I thought I would give you advance notice that the Central Virginia Genealogical Association is hosting Darius Brown to lecture at 10am on November 9, 2024. He will talk about his Wheatley award-winning book, At the Feet of the Elders (2023), and about his ancestors who served in the military — a very appropriate thing to think about on Veterans’ Day weekend! CVGA meets at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the second Saturday of the month.

Darius will be speaking to us via Zoom. If you are interested in attending the Zoom presentation from your location, contact eleanordew@gmail.com with the subject “Darius Brown Presentation List” and ask to be added to the attendees list. We will email the link to you a day or two before the event.

Hope to see you there!

December Meeting Heads-Up

At our December 14, 2024 meeting, we will discuss the book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are, by Libby Copland.

This book examines consumer DNA testing, including its history and its use as a tool in genealogy research. Throughout the book, we follow the story of Alice as she searches for answers about her father’s ancestry. “Woven throughout The Lost Family is the story of one woman, her unusual results, and a relentless methodical drive for answers that becomes a thoroughly modern genetic detective story.” – from the book jacket.

NOTE: This book is available as a free download for Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers. It is also available as an e-book from JMRL, the library system in the Charlottesville area. It was recently available online as a used book at ThriftBooks for $5.89.

Suggestions

Since there will not be a meeting on June 8, here are some suggestions for continuing your research:

FindMyPast is offering free access to its records from 6 June to 10 June.  Here is the link:  https://genealogybargains.com/fmp-us-evergreen
Legacy Family Tree is a subscription website but once the webinars are completed in person, they are available for a certain number of days free.  Check out some of these.  Always good information.
If you are into maps, check out https://www.davidrumsey.com/
We are looking for speakers to do in person presentations.  If you would like to do a presentation or know of someone who does presentations, please let me know.

Zoom Meeting February 10, 2024

Tomorrow, February 10, 2024, Central Virginia Genealogical Association will meet by Zoom beginning at 10 a.m.  We will view a YouTube video called “The Truth About FindAGrave” by Amy Johnson Crow.

I hope you can join us for the video and a general genealogy discussion following the video.  A Zoom link has been sent to all members.

CVGA Happenings – January 13, 2024

  • Lorraine Quill was elected Treasurer  of CVGA at a brief business meeting. She replaces long-time Treasurer, Diane Inman, who has served with distinction for many years! We look forward to working with Lorraine.
  • The major part of this meeting was to hear Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, as she gave a presentation on the National Archives (NARA), and how to use it for genealogical research. The members attending enjoyed the subject, and learned a lot. Here’s a link to her January and February calendar: https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2024/01/04/coming-up-jan-feb-2024/

Ms. Russell is a lively and interesting speaker, and we urge you to try to attend one of her presentations if you have the chance.

Here is the website of The Legal Genealogist in case you’d like to follow Ms. Russell’s schedule of presentations: https://www.legalgenealogist.com/

—Jean Cooper

Jan. 13, 2024: NARA Mythbusters: Your Family IS in the Archives — a presentation by Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist

The Central Virginia Genealogical Association is pleased to announce a presentation by

Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist
NARA Mythbusters: Your Family IS in the Archives

“All the military records were burned in the fire.”
“There isn’t any birth, marriage or death information in federal records.”
“There aren’t any details about ordinary families at the National Archives.”

These kinds of myth-statements stop genealogists from breaking down all kinds of brick walls using the wealth of information in NARA records. Join the mythbusters with the treasures the National Archives holds for your family.

When: Saturday, January 13, 2024
What Time: 10:30 a.m.
Where: The Meeting Room, Northside Public Library
705 West Rio Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901

This is a free event open to the public.