THE VENTURA COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY presents a

Free Family History Presentation

Saturday, April 20, 2019, at the

Camarillo Library Community Room 4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA 93010

1:00 P.M. AMERICA: LAND OF THE FARM, HOME OF THE PLOUGH

Presenter: Jean Wilcox Hibben

Farmers have been the backbone of America from the first settlers until the present day. Without these important people, and their families, there would not be food to eat . . . yet genealogists frequently use the phrase, “My ancestors were JUST farmers.” Just farmers? Then they were the necessary part of the population so everyone else could survive! Learn some about the farming occupation along with how to locate records of these important people; understand the vital role of your farmer forefather (and foremother . . . and all the forechildren!). Included: Some history of how America and its language have been influenced by this occupation. Suitable for all levels of genealogy experience.

Jean Wilcox Hibben; Ph.D., MA, former So. Cal. college speech professor (MA – Speech Communication; Ph.D. – Folklore), is a national speaker and author. A member of the DAR, she is the former director and current staff trainer for the Corona, CA Family History Center, has worked on background research for two genealogy television programs, and hosts podcasts, with a couple of other genealogists, under the moniker Genealogy Journeys® (genaandjean.blogspot.com).

2:30 P.M. MOTIVE, MEANS, AND OPPORTUNITY: THE SAD SAGA OF GEORGE RICHARDS

Presenter: Jean Wilcox Hibben

This case study of a man whose choices served to confuse his descendants is reconstructed in this lecture. He was there, then gone, then back – see how a variety of records unlocked his real story. From England to the US, George’s life was filled with conundrums and poor choices. See how to locate original records (not all online); separate fact from fiction; and assess evidence for accuracy.

10:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.: VCGS DNA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP MEETING

DNA Special Interest Group meeting will precede the general meeting from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Rd, Camarillo. All are invited to attend.

We are happy to welcome back renowned genealogist Michael Lacopo for our Spring 2019 Seminar. It will be held on Sat. April 13 at the downtown Dallas Public Library. Michael will be presenting on the theme of "A Method to our Madness: Sound Methodology for Successful Research." Early Bird rate ends March 31.

Ohio Chapter Palatines to America Spring SeminarTHE LAND THEY LIVED ON!Der Dutchman Restaurant, 445 Jefferson Avenue, U.S. Route 42, Plain City, OhioSaturday, April 13, 2019, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.Featured Speaker: Warren Bittner, CG, Well-known genealogical researcher and lecturer.Topics: How German History Affects ResearchGermany and its Legal Records;Bads, Bergs, Burgs, and Bachs;Meyer's Gazetteer: Gateway to Germany.Registration: $55, members $45; Deadline March 27, 2019 - after March 27: $65, members $55; No refunds after April 6, 2019.Fees include syllabus, seminar sessions, vendor showcase, Der Dutchman pastries, coffee and juice for breakfast and full Buffet lunch including Broasted Chicken and Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Noodles, Stuffing, Vegetables, Salad, Rolls, and DessertRegister today! Use Pay Pal online at the website: https://oh-palam.org/registernow.phpOr: make check payable to Ohio Chapter – Palam and mail to: Joe Stamm, 3930 Lander Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022-1329, questions?

Through a variety of hands-on activities for the whole family, find out how family photos can help you discover and document your family’s history. Search for informative clues within our family photo exhibitions, create a portrait collage of your family, color historical fashions that your ancestors may have worn, learn simple tips for preserving your family photos and scrapbooks, and more. We welcome explorers of all ages and abilities.

This program is presented in conjunction with the following exhibitions: Lost & Found – A Family Photo Album and All in the Family: Photographs from Across the Jewish World. On April 7, all Center for Jewish History exhibitions will be open from 11 AM – 5 PM. To learn more about our current exhibitions, please visit cjh.org/culture/exhibitions. Light refreshments will be served in the Great Hall. Please note that food and drinks are prohibited in all exhibition galleries.

The Center for Jewish History and the American Jewish Historical Society are proud to partner with PJ Library for this and other upcoming family programs. PJ Library provides free books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children 6 months through 8 years old. Sign up for PJ Library to receive the gift of Jewish books each month – at no cost to your family!

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Please select session 1: 11 AM-12:30 PM, or session 2: 1:30-3 PM (morning and afternoon sessions are identical) at familyday.bpt.me or 800-838-3006.

This program is sponsored by the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute, American Jewish Historical Society, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum. It is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

FxGS Spring Conference offers 2 days of lectures, workshops, individual consultations, and dozens of vendors.

Speakers/topics include:  Mark Lowe -  Daniel Boone, Kentucky, Southern Migration & Secret Societies;

Dr. Shelley Murphy - African American Research Challenges;

Char Bah - African American Research, Writing & Publishing;

Pam Vestal - Hidden Stories, Finding and Telling Them;

Diahan Southard - Beginning and Intermediate DNA;

and much more.

Topics - African American Genealogy: Leaving No Stone Unturned and It's a Needle in a Haystack: Slave Research

Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt of the Ulster Historical Foundation will offer four sessions, including:• Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research • Understanding Irish townlands: the importance of place, identity and administrative divisions • Using land records: Griffith’s Valuation, Tithe and Estate records • Census substitutes and other important sources for the eighteenth century The Ulster Historical Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1956 to promote interest in Irish genealogy and history, with particular reference to the historical nine county province of Ulster. The Foundation is one of the leading genealogical research agencies in Ireland and a major publisher of historical, educational and genealogical source books. It has also devised a series of ground breaking online historical and genealogical resources, which have helped to transform the availability of Irish records for family historians at home and abroad.

The Ventura County Genealogical Society presents a

Free Family History Presentation

Saturday, March 16, 2019, at the

Camarillo Library Community Room

4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA

1:00 p.m. Presentation: DNA Testing in the News: Beyond the Headlines

Speaker: Mary E. Hall

Only someone who's been living in the north woods without electricity or cellphone service can be unaware at this point in 2019 that law enforcement is intensely interested in using our genealogical DNA test results as resources in criminal investigations. Since the news broke in April of last year that police in California had used the genetic genealogy database GEDMatch.com to help identify a suspect in the decades-old Golden State Killer case -- reported by The Legal Genealogist and many others then and since -- we've all been on notice that DNA results that came into being solely for genealogical reasons are exceedingly useful in solving cold cases and that law enforcement has figured that out. Mary will explore some recent DNA related news headlines, share how DNA testing and test databases were involved, and highlight current options for family historians concerned about privacy and ethics as we hunt for the parents of our gg-grandmother. 

An avid genealogist for over 15 years, Mary was bitten by the DNA bug in 2009.  She co-leads the DNA Interest Group for the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society where she is a member and past President.  Mary is also a member of several lineage organizations, as well as national and regional genealogical societies.  She welcomes questions about DNA for genealogical purposes at [email protected].

2:30 p.m. Workshop: Genealogy at the County Fair – Diane Cook, presenter

Diane Cook, Superintendent of the Hobbies, Models & Collectibles in the Gem & Mineral building at the Ventura County Fair, will give a workshop on how members can assist fair attendees with basic genealogy searches at the fair.   Diane has been a volunteer at the Ventura County Fair for many years and looks forward to another opportunity in 2019.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: VCGS DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Join us for discussion on using DNA results to further your genealogy research. Please bring your DNA user name and password, along with your family tree (paper or electronic). If possible, bring your laptop, tablet, or another portable device to facilitate your research.

Join us in welcoming Debbie Duay, as the featured speaker at our Annual Spring Seminar.  Debbie received her Ph.D. in Adult Education from Florida Atlantic University. She has 20 years of experience in genealogy, and she has taught numerous classes and workshops throughout the United States on researching early American ancestry.  Debbie has helped over 500 people join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).  The techniques she uses in lineage research can help you push back your brick walls

Session Schedule:

8:15 a.m. - Registration
9:00 a.m. - Opening Remarks & Introduction
9:10 – 10:10 a.m. - How to Find a Provable Revolutionary War Patriot in 90 Minutes or Less
10:10-10:30 - BREAK
10:30-11:30 a.m. - Documenting Lineages Before the 1850 Census
11:30-12:30 - Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. - Kings, Queens, Pilgrims & Tavern Keepers
1:30-1:50 pm - BREAK
1.50-2:50 p.m. - Non-Military Sources of Service
2:50-3:15 p.m. - Q&A & Wrap-up