The Villages Genealogical Society
Welcome to The Villages
Genealogical Society
Promoting and stimulating knowledge and interest
in the study of genealogy
"It's Another Beautiful Day in The Villages"
 
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July Monthly Meeting Update

Animated pictures of the meeting
July 26, 2017 General Meeting
We had another great turnout for our July summer meeting with about 115 members present. Welcome to two new members.   This month we had two speakers. First was Dusty Matthews from the Leesburg Library. She spoke about the FamilySearch microfilms that they have at the library. She spoke about retention and ordering films before ordering is discontinued at the end of August.  Next we had our very own Vice-President Annette Burke Lyttle and she presented "Chasing Uncle William through the Wilds of Cyberspace." It was a very informative and at times humorous account on her research on her Uncle William Crout. Handouts for both speakers are available in "Members Only> Secure Download's> Meeting Handouts"


June Monthly Meeting Update

Meeting Pictures
June 28, 2017 General Meeting
We had a great turnout for our June meeting with about 115 members present plus we received 8  new member applications.   Welcome!   This month we had a panel of 4 experienced members who answered 12 questions that had been submitted by our membership. From the comments after the meeting, we will do this type of meeting again sometime in the future. Thank you to our panelists for taking the time to prepare answers to the member questions. Thank you also to our members who supplied the questions. Without your questions, this meeting would not have been a success.  A copy of  the PowerPoint slide presentation is in the "Members Only" section of our website.


Expo is HUGE Success!

We had a fantastic turnout for our Family History Expo on September 28th. Well over 1000 residents attended!  My Heritage and Family Tree Maker Software participated and both were busy the entire day.
Our next Bigger & Better Expo  will be March 28, 2018


VGS Receives the NGS Gold Star Award

Read the Letter from C. Ann Staley, Conference Chair, to President Lannin:
Comments from our members attending the Conference can be read HERE


“Admission to meetings of The Villages Genealogy Society is limited to
VGS members and paid guests.”


COMING EVENTS
Wednesday, Aug. 23rd
8:30 am
Brick Wall Solutions SIG Meeting
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Wednesday, Aug. 23rd
10:00 am
VGS General Monthly Meeting (Summer Series)
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Wednesday, Aug. 30th
FGS 2017 Conference
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Monday, Sep. 4th
10:00 am
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting
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Tuesday, Sep. 5th
1:00 pm
Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting
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Facts
Before Ellis Island opened in 1892, Castle Garden was America's first official immigration center from 1855 to 1890. It was a pioneering collaboration of New York State and New York City. Visit CastleGarden.org to search for your immigrant ancestors during these early years.
[Immigration]
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]
Source: Derivative Materials that offer alternate versions of the original: this source is abstracted, compiled, formed into a database, transcribed, translated or otherwise derived from the original.
[Sources & Evidence]
Remember to source (document) everything you find on your ancestors. Undocumented genealogy is mythology. Most genealogy software will get you through the basics, Elizabeth Shown Mills has authored several very good books on the subject.
[Sources & Evidence]
When looking at deed indexes, be sure to look at both the "Grantor Index", an index to those selling the land and the "Grantee Index", an index to those buying the land.
[Land Records]
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