Virtual Learning

by Robert M. Wilbanks IV, B.A.
Chief Genealogist & Historian, C.S.A.
genealogy@arizonascots.com

In previous articles, this column has discussed the importance of networking and continuous learning, occasionally listing events happening throughout Arizona where you can learn with and from others thanks to genealogy societies. With so much growing specialty knowledge related to genealogy research, genealogy societies are a great place to continuously learn more and stay current on research, and even technology, related to genealogy.

Genealogy Societies (or Clubs) are organizations with a wide variety of membership working together learning about, and preserving, genealogy research and resources. Many of these organizations will provide a generalized coverage of genealogy, while many others can be more focused based upon ethnicity, geography, nationality or even by family name. Genealogy Societies are a great benefit for new and extremely experienced family historians alike.

Naturally, you should join societies from where your ancestors originated. But don’t discount joining a local organization where you currently live. For example, if you now live in Arizona, but your ancestry does not come from Arizona, this should not mean that you can’t or shouldn’t join an Arizona Genealogy Society. Many Arizonans are from elsewhere, as well as their ancestry. In addition to learning about genealogy basics, you could potentially find others already familiar with the locale you are researching in, or even be familiar with the specific family you are researching. At the first genealogy society meeting I ever went to (in Arizona where I have no ancestry) I discovered 5 different distant cousins in the room, with genealogies from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia where my ancestry was from.

Of course, like other organizations and group events, genealogy organizations have been greatly impacted by COVID. This has made these organizations work to reinvent themselves in order to continue to be there for its members. Their efforts are starting to achieve a greater impact, providing opportunities for new and old researchers alike. Zoom, Skype, and other online video services, are providing the tools that are allowing genealogy organizations to continue to conduct their meetings, with guest speakers, and allowing their members to visit and engage with other genealogists.

For example, the Family History Society of Arizona (fhsa.org) has a number of chapters around the Phoenix area each having monthly meetings online through Zoom. Currently visitors are welcome with links to the meetings provided on their website; membership and registration are not required. The Pima County Genealogical Society (azpimagensoc.org) has monthly Zoom meetings with special guest speakers (registration required) as well as bi-weekly meetings for members only. They are holding a Zoom Seminar featuring Maureen Taylor ‘the Photo Detective’ on October 17th; registration and fee required.

Examples across the United States include The Georgia Genealogical Society (gagensociety.org) with free webinars monthly. Each county in Ohio has a Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society (ogs.org), with some offering monthly online meetings with guest presenters. The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (aahgs.org), and The Texas State Genealogical Society (txsgs.org) are hosting virtual conferences in October and November respectively. RootsTech (rootstech.org) has the biggest genealogy technology event annually. In February 2021, it will be entirely virtual. And now, there is even a Virtual Genealogical Association (virtualgenealogy.org) that is international in scope with multiple meetings monthly.

FamilySearch is hosting a wide variety of free webinars online at www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Family_History_Library_Classes_and_Webinars with past webinars posted on the “Classes in the Learning Center” at www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Classes_in_the_Learning_Center These webinars include research techniques in Scotland, Ireland and England.

The website ConferenceKeeper (conferencekeeper.org) is a site solely dedicated to listing live, and now virtual, genealogy meetings, seminars and conferences all around the world. They have a master chronological listings page, as well as pages by locations. There is even a page that lists all virtual events by specific date.

To locate a genealogy society in the region of your ancestry, simply Google the county and/or state and/or country, with the keyword ‘genealogy’ or ‘family history’. To locate family surname societies, just Google that surname with the same additional keywords. Meanwhile, Cyndi’s List (cyndislist.com/societies) includes a category of ‘Societies & Groups’ with links to any genealogical, lineage or historical society in the world.

Today, the possibilities are endless, so stay home and get out there, and visit the many virtual learning opportunities.

This is another of a series of articles in which I show you the basics of searching for your family history, discussing the use of family records, public records, and online resources nationally and internationally, etc. The previous articles are now available on the Genealogy Section of this website.   See “Genealogy” in the menu options at the top of the web page.

This is another of a series of articles in which I show you the basics of searching for your family history, discussing the use of family records, public records, and online resources nationally and internationally, etc. The previous articles are now available on the Genealogy Section of this website.   See “Genealogy” in the menu options at the top of the web page.