VGS Genealogy News & Events
Victoria Genealogical Society
No. 187 - September 6, 2025 |
Distributed free of charge to interested subscribers and former members. |
In this newsletter:
- New Season of VGS Workshops, Seminars, Heritage History Hours and other events
- 2025/26 Membership Drive underway (benefits include event discounts, free SIG discussion groups and more)
- New to genealogy research? 3 Steps for beginners
- VGS Social Media channels
Scroll down to read these articles.
VGS is a non-profit and you can help us by forwarding this newsletter to your friends
| New Season of VGS Events Starts Thursday
Upcoming VGS workshops, seminars and more are listed below and also available online at VGS Calendar of Events | Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
| FREE HERITAGE HISTORY HOUR -
Greater Victoria Public Library Genealogy Resources
| | Presented by Caitlin Ottenbreit, Greater Victoria Public Library
Your local public library is a rich source of research and storytelling resources to help you in your genealogical practice. Learn more about the practical resources available here in Victoria at the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL), as well as what other hidden gems you might be able to find by contacting local libraries around the world.
Caitlin Ottenbreit is a public services librarian on the Arts, Culture & Heritage portfolio at the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL).
| | | Her academic work has focused on microhistories and personal stories in Greater Victoria, which serves her well in her professional life. Her favourite library questions lead her down fun research rabbit holes in the search for answers to questions about our heritage.
Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event
Cost: Heritage History Hour (HHH) events are FREE to all
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
| WORKSHOP -
Live from Aberdeen, Scotland, with Dr. Bruce Durie
| | To kick off our 2025/26 season of workshops we have a very special presenter in Dr. Bruce Durie.
Bruce is considered one of Scotland’s top genealogists and Heraldists, with an international reputation. He is perhaps best known for his eight-year BBC radio series, “Digging Up Your Roots” and “A House with A Past”. He has authored over 30 books, including the best-selling “Scottish Genealogy” (now in its 4th edition). For more about his very extensive biography view Dr Bruce Durie. | | | Clans and Families of Scotland
Seeking your Scottish ancestry and engaging with all aspects of Scottish history and culture is to be encouraged, but it must be done in the full knowledge that much of the mythology about clans, surnames, tartans and the like is just that.
During this workshop Bruce will cover:
• Who are “The Scots”? – ancient ethnicities and Y-DNA
• What is a clan or Family?
• The nonsense of ”Septs”
• Does our Clan or Family have a Chief, and if not, can we have one?
• Tartans and Heraldry
• Authenticity in Scottish culture
There will be ample opportunity for Qs & As.
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 (noon) PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event.
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE.
| | Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 | WORKSHOP -
Excel for Genealogists: Unleash the Power of Spreadsheets In Your Family Research with Mark Thompson
| | ATTENDANCE IS VIA ZOOM ONLY.
Join Mark Thompson for "Excel for Genealogists," an engaging hands-on workshop designed specifically for genealogists. Mark will show you how to leverage key Excel features through real-world genealogy examples and share strategies to better organize and analyze your family history information.
In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to: Organize your info so that it is easier to use Excel’s powerful features; Harness the power of Excel data tables to make analysis easier; Master the sorting and filtering techniques that the pros use. | | | More about Mark Thompson:
Mark is a professional genealogist and educator specializing in helping family historians use technology to uncover their roots. Combining his extensive leadership experience in technology with his passion for genealogy, Mark is known for making complex technology accessible and relevant for genealogists of all levels. Mark frequently leads workshops teaching genealogists practical skills in Excel, Artificial Intelligence, Genetic Genealogy, and Family Archiving.
Mark currently serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society and chairs their DNA Special Interest Group. Mark also co-hosts the Family History AI Show podcast.
There will be ample opportunity for Q's & A's.
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 (noon) PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event.
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE.
| | Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025 | WORKSHOP -
An Archivist's Best Practices for the Family Historian with Kaetlen Bursey
| | Here's a workshop for every level of genealogy research experience.
From how to best store photos, to keeping track of who's who in your family tree, this workshop will discuss some archival best practices you can implement at home to preserve your family history. We will cover storage, preservation, and organization options to make sure your family history records last for years to come. We will also highlight some of the challenges faced by people who manage their family memorabilia and some of the most useful, effective, and cost-efficient approaches for caring for these collections. You will be able to immediately apply what you learn in this session to improve how you care for and manage your personal family collections.
We will also discuss what records or materials can be donated to public institutions for care and preservation in perpetuity and how to prepare your donation. | | | Included in this discussion will be an overview of how to locate items in an archive, how to view items in an archive, why archives differ significantly from libraries, and what genealogical resources might be available in the Saanich Archives.
About Kaetlen:
Kaetlen has a master's degree in Museum Studies, where she specialized in collection management, particularly of archival materials. With over 15 years of experience in information management, organization, and project management, as well as hands-on collections care and archival work at the Royal Ontario Museum, she is now in her dream job as Archives Supervisor with the District of Saanich.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 (noon) PST
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025 | FREE HERITAGE HISTORY HOUR -
Psychics, Seances, and Spiritualism
| | Presented by Kate Humble, Parks Canada
During the 19th century, the religious landscape was swept by a spiritualist movement which claimed to channel the dead, through the mouths of living psychic mediums. Victoria was quick to embrace the new movement and a spiritualist society was founded here in the 1860s. The Society counted some of the most prominent members of the local community amongst its members. Far from being dismissed as a fringe idea, spiritualism became wildly popular in the English-speaking world, with an estimated 8 million followers by the 1890s. | | | Kate Humble is an historian who is currently the Superintendent of National Historic Sites for Coastal British Columbia with Parks Canada. She did her graduate work at the University of Toronto, and has held public history and historic site positions such as the Curator of Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse, the Operations Manager at Craigdarroch Castle, Education Curator at the Maritime Museum of BC and Manager of Visitor Experience at the Royal Armouries Museum, UK. Born and raised in Victoria BC, she has also worked with Discover the Past as a tour guide on matters both historical and ghostly since 2004.
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event. Registration is required to receive the ZOOM access information
Cost: Heritage History Hour (HHH) events are FREE to all
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only | | Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 | SEMINAR -
Family History 101
| Presented by Melanie Arscott, Gerry Poulton, Sarah Hamster, and Mark Thompson
This seminar is designed specifically for people new to family history and for people returning to family history after a break from their research. No prior experience is required.
Get your family history journey off to a great start! Join four experienced family historians on an engaging half-day journey through the most important topics and tools in family history. They will help you build good habits early that will set you up for success for years to come. | | | This is an in-person only event with a maximum of 15 registered attendees. Registration is required.
This seminar includes four 1-hour sessions, with 10-minute breaks and a 45-minute lunch break between sessions. Session-specific handouts, prepared by each speaker, will be provided at the beginning of the seminar as a handout.
Session Descriptions
Session 1: Start Your Family History Research Off Right – Melanie Arscott - 9:10 am
Session 2: Find and Use the Most Important Genealogy Records – Gerry Poulton - 10:20 am
Session 3: Organize Your Genealogy Information for Success – Sarah Hamster - 12:05 pm
Session 4: Use DNA To Help Build Your Family Tree - Mark Thompson - 1:15 pm
Speaker Bios
Melanie Arscott - Melanie is a long-time VGS member and an accomplished family history researcher. Melanie created the VGS "CSI" Special Interest Group (Crowd Sourced Intelligence) to help SIG members learn to identify clues by careful observation of a found family treasure, and search for answers in the many sources we have available.
Gerry Poulton - Gerry began genealogy research over thirty years ago in the days of microfilm. Gerry is now a member of several genealogical societies and volunteers at the Victoria Genealogical Society’s Learning and Research Centre. Gerry has presented workshops on a variety of genealogy topics for more than fifteen years. Gerry’s research specialties are the lands where his own ancestors hailed from: England, Ireland, Germany, and Ontario. Gerry was born and raised in Saskatchewan and taught Chemistry at the University of Victoria for nearly 40 years.
Sarah Hamster - Sarah is a veteran genealogist with over 30 years of experience. She has been an active member of the Victoria Genealogical Society for over 20 years. Sarah is recognized for her expertise in organizing genealogical records, helping bring order to the often chaotic pursuit of family history. Currently, Sarah is elevating her skills by pursuing a certification in Eastern European genealogy from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies.
Mark Thompson - Mark is a professional genealogist, the President of the Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS), and the chair of the VGS DNA Special Interest Group. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Mark uses genetic and traditional genealogical research methods, combined with a deep understanding of information technology and analysis, to help his clients shed light on their family histories and mysteries. Mark speaks regularly on a variety of genealogy-related topics. Mark’s blog can be found at makingfamilyhistory.com.
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm PST
Special Discount: Attending non-members, who also register as VGS members on the day of the seminar, will be given a one-time $20 discount off their annual membership.
Note: No recordings will be made of this event.
| | Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025 | FREE HERITAGE HISTORY HOUR -
160th Battalion Case Study
| | Presented by Kent Kraemer
In researching the 160th Canadian Overseas (Bruce) Battalion, military records were an invaluable tool. These personnel files contained not only personal information of the soldier, but also that of their family. Their service history includes enlistment and discharge dates, rank, unit assignments, and information about injuries sustained.
Kent Kraemer is a Toronto‑based military historian and genealogist whose passion lies in uncovering the lives of soldiers from Bruce County, Ontario, Canada.
| | | Since 2015 Kent has been chronicling the 160th Bruce Battalion’s day‑to‑day activities on the 160th Bruce Battalion Facebook page.
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event
Cost: Heritage History Hour (HHH) events are FREE to all
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025 | NEW ADDITION -
FREE HERITAGE HISTORY HOUR -
History of Professional Hockey in Victoria
| | Presented by Helen Edwards, VGS member and Heritage Hallmark member.
Helen will talk about the history of professional hockey in Victoria, focussing on the stories of the players who entertained us over a century. Her book, The History of Professional Hockey in Victoria, B.C. 1911-2011, includes details on the different leagues, statistics on every game played by a Victoria team, and information on every player to dress for at least one regular season game. From the Patrick family to RG Properties, this book covers the ownership of teams and records the highlights and low points of every team.Included in the narrative is the story of the construction and operation of the different venues in which games were played. The politics behind arena construction are examined as well, with editorial cartoons to make the reader laugh about the folly of some ideas. Biographies of selected players tell the story of individuals and how they came to play hockey in Victoria. Learn from behind-the-scenes stories told by the players themselves.
|  | | | About Helen:
Helen was born in Victoria and saw her first hockey game at age 5. She has been hooked on the sport ever since. She held season tickets for the Victoria Maple Leafs and Victoria Salmon Kings so has first-hand knowledge of the game and its players. She decided to write what has been called the definitive history of pro hockey in Victoria when the Salmon Kings were disbanded and Bill Shvetz, a star for the Maple Leafs died. The second edition was launched live on National TV during an on-ice interview with Ron McLean.
Helen is a long-time member of the VGS and the Hallmark Heritage Society. She is an author of six books, focusing on local history and her heritage. According to her website at https://helenedwards.ca/ she is in the process of writing her memoirs, focusing on her volunteer activities, activism and philanthropy.
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event
Cost: Heritage History Hour (HHH) events are FREE to all
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026 | FREE HERITAGE HISTORY HOUR -
Weaving Private Lives into Public History
| Presented by Yvonne Van Ruskenveld, President, Old Cemeteries Society and Director at Large, Victoria Genealogical Society
When you go into a bookstore or library, you see the covers of all the books, and you know there’s a story behind each one. Walking through a cemetery is like that: you see all the grave markers, and each one is like a book cover — it holds a story. Those stories are about both the people buried there and the times in which they lived. In this talk, Yvonne Van Ruskenveld will use examples to show how genealogical research has enhanced the stories she’s told in her 33 years of giving historical walking tours for the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria.
| | | Yvonne Van Ruskenveld, long-time member and current president of the Old Cemeteries Society, leads cemetery walking tours on a wide range of topics, including women’s history and BC’s gold rushes, among others. She is a member of the Victoria Genealogical Society and has given talks on various historical topics, including war brides, cemetery symbolism and crime in early Victoria. She is also a member of the Victoria Historical Society and the Western Front Association’s Pacific Coast Branch (World War I history).
Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event
Cost: Heritage History Hour (HHH) events are FREE to all
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026 | NEW ADDITION -
WORKSHOP -
10 Steps to Success: A Guide for your Genealogy Research with Merv Scott
| | Whether you are new to genealogy, or not-so-new, this workshop should have something for you. By using an easy to follow, step-by-step guide, this workshop reviews many important genealogy research techniques and tools.
Starting with the genealogy basics the workshop progresses to an introduction of how today’s technologies are used by genealogists. There is even a section on how to put the internet to work while you sleep.
| | | There are tips along the way, anecdotes to help you avoid some common mistakes beginners make, a section on taking an ancestral journey, and a short case study just for fun. It’s a full workshop, but handouts are provided for easy reference afterwards.
About Merv:
Merv and his wife are retired and now reside in rural North Saanich after nearly 40 years of city living in Victoria. Merv joined the Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS) shortly after retiring and has volunteered in several capacities over the years since. “So many strangers, around the globe, have assisted my research that I felt I had to give back by volunteering. What I didn’t expect was how much fun I would have volunteering and how many friends I’d make. I recommend it to everyone and I look forward to meeting you.”
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 (noon) PST
Location: This is a hybrid workshop. You may attend by Zoom or at the VGS Genealogy Learning & Research Centre 209 - 4475 Viewmont Avenue, Victoria, BC V8Z 6L8 CAN
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026 | NEW ADDITION -
WORKSHOP -
From Research to Story: Writing and Sharing Your Family History with Sonia Nicholson | | You’ve compiled the names, dates, and places and gathered photographs. But how do you transform those facts and images into an engaging story?
In this workshop, we will review archival resources and types of materials to enrich your family story. Going beyond basic genealogical information, we will also explore setting, voice, and the use of nostalgia and details to add colour to your writing. We will also look at how to bring these elements together through real examples of strong storytelling from museums and archives, family historians, and other sources. Finally, we will discuss paths and platforms for sharing your story, from digital, no- or low-cost options, to printing and publishing.
| | | Sonia Nicholson is an author and archivist in Victoria, British Columbia. She has over 17 years of experience in community, corporate, and religious archives. Previously an Archives Specialist at Saanich Archives, she is currently Archivist for the Log Cabin Museum and Archives in Saanichton, in addition to working with a religious organization and private clients.
A storyteller at heart and a published author, she mentors emerging writers on writing, the industry, and publicity. Her work, which explores themes of memory and identity, has appeared in Inspirelle, Literary Heist, Pinhole Poetry, Heimat Review, Rivanna Review, The New Quarterly, and others. Learn more at https://sonianicholson.com/
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 (noon) PST
Location: This is a hybrid workshop. You may attend by Zoom or at the VGS Genealogy Learning & Research Centre 209 - 4475 Viewmont Avenue, Victoria, BC V8Z 6L8 CAN
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026 | NEW ADDITION -
WORKSHOP -
Using Heraldry in Genealogy with Kathie Ross | | Heraldry can be more than just coats of arms on a shield—it can be a valuable tool in genealogical research. In this presentation, Kathie will introduce the basics of heraldry and explain its uses in genealogy. Learn how heraldic devices can provide clues to family connections. Real-world examples will show how heraldry has helped solve genealogical puzzles and uncover new lines of inquiry. If you’ve never used heraldry for your genealogical research, this session will offer practical insights and resources to get you started.
| | | About Kathie:
Kathie Ross, PhD, QG, has a post-graduate diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde. Kathie loves to solve genealogical puzzles. She particularly likes reading old handwriting and using old coats of arms to find clues. Kathie has been instructing both online and in-person for almost three decades and loves to help people be successful at their own research. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, her research includes Canada, the United States, Norway, Sweden, England, Scotland and Ireland - all areas where her family genealogical research has taken her.
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 (noon) PST
Location: This is a hybrid workshop. You may attend by Zoom or at the VGS Genealogy Learning & Research Centre 209 - 4475 Viewmont Avenue, Victoria, BC V8Z 6L8 CAN
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE | | Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 | NEW ADDITION -
FREE HERITAGE HISTORY HOUR -
Black Histories of British Columbia: Stories, Realities, Legacies | |
While there are many stories of formerly enslaved people using the Underground Railroad to escape cruel bondage in the US and travel to what is now Central and Eastern – that is only part of the Canadian story; and in British Columbia the narrative is quite different. In 1858, leaving behind an increasingly racist and divisive America, some 800 educated and skilled Black men and women came to the Colony of Vancouver Island at the invitation of its Governor, Sir James Douglas. They put their skills and education to work; becoming property owners, entrepreneurs, politicians, community leaders, and achieved many “firsts”.
| | | This presentation shares some of these original stories and more recent Black Histories, utilizing archival records, including images, genealogy records, newspapers, manuscripts, and books. Specific archival materials are included and/or referenced throughout the presentation.
Fran’s presentation audiences have included participants at public events, various library communities on Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland, private organizations, and public institutions such as Provincial Ministries (Citizens Services, Office of the Provincial Health Officer), Royal BC Museum, Salt Spring Island Historical Society, UVIC Continuing Studies Program, UVIC Faculty of Social Sciences, and Vancouver Heritage Foundation."
About Fran:
Fran Morrison has been a Board Member of BC Black History Awareness Society since 2010. She manages content research and development for the Society’s website, manages projects, and designs and narrates presentations on early BC Black History. She has variously co-authored, participated, contributed, advised, and collaborated with researchers, writers, educators, scholars, and historians outside of the Society to provide a multi-faceted view of the diverse and multicultural community in BC. Fran comes from Nova Scotia and is a descendant of Black Loyalists who came to Canada in 1783 and Underground Railroad travelers from Maryland in 1823. Fran moved to BC with her family in 1992. Attaining the PMP® designation, she worked as a project manager in the private and public sector for more than 25 years.
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST
Location: This is a Zoom only event
Cost: Heritage History Hour (HHH) events are FREE to all
Note: Video recordings of this event will be available online for 30 days to registered attendees only
For more information or registration visit REGISTER HERE
| 2025/2026 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY -
Enjoy event discounts, free SIG discussion groups and much more
| The 2025-2026 Memberships are effective from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026. The VGS has just completed a very successful year therefore membership prices are not being increased this year.
The following annual membership types are now available: Single Membership $65 (for a person over the age of 25 years); Family Membership $90 (two or more annual memberships for people living at the same address); Youth Membership $35 (25 years or younger).
This great membership value includes:
- Price discounts for our popular workshops and seminars - Approximately 1/3 reduced cost for workshop and seminars. For the 2024/25 year just ended, VGS held 3 one day seminars and 13 two-hour workshops targeted at improving and enriching your family history research. While our workshops and seminars are not expensive, the $65 Canadian annual cost for being a VGS member can be recovered through membership savings by attending these events.
- Free bi-weekly VGS Members Update e-newsletter to be informed of upcoming VGS events as well as events hosted by other societies, Members Tips and Tricks, genealogy news, VGS business updates and much more.
- Free Heritage History Hour – our free monthly on-line video conference evening presentation on a heritage and history topic.
- Free Special Interest Groups – SIGs are one of the most valuable resources available to VGS members and are free as a benefit of membership. SIG meetings are an opportunity to discuss your genealogy experiences and challenges with members who are interested in the same kind of research that you are. Our SIG leaders have genealogical expertise on the specific SIG focus area. SIG members help point you in the right direction and give you new ways to think about your family history challenges. With your membership you can join any number of the 9 SIG's available: DNA; Eastern Europe; England; Family History 101; Ireland; Netherlands / Belgium / New Netherland; Ontario; Scotland; Sweden.
- Free access to the VGS Genealogy Learning and Research Centre stocked with a unique collection of paper-based resources, searchable using our VGS online Library Catalogue.
- NEW - Free 'members only' online access to the minutes of our latest VGS board meeting minutes, finance statements, and past AGM materials, along with our VGS constitution and bylaws.
- NEW - Free 'members only' online access to our Genealogy Tip Sheets, helpful to both new and experienced researchers.
- Benefits of being part of a community of common interests include volunteering opportunities and more.
- Voting rights at the VGS Annual General Meeting (AGM).
| New to genealogy research?
3 Steps for Beginners
The VGS offers several benefits of membership for those new to genealogy research and for those who would like to brush up on their skills. Check these 3 easy steps below:
Step 1 - The Centre. If you haven't already visited our Genealogy Learning & Research Centre, we recommend you do. It's a great place to start and our friendly and experienced volunteers are available to help you with your questions and show you the basic research tools, techniques and resources. For a modest fee volunteers can provide various personal research services which can be viewed at RESEARCH SERVICES. The Centre is located in Royal Oak Shopping Centre and is free for members. Non-members are welcome and their first visit is free with a nominal fee of $5 for subsequent visits. Free parking, free wifi, free computers, a large library collection, and access to Ancestry library edition. Check our LOCATION page for open hours. *** New: we have updated our online library catalogue which can be searched HERE.
Step 2 - Family History 101 Seminar and SIG are a great place to start. After becoming oriented to genealogy research at the Centre, members may find themselves prepared to register for our annual Family History 101 half day Seminar. Members may also enjoy further supports by joining a discussion group that focuses on their area of research. We call these Special Interest Groups or SIGs for short. Currently there are 9 SIGs that meet regularly either by zoom, in person or in combination. The Family History 101 SIG is designed for those who are new to genealogy. Once you get basics in the Family History 101 you may want to start signing up for one or more of the other SIGs. They are all free to members. Click on SIGs to learn more about them.
Step 3 - Workshops, Seminars and Heritage History Hour. Another benefit of membership is the price breaks for our regular workshops and seminars, and access to our monthly Heritage History Hour presentations. These events not only offer the opportunity to learn about a topic, but they also provide members the opportunity to meet other members who may be researching in the same geographic area or the same surname. These are important networking opportunities and often prove useful in breaking down research brick walls. To learn more, go to our Events Calendar.
Never mind surfing the web - follow these 3 steps to learn genealogy research tools and techniques. For membership details, please go to Membership Options. | VGS social media channels
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