GenealogyClassBlog

For those of you ladies with an interest in scrapbooking, here is some news about an upcoming scrapbook camp. While this is not exactly genealogy, those who have an interest in preserving their family’s photos and keepsakes have a lot in common with those who have an interest in preserving their family’s history. It is because of that connection, this will be the second time that the retreat’s hostess, Becky Luster, has asked me to come present a program on genealogy to those attending the scrapbook camp.

My sister, Becky Becker Luster, is a Creative Memories consultant and she has put together her third scrapbooking getaway, called SAY Retreat III. SAY stands for “Scrappin’ and Yappin’. She has a large building at Camp Christian (near Chouteau) reserved for the event. Each attendee has a large, clear table to spread out her personal photographs, her own scrapbooking supplies from home, and she can use Becky’s tools and shop for new papers, albums, embellishments, and more, right on the spot. Becky provides yummy meals and gives out prizes (I hope that wasn’t a secret), and gives a presentation the first evening to explain the latest news from Creative Memories. I’ll be giving a very basic talk on researching in the federal census on Saturday. She’ll be promoting Creative Memories products, but she isn’t an arm-twister, so you don’t need to worry about high-pressure sales tactics. Having the products there just makes it convenient for the attendees to buy what they need as they work. I must admit, though, that the “store” is very tempting.

The ladies at the last SAY Retreat I attended were very fun and had a friendly competition going to encourage each other to get some very cute scrapbook pages completed. This is limited to ladies because one of the attractions of the retreat is being able to wear pajamas while scrapbooking. They share sleeping quarters and bathrooms, too. Many stay for the entire weekend, but there are registration rates for those who elect to come for only part, as well as for the whole 55 hours.

Visit Becky’s website and click on “My Files” for details. There is an online registration form that you’d mail in with your registration fee (listed on the form), but since the retreat will be so soon, I’d suggest contacting Becky to let her know you’re interested, too. There is a Contact Me link on her website.

I hope to see you there!

One of my very favorite professional genealogists is Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG. Christine presented a workshop for the Tulsa Genealogical Society in 2005. She has served on the faculty at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University, and has presented numerous lectures at national conferences. You can read more at her website. She will presenting lectures at the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ 2009 Annual Conference to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2-5 September.

A knowledgeable and experienced researcher, Christine specializes in courthouse research, spending several months on the road every year with her husband Cecil, doing professional research and studying Rose families all over the country. She is fun and positive, yet takes genealogy and the study of evidence very seriously. She co-authored Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy, with Kay Ingalls, CG, an excellent how-to genealogy book. She also wrote, Genealogical Proof Standard, which I described in the mini-workshop I presented to the Tulsa Genealogical Society last May. It explains the process genealogists should use to reach conclusions. The Tulsa City-County Library is purchasing copies which library card-holders will be able to check out — one for Martin Regional Library and the other for Hardesty Regional Library.

Mark your calendar for 28 March, 2009, from about 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The presentations will be free and open to the public, at the Hardesty Regional Library near 93rd & Memorial in Tulsa. Christine will be presenting four lectures, two before and two after a long lunch break, but the exact timing or order has not been set:

• Addicted to Courthouses!
• Estates:  a Goldmine!
• Court Records:  The System and It’s Records.
• Solving the Problem in 25 hours or less

CG, for Certified Genealogist, and CGL, for Certified Genealogical Lecturer, are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She is also a Fellow, American Society of Genealogists.

Kathy Huber, MLS, Genealogy Librarian for the Tulsa City-County Library, will present a mini-workshop for the the Tulsa Genealogical Society on Monday, February 23 at the TGS Library, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The mini workshop, “Early Oklahoma Records,” will include land run records, marriage records, Indian Territory records, and Native American records.

I had mentioned in an earlier post that Janice Meredith, FTGS was scheduled to present a mini-workshop on 26 January, but on that date Tulsa was hit by icy weather. That event has been re-scheduled for Monday, 20 May. Her topic is, “Tracing Your Ancestor Using Land Records.”

The suggested donation, for either of these fundraisers for the society, is $7.50. TGS is located just east of 31st and Mingo in Tulsa. For a map to the library, or to read more about the Tulsa Genealogical Society, visit their website.

Kathy Huber, Genealogy Librarian at the Tulsa City-County Library’s Genealogy Center, will be presenting a 2-1/2 hour workshop on Saturday, 31 January, to help students learn to begin the search for their ancestors. Kathy’s program will be 10:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Mark your calendar, too, for another TCCL genealogy program on Saturday, 21 February, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Liz Walker, Library Associate, will present a program on Free Genealogy Web Sites. The description says that she “will show you some useful free genealogy Web sites to help you with your family search.

Both events will be in the Harmon Foundation Meeting Room at the Genealogy Center, 2901 S. Harvard, in Tulsa, are free and are targeted to adults. No reservations are required.

The Tulsa Genealogical Society will be offering a mini-workshop on Monday, 26 January, at the TGS Library, 9136 Briar Village Shopping Center. Janice Meredith, FTGS, TGS Librarian, will be presenting the topic, which is entitled, “Tracing Your Ancestor Using Land Records.” TGS offers these mini-workshops periodically as fundraiser events, asking for a donation of $7.50 to attend.

Land records of our ancestors can be the solution to difficult genealogical puzzles and they provide insight into the lives of our ancestors. The records are very important yet they can be confusing. Janice is an excellent speaker and I encourage you to attend if you get the chance.

I have been asked to present a mini-workshop for TGS on Monday, 27 April, on one of the topics I will be presenting at the FGS Conference in September — “How To Be a Power Hitter: Improve Your Online Searching Skills.” I’ll write more about that soon. Both workshops will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. To watch for other mini-workshops, or for a map to the TGS Library, visit the Tulsa Genealogical Society’s web site.