Topeka Genealogical Society

08/29/2026

The Topeka Genealogical Society had a great audience for a great program by Cherokee Citizen, Lisa LaRue, last evening! Multi-talented Lisa educated us about many aspects of Native American history that has been erased by non-Native people's versions of events. This was sometimes deliberate and sometimes because of the lack of understanding of cultural differences. She also went into great detail about the land allotments to five different tribes within the present city of Topeka.

If you missed this fascinating program, it will soon be available to TGS members on our website under the "Past Programs" tab. You might even learn how to find the name of the tribal citizen who first owned the property you now own! My house was on Potawatomi land!

08/22/2026

Our August 27, 2026, dining out/fundraiser will be at Red Robin at 6230 SW 6th Street. Order online, for takeout or in-person dining, any time between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Mention this fundraiser or show the attached flyer at the checkout register for the Topeka Genealogical Society to receive 20% of sales benefit.
For those who would like to join us in person for a social hour over dinner, we will plan to gather at 5:00 p.m. Following dinner, please join us at 7:00 p.m. at the TSCPL for our monthly program presentation, "The Native Origins of Shawnee County and Topeka" by Lisa LaRue.

Monthly Fundraiser DinnerThu Aug 27, 2026 at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews on Thu Aug 27 2026, 11:00am CDT: Please join us at 5:00 pm on August...

08/22/2026

📘 Program: “The Native Origins of Shawnee County and Topeka”
📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM
📍 Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin Auditorium 101A
Attend in person or via Zoom (no registration needed for in‑person).
🌾 Uncover the Native Origins of Topeka & Shawnee County
at our Topeka Genealogical Society monthly meeting, we’re honored to welcome Lisa LaRue, Cherokee Nation citizen, cultural historian, artist, and founder of 785 Arts LLC, for a powerful exploration of the Indigenous roots of our community.

Lisa will guide us through:
The last Native nations who ceded land that became Topeka and Shawnee County
Where these tribes lived before removal, and where they were relocated afterward
How to research the first legal landowner of your property following tribal land dispossession
Join us at Red Robin Restaurant for a fundraiser all day August 27. Meet at 5:00 pm for dinner and a social hour with TGS members. See separate post for details.

“The Native Origins of Shawnee County and Topeka” by Lisa LaRue Baker at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Thu Aug 27 2026, 7:00pm...

08/16/2026

The Brick Wall Special Interest Group will meet Tuesday, August 18, at 9:30 am in the second-floor genealogy rooms at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. I will be available to answer questions, guide you to the next step if you are stuck, help you find and log in to the free websites in the library for research, etc.
Bring your library card, questions, your passwords, your laptop, or use the library computers. You can save documents from the library computers by saving to a thumb drive, printing, or by emailing them to yourself. If you don't have a library card, the staff can supply you with a guest pass to use a computer.
I can be most helpful to you if you bring a name, county, state, and date range for the person you are researching.
We have a lot of fun working together and celebrate each other's discoveries at our meetings. Please join us! Everyone is welcome!

Brick Wall Problem-Solving Special Interest Group on Tue Aug 18 2026, 9:30am CDT:   In Person Guided Research at a Local Facility - Topeka &...

07/15/2026

If you would like to see a sample of the amazing work Marcia Philbrick, our July 23rd speaker, does using AI, take a look at some of her blog posts. You WILL want to know more about her tips and tricks for using AI in family history research and documentation.

She will speak Thursday, July 23, at 7:00 pm in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin 101C.

Tackling those Brick Walls

07/12/2026

Coming soon from TGS! We have a jam-packed schedule of events in the starting blocks for the next few days. Register for Zoom and/get more information on the website: https://tgstopeka.org/events/

Tuesday, July 14 Foundations of Family History SIG via Zoom at 7:00 pm - "Using and Understanding the Dawes Rolls" - Learn about this incredible set of Native American records with Barbara LaClair

Thursday, July 16 Lincoln-Lancaster Genealogical Society Nordic SIG via Zoom at 10:00 am - "From Fjords to Frontiers: Finding Your Nordic Emigrants Journey" - Join TGS member Phyllis Ericson as she explains how to piece together the immigration stories of your ancestors using parish "moving-in and -out" records, passenger lists, and emigration records. Discover their journey to America from 1850-1920.

Friday, July 17 TGS Writing Group in Person at TSCPL Anton Room at 10:00 am - "Finding Lost Stories - Write a Story for an ancestor you didn't know" Phyllis Ericson and Terry Stahl facilitate this group of writers who learn from one another.

Tuesday, July 21 TGS Brick Wall SIG - Cancelled this month. Sorry!

Thursday, July 23 - TGS Fundraiser at Jose Peppers Restaurant from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm. Meet at 5:00 for social time and dinner if you can!

Thursday, July 23 TGS Monthly Meeting In Person at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library or via Zoom at 7:00 pm. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!!! "From Records to Stories: Using AI in Genealogy Research” - TGS Member Marcia Crawford Philbrick is an innovative and prolific researcher, writer, and blogger who uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) as a tool in her family history. She will demonstrate how to discover practical ways artificial intelligence can support your genealogy research and share real-world examples of using AI for transcriptions, record analysis, writing, images, and storytelling while emphasizing sound genealogical research practices.

PLEASE JOIN US!

There’s always something happening at the Topeka Genealogical Society, and we would love to have you participate! Check this page […]

07/11/2026

Brian Rhinehart of Civil War Records is offering ten percent off any NARA record sets for orders placed today and tomorrow. Check out his website for details. Discount code is "250"

Last chance for the discounted rate!
I decided to extend the July 4 discount until the end of this weekend. I normally send a reminder on the last day to let everyone know it was their last chance, but . . . well . . . I forgot to do that yesterday. So I'm extending the discount so you get that last chance reminder today.

In my defense, I did have a good excuse! I was in Crawford County, Pennsylvana yesterday, doing some on site research at the historical society about my 60 year old Civil War ancestor, Peter Powell. I was researching and travelling and it slipped my mind to send that reminder out. I'm sure you can relate. When you're actively researching, sometimes time can slip away before you realize it!

All that to say that the discount now is good all day Saturday and Sunday (July 12). Use discount code 250 to get 10% off your order for Civil War record retrieval from the National Archives.

If you have a pension index card already, you have what you need to order the records. You can place your order directly through the website if you already know what records you wanted to get.

If you don't know for sure what a pension index card is or how to start, head over to this link, and you can get a quick overview of the process. We can help get you set up there if you're new to this.

Don't forget to use discount code 250 when you check out. I'm looking forward to helping you get your ancestors' Civil War records from the National Archives in your hands!

Civil War and War of 1812 research and record retrieval at the National Archives. We provide a cheaper and quicker alternative to ordering records at the National Archives.

07/05/2026

REMINDER: Tomorrow, Monday, July 6,
9:30 am
Perkins Restaurant
TGS Morning Joe and Jaw Coffee and Conversation
AND
Tuesday, July 7 on Zoom
10:30 am
DNA SIG on Y-DNA testing at FTDNA
Register at

DNA SIG - Y-DNA testing at FTDNA at Virtual - Zoom on Tue Jul 7 2026: July Session Title:  Y-DNA testing at FTDNA   Y-DNA Inheritance STRs...

06/23/2026

Our June 25, 2026, dining out/fundraiser will be at Jason's Deli, 6121 SW 12th Street. Order online, for takeout or in-person dining, any time between 10am and 8pm. Mention this fundraiser or show the attached flyer at the checkout register for the Topeka Genealogical Society to receive 20% of sales benefit.
For those who would like to join us in person for a social hour over dinner, we will plan to gather at 5:00pm. Following dinner, please join us at 7:00 pm at the TSCPL for our monthly program presentation, "Finding Your Colonial British Ancestors" by Phyllis Ericson.

Dinner Gathering and Fundraiser at Jason's Deli on Thu Jun 25 2026, 5:00pm CDT: Please join us at 5:00pm on June 25th for our monthly fundraiser at...