Upcoming Monthly Program
September Monthly Meeting (Zoom only)
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026 / 10:00 a.m. (Zoom only)
Speaker: Kelley Conner Lear
Topic: Positively Negative: Using a Super-Trio to Meet the Genealogical Proof Standard
 Topic Info: This session focuses on a "super-trio of negatives" – negative findings, negative searches, and negative evidence – used to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. When working in time periods or places where records are scant or destroyed, negative findings and searches become essential tools. Together, these "negatives" play a positive role in resolving questions of identity, relationships, and events.
Speaker's Bio: A West Virginia native and former advertising creative director, Kelley Conner Lear brings twenty years of communication experience to her genealogy practice. Her research in Central Appalachia and the surrounding regions focuses on the lives of often-overlooked ancestors. Kelley is a Certified Genealogist® and Treasurer of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
For more details about this event and the speaker, visit our Coming Events listing.
Upcoming Monthly Program
October Monthly Meeting at Lake Miona Rec Center & via Zoom
Wednesday, October. 28, 2026 / 10:00 a.m.
Speaker: Peggy Jude
Topic: My Cousin Vinny – Three DNA Case Studies in Identifying Matches
 Topic Info: Explore how DNA analysis can break through genealogical brick walls. Using real case studies, this session explores basic to advanced approaches to identifying DNA matches and extending your family tree.
Speaker's Bio:
Peggy Jude is a professional genealogist, speaker, and researcher with specialties in genealogical technology and DNA. She regularly presents at societies and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. Peggy serves as Vice President of Projects for the Manatee Genealogical Society (FL) where she leads both the DNA and the Technology Special Interest Groups, and teaches monthly. She has been a co-course coordinator and instructor at the Institute for Genealogical and Historial Research (IGHR) and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.
For more details about this event and the speaker, visit our Coming Events listing.
Upcoming Monday Evening Webinar
Live Webinar / Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 – 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Dilemmas In Genealogical Research – Artificial Intelligence
Featured Guest Speaker: Fiona Brooker
 Topic Info: This presentation examines how artificial intelligence is influencing genealogical research and the dilemmas that come with it. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how to navigate AI's benefits and risks while maintaining sound genealogical practices.
Presenter Info: When people discover that Fiona Brooker is a genealogist, one of the first questions they ask is, "How far back have you got?". For Fiona, family history is not really about how far back the tree goes, but about what we discover along the way – the stories, the people, and the connections. One of her favorite moments was holding the document her five-times great-grandparents signed in the early 1800s. Fiona is a professional genealogist and the founder of Memories in Time, where she helps individuals explore their family history through research, DNA analysis, and practical research strategies.
For more details about the speaker and this webinar, including how to register to attend, visit our Coming Events listing.
Admission to in-person meetings of The Villages Genealogy Society
is limited to VGS members and paid guests.
You must be a resident of The Villages, FL for membership.
|
|
September 14, 2026
10:00 am to 11:50 am FTM SIG Meeting
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING -- IN-PERSON ONLY Bring your laptop! Visit our website page for more details about this SIG. SIG Coordinator: John DeAngelo ...
|
|
September 15, 2026
10:00 am Let's Talk Genealogy: Members Only Event
We are looking for all levels of VGS members. Come and share with us about your latest research successes or about a research challenge you're ...
|
|
September 17, 2026
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm Northeastern Genealogy SIG Meeting
TAKE NOTE -- our meeting location for this meeting is the Sterling Heights Center / Torch Room Topic: TBA Coordinator: Joanne Schmidt ...
|
|
September 18, 2026
9:30 am Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting
Program: TBA Coordinators: Kris Petersen-Gauthier & Dan Smith
|
|
September 21, 2026
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Best Practices SIG Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams Topic: Using Negative Evidence in our Research The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those ...
|
Start with yourself. Document everything you know about yourself. Include your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc. Include occupations, where you have lived and all important events in your life. Then, and only then, start working backwards and with your living relatives.
[Basic Genealogy]
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. has manuscripts, publications and microfilms of a wide range of materials useful to genealogical research. Their website is free and easy to use.
[Federal Records]
What happened to the 1890 U.S. Census? A fire broke out in the basement of the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C.on January 10, 1921. The census records were stored improperly in the basement and were soaked with water and no restoration efforts were made to save the documents. The damaged records were destroyed sometime between 1933 and 1935 when they were deemed no longer necessary.
[Census]
|
