German Genealogy Group

29/05/2026

The German Genealogy Group is pleased to announce that we will hold a REMOTE ONLY webinar meeting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Our speaker is Diana Elder AG, whose topic is: A.I. Powered Research Logs: From Chaos To Clarity In Your Genealogy Data.

Effective genealogy research requires systematic logging of every search, source, and finding. Learn how A.I. tools can streamline research log creation and transform your logged data into actionable insights. Discover how A.I. can help document research sessions by transcribing findings, abstracting key information from records, and creating proper source citations for your log entries. Learn to export research logs to CSV files and use A.I. tools to analyze patterns, identify research gaps, and prioritize next steps. Gain practical skills for maintaining detailed research documentation and using AI to extract meaningful insights from accumulated research data.

Diana Elder AG, is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States and serves as a Commissioner for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-authored the companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence. She created the study group and eCourse that teach the Research Like a Pro process through videos and learning modules. Diana and her daughter, Nicole, share research tips on their website, Family Locket, and host the Research Like a Pro genealogy podcast. Diana regularly teaches at genealogy conferences such as RootsTech and the National Genealogy Society Conference. She also presents webinars and seminars to local genealogy societies across the United States.

To attend the meeting via Zoom, you MUST register in advance. Current GGG members should have received their registration link via email.

If you are not a member yet, now is a great time to join.

01/05/2026

The German Genealogy Group is pleased to announce that we will hold a REMOTE ONLY webinar meeting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Our speaker is Mark Thompson, whose topic is: Analyze and Research Family Photographs with A.I.

Every family photo tells a story, but what happens when the storytellers are gone? Discover how artificial intelligence can help, revealing the who, what, when, where, and why of your cherished family images. In this practical session, you'll learn how A.I. tools can unlock the mysteries in your family photos. From identifying the people in your photos to estimating when a photo was taken, you'll discover techniques that can transform frustrating mysteries into exciting discoveries. Mark will demonstrate how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and specialized A.I.-enhanced software can analyze your photos, helping you place your ancestors in their proper historical context. You'll leave with new tools in your photo-research toolkit to transform photographic mysteries into family treasures!

Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and public speaker specializing in the application of artificial intelligence to genealogy. As co-host of the Family History A.I. Show podcast alongside Steve Little, Mark helps genealogists bridge the gap between high technology and their family history research. With a background in executive IT leadership, Mark brings a unique perspective to the rapidly evolving field of A.I.-assisted genealogy. He currently serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society and chairs their DNA Special Interest Group. A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Mark is a frequent presenter on technology-centric genealogy topics, including A.I., Genetic Genealogy, and Family Archiving. When not exploring family histories, he enjoys photographing nature in his home province of British Columbia.

Members should have already received their invitations via email.

If you're not a member yet, now is a great time to join. Only $15 a year!

27/03/2026

The German Genealogy Group is pleased to announce that we will hold a Zoom webinar meeting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Our speaker is James M. Beidler, whose topic is: New York’s ‘Palatines’: Diverse Origins, Mid-Atlantic Dispersal.

The first mass migration of German-speaking people landed in upstate New York in 1710 and have been intensively studied by Hank Jones and put under the scholarly microscope of Philip Ottnerness. Where did they really come from? And where did they end up?

James M. Beidler is the author of four commercially published genealogy books, as well as writing “Roots & Branches,” an award-winning weekly blog/newspaper column on genealogy. He is also a columnist for German Life magazine and is editor emeritus of Der Kurier, the quarterly journal of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society.

Beidler is also a frequent contributor to other periodicals, ranging from scholarly journals such as The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine to popular-interest magazines such as Family Tree Magazine. He also wrote the chapter on genealogy for Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth, published jointly by the Penn State Press and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

If you are a GGG member, you should have received your invitation via email.

If you're not a member yet, it's only $15 a year. Why not join today?

25/03/2026

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Eastside Genealogical Group German Interest Group will present “Using Hansen’s Map Guides To Locate Your Ancestor’s German Parish Records” on Friday, April 3, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Hansen’s Map Guides to Parish Registers simplify the process of locating the parish registers containing the records of your ancestors. The Guides contain detailed information about Catholic and Lutheran jurisdictions for locations within the former German Empire (including areas now in Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Denmark, and France).

To register, go to:

Meetings NEXT MEETING: Friday, April 3, 2026, 12:30pm (Pacific Time). Topic: Using Hansen’s Map Guides To Locate Your Ancestor’s German Parish Records. Hansen’s Map Guides to Parish Registers simplify the process of locating the parish registers containing the records of your ancestors. The

26/02/2026

The German Genealogy Group is pleased to announce that we will hold a virtual webinar meeting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Our speaker is Robert Cameron Weir, whose topic is: Genealogical Reasoning with DNA.

In this workshop, we’ll discuss what a DNA test really is and how it can help with our genealogy. We’ll discuss how DNA is passed down from generation to generation. We’ll then review the types of genealogical questions which can be resolved with evidence from DNA testing, breaking it down into easy recipes. We’ll then apply our knowledge by working through and discussing a series of progressively more difficult problems.

Robert Cameron Weir is a genealogical researcher, educator, and author who lives in Dover, New Hampshire. He specializes in hard problems related to New England genealogy, from 1620 to the present. He is a member of the Association for Professional Genealogy and is the Publications Director for the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists.

If you are a member, the registration link has already been sent to you.

If you're not a member yet, now is a great time to join. Only $15 a year! https://mem.germangenealogygroup.com/members/register

29/01/2026

The German Genealogy Group is pleased to announce that we will hold a REMOTE ONLY webinar meeting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Our speaker is Susan Miller, NYG&B Director, Publications, whose topic is: New York City Municipal Archives.

This genealogical presentation will explore record collections held by the New York City Municipal Archives. This vast trove holds details of New York City residents and sometimes of those passing through the city. Join us to learn more about getting started with New York City’s records.

An NYG&B member since 1993, Susan R. Miller oversees the NYG&B’s print and digital publications. She is the editor of the New York Researcher magazine and a managing editor of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer and the NYG&B county guide series. Sue also presents genealogical lectures on a national, regional, and local basis. Prior to her genealogical career, Sue worked in the sailing industry and for Emigrant Savings Bank in New York City for 23 years. A graduate of Brown University, Sue is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and several other genealogical and historical societies. She is a lifelong sailor (racing and cruising) and Past Commodore of the Manhasset Bay and Frostbite Yacht Clubs.

If you are a member, you should have already received your registration link.

If you're not a member yet, now is a great time to join. - https://mem.germangenealogygroup.com/members/register

12/01/2026

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The St. Louis Genealogical Society German Special Interest Group will present "CompGen and Beyond: Discover the Online Records of German Genealogy Societies" on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. In addition to the large CompGen databases, many German genealogical societies offer individual databases specifically related to their field of research. Discover what is available in your research region.

To register, go to:

Modernize workflows with Zoom's trusted collaboration tools: including video meetings, team chat, VoIP phone, webinars, whiteboard, contact center, and events.

02/01/2026

Join us for our January webinar

Thursday, January 8, 2026
7:30 p.m. ET – ZOOM ONLY

Finding German Church Records on Archion
Dana Palmer, CG®, CGL®

Once you've identified your German ancestor's place of origin, then what? Come learn how to find the Lutheran church records on Archion.

If you are a GGG member, you have already received your invitation.

If you're not a member yet, now is a fantastic time to join! At only $15 a year, how can you not?

28/11/2025

The German Genealogy Group is pleased to announce that we will hold a REMOTE ONLY webinar meeting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Our speaker is Thomas MacEntee, of Genealogy Bargains, whose topic is: Creating an Ancestor Sketch

Face it: most genealogists never get around to publishing that family history book based on their genealogy research. How about a different approach: producing short 3-5 page “sketches” about an ancestor? You’ll learn how to include a cover, photos, facts, family stories, source citations, and more! And guess what, once you get a few of these ancestor sketches done, you can compile them together for one big book!

Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.

If you are a member, you should have already received your invitation link.

If you're not a member yet, at $15 a year, what a great gift to give yourself!

06/11/2025

Bob Boeckle passed away on 11/4.
Bob had worked closely with Don Eckerle & John Martino on the original GGG databases - he did all the scanning of the records so volunteers could then transcribe them.. He was a founding member of the GGG.
He will be missed.

Celebrate the life of Robert F. Boeckle, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes.