiting scholar for Delaware Humanities, Maryland Humanities and Delmarva Discussions. Mike works to promote historic preservation and conservation of cultural resources, as well as to encourage others to understand, record and study the past. He is active in a number of historical societies and preservation groups. Mike holds degrees from St. Josephs University, Washington College and Wilmington College.

7:30pm Tue Feb 21, 2006 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Tom Summers on Church Records at the Delaware Public Archives.
ABSTRACT: The speaker will discuss Church Records Available at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover.
BACKGROUND: Tom Summers is Manager of Outreach Service at the Delaware Public Archives.

http://www.state.de.us/sos/dpa

7:30pm Tue Jan 17, 2006 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Lee Anderson, Stories of Loved ones in Riverview Cemetery

7:30pm Tue Feb 21, 2006 at Historical Society of Delaware:
ABSTRACT: Lee Anderson asked people to introduce her to their loved ones by sharing memories, stories and photos. And people responded with joy! A result of that collaborative effort, her book "Reading the Stones" [Timestone Press] about loved ones in Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington, is a tribute to the value of each life - no matter how long or short. The love lives on and connects us to past and future generations. Copies of "Reading the Stones" will be available for purchase. A book signing will follow her presentation.
BACKGROUND: Lee Anderson, is a licensed psychologist who began her career at Alfred I. duPont Institute in 1978. She earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. For the past 27 years, she has provided a wide range of mental health services in our community, devoting a large part of her practice to children and adults suffering from loss.

7:30pm Tue Nov 15, 2005 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Ralph Prettyman, Delaware Archives Revolutionary War project
ABSTRACT: The speaker will .
BACKGROUND: Ralph Prettyman,

11am Sat Oct 22, 2005 at Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library, 115 High Street, Odessa. The Library is located approximately three blocks from north U.S. 13 and on-street parking is available.
Debbie Buckson and Marie Neaves,
ABSTRACT: The speakers will highlight their Del-Mar-Va collection and the family history materials available at the Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library. This is a great opportunity to see this valuable Delaware site. We are looking forward to learning more about one of Delaware's gems.
BACKGROUND: Debbie Buckson and Marie Neaves,

7:30pm Tue Sep 20, 2005 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Joseph N. Weber, German Genealogy - Using American-based Resources
ABSTRACT: The speaker will introduce the application of American-based resources — in German as well as in the English language — to the challenge of German genealogical research. Not only will he investigate the most important problem of attempting to find one's ancestral home village or town, but also explore the use of U.S. documentation to provide insight into the fascinating issue of how our first generation ancestors may have lived in their new homeland.
BACKGROUND: Joseph N. Weber is an Associate Professor of Art Conservation at the University of Delaware.

7:30pm Tue May 17, 2005 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Members Night, Short presentations by members -
to volunteer contact to speak or bring refreshments, contact Phoebe Doherty .
Caroline Sparks, Onomastics or What's In a Name
Charles Keil, The Best $15 I Ever Spent on Genealogy
Ralph Nelson, Mommy, Where Did I Come From?
Bob Redden, Video Family History

Tue Apr 19, 2005 at Historical Society of Delaware:
Rebecca Johnson Melvin, Associate Librarian, University of Delaware Special Collections:
ABSTRACT: Rebecca will speak on Scrapbooks: Life Stories and Family Histories. In addition to official records, Johnson Melvin encourages genealogical researchers to explore all forms of manuscript materials -- including scrapbooks -- found in peronal and family papers. She will review the fascinating history of scrapbooks, comment on the current "scrapbooking" craze, and advise on preservation issues. DGS members are invited to bring a personal scrapbook related to family history and examples from the collections at HSD will be shown.
BACKGROUND: L. Rebecca Johnson Melvin is coordinator of the manuscripts unit in Special Collections at the University of Delaware Library.
Constance Cooper, Historical Society of Delaware,
ABSTRACT: Connie will speak on the Family & Historical Scrapbook Collection at the Historical Society of Delaware.
BACKGROUND: Dr. Constance Cooper is Director of Library and Archives at the Historical Society of Delaware.

Sat Mar 12, 2005: Starts at 10am in the morning at Hagley Library (Copeland Room):

... Marjorie McNinch: Hagley Library's resources for Genealogical Research, esp. Irish records
ABSTRACT: Marjorie will speak on The Hagley Library's resources for Genealogical Research with emphasis on the Irish records.
BACKGROUND: Marjorie McNinch is a Reference Archivist at the Hagley Library.

Tue Feb 15, 2005: Starts at 7p (room open 6:30p) at Brandywine New Castle Co Library, 1300 Foulk Road
Patricia O'Donnell, Archivist, Friends Historical Library: Finding Quaker Ancestors.
ABSTRACT: Patricia will speak on including some of the background of Quakerism needed for searching, types of records available, repositories, ways to search, and emphasis on the Delaware and Mid-Atlantic region.
BACKGROUND: Patricia O'Donnell is an Archivist at the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College.

Tue Jan 18, 2005: Starts at 7p (room open 6:30p) at Brandywine New Castle Co Library, 1300 Foulk Road
Veronica Calder, NJ State Archivist: Using the NJ State Archives, its Web Site and In-house Databases
ABSTRACT: Veronica will speak on what they have at the New Jersey State Archives, including their collections, website and in house databases.
BACKGROUND: Veronica Calder is the Archivist at the New Jersey State Archives in charge of the Publications Unit: historical and promotional publications, State Archives website development, New Jersey history exhibits, bookstore operations and educational programs.

Tue Nov 16, 2004: Debbie Edwards: Tips on Using That Computer to Organize Your Research
ABSTRACT: Debbie will speak on the functionality of two major genealogical software products (Family Tree Maker and Family Ties) and will provide tips and tricks for getting information off the Internet and into research documents. She will also show how to create timelines and explain their usefulness.
BACKGROUND: Debbie (Ellis) Edwards is a native Delawarean who has been researching genealogy for over 11 years and occasionally does work for others, specializing in on-line research. Debbie has held various jobs over the years in the computer industry including teaching at the University of Delaware. She has begun documenting Delaware Cemeteries into a concise list.

With an admitted soft touch when it comes to the 4-footed friends, her farm is home to 5 rescued Mustangs, 1 Arabian, 2 wild burros, and untold rescued cats. For the past 3 years, Debbie has been the editor of The Journal, a publication for the American Mustang and Burro Association, and has just been named as the new editor of the DGS Journal.

Tue Oct 19, 2004: Joseph Lalley: The Evolution of a Specialized Genealogical Web Site
ABSTRACT: What was initially called "A Preposterous Idea" became a reality within a year. Joseph M. Lalley, Jr., founder of the website, http://www.lalley.com, began a search for his father's ancestors in 1993. His Power Point presentation will describe how his research became a study of the Wilmington Irish and lists his findings and conclusions. A demonstration will follow showing how the website's sophisticated search engines can sort different types of records simultaneously and in different formats. NOTE: Joseph Lalley's website at http://www.lalley.com includes over 22,000 diocese of Wilmington baptisms on-line, but also includes other sacramental records, census records, gravestone inscriptions, passenger lists, and record finding aids.
BACKGROUND: Joe Lalley received his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola College Baltimore and a Masters degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For 34 years he taught mathematics at St. Genevieve/Gibbons Hall School in Asheville NC. He was headmaster of the school for 24 years and later taught mathematics at the Asheville School. He and his late wife, Edith, herself a teacher for forty years, have four children, Joe Anne, Phillip, Robert.

Tue Sep 21, 2004: Donn Devine, CG, CGI*: Tracking Your Genes in Genealogy: Practical Applications of DNA Testing
ABSTRACT: When the paper trail ends, DNA testing offers another source of genealogical evidence, and a way beyond brick walls. Here's how you can apply it to your own problem lines. The theory part of this presentation, "Tracking Your Genes in Genealogy: DNA Testing" was given by Dr. Thomas Shawker at our September 2003 Meeting. Donn Devine and Thomas Shawker gave this presentation jointly this Spring in Sacramento, CA, at the National Genealogical Society's "The Conference in the States". Donn will give a brief review of the theory, but concentrate on practical applications of DNA testing.
BACKGROUND: Donn Devine, CG, CGI*, one of the first presidents of the Delaware Genealogical Society and the first editor of the DGS Journal, serves on the Boards of the National Genealogical Society and the Board for Certification of Genealogists and has given many presentations at national genealogical conferences. [*CG, Certified Genealogist, CGI, and Certified Genealogical Instructor are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.]

Tues May 18, 2004: Member's night:

- Kay Schorah: A Welsh Family

- Kay Nelson: Knocking Down Brick Walls

- Cheryl Markowitz: Call It Luck

Tues Apr 20, 2004: Cliff Parker, Archivist, Chester County Archives: Resources Housed at Chester County Archives: 7pm, Brandywine New Castle Co Library

Sat Mar 13, 2004: (9:30am to about noon - come earlier for coffee): Rebecca Knight: Genealogical Research at the Univ. of Delaware Morris Library: Morris Library, 181 S. College Ave, Newark (Gather in the Class of 1941 Lecture Room. (On the First Floor of the Library; from the front doors, the first door to your left.)

University of Delaware: Genealogy Guide, Newspapers, Special Collections
ABSTRACT: Rebecca will talk about genealogical resources held at the Morris Library. Most notable is the library's recent online electronic database of census, newspapers, journals and other genealogical records, besides their large collections of microfilm and open stack books.
She is also providing us with a tour on where and how to access these items. So pack a lunch, bring your research and spend the rest of day using these great resources. The library has a café, lunch room and snack machines. Parking available in Visitor's Parking Lot #41 on South College Street, the library is directly across from the parking area (back of library faces South College Ave.).
BACKGROUND: Rebecca Knight is a University of Delaware Associate Librarian, Reference Department
DIRECTIONS: For links to a campus map, driving directions, and a Library map see http://www.lib.udel.edu/info/maps
From the north: I-95 south to Delaware Exit I-B, Route 896 north, and continue north on South College Avenue past the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center and Delaware Stadium and field house until you reach central campus. Turn left into Visitor Parking Lot #41.
From the south: I-95 north to Maryland Exit 109B, Route 279 north (also called Route 2). Proceed on this road, which becomes Elkton Road, into Newark. Turn right onto West Park Place to South College Avenue. Make a left onto South College Avenue, then turn left into Visitor Parking Lot #41.
PARKING: Parking Lot #41 is across College Ave. from the back side of Morris Library. Bring your ticket with you to the program; the Library will validate it for you.

Tues Feb 17, 2004: Ron Whittington, University of Delaware: Black Delaware Participation in the Civil War
ABSTRACT: A first person portrayal of William Owen, a free black man from Milford, DE. Owen tells the story of hearing Frederick Douglass speak and deciding to became part of the "54th Massachusetts", the renowned first black regiment to fight in the Civil War.
BACKGROUND: Ron Whittington of the University of Delaware is a Delaware Humanities Speaker.

Tues Jan 20, 2004: Ed Okonwicz, Award Winning Author: The Tales Tombstones Tell

Tues Nov 18, 2003: Michael Kozikowski, New Castle Co Recorder of Deeds: Researching Land Records at the Office of the Recorder of Deeds
ABSTRACT: The New Castle Co Recorder of Deeds is the primary repository of land records and oversees more than 150 thousand legal and land transactions annually. Kozikowski, the Chief Administrator for the Recorder’s office, manages 30 employees and is responsible for over 12 million dollars in county funds. Few members of the community understand the purpose of the Recorder of Deeds Office and often do not realize that the office has an immense collection of history available to anyone who wishes to view it. The Recorder of Deeds Office also services as a centralized location where the community and business organizations can go to record documents they wish to make official, legal and known to the rest of the community. The PowerPoint presentation will feature all aspects of the office and its role in serving the community, such as Organizational chart of New Castle County government, Understanding deeds (grantor/grantee system, kinds of deeds, chain of title, legal descriptions), Other documents in Deeds Office (Easements, Mortgages, Leases, Plot Plans, Commissions, Power of Attorney, UCC/Financing Statements) and Technology (computer imaging and indexing, Internet service).
BACKGROUND: Michael Kozikowski, New Castle Co Recorder of Deeds, graduated from Henry C. Conrad High School (Wilmington) in 1969, Dundalk Community College (Dundalk MD) with a certificate in Labor Studies in 1992, and Wilmington College with a B.S. in Human Resources Management in 1996. Since 1986, he has worked as a Millwright/Skilled Tradesman at General Motors in Wilmington and has been an active member of the UAW Local 435.

Tues Oct 21, 2003: Susanne Fox, Ph.D.: Delaware Women of the Young Republic: A Case Study: 7p, Brandywine New Castle Co Library
ABSTRACT: This lecture presents a portrait of the Ridgely family women of Kent County during the years following the American Revolution. Using family letters, it illustrates their connections to the thriving cultural scene in Philadelphia, as well as their kinship network and friendships that enabled them to participate in the changes taking place within our country during the period termed "the Young Republic".

October's Speaker presentation is based on manuscript material found by Susanne while preparing her dissertation for her doctorate from the University of Delaware. It is a perfect example of information that can be obtained through research of manuscripts usually found at Universities, Colleges, local Historical Societies, and State or County Archive facilities. For the Genealogical or Family Researcher these manuscripts not only confirm family relationships but give insight into an ancestor's life and the economical and political atmosphere under which they lived. Most repositories of manuscripts now have their collections posted on the Web which can save researchers valuable time in manuscript retrieval. It also allows for written communication, for the researcher who is unable to travel to a distant repository

A full listing of Manuscript Repositories in Delaware can be found in the 3rd edition of the Delaware Genealogical Research Guide (2002) by Thomas P. Doherty, available for purchase through the Delaware Genealogical Society.
BACKGROUND: Susanne N. Fox is currently the head of Wesley College's History and American Studies Program. She has been teaching at Wesley College for the past 29 years. Her education includes a Bachelor's from Randolph Macon Women's College, a Master's from William and Mary College and a Doctorate from the University of Delaware.

Tues Sep 16, 2003: Thomas Shawker, M.D.: Tracking your Genes in Genealogy: DNA Testing
ABSTRACT: Genetic genealogy through DNA testing is a fairly new and fast growing field of genealogical research. It is used to identify individuals and reconstruct family relationships. Many ethnic and one name societies are participating in DNA testing to connect with others who share a common ancestor. These groups can be located through a simple search of ethnic or surname societies and DNA on the Internet. DNA testing can also connect researchers to that elusive ancestor or to an ancestor's unknown homeland. Ever wonder if you connect to another family of the same surname? DNA testing will answer the question. His Power Point presentation will walk us through the process of identifying DNA markers in Genetic Genealogy and the importance they play in the field of Genealogy.

Genetic testing for genealogy

a. Genetic tests

1. Using the Y chromosome test to trace your male ancestors

2. Using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for tracing your maternal ancestors

b. Using the DNA information: Relationships, Family reconstruction, One name societies, Identifying individuals, Ethnic origins

c. Genetic Testing Laboratories

d. Securing the Specimen - cheek swab, swabs into containers and mail to labs

Cell: Nucleus with Chromosomes (DNA); Cytoplasm (with mtDNA - mitochondrial DNA)

DNA

1. Coiled Helix Molecule with alternating Sequence of 4 Base Pairs

2. Chromosomes

a. 22 non-sex chromosomes, 1 pair of sex chromosomes

b. Sex chromosomes: XX = female; XY = male

c. For genealogy relationships - only using "sex" chromosomes at this point in time

Y Chromosome

1. The "male" chromosome

2. Testing involves sampling specific segments of Y chromosome (non-functional portion)

3. Example of use: Timen Stiddem Society; Beal Surname DNA Project

4. Understanding Y Chromosome Results

5. Doing Y DNA Testing for a Surname

6. Ethnicity: Y Chromosome variations and Irish origins

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

DNA with base pairs, just like DNA in nucleus, but found in structures (mitochondria) outside of nucleus

1. Y chromosome establishes paternal line; mtDNA establishes maternal line

2. Analyze the non-functioning control region of 400 base pairs

3. Although not used that much in genealogy yet, should be very useful because women are hard to track due to name change

4. Understanding Y Chromosome Results

BACKGROUND: Thomas Shawker, M.D., current Chairman of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family Health and Heredity Committee and President of the Prince George's County Genealogical Society will tell us how exactly how DNA testing and Genetic Genealogy works. Thomas Shawker earned his M.D. from the University of Maryland of Medicine and works as research physician at the National Institute of Health. His academic accomplishments include over 200 scientific publications and he has served as a president of a national medical society. He has been an invitational speaker throughout the United States and in numerous foreign countries including Australia, Argentina, Egypt, and Columbia among others. His interests include genealogical research and genetic genealogy.

Tues May 20, 2003: Member's Night: Short talks from DGS members about anything genealogical

- Tom Doherty: Black and White, but Colorful - Stories from the Newspapers ABSTRACT: Tom will show the colorful story of an heir to an Ivy League president's wife who traveled from Ohio to the West Coast, then disserted his family and was "lost" for several years until he was found in the newspapers.
BACKGROUND: Tom Doherty, Ph.D., is a professional genealogical researcher who specializes in Delaware and surrounding counties, former president of the Delaware Genealogical Society (1995-98), author of the Delaware Genealogical Research Guide, editor of the Delaware Genealogical Society Journal and project manager of the DGS "Delaware Families 1787-1800" project.

- Ralph Nelson: Preparing Applications to SAR and DAR
ABSTRACT: The talk will answer the questions: How can I determine if I am eligible? What are the three categories of applicant? What does an application look like? What is required to document each category? Where can one find records of patriotic service? What constitutes acceptable documentation of descent?
BACKGROUND: Dr. Ralph D. Nelson, Jr., P.E., is former president of the Delaware Genealogical Society (2000-02) and chairman of the SAR's International Development Council. He has helped more than fifty prospects prepare successful SAR applications.

- Margaret David: What's the Orphans' Court Project? How Can I Help?
ABSTRACT: The talk will be a shortened version of Margaret's presentation at the April meeting in Dover. She will discuss the Orphans' Court Project Design and Scope and describe the process of converting microfilm to images on a CD which volunteers can abstract on their home computer. The image from the CD is more easily read than the original microfilm because the abstracter can zoom to enlarge it. Margaret will show a worksheet template (in e.g. Excel, M/S Works or Lotus 123) that she designed so it is easy for volunteers to input the abstracted data. Interested volunteers should contact Peg David at madvd28@aol.com for further details.
BACKGROUND: Margaret David, Secretary of the Delaware Genealogical Society and Program Coordinator for the Sussex Orphan Court Project. Native of Hudson County, New Jersey, with Scottish immigrant parents; married to native Delawarean with deep roots in the State. Semi-retired college instructor, adjunct instructor at Del Tech in Wilmington.

To volunteer to tell your story on May 20, contact Kay Schorah at Markay13@aol.com

Sat Apr 12 2003 at 10am (time) at the Delaware Public Archives: Margaret David - Using a Spreadsheet for Record Transcriptions
ABSTRACT: Presentation will cover creating a user-friendly index for researchers; copying microfilm to CD; and an Overview of how Volunteers are using these techniques in the Orphan Court Project. Handouts will include helpful tips for using speadsheets and analyzing the Orphan Court records.
BACKGROUND: Margaret David, Secretary of the Delaware Genealogical Society and Program Coordinator for the Sussex Orphan Court Project. Native of Hudson County, New Jersey, with Scottish immigrant parents; married to native Delawarean with deep roots in the State. Semi-retired college instructor, adjunct instructor at Del Tech in Wilmington.

Generally 3rd Tues, Sep to May, except Dec; 7:30-9:30pm at Historical Society of Delaware

Tues Mar 18, 2003: David Grubb: Grubb Genealogy
ABSTRACT: John Grubb (1652-1708) settled in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware about 1680 and founded a large family at what became known as Grubb's Landing. In 1893, Delaware Appeals Court Judge Ignatius C. Grubb (1841-1927) wrote that John was a descendant of Sir Henry Grubbe, MP of Wiltshire and John's wife, Frances was the daughter of Sir Henry Vane "the younger." Judge Grubb wa an early member of the Delaware Historical Society and his writings became the accepted family history for the next century. However, using modern research methods including ultra violet photography, the Grubb family has now established the truth about it origins. David N. Grubb of Ridgewood, New Jersey will reveal how the family disproved Judge Grubb's myths and documented its real heritage in Cornwall.
BACKGROUND: David N. Grubb is an insurance executive and Councilman in Ridgewood, New Jersey. A ggggggg grandson of John Grubb (1652 - 1708), he is a member of the family's New Jersey branch that moved to Burlington from Grubb's Landing, Delaware in 1771. Grubb graduated from Susquehanna University in 1969 and became a corporate safety engineer and risk manager. He also served four years as New Jersey's Deputy Insurance Commissioner. In 1994, Grubb was elected as Councilman in Ridgewood and is currently in his second term. Mr. Grubb is married to the former Kathy Kennedy and has three sons and a granddaughter.

Tues Feb 18, 2003Arica Coleman,Delaware Humanities Forum Speaker: Re-Discovering America
ABSTRACT: The Speaker Shares her insights on how to make American history come alive - by finding out more about your family's role in the familiar dates and events linked to our historical past. By conducting genealogical research, learn about your predecessors' unique contributions to our "melting pot" society, and hear the presenter's personal journey to discover her family's slave ancestry.
CANCELLED due to snow emergency in Wilmington

Tues Jan 21, 2003 Tom Summers, Delaware Public Archives: Little Used Resources at Delaware Public Archives
ABSTRACT: Presentation will cover unfamiliar or under used resources available at DPA.

Tues Nov 19, 2002 Mariana Wilke: Ship Manifests and Ellis Island
ABSTRACT: Presentation will cover Ship Manifests, their availability and content, along with an overview of the new online index to Ellis Island Passenger Ship Records with handouts to aid researchers' search of Passenger Ship Records.
BACKGROUND: Mariana Wilke, of Belgium and German ancestry, was born in Ohio and raised in New Jersey. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and spent her career in Pharmaceutical Research. Now retired, she devotes her time to Family Research and Volunteers for the Wilmington LDS Family Library and the Academy of Life Long Learning.

Tues Oct 15, 2002: Rev. Dr. Neal Otto Hively: How to Plot Land Records
ABSTRACT: How to Plot Land Records" is the response to literally hundreds of inquiries over the years as to "just how does one actually go about plotting a survey description?" This is a hands-on presentation and workshop. The participants will receive a cut-out protractor and graph paper with which to do their exercises. Please bring a pencil, and something firm on which to write. Dr. Hively, the author of fourteen books on original land records for York County, encompassing some 600,000 acres and over 4,100 tracts of land, with 32 connected survey maps for the same region, will have copies of his book "How to Plot Land Surveys" for those who care to have their own copies - $12.50 each. "How to Plot Land Surveys" is now in its fifth printing.
BACKGROUND: Dr. Neal O. Hively is an ordained Evangelical Lutheran Church in America clergyman, currently serving as pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, a growing 1,200 member congregation in Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA. Trinity is now Franklin County's largest Lutheran congregation. He was born in 1950, the second son of Otto Ezra and Mildred Ruth (Mizener) Hively. Dr. Neal Hively is a graduate of Thiel College, Greenville, PA, with a major in Classical Languages; The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg (Master of Divinity, 1976) and (Master of Sacred Theology, 1984); The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (Doctor of Ministry, 1990). He is the recipient of the Lower Susquehanna Synod's Excellence in Evangelism Award (1991), and listed in Who's Who in American Religion, Who's Who in the East, and Who's Who in Emerging Leaders. Rev. Dr. Hively has been featured in numerous local newspaper and magazine articles for his research and work in both church evangelism and Pennsylvania original land records. He is a frequent speaker to local civic, historic and professional societies. He resides with his wife Lee (Codd) and their children Christopher and Beth Ellen, and Maltese dog - Callee, near Chambersburg. The Hively's originally hail from Williamsport, Lycoming County, PA.

Tues Sep 17, 2002: John Konvalinka, CGRS, CGL: Avoiding Tangles in the World Wide Web - Beyond Google: Advanced Searching Techniques
ABSTRACT: This talk concentrates on successful ways of searching the World Wide Web AND other areas of the Internet not usually searched by the better known search engines. The emphasis is on using a variety of basic and more advanced techniques (including Boolean logic) to get past the clutter on The Internet and concentrate on finding useful results. [9-17-02 handout](Offered at the NYG&B "Computers and The Internet Workshop" in November 2001 and at The Society of Genealogists in London in April 2002.)
BACKGROUND: John Konvalinka, a Certified Genealogical Records Specialist (CGRS) and a Certified Genealogical Lecturer (CGL), [from the web page]>> "is a professional genealogist and lecturer who has been actively involved in genealogy for 25 years and has a teaching and speaking career spanning almost 40 years. He is particularly interested in the effective use of computers and the Internet in supporting (not replacing) traditional genealogical research. He has worked with the Internet since the 1980s and with computers since 1955, first as a U.S. Navy pilot and then in two successful, computer-related careers in business."

Tues May 21, 2002: Members' Night (a most popular program) - Perseverance and Other Proven Methods - Speakers:

Barbara Erskine: "Marking Family History by Photos for Future Generations"

Nancy Schanes: "Documenting and Publishing a 1732 Immigration"

Caroline Sparks: "Family Bible at Last"
To volunteer to also tell your story on May 21, contact Don Mosemann at mosemann@magpage.com

Tues Apr 16, 2002: Rebecca Warlow of National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region, Philadelphia: The 1930 Census
ABSTRACT: The 1930 Census will be opened to the public on April 1, 2002. Unlike earlier Censuses, finding people in the 1930 Census will be a challenge. Only the Census for 8 southern states has been indexed leaving most researchers to use other resources to locate their family members. This presentation will discuss research techniques and resources for the 1930 Census, what you can do before it is open, and what types of information you will find on this Census.
BACKGROUND: Rebecca Warlow is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she received a Bachelors of Art degree in History. She received her Masters of Art degree in History with a concentration in Historical Agencies and Administration from Northeastern University in Boston. She is an Archives Specialist at the National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region. Rebecca teaches the series of genealogical workshops held at the National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region, and frequently lectures to historical and genealogical organizations on the records held at the facility.

Tues Mar 19, 2002: Charles H. Fithian, CGRS: The Colonial Delaware Project
ABSTRACT: The Colonial Delaware Project is a long term inter-disciplinary study of 17th and 18th-century Delaware. With information gathered from archelaogical findings, historical documentation, and modern scientific analytical techniques, a clearer picture of the individuals who lived in colonial Delaware has begun to emerge
BACKGROUND: Charles H. Fithian, an archaelogist for Delaware State Museums, is responsible for the curation and management of the archaelogicial collections of Delaware State Museums and for conducting archaelogical field investigations. His areas of specialty include colonial site archaelogy, military site archaeology and environmental archaelogy. He is currently directing Delaware State Museum's research and conservation efforts for the H.M.B. DeBraak Project and directing the research for the Colonial Delaware Project. His forthcoming publications include: A study of 17th-century site on Milford Neck in Kent County, An Inventory of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 site in Delaware, and A study of a Delaware version of von Stueben's drill manual.

Tues Feb 19, 2002: Walter D. Stock, CGRS, Free Library of Philadelphia: Genealogical Resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia
ABSTRACT: Walt will give an overview of the resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia of most interest to genealogists. He will explain how to access these resources either by coming to the library or via the Internet.
BACKGROUND: Walter D. Stock, CGRS is Head of the Education, Philosophy and Religion Dept, Free Library of Philadelphia. He is also VP of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, a forefather member of the Swedish Colonial Society and a member of Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution.

Tues Jan 15, 2002: James P. Keith Mealey Funeral Home:
Funeral Service 101: Obituaries, Eulogies, and Personalization
ABSTRACT: TBD
BACKGROUND: James P. Keith has an MBA from Eastern College, a BA (Liberal Arts) from University of South Carolina and a Funeral Service Degree from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has been employed by Mealey Funeral Home, Wilmington, DE for the past four years, prior to that by Stewart Enterprises, world's third largest funeral home chain. He is a licensed funeral director in Delaware and Pennsylvania and member of the Cemetery Oversight Committee. He is also active in trying to change funeral legislation that would require full licensure of funeral service providers, and he is trying to change the cemetery industry to guarantee perpetual care and establish a cemetery oversight office.

Tues Nov 20, 2001: David J. Rempel Smucker, PhD of Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society: Genealogical Research on the Mennonites and Amish of Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT: Mennonites and Amish were among the earliest German-speaking settllers in Pennsylvania. Although these German-speaking sectarians did not keep official church records until the twentieth century, their cohesive communal bonds and their desire for secure agricaultural land has resulted in a well-developed conciousness of family history and church history. With knowledge of their beliefs, history, and migration patterns in Europe and North America, plus access to research centers, the researcher will encounter civil records, published genealogies, oral traditions, and congregational histories.
BACKGROUND: David Smucker received a B.A. in religion from Oberlin College, an M.A. in religious studies from Hartford Seminary Foundation, and a Ph.D. in Church History from Boston University. He has been on staff at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society since 1981. He served as the assistant editor of the Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Magazine until 1987 and since then has served as editor. He is an experienced historical and genealogical researcher, and has given number of letures on topics relating to Amish and Mennonite history, genealogy, and culture.

Tues Oct 16, 2001: Michael Dixon, M.S., Historican : Genealogical Research at the Historical Society of Cecil Co MD
ABSTRACT: A member of the historical society's staff will discuss the various resources for genealogical available at the Historical Society
BACKGROUND: Michael Dixon, M.S., is Historian of the Historical Society of Cecil Co MD

Tues Sep 18, 2001: Sandra Clunies, CG: Evaluating Web Resources
ABSTRACT: Techniques for evaluating the reliability of genealogical data on the Internet will be discussed.
BACKGROUND: A volunteer genealogist at DAR, and staff specialist for colonial New England research on the Compuserve Genealogy Forum, Sandy won the 1996 National Genealogical Society Family History Writing Contest.

Tues May 15, 2001: Members' Night (a most popular program) - Perseverance and Other Proven Methods - Speakers:

Tom Doherty: "Black and White, but Colorful - Stories from the Newspapers"

Don Mosemann: "Where, When and Why? Tricks for Finding 20th Century Death Records"

Kay Schorah: "Riding the Rails and Laying the Tracks - To a Successful Railroad Genealogy"
To volunteer to also tell your story on May 15, contact Don Mosemann at mosemann@magpage.com

Sat Apr 28, 2001 2pm: visit to the new Delaware Public Archives in Dover with an orientation by Archives staff

Tues Mar 20, 2001: David Fowler: Revolutionary War Records at the David Library
ABSTRACT: The David Library of the American Revolution: A Revolutionary Resource for Genealogists." It will focus on military service records (pension applications, muster and payrolls, etc.), Loyalist claims, sources on German settlers, and other types of records in our library's collection that are useful for genealogical and family history research.
BACKGROUND: David Fowler has been the director of the David Library for 17 1/2 years

Tues Feb 20, 2001: Bea Denman Howley: Naturalization: Finding the Key
ABSTRACT: Learning the steps to naturalization and the inherent laws affecting your ancestors, while acquireing the skills to effectively search for and come to recognize that, naturalization records are an interesting, important and intergral part of famly research.
BACKGROUND: Bea Howley has been a professional genealogist for about 10 years. She is a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Research and the NGS's "American Genealogy" course. She is a past President, Vice President and Education Chairperson for the Monmouth County Genealogy Society.

Tues Jan 16, 2001: Ray Nichols: Old Swedes Records
ABSTRACT: Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church is the oldest church in America still standing as originally built and open for services. It was built in 1698 by the Swedes and Finns who were the first European immigrants to settle in the Delaware Valley in 1638. Lutheran in the Swedes' time, the church came under the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware in 1791. Vital records of the church (births/baptisms, marriages and burials) begin in 1713 and extend, for the most part, to the present. For more information about Old Swedes, please visit our website at www.oldswedes.org.
BACKGROUND: Ray Nichols is Archivist of the Old Swedes Foundation

Tues Nov 21, 2000: Jim Beidler: What's New at the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT: The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania is in the midst of change under its new Executive Director James M. Beidler, who will talk about programs ranging from Internet programming to a plan for greater advocacy on behalf of genealogists. Also an update on the collections available in the GSP Research.
BACKGROUND: James M. Beidler is Executive Director of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

Tues Oct 17, 2000: Louanne Barrett , director, Dover Ward Family History Center- Using the Family History Center

Tues Sep 19, 2000: Harlan Buzby - Research at the Salem County Historical Society
ABSTRACT: The collections of the Josephine Jaquett Memorial Library constitute one of southern New Jersey's most important genealogical and local history resources. Begun over a century ago, the collection includes primary and secondary resources from the 17th through the 20th centuries reflecting the civic, cultural, social and family history of Salem County, NJ—site of the oldest permanent English-speaking settlement in the Delaware Valley. Harlan Buzby will discuss how to 'get into' this vast resource of unique material across the Delaware River utilizing hand-outs and examples with a short slide presentation. He will address a variety of complications one must be aware of while searching through the various material of the collection and how researchers can attempt to uncover those important uncataloged resources.
BACKGROUND: Harlan Buzby, Vice-President of the Library, a Salem County native and now retired dentist, has worked with the collection as a volunteer in the library since 1987.

Tues May 16, 2000: Members' Night - Perseverance and Other Proven Methods - Speakers:

James Beall: "Tracking an Immigrant Ancestor through a Matrix"

Mary Eberts: "Don't Give Up!"

Greg Weinig: "Some Less Obvious Documents that Help Trace Your Family"

Sat Apr 8, 2000 10a-3p (at Barratt's Chapel, Frederica DE - see map and photo of church on web site):
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
11:00 AM TOUR - half-hour tour of the chapel conducted by Dr. Philip Lawton, a volunteer at Barratt's Chapel and pastor at Felton United Methodist Church. He is also the past president of the Commission on Archives and History, which owns and oversees the Chapel complex and the current vice-president of the North Eastern Jurisdiction Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church.
LUNCH - There are several restaurants to the south on Rt 113 and in Milford (5 miles south). You may wish, instead, to take a picnic lunch and eat at Killens Pond State Park. There is a small entry fee. The park is 10-15 minutes west of Barratt's Chapel (across Rt 12 and down Rt 13). There are no picnic facilities on the grounds of Barratts' Chapel.
> MEETING (1:00pm) short business meeting and introductions of staff
PRESENTATION (starting about 1:15 to 1:30pm):
Barbara Duffin on "Finding Genealogical Information in Methodist Church Records Available at Barratt's Chapel." Following her presentation Barb will also give tours of the museum and library. BACKGROUND: Barb Duffin is a teacher in the Milford School District. She holds a B.A. from Judson College, a B.S.Ed. from Kent State University, and a Master of Instruction from the University of Delaware. She is on the Steering Committee of the Delaware Geography Alliance, and has taught a graduate course for the University of Delaware in Geography for Teachers. Barb does extensive volunteer work at Barratt's Chapel. She and Phil Lawton are currently writing a history of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference, which they hope to have published by fall.
RESEARCH: Margaret Fletcher, weekend staff person at Barratt's Chapel, will be available from 1:30 to 4:30pm to assist Barbara Duffin. Attendees may stay after the tours to do research until 4:30pm, but please remember it is a small facility and research capacity may be limited.

Tues Mar 21, 2000 (7:30pm in Class of 1941 Lecture Room, Morris Library U of DE, Newark): David L. Langenberg Associate Librarian, Collection Development Department, Univ. of Delaware Morris Library. ABSTRACT: The speaker will provide information on materials relating to genealogy and the history of Delaware in the Morris Library's collections. Among the materials he will discuss are Delaware newspapers, the Delaware Collection and archival and manuscript collections in the Department of Special Collections, research collections on microfiche and microfilm, and printed resources. All of these may provide useful genealogical information for researchers. BACKGROUND: David Langenberg, Associate Librarian, Collection Development Department, Univ. of Delaware, is the selector for United States history at Morris Library.

Tues Feb 15, 2000: Rebecca F. Miller (Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture): Scot's Ancestry; ABSTRACT: The speaker will describe the resources available at the Nabb Research center for Scot immigrant history and genealogy and give examples of using these to trace Scots family roots on the DelMarva peninsula. BACKGROUND: Rebecca F. Miller is Director of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture.

Tues Jan 18, 2000 : Constance J. Cooper, Ph.D.: "Preserving and Organizing Historical Documents and Photographs" ABSTRACT: The talk will present simple, inexpensive ways to organize and preserve your family's historical documents and photographs. Techniques and supplies for undoing archival disasters you have inherited, and preventing future problems, will be discussed. The focus will be on things that anyone can do. BACKGROUND: Constance J. Cooper received her Ph.D. in history at the University of Delaware. She has been Manuscript Librarian at the Historical Society of Delaware since the early 1980s, and she is also the managing editor of its journal, Delaware History. She has several publications in the areas of Delaware history and food history.

Tues Nov 16: Carol Decker: "Connecting Generations Through Deeds" - ABSTRACT: The presentation is intended to familiarize genealogy researchers with the genealogical. information that can be found in deeds. It will also provide information on how to locate deeds in county courthouses and other repositories. While it is basic and geared to individuals who have never researched deeds, it should also provide a better understanding to those who have already done some deed research. BACKGROUND: Carol Decker has a paralegal certificate from George Washington University in Washington DC and worked in law offices for ten years before joining state government. She has been doing genealogical research for fifteen years, including numerous title searches in Delaware, trips to many courthouses for deed research, and visits to the LDS Family History Center to order deed indexes and deeds from distant states.

Tues Oct 19: Eric Grundset: "Research at the DAR Library: The Revolution and Beyond" - ABSTRACT: The collections of the Daughters of the American Revolution at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. provide genealogical information not only on the era of the War for Independence, but for all periods of American history as well. DAR Library Director Eric G. Grundset will highlight the expected and the unique sources available to researchers. BACKGROUND: Eric G. Grundset has been Library Director for the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1983 and is the author of the book American Genealogical Research at the DAR, Washington, D.C. He is currently vice President of the National Genealogical Society and is a former president of the Virginia Genealogical Society. He has eight publications on Virginia genealogical research currently in print with more in process.

Neighbors to the North: Chester Co Hist. Soc on 9/25/99 John Philip Colletta lectures

Tues Sep 21: Craig Scott (Willow Bend Books): "Finding Records of Blue & Gray Civil War Ancestors" - ABSTRACT: There is more to Civil War research than finding a name on a list or roster. More than the compilied service record or the pension. There are medical records, courts-martial, provost martial, prisoner of war and other records that can document the involvement of a soldier in this conflict. Each record leads to another. BACKGROUND: Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CGRS, has co-authored several books relating to records in Virginia and the National Archives. He is the proprietor of Willow Bend Books. He specializes in military records and pensions. He is the current president of the Association of One-Name Studies and the Clan Scott Genealogist.

May 18, 1999: A Genealogical Research Sampler: Short talks by members:

Lloyd Mayer: Tracing Female Lineages; Howard Bock: Information, Please -- Using Telephone Books

James Beall: Using Alumni and Cemetery Accounting Records; Frances Allmond: The Hunt for Oliphants

Apr 20, 1999: Ed Wright (of Family Line Publications): "Colonial Research: Oft Overlooked Aspects" ABSTRACT: . Mr. Wright will relate many of the lessons learned in researching several hundred colonial families of the Delmarva peninsula. He will bring a few books to sell from Willow Bend Book and Family Line Publications. Ed Wright created a genealogical publishing company about 15 years ago and since then has published hundreds of books compiled by him and many other authors. His publications have centered on the mid-atlantic area, focusing primarily on chuch records, probate, military and land in the 18th century. He recently began work on a Colonial Family series, reconstructing the early families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware.

Mar 16, 1999: Anita Lustenberger, CG (of New York): "Using Genealogy to Discover Your Family's Medical Inheritance" - ABSTRACT: You have compiled a family genealogy, but recently became aware of the importance of inherited tendencies for diseases. How can you find the genetic clues hidden in ancestral documentation and expand the health history aspect of your genealogy to benefit your immediate family? Anita Anderson Lustenberger, CG, a professional genealogist, a trustee of the APG and a certified Genetic Counselor. She has lectured at NGS conferences in Jacksonville, Baltimore, Nashville and Denver and has published articles in national journals.

Tues Feb 16, 1999: Martha L. Bennett, Fort Delaware Society: "Finding Your Roots through Civil War Records" - ABSTRACT: Fort Delaware was built to protect the Delaware River and was a major military prison during the Civil War. Thousands of troops, prisoners, guards, and others were stationed at or visited the fort. The Fort Delaware Society has had a volunteer reader work with the National Archives for twelve years and has amassed over 55,000 records about these people, as well as books, diaries, letters, and memoirs related to their stays here. This talk will describe the Fort Delaware archives and illustrate how people have found details about their ancestors' experiences during the Civil War. Martha L. Bennett started working at Fort Delaware as an historical interpreter in 1990 and is now the office manager. She also manages the Sutler Shop (this originally meant provisions for the military), catalogs archives, and answers requests about the fort and its prisoners. Fort Delaware Park is closed for the season and will re-open on April 24.

Jan 19, 1999: Dr. Robert Plowman: "Genealogical Sources in the National Archives" - Talk will cover the basic sources at the Mid Atlantic Region, e.g. census, passenger lists, naturalization, military records plus some seldom-used sources -- court records, tax lists, Corps of Engineer records, and other government agency records that may include information about individuals. Robert Plowman earned his B.A. and M.A. at Villanova Univ. and his Ph.D. at the Catholic University of America. He taught at various colleges for ten years, then joined the National Archives staff, first in Washington, and for the past 24 years at the National Archives Mid-Atlantic Region in Philadelphia. He teaches evening classes in History and Archival Administration at Villanova Univ.

Nov 17, 1998: Mary Ellen Chijioke: "Finding Quaker Ancestors" - The speaker will start with the background in Quakerism needed to conduct Quaker genealogical searches (membership in the Society of Friends, church organization, types of records kept, and how), then the procedures for such searches (resources available, repositories, location of records, search strategy). The talk will cover Quaker genealogical searches throughout the U.S. and Britain, with emphasis on the Mid-Atlantic region. Mary Ellen Chijioke is Curator at Friends Historical Library in Swarthmore (PA) College. She holds degrees in Political Science and Library Studies from Swarthmore, UCLA, the Univ. of Ibadan, and Columbia Univ. She has published on Quaker studies and genealogy and is currently co-editing "An Historical Dictionary of Quakerism", to be published by Scarecrow Press.

Oct 20, 1998: John Carr: "Conservation of Grave Markers" - What causes the markings on grave markers to become illegible? What do cemeteries do to slow the process or to restore legibility? How can you get a clear photo of the information on a grave marker without damaging it? The speaker will discuss the characteristics of historic burying grounds including style, symbolism and influences; materials utilized and trends in materials; deterioration phenomenon including natural and man made causes; appropriate recordation and documentation techniques of historic burying grounds and gravemarkers for the conservator and genealogist; conservation of gravemarkers including emergency stabilization, low level repair and "museum quality" repairs. John Carr earned an MS in Historic Preservation from the Univ. of Pennsylvania. His specialty is the monitoring, evaluation, repair, and preservation of historic stone and masonry structures. He is the Architectural Conservator for the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust in Philadelphia.

Sep 15, 1998: Donn Devine, CG, CGI: "How We Do Genealogy" - How do we get from records to conclusions about family relationships, and how do we record them on computers or family group sheets?; Donn is a professional genealogical consultant, former president of the Delaware Genealogical Society, member of the board of the National Genealogical Society, and trustee of the Board for Genealogical Certification

May 19, 1998: Elections; "Show and Tell": Anyone can speak for up to 5 min or bring display.

Enjoy socializing & refreshments - a popular format! Speakers (so far): Donn Devine,

Tom Doherty, Nancy Menton-Lyons, Nancy Schanes, Caroline Sparks, Doug Wenny

Apr 21, 1998: Annette Burgert, Tips for Locating Villages of Origin in Germany and Switzerland

Annette K. Burgert, FASG, FGSP, specializes in research on the 18th-century Germans and Swiss (the so-called "Pennsylvania Dutch") who came through the port of Philadelphia prior to the Revolutionary War. She is the author of several books that focus on linking immigrants to their ancestral villages. She is a member of the board of directors of GSP and is serving as local arrangements co-chair for this conference."

Her most recent book is "Eighteenth Century Immigrants from Langenselbold in Hesse to America." She has 16 titles, some of which are out of print. The books deal mostly with specific areas in Germany or Switzerland. She has done three for the Pennsylvania German Society and one for the PA Chapter of Palatines to America--that one deals with families in PA and NY, some in NJ, who came from the Westerwald. She also has pamphlets with research suggestions.

Mar 17, 1998: St. Patrick's Day - Brian Trainor/Shane McAteer, "Irish Genealogical Research"

Feb 17, 1998: Russ McCabe, Delaware Public Archives - DPA new bulding,

Delaware land records, economy and population trends in the late 1700's and early 1800s.

Tues Jan 20, 1998: A Genealogical Research Sampler: Three 20 min Presentations:

Bill Kirk, "Sarah Montgomery of Adams Co. Ohio"

Harry Diehl, "Use of Maryland Prerogative Inventories and Accounts"

Bob Redden, "Mining a Courthouse - Nine Generations Without Leaving the Building"

Sat, Dec 6: Delaware Day Symposium: Genealogy on the Internet

9:00am - noon (Downes Lecture Hall, Terry Campus, Del Tech, Dover DE) - refreshments

Speakers: Claire Kluskens, National Archives; Howard Lowell, Delaware Public Archives

Thomas Doherty, President, Delaware Genealogical Society

For more information contact Tom Summers, (302)-739-5318 or tsummers@state.de.us

presented by the Delaware Public Archives, Friends of the Delaware Public Archives

Tues, Nov 18: Jefferson M. Moak, Philadelphia City Archives
Tues Oct 21: 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner: Thomas H. Roderick, Ph.D. of the Center for Human Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, to speak on mtDNA, passed down only in the female line: "Our Mother's, Mother's Mother's ..... mtDNA: It's Role in Umbilical Line Research in Genealogy and Genetics." Dr. Roderick is looking for people who can trace their female line back 7 or 8 generations.
Tues, Sep 16, 1997: Laurie Rofini, Chester County [PA] Archives, speaking on Pennsylvania Courthouse Records.

Tues May 20, 1997: A Genealogical Research Sampler:

Bob Templer: "Using Fire Insurance Maps with the U.S. Census"

Tom Doherty: "Back to Bavaria and Alsace-Lorraine" finding a path in Ohio and DC

Tues Apr 15, 1997: Pamela C. Powell, Chester Co Historical Society, "Dating Old Photos"

Tues Mar 18, 1997: Philip Goldsborough, Salisbury, Early Land Records and Survey Methods"

Using a compass that he made, similar to ones used in colonial days, he will explain how it was used by early

Delmarva surveyors; also may discuss surveyors using stars and surveying the Mason-Dixon line

Tues Feb 18, 1997: Dr. James F Turk, Director/Curator, Salem Co (NJ) Historical Society, discussing their genealogical collections

Tues Jan 21, 1997: A Genealogical Research Sampler:

Margaret Martinez on "Tracing Family Roots in Worcestershire"

Doug Wenny on "Rice and Drill Families of Frederick Co MD"

Kay Nelson on "Unexpected Discoveries in Delaware and Pennsylvania"

Thursday Nov 14, 1996 (NEW DATE): Ralph Crandall - Executive Director, New England Historical Genealogical Society (NEHGS) - "Long Distance Connections to NEHGS: Resources and Services for Out-of-State Members and Others"

Tues, Oct 15, 1996: Kellee Green Blake - Assistant Director, U. S. National Archives - Mid-Atlantic Region: "Unique Resources at the National Archives" - using common microfilmed records plus agricultural and mortality schedules, federal bankruptcy and equity cases, naturalization and maritime port records

Tues, Sep 17, 1996: Lee Arnold - Library Director, Historical Society of PA - resources for doing genealogy

Tues May 21, 1996: Johelene Thompson on "Making Use of DAR Papers"

Tues Apr 16, 1996: Roger Joslyn , C.G., F.A.S.G. of New Windsor NY, "Taking a Closer Look at the Census"

Tues Mar 19, 1996: Thomas M. Summers, Delaware Public Archives "Orphans' Court Records"

Tues Feb 20, 1996: Mary McCampbell Bell, C.A.L.S., C.G.L. of Arlington VA, "Climbing a Brick Wall: Brick By Brick" -- using neighbors/associates for clues to separate men of the same name and ways and to track migration.

Tues Jan 16, 1996: Solving Regional Genealogical Problems: 3 True Life Stories

Caroline Massey Sparks "Breaking a Bucks Co (PA) Barricade"

Mary Emma Wagner "The McMurphey and Allied Families of Appoquinimink"

R. Cooper Moor "Finding Delaware Ancestors on the Internet/CD-ROM"

Tues Nov 21, 1995: Tom Doherty, on "Genealogy on the World Wide Web - a Panacea or a Trap"

Family Research Help (indefinitely discontinued)

Family Research Help Days and Nights
Delaware Genealogical Society volunteers will offer free genealogy Mini Help Sessions in several New Castle County Libraries. There will be 30 minute one on one consultations to assist the beginner with how to do family research, forms to use, repositories to visit, Internet sites etc. Free handouts.

Tues Apr 12, 2005 (7-9pm): Newark Free Library : 750 Library Avenue, Newark

indefinitely discontinued

Staffed by Delaware Genealogical Society Members

For reservations or more information, call Nancy at (302)-234-0460

or E-mail her at nancyml@comcast.net

Highlight Item = Free Mini-workshops (indefinitely discontinued)

Quick Start Your Family Research (held in 2005 - now indefinitely discontinued) with these two-hour programs on specific aspects of family research -- sponsored by the DGS and the Historical Society of Delaware (HSD)
1st hour: overview of HSD collection and it's applications in genealogy;
2nd hour: assisting attendees with hands-on use of the HSD collections

Thurs, 27 (2-4 PM)
City, State Directories and Maps in Family Research- Make Them Work for You
call Kay (302-328-8764) for reservations

Tue, (10 AM-noon) Nancy Lyons,
Church Records and Cemeteries as a Genealogical Resource
call Nancy (302-234-0460) for reservations

Mon, (7-9 PM)
Naturalizations and Passenger Manifests, Using Immigration Related Documents in Family Research
call Nancy (302-234-0460) for reservations

Thurs, (2-4 PM)
Unlock the Secrets of Old Handwriting
Cancelled due to illness
call Nancy (302-234-0460) for reservations

Mon, (7-9 PM)
U.S. Military Service and Related Records
call Nancy (302-234-0460) for reservations

Tues, (2-4 PM)
Old Newspapers as a Genealogical Source
call Nancy (302-234-0460) for reservations

indefinitely discontinued