Maryland Genealogical Society
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Wednesday, January 31, 2024
MGS Virtual Meetup
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Our next online Virtual Meetup for Maryland Genealogical Society members is scheduled for Wednesday, 31 January 2024, from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Registration for this event has now closed.
 
Periodically, MGS hosts meetups for members via Zoom. Meetups provide an opportunity for members to interact with each other and with MGS Board Members to ask questions and discuss genealogy research issues. 
 
The upcoming January meetup will have breakout rooms for discussion and questions regarding:
  • Land Records (including the Maryland State Archives site PLATS.NET) 
  • Colonial Research
  • Newspapers
  • DNA 
  • Military Records
 



Holiday Luncheon
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Holiday Luncheon
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Libations Restaurant, 8541 Veterans Hwy, Millersville, MD
 
Registration for this event has closed.



Researching Maryland Records
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Researching Maryland Records
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
DoubleTree by Hilton, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
Join us for our first live seminar since the pandemic. Good food, great presentations, and a chance to be with other genealogists. An in-person and online event. 
 
In-person attendance includes continental breakfast, hot buffet lunch and refreshments during breaks. Registration & continental breakfast start at 8:30 am, program at 9:15 am.
 
Presentations:
Tom McCarriar -- Finding Maryland Probate Records
Debra A. Hoffman, PLCGS – Colonial Research in Maryland
Bridget M. Sunderlin, CG -- Finding Maryland Land Records on mdlandrec.net
Debra A. Hoffman, PLCGS – Religious Records in Maryland
 
Registration for the seminar has closed.


Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 4
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 4
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Maryland Genealogical Society is pleased to once again partner with Maryland Public Television (MPT) to offer a new beginner-to-intermediate genealogy workshop series. Finding Your Roots Through Records consists of four (4) two-hour sessions focused on the public records you can use while researching in order to find more information about your ancestors. Sessions will be held September 14, September 26, October 12, and October 24 from 7:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time. The workshop series will be led by nationally known speaker Annette Burke Lyttle, who was the presenter at our spring workshop series on research practices.
 
Part 4 on September 26 addresses researching in military records. The session will feature a combination of lecture, small and large group discussion, question and answer time, and a homework assignment relating to the different record types. A handout will be provided. 
 
Those who register also will receive a one-year introductory membership to the Maryland Genealogical Society (not applicable to current MGS members) and a one-year MPT Passport membership or membership extension. The cost of the series is $100.00. If you register late in the series, you will have access to recordings of all the lectures (although not the small group discussions.) You can register on the MPT registration page.
 
 


Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 3
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 3
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Maryland Genealogical Society is pleased to once again partner with Maryland Public Television (MPT) to offer a new beginner-to-intermediate genealogy workshop series. Finding Your Roots Through Records consists of four (4) two-hour sessions focused on the public records you can use while researching in order to find more information about your ancestors. Sessions will be held September 14, September 26, October 12, and October 24 from 7:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time. The workshop series will be led by nationally known speaker Annette Burke Lyttle, who was the presenter at our spring workshop series on research practices.
 
Part 3 on September 26 addresses researching in wills and probate records. The session will feature a combination of lecture, small and large group discussion, question and answer time, and a homework assignment relating to the different record types. A handout will be provided. 
 
Those who register also will receive a one-year introductory membership to the Maryland Genealogical Society (not applicable to current MGS members) and a one-year MPT Passport membership or membership extension. The cost of the series is $100.00. If you register late in the series, you will have access to recordings of all the lectures (although not the small group discussions.) You can register on the MPT registration page.
 
 



Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 2
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 2
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Maryland Genealogical Society is pleased to once again partner with Maryland Public Television (MPT) to offer a new beginner-to-intermediate genealogy workshop series. Finding Your Roots Through Records consists of four (4) two-hour sessions focused on the public records you can use while researching in order to find more information about your ancestors. Sessions will be held September 14, September 26, October 12, and October 24 from 7:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time. The workshop series will be led by nationally known speaker Annette Burke Lyttle, who was the presenter at our spring workshop series on research practices.
 
Part 2 on September 26 addresses researching in federal and state land records. The session will feature a combination of lecture, small and large group discussion, question and answer time, and a homework assignment relating to the different record types. A handout will be provided. 
 
Those who register also will receive a one-year introductory membership to the Maryland Genealogical Society (not applicable to current MGS members) and a one-year MPT Passport membership or membership extension. The cost of the series is $100.00. If you register late in the series, you will have access to recordings of all the lectures (although not the small group discussions.) You can register on the MPT registration page.
 
 


Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 1
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Finding Your Roots Through Records - Part 1
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Maryland Genealogical Society is pleased to once again partner with Maryland Public Television (MPT) to offer a new beginner-to-intermediate genealogy workshop series. Finding Your Roots Through Records consists of four (4) two-hour sessions focused on the public records you can use while researching in order to find more information about your ancestors. Sessions will be held September 14, September 26, October 12, and October 24 from 7:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time. The workshop series will be led by nationally known speaker Annette Burke Lyttle, who was the presenter at our spring workshop series on research practices.
 
Part 1 on September 14 addresses researching in newspapers. The session will feature a combination of lecture, small and large group discussion, question and answer time, and a homework assignment relating to the different record types. A handout will be provided. 
 
Those who register also will receive a one-year introductory membership to the Maryland Genealogical Society (not applicable to current MGS members) and a one-year MPT Passport membership or membership extension. The cost of the series is $100.00. You can register on the MPT registration page.
 



MGS Virtual Meetup
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
MGS Virtual Meetup
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Maryland Genealogical Society will be hosting an online Zoom meetup for MGS members on Wednesday, May 17th from 7-9pm. Chat with fellow members and visit breakout rooms where MGS Board Members will be available to provide help with your research. This event is free!

Register on the MGS Virtual Meetup page in the Members Only section. We hope to see you there! 
 
(Image by Icons Mind at IconScout.com)



MGS Holiday Luncheon
Saturday, December 3, 2022
MGS Holiday Luncheon
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Café Mezzanotte, 760 Ritchie Highway (Rt. 2) Severna Park, Maryland 21146
 
Saturday, December 3, 2022, MGS will be holding its Holiday Luncheon, our first in-person event in 3 years. Click the image to the left for more details.
 
REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT.



Saturday, May 7, 2022
Using MCHC Resources for Genealogy
10:00 am to 11:30 am
Virtual Event
The library of the Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) is a treasure trove of materials to help genealogists in their research. Learn more by joining us on Saturday, May 7, from 10:00am to 11:30am, for our free webinar presentation, Using MCHC Resources for Genealogy.
 
Presenters Catherine Mayfield, Library Director, and Francis O'Neill, Senior Reference Librarian, will provide an in-depth discussion of the library's special collections, unique indexes, and wealth of genealogical publications. They also will discuss how to use the library's online catalog, as well as new digital materials that MCHC has begun to post on its web site (with free access). Following the presentation, there will be a question and answer period.
 
This webinar is free but registration is required. Please click here to register via Zoom.



Saturday, December 4, 2021
The 1950 Census: It's Coming Soon
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Virtual Event
The 1950 census will be released to the public on April 1, 2022. Are you ready? This free, members-only, one-hour Maryland Genealogical Society (MGS) webinar will tell you what you need to know about the 1950 federal census, which will be available on the special National Archives 1950 census website. We'll review the questions that were asked, the interesting innovations and changes the Census Bureau made during this census, the Indian Reservation Schedules, differences between the 1940 and 1950 censuses, and much more!

Our speaker Claire Kluskens, digital projects archivist and genealogy/census subject matter expert at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), blogs about the 1950 census at the History Hub.  She spearheaded the completion of over 330 NARA microfilm publications and currently works on projects that provide digital access to records in the online National Archives Catalog.

After the census presentation Q & A session, we'll also have a short overview of the benefits of MGS membership, including valuable tools and resources on the MGS web site.
 
To register, visit the Members Only section of the web site.



Saturday, June 6, 2020
POSTPONED- Census Workshop
Glen Burnie Improvement Association, 19 Crain Highway South, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, this event is being postponed until the Fall and will be held in lieu of our usual Fall Seminar. 



CANCELLED - 2020 Spring Luncheon
Saturday, April 4, 2020
CANCELLED - 2020 Spring Luncheon
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Libations, 8541 Veterans Highway, Millersville, MD 21108
 
Due to the state of emergency regarding the coronavirus, MGS has cancelled the Spring Luncheon. Refunds will processed for those who registered. We hope to offer this presentation again in the future.
 
Guest Speaker: Carol Kostakos Petranek presenting
Preserving and Sharing the World’s Records:  We Can Help!
 
Major genealogy companies have embarked on a profound initiative—to preserve the world’s records of genealogical value, and to make them available to researchers in digital format. However, smaller countries are frequently overlooked by the largest companies, even though their records are of huge importance to specific communities. This presentation will discuss my digital preservation initiatives as a volunteer in Sparta, Greece, and how to become involved in a "niche" region. I will show examples of the records that are being preserved and discuss upcoming projects.
 
Carol Kostakos Petranek serves as an Assistant Director of the Washington, D.C. Family History Center where she coordinates classes, conferences and community outreach projects. She is an active member of the Greek genealogy community, participating in Greek associations, teaching at local and national conferences, and blogging at SpartanRoots.wordpress.com. Carol is a volunteer at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and serves as a Genealogy Aid in the Research Room. She is affiliated with FamilySearch on several initiatives, including a digitization project at the Maryland Archives, and with MyHeritage on record acquisitions in Greece.  
 
Cost: $35 - MGS Members     $40 - Non-members
The lunch buffet will feature a choice of Caprese Chicken, Salmon with Basil Butter, or Lasagna. Also includes green beans, red bliss potatoes, and cake for dessert. Soft drinks included.



2019 MGS Holiday
Saturday, December 7, 2019
2019 MGS Holiday
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Matthew's 1600, 1600 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
 
Guest Speaker – Dr. Kenneth W. Heger presenting:
“A World-Traveling Wounded Warrior: The Journeys of Henry Müller”
 
 Finding information about your ancestor’s world travels prior to World War I is difficult but not impossible.  Take the case of Civil War veteran Henry Müller.  Müller joined the army as a substitute at the beginning of the Civil War and suffered a career-ending injury within the first year of his service.  Based on that injury, Müller applied for and was granted a pension.  Despite his injury, Müller rarely stayed in one place.  In fact, records of the Federal government document Müller’s time in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland, producing an enormous volume of interesting, data-rich records, tracing Müller’s travels, interactions with others, and his state of mind.  Using Müller as an example, Dr. Heger illustrates how you can use records of the Federal Pension Bureau, Department of the Interior, and Department of State to follow the movement of Americans throughout the world.  
 
We're pleased to announce that the National Institute for Genealogical Studies is providing vouchers for free courses (a $89.00 value) to attendees, as well as door prizes. So register today!
 
Cost:    $40 - MGS members       $45 - Non-members  
 
Buffet Menu:Chicken Marsala and Rice Pilaf, Beef Burgundy and mashed potatoes, Crab Alfredo and penne pasta, salad, vegetable du jour, and dessert. Coffee, tea and soda, included.
 
Register online or complete and mail the form below.
Registration Deadline: December 2, 2019  
Online registration for this event is now closed. Walk-in registration is an additional $5.



The Next Step: Sources and Methods to Advance Your Research
Saturday, September 14, 2019
The Next Step: Sources and Methods to Advance Your Research
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
 
MGS presents its Fall Seminar, which begins with registration and a continental breakfast and includes a plated lunch. Two well-known speakers will be sharing their genealogical knowledge and expertise. David A. Powell and Robyn N. Smith will be presenting the following lectures: 
 
Finding Original Records Online” - David A. Powell
Genealogists may be frustrated by not finding ancestors in the records and places where they logically expect them to be. This presentation will explain several different ways to search for your ancestors including new techniques for commonly used web sites. Actual case study examples will be used along with suggested strategies to help attendees find their elusive ancestors.                       
 
Finding Foreign Original Records Online” - David A. Powell
Attendees will learn specific ways to find their ancestors in foreign genealogical sources. Original records are being digitized at an accelerated rate and millions more are being added monthly throughout the world.  Actual case studies in France, Poland and England will be used to illustrate the process used for any foreign research.  
 
A Tangled Web: Researching the Enslaved in Maryland” - Robyn N. Smith
Slavery research is difficult under almost any circumstance. In this lecture, Ms. Smith offers a brief overview of the history of African Americans in Maryland. Through case studies, she also provides examples of the unique records available to those researching the enslaved as well as the large population of free blacks.  
             
Cluster Research: Using Groups of People to Find Your People” - Robyn N. Smith
Our ancestors did not live in a vacuum. They lived, worked, socialized, and married amid a larger group of people. Those people included not just family members but friends, neighbors, employers, fellow employees, fellow churchgoers, and business associates. Elizabeth Shown Mills refers to this group with the clever shorthand of the “FAN” club—their family, associates and neighbors. Ms. Smith demonstrates how studying this larger group of people often increases our chance for success in our research.
                                    
Registration is closed for this event.
 



GO WEST! - Washington County / Western Maryland Research
Saturday, June 1, 2019
GO WEST! - Washington County / Western Maryland Research
9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Miller House Museum, 135 W. Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD, 21740
MGS is partnering with the Washington County Historical Society to present a Basics+ Seminar on Washington County and Western Maryland research. The event will be held in the historic Miller House, headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society and home of the kinship Family Research Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Washington County Historical Society.
 
Tours of the Miller House and kinship Family Research Center will be offered. Attendees also will be able to visit the Washington County Free Library (a 5 minute walk from the Miller House), which houses the Western Maryland Historical Library.
 
Presentations will include: 
  • Carol Miller-Schultz: “The Gems of kinship Family Heritage Research Center” - Learn about the special collections contained at Washington County’s only full time genealogy center.  You will become familiar with the family bibles, city directories, church records, rare papers and books, to name a few.
  • Jason Malott: “Researching Wills and Estates” - The Washington County Register of Wills will discuss records available in his office and navigating the Register’s records on Family Search. A reference sheet for available Circuit Court records will also be provided.
  • Mary Mannix: “Western Maryland Research” - “Western Maryland” today consists of six separate counties. Many would not consider several as “western.”  Develop an understanding of the region’s history, along with the sources and institutions for researching genealogy and local history.
Free parking is available on the street and in the Rochester Lot at 31 S. Prospect Street (1/2 block from the event). Limited handicap parking is available behind the Miller House.
 
Cost: $25.00 per person  Admission includes a continental breakfast, afternoon snacks, and beverages.
Registration deadline: May 29 (Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.)
 
Pay with PayPal:
Names of Registrants
 
Pay by check: You can print the following flyer to register by mail. 



Autosomal DNA: Specific Steps to Success
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Autosomal DNA: Specific Steps to Success
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Libations, 8541 Veterans Highway, Millersville, MD 21108
 
At the MGS Spring Luncheon, Jim Bartlett will share proven steps to determine common ancestors with your DNA matches, including how to create robust trees, communicate with matches, and track your information. 
 
Jim has been a genealogist since 1974. He started the Barlett DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA in 2002. Soon thereafter, he began teaching DNA to various genealogy groups in Maryland and nearby states. 
 
Cost: $40 - MGS Members     $45 - Non-members
The lunch buffet will feature a choice of Caprese Chicken, Salmon with Basil Butter, or Lasagna. Also includes green beans, red bliss potatoes, and cake for dessert. Soft drinks included.
 
Registration deadline: Pre-registration for this event is now closed. (Walk-in registration is an additional $5, availability permitting.
 



2018 MGS Holiday Luncheon
Saturday, December 1, 2018
2018 MGS Holiday Luncheon
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Matthew's 1600, 1600 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
 
Save the date for our 2018 Holiday Luncheon. Join Baltimore historian and educator, Wayne Schaumburg, for an illustrated program entitled "Christmas In Old Baltimore." The talk will focus on some of the great holiday traditions from the 1940s to the 1960s including downtown shopping at the "big four" department stores, visits with Santa, firehouse Christmas gardens, the Hochschild-Kohn's Toytown Parade, the Memorial Stadium Christmas tree sale and many others. Born and raised in the Waverly section of Baltimore, Wayne has been giving tours and illustrated lectures on Baltimore history for over 35 years covering a variety of topics from architecture to the Great Baltimore Fire.
 
Buffet Menu: Chicken Marsala and rice pilaf, Beef Burgundy and mashed potatoes, Crab Alfredo and penne pasta, salad, vegetable du jour, and Dessert Sampler. Coffee, tea and soda.
 
Cost:    $40 - MGS members       $45 - Non-members
Advanced registration for this event is now closed. Walk-in registration is available for an additional $5.



The Genetic Genealogist
Saturday, September 22, 2018
The Genetic Genealogist
Double Tree by Hilton Laurel, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
 
SOLD OUT! - Pre-registration is closed. No "walk-in" registrations.
 
For our Fall Seminar, MGS will present a day of DNA, with nationally recognized DNA speaker Blaine Bettinger. Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is an intellectual property attorney by day and a DNA specialist by night. He is the author of the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist, and frequently gives presentations and webinars to educate others about the use of DNA to explore their ancestry.
 
Blaine's four presentations will provide insights to newcomers to DNA testing as well as more experienced users of DNA for genealogy.
  • Y-DNA and mtDNA to Explore Your Ancestry
    Y-DNA and mtDNA testing are the workhorses of genetic genealogy, and have helped genealogists break through thousands of stubborn brick walls. Learn about the unique inheritance of Y-DNA and mtDNA in your family, how these tests can be used to explore your ancient ancestry, and how the results can identify your relatives, both close and distant.
  • Introduction to Autosomal DNA
    For years, genealogists have focused on Y- DNA and mtDNA, unable to access the wealth of information in the remainder of their DNA. At long last, new autosomal DNA tests reveal this hidden information. Genealogists can use autosomal DNA for ethnicity estimates, finding long-lost cousins, and examining specific genealogical problems.
  • Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries
    Even though our 18th and 19th century ancestors have been dead for decades, their DNA still survives in their descendants. Learn how to use autosomal DNA to attack and potentially solve genealogical mysteries and brick walls for ancestors who were born or lived in the 1800s, 1700s, and beyond. Together we’ll also examine some of the ways that leaders in the field have attacked or solved their 18th and 19th century mysteries using autosomal DNA.
  • Using Third Party Tools to Analyze Your Autosomal DNA
    Although DNA testing companies provide their own analysis of test results, there are third-party tools that allow test takers to learn even more about their genomic heritage, including admixture calculators and the identification of genetic cousins. Together we’ll explore some of these tools and learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff.
 



Writing and Publishing Your Family History
Saturday, June 16, 2018
Writing and Publishing Your Family History
9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD
Have you been meaning to put pen to paper but aren't sure how to get started? These three presentations offer support for each stage of the work. Your ancestors are counting on you to tell their stories!
 
Rebecca is a Certified Genealogist (R) and a member of the MGS Executive Board. She is a frequent genealogical speaker, has written articles for the NGS Magazine and the Maryland Genealogical Society Journal, and recently self-published a book.
 
Three one-hour lectures by Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG (R):
  • Storytelling Steps: Outlining and Formatting
  • Building a Story with Social History
  • Publishing Your Family History: DIY or Professional Production?
Pre-registration for this event is now closed. Walk-ins are still welcome for an additional $5.



There's More to the Census Than What's Online
Saturday, April 21, 2018
There's More to the Census Than What's Online
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Kelsey's Restaurant & Pub, 8480 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Join us for a great lunch and professional genealogist Sharon Hodges' presentation There's More to the Census Than What's Online. Read more information and register online from the MGS Home Page, or download a mail-in registration form using the link below. Pre-registration ends April 14, 2018. Walk-ins are welcome for an additional $5 if space is available, but we are near capacity as of April 15.



Do You Have an Artificial Brick Wall?
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Do You Have an Artificial Brick Wall?
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Matthew's 1600, 1600 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Our Holiday Luncheon will feature Robyn N. Smith’s presentation on solving our “brick walls.” Many of the things we call “brick walls” are often the result of some common errors we all make. These create what Ms. Smith calls “artificial” brick walls and in this presentation, Ms. Smith describes these errors along with others. Developing better practices and learning new skills will go a long way towards solving many of our genealogical problems. Open your holidays with a great presentation, lunch and genealogy camaraderie.
 
Buffet Menu: Chicken Marsala and rice pilaf, Beef Burgundy and mashed potatoes, Crab Alfredo and penne pasta, salad, vegetable du jour, and Dessert Sampler. Coffee, tea and soda.
 
Cost:    $40 - MGS members       $45 - Non-members
(Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.)
Preregistration deadline is November 26, 2017.
You can register online using the PayPal button below, or you can download a mail-in registration form with additional details by clicking the Download link below.
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Member/Non-member?
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Four Presentations by Judy G. Russell,
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Four Presentations by Judy G. Russell, "The Legal Genealogist"
8:30 am to 3:15 pm
Hilton Garden Inn, 5015 Campbell Blvd, White Marsh, MD 21236
The Legal Genealogist is coming to town! Prepare for a full day of learning about critical sources and important strategies for tackling your most challenging ancestors. Judy is a nationally known presenter, blogger (www.legalgenealogist.com), and coordinator of the Advanced Genealogical Methods and Evidence Analysis course at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at the University of Georgia. If you have already heard her, you know you want to be here. And if you haven't heard her, you need to be here. 
 
These four excellent presentations will be delivered in Judy's straightforward and humorous style:
 
Finding the Law
We’re told as genealogists to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how we do find the laws we need? Examples from Maryland law will be featured.
           
When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records
The Genealogical Proof Standard says to resolve conflicts in data… but it’s sometimes easier said than done. What are the basic types of evidence conflicts and the methods—and tips and tricks—we can use to resolve them?

“Don’t Forget the Ladies”-A Genealogists’ Guide to Women and the Law
In early America, women were all too often the people who just weren’t there: not in the records, not in the censuses, not on juries, not in the voting booth. Understanding how they were treated under the law provides clues to finding their identities today.  

No Vitals? No Problem! Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence  
When there’s no birth, marriage or death record, what’s a genealogist to do? Learn how to use circumstantial evidence to build a family.
 
The day includes continental breakfast and buffet luncheon in a beautiful conference wing of the hotel. Registration opens and breakfast is served at 8:30 AM. The first lecture begins at 9:30 AM.
 
Cost:    $70 – MGS Members  $80 – Non-members
Pre-registration closes on Tuesday, September 12 or when capacity is reached. Walk-in space will depend on pre-registration. 

Traveling from a distance? Rooms are available at the Hilton Garden Inn at a rate of $129 per night (code MDGE 366101). There is a Hampton Inn at the same location.
 
Also joining us that day is vendor Jigsaw Genealogy. Visit the website to see its selection of wall-sized pedigree charts, forms, worksheets, research kits, archival-safe photo storage materials, and other research necessities.
 
Pre-registration is closed with limited walk-in capacity.



Reward and Remembrance: Post-Military Service Records
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Reward and Remembrance: Post-Military Service Records
9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Rd., Severna Park, MD 21146
It's often after military service that the most genealogically valuable records are created -- those that award benefits to a soldier and family or honor his or her memory and sacrifice. Hear our expert panel discuss records that offer family gold and human interest to your family tree. Featuring:
 
Angela McGhie, CGSMBounty Land Records
 
Jonathan Webb Deiss, owner/researcher at soldiersource.com – Pension Records and How to Find Them

Constance Potter, retired NARA reference archivist – WWI Gold Star Mother Pilgrimages

 
In addition, as part of our continuing observation of the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United States into WWI, Connie will give a brief overview on WWI service records. 

Registration and Continental Breakfast begins at 8:30 AM. The first session begins at 9:00 AM.

Cost: $25  - MGS Members    $30 - non-members
(Walk-in registration is an additional $5.)

Pre-registration closed. Walk-ins welcome!

 



Spring Luncheon: “The Lacemaker: The Fabric of Family”
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Spring Luncheon: “The Lacemaker: The Fabric of Family”
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Liberatore's, 9515 Deereco Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093
Our speaker, David K. Truscello, Professor at the Community College of Baltimore County, will share the story of his visit to his grandfather's Italian village, from how he prepared for the trip to why the experience exceeded his hopes and imagination. Enjoy Italian food and background Italian music as we greet spring and our fellow genealogists!
 
Buffet Menu:  Bruschetta, Salad, Sausage & Peppers, Chicken Piccato, Penne Vodka Sauce, Vegetables, and Assorted Mini-Pastries. Coffee, tea, and soda.

Cost: $40 - MGS Members     $45 - non-members
Pre-registration has closed. Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.

 



Holiday Luncheon -
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Holiday Luncheon - "Finding World War I US Army Troop Ship Records"
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Matthew's 1600, 1600 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Our Holiday Luncheon will feature Dr. William J. Sheleski's presentation on how one amateur genealogist used an assorted series of disparate facts, hints, educated guesses, and (mostly) dogged determination to find the records of his grandfather’s deployment to and from Europe during World War I. In the process, he learned about other available World War I records, many of them obscure, and how to access them.
 
Buffet Menu: Chicken Marsala and rice pilaf, Beef Burgundy and mashed potatoes, Crab Alfredo and penne pasta, salad, vegetable du jour, and Dessert Sampler. Coffee, tea and soda.
 
Cost:    $35 - MGS members       $40 - Non-members
(Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.)
Preregistration is now closed, but space is available for walk-ins.
Cick the button below to view the registration form with additional details.



Saturday, September 24, 2016
"Research Riches in Our Backyard: NARA, DAR, and LC"
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Double Tree by Hilton, Columbia MD, 5485 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045
Maryland researchers have easy access to some of  the premier genealogical destinations in the country. Come join us for a full day of inspiration and instruction on how take advantage of your geographical good fortune! Registration and continental breakfast begins at 9:00 AM. The presentations kick off at 10:00 AM. For complete details on the day's schedule and the topics to be covered, see the registration form. 
 
A Federal Family TreeMalissa Ruffner, CGSM      

Introduction to the DAR Library - Steve Davidson, MLS
 
Genealogical Research at Archives II in College Park, Maryland  - Kenneth Heger, Ph.D.            

Genealogical Research at the Library of Congress - James Sweany, MSLS
 
Cost $65 for MGS members; $75 for non-members. Pre-registration deadline is closed. Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.



RIP: Records That Memorialize Our Ancestors' Deaths
Saturday, June 4, 2016
RIP: Records That Memorialize Our Ancestors' Deaths
8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Govans Presbyterian Church (Sharp Hall), 5828 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212

Funeral services, cemetery markers, and obituaries pay tribute to those lost, comfort the grieving, and aid in our genealogical research. In recognition of Memorial Day, our Basics+ Workshop, features three presentations that discuss records that memorialize our ancestors' deaths--and their lives. 

Registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 AM; the first presentation begins at 9:00 AM.
Free parking on-site, accessible from York Road or Bellona Avenue.

 
Speakers:
Rebecca Whitman Koford, CGSMThe Dead and the Dying: Cemetery and Funeral Home Research
 
Jacqueline HedbergSaving a Maryland Historic Treasure: Lessons from a Graveyard Project
 
Angela McGhie, CGSMNews of Their Deaths: Finding Obituaries and Notices
 
Cost $25 for MGS members; $30 for non-members.
Pre-registration is closed. Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.


 



Spring Clean Your Genealogy Research
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Spring Clean Your Genealogy Research
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Red Brick Station Restaurant, The Avenue at White Marsh, 8149 Honeygo Blvd. 21236

Are you wondering where to start with your boxes and filing cabinets? What's worth saving? Are your pictures and documents appropriately stored for future generations? What kind of library or repository would be interested in your research files? What steps can you take now to make sure your hard work isn't lost?
 
Mary Mannix will bring her archival perspective to bear on our collection management issues. She is the Maryland Room Manager of the C. Burr Artz Public Library of the Frederick County Public Libraries, a position she has held since 1998. For eleven years, she was the Library Director of the Howard County Historical Society. She received an MLS from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MA in American History from the University of Delaware with a certificate in Museum Studies. She teaches genealogy librarianship at the University of Maryland and and public history courses at Hood College.
 
Cost $35 for MGS members; $40 for non-members. 
Pre-registration is closed. Walk-in registration is an additional $5, space permitting.
 



Finding a European Village of Origin
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Finding a European Village of Origin
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Matthew's 1600 Restaurant, 1600 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Our Holiday Luncheon features Jim Beidler, who will present a case study on Johannes Dinius, a 1765 immigrant to Pennsylvania, highlighting how scraps of evidence can lead to the discovery of an ancestor's European hometown. Jim is a Pennsylvania native, who specializes in German genealogy as well as research on his home state. He’s currently writing Trace Your German Roots Online for Family Tree Books.
 
Cost $40 for MGS members; $50 for non-members. Pre-registration is closed. Walk-in registration, space permitting, is $5 extra.
 



Identifying Your Ancestors and Telling Their Stories
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Identifying Your Ancestors and Telling Their Stories
8:30 am to 3:15 pm
Holiday Inn Laurel-West Hotel, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707
Join us for a day of four one-hour lectures by Dr. Thomas W. JonesCG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, and author of Mastering Genealogical Proof, a popular textbook on genealogical assessment and reasoningRetired from a thirty-year career in higher education and professor emeritus at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., Tom works full time as a genealogical researcher, writer, editor, and educator. He has been a co-editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly since 2002, and coordinates advanced research and writing courses at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and Samford University’s Institute on Genealogy and Historical Research. He also teaches in Boston University’s Genealogical Certificate Program. He is known for his meaty lectures benefiting genealogists of all experience levels. We are pleased to welcome him to Maryland! 
 
Cost:   Pre-registration has closed, but walk-in registrants are welcome to attend.
            $70 - Members 
            $80 - Non-members 
 
Lectures:
Solving the Mystery of the Disappearing Ancestor
Genealogists may be frustrated by not finding ancestors in the records and places where they logically expect them to be. This presentation will explain seven reasons why such ancestors seem to have disappeared, provide examples of each from actual case studies, and suggest strategies to help attendees find their elusive ancestors.
Missing Something? Getting the Most Out of Genealogical Evidence
Attendees will learn five ways to get more information from the genealogical sources they use: paying attention to all of the evidence in the sources; examining each source’s context; using an entire series; paying better attention to what is not in the source (using negative evidence); and combining sources to build a case.
Can a Complex Research Problem Be Solved Solely Online?
Step by step, attendees will suggest online sources and research strategies for tracing an ancestor who seems to disappear and reappear. The interactive case study will show both how such cases can be solved online and the limits of material online today. 
Going Beyond Bare Bones: Reconstructing Your Ancestors’ Lives
Attendees will learn how to extract information from frequently used genealogical sources to create biographies that bring ancestors to life.  
 



Saturday, June 27, 2015
Dig In to Digitized Records
8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146
Speakers will cover records available online from FamilySearch, Maryland State Archives and other facilities, plus how to cite, label and store digitized records you find, so you can find them again.  More details can be found on the MGS Home Page and the mail-in registration form.
Click on the link below for a mail-in registration form or register online from the MGS Home Page.



Saturday, March 28, 2015
2015 Spring Luncheon
12:00 pm
North Baltimore Plaza Hotel, 2004 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, MD 21093
Guest speaker Nicholas Fessenden will present "Coming to Baltimore: the German, Irish. Polish and Jewish Communities."  Join us for friendship, a great luncheon and presentation on the immigrant experience in Baltimore.
 
The deadline for advanced registration was March 21, 2015.  Walk-ins are welcome for an additional $5.
 



Saturday, November 8, 2014
Preserving the Sites Where Your Ancestors Served
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Doubletree by Hilton, 5485 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045
Help celebrate the ongoing sesquicentennial of the Civil War and hear guest speaker Jim Percoco of the Civil War Trust share inspriring stories of the important work of preserving the Civil War battlefields where so many of our ancestors served.
 
Register online by using the PayPal button below or complete and mail the attached registration form. The deadline for registration is November 1.
 
Member / Non-member
Entree Choices
 



Saturday, September 6, 2014
Finding Your War of 1812 Ancestors
Maryland Historical Society, 201 West Monument St., Baltimore, MD 21201
This will be jointly sponsored with the Maryland Historical Society, a great opportunity to learn about where to find records and also see the Society's great War of 1812 Exhibit.  More details on Home Page and registration form.
 
Click on link below for a mail-in registration form or register online from MGS Home Page.  Be sure to select your sandwich for lunch.



Saturday, May 31, 2014
Maryland Land Records
9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Glen Burnie Improvement Association, 19 Crain Highway South, Glen Burnie, Md. 21061
Presentations:
Robert Barnes: Maryland's Colonial Land Patent Process
Vernon Skinner: Debt Books, Rent Rolls, and Other Sources for Tracing Land
Liz Coelho: Using the New mdlandrec.net Web Site - A Demonstration
 
Use form attached or register online from MGS Home Page.



Saturday, April 5, 2014
Spring Luncheon 2014
11:45 am to 2:15 pm
Towson University Marriott Conference Hotel, 10 W. Burke Avenue, Towson 21204
Speaker: Audrey Collins,  Family History Specialist at The National Archives, UK
Presentation: Scandals in the Family
Buffet luncheon and MGS Awards presentation also featured.
 
Pre-registration has closed, but walk-ins are welcome.  Walk-in registration is an additional $5, so total cost would be $40.00 for members and $45.00 for non-members.



Saturday, December 7, 2013
Tracing My Father's World War II Footsteps: How To & Lessons Learned - from Normandy to Metz - 1944
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Doubletree by Hilton, 5485 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045
Presenter: Doug Linton
Celebrate the Holidays and Pearl Harbor Day with a great lunch and World War II genealogy!! Register by PayPal on the homepage, or mail in a registration form.
 



Saturday, September 28, 2013
Immigration & Naturalization
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maryland Historical Society
Presentations:
 
Zack Wilske, US Citizenship and Immigration Service
-USCIS Genealogy program and records
 
Kenneth W. Heger, genealogist, historian, and MGS Journal author
-Early Immigration and Citizenship Documents: Records of the U.S. Consulate at Bremen, 1797-1850 (passports, emigrant lists, etc., predating US passenger lists)
 
Michael McCormick, Maryland State Archives
-MSA’s Immigration and Naturalization Records
 
Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, National Archives and Records Administration
-Immigration Records Search Strategies, including Baltimore Passenger Lists
 
Robert Barnes, eminent MD genealogist, MGS Fellow and Past President
-Immigration to Colonial Maryland: Convicts, Indentured Servants & Political Prisoners
 



Saturday, May 18, 2013
DNA for Genealogy
8:30 am to 1:45 pm
Glen Burnie Improvement Association
PREREGISTRATION CLOSED - Limited first-come-first-served walk-in seats available.
 
Learn about DNA, the newest tools for expanding genealogy research, including recent developments.  No biology needed.  Learn what tests to take and how they can be used to great advantage, plus much more. 
Speakers:
              Jim Bartlett
                      -DNA - The Newest Tool for Genealogists: Y-DNA, mtDNA, and Family Finder Tests
                      -Intermediate DNA for Genealogists - Solving specific genealogy problems with DNA.
              Bonnie Schrack
                      -Deep Ancestry: How You Fit Into the Human Family Tree
              DNA consulting session with the experts – bring a question or problem for discussion.
 
Further details, links to a mail-in registration form or PayPal registration are on the MD Gen. Soc. Home Page at the Web link above.



Saturday, December 1, 2012
Annie's Ghosts: The Delicacy & Intrigue of Probing Family Secrets
12:00 pm
Snyder’s Willow Grove Restaurant, 841 N. Hammonds Ferry Road, Linthicum, MD 21090
Presenter: Steve Luxenberg
Steve Luxenberg, author and associate editor at the Washington Post, will discuss his award-winning nonfiction book, "Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret," which has been praised as a must-read for genealogists by the former president of the National Genealogical Society.    
Steve’s award-winning nonfiction book, Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret, has been praised as a “must-read” for genealogists by the former president of the National Genealogical Society. 
 



Saturday, September 29, 2012
Other Resources for Your Maryland Ancestors
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Comfort Inn & Conference Center, 4500 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD
Includes Continental breakfast, lunch and the following presentations:
 
Jon Livezey --Using Chancery/Equity Records in  Maryland Genealogy
Doug McElrath --Genealogical Resources of the University of MD Libraries
Paul Izat -- Using Maryland Land Records Online
Marie V. Melchiori, CG, CGL -- War of 1812 Records in the National Archives
Christos Christou, Jr. -- The War of 1812 Society in Maryland
Interactive Panel -- Some Brick Wall Suggestions 
 
Online registration and instuctions for submitting a Brick Wall question are available on the MGS Home Page. (Web link above.)  Click below to access a mail-in form.



Saturday, June 2, 2012
Internet Genealogical Research
9:00 am to 1:30 pm
Severna Park United Methodist Church
Presentations on Ancestry.com, Maryland State Archives and general internet research.  Click on the link below to download a mail-in registration form.



Saturday, March 24, 2012
The 1940 Census
12:00 pm
The Harp Restaurant in Perry Hall
Join us for great food and a presentation on the 1940 Census, which is scheduled to be released on April 2, 2012.  For full details, click on the Web page address above.  This event is sold out and registrations are closed.



Saturday, November 12, 2011
Underutilized Genealogical Resources in Maryland
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Hampton Inn & Suites (Federick-Ft. Detrick) 1565 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, MD

Speakers included:

  • Amy Richmond – Southern Maryland Studies Center
  • Rob Schoeberlein – Baltimore City Archives
  • Wanda Hall – Lovely Lane Museum and Archives (and other church records)
  • Lisa Crawley and Jerry Hynson – Reginald F. Lewis Museum & other African American Resources



Saturday, September 10, 2011
Researching Your Civil War Ancestors
Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland
Presenter: Michael Hait, David S. Lovelace, Michael Musick
Presentations focused on an overview of researching Civil War ancestors, lesser known Civil War records at the National Archives, and the role of one Maryland family - the Shrivers- in the Civil War.



Saturday, June 25, 2011
Court Records - Land, Probate, Chancery, Equity
DAR Chapter House, Baltimore, Maryland
Presenter: Patricia Andersen, Betty deKeyser, Vernon Skinner
Presentations addressed why land records are so important in genealogical research, the basics of probate records and the unique issues involving entailments, and research opportunities in chancery and equity records.



Saturday, March 26, 2011
Baltimore: The Monumental City
Michael's Steak and Lobster House, Baltimore, Maryland
Presenter: Wayne Schaumburg



Saturday, December 11, 2010
Maps
Marie Louise Bistro, Baltimore, Maryland
Presenter: Joel M. Leininger of S. J. Martinet & Co., Inc.



Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Journey Takers
Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland
Presenter: Leslie Albrecht Huber
Author Leslie Albrecht Huber spoke about her book, "The Journey Takers," which tells the story of three Western European immigrant families coming to the United States. The event was co-sponsored with the Maryland Historical Society.