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Welcome to KINSEEKERS Genealogical Society

	Member: Florida State Genealogical Society Member: Federation of Genealogical Societies

Genealogy connects us.

To our ancestors. To who we are. To each other.

Genealogy is fun.

It's the thrill of the hunt. The joy of discovery.

Join us. All experience levels welcome.

Events and education programs are free and open to the public.

We meet at 10:30 on the 3rd Saturday of the month (October through June)

at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E Main St, Leesburg, Florida 34748.

KINSEEKERS is on Summer Hiatus July-September

Next Meet-Up: 19 October, 2019

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October Meet-Up & 2019-2020 Kick-Off!

Saturday, 19 October

Leesburg Public Library, Meeting Room A

We are kicking off our 2019-2020 with a 'Summer Excavations" program and social meet-up. Share your summer genealogical adventures or simply enjoy hearing others share theirs! Learn about our upcoming events (we're excited!). Enjoy light refreshments while reconnecting with fellow members and welcoming new attendees.

Our Special Interests Groups (SIGs) are starting back up too. (Free and open to the public)

DNA SIG (Special Interest Group): 9:15-10:15 in Meeting Room A.

(This group discusses DNA-related genealogy topics. New attendees welcome.)

WIKITREE SIG: 1:30 - 3:00m in the Library's Tech Room.

(This group is for users of WikiTree, the world's free, online, collabrative family tree.)

GENTECH SIG: Will begin again on 2 November, meeting the first Saturday of the month at 10:00....except on 2 Nov. The Nov GenTech will meet at 2:00 for a special program on Vivid-Pix RESTORE software for photos. (This group discusses various tech tools we can use for genealogy.)

National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

10:00 - 4:00, Leesburg Public Library, Meeting Room A/B

Every year, the National Archives hosts a free, virtual Genealogy Fair. The sessions are for all skill levels. We're offering you a unique, fun, and interactive way to watch it: at the library via livestream! (It's a mini genealogy-fest!)

Come for part of it or stay all day. You'll have the opportunity that morning to order a gourmet box lunch for $13 or you can bring your own. Light refreshements will also be available. Seating will be at tables and handouts will be provided.

Meet fellow family history enthusiasts and benefit from the collective knowledge in the room. (We'll offer our own mini-Q&A after each session.) We hope you register and join in the genealogy camarderie!

Schedule

10:05 - Exploring History Hub for Genealogists and Researchers

11:00 - Preserving Personal Collections

12:00 - Immigrant Records: More Than Just Ship Passenger Arrival Lists

1:00 - Researching Your World War I Sailor and Marine

2:00 - Discovering and Researching Bureau of Indian Affairs School Records

3:00 - The Homestead Act: Land Records of Your Ancestors Closing Remarks

To register: Please call the library at (352) 728-9790, option 3, or use this link to register online.

June Program 2019

Saturday, 8 June

Leesburg Public Library, Meeting Room A

"Digging Beyond Hints & Tips"

Where do we go when we reach the end of the internet ... or at least the end of the shaky leafs and record hints? Are you up for a road trip or a stay-cation this summer? Places where your bunny slippers are OK as well as places where you can stay cool while you have fun. Let's discuss how we can make our own hints and further our research when we think we have exhausted what Ancestry & FamilySearch have to offer. "Oh the places we will go" ~ Dr Seuss

Debi Hoag, society member, is an experienced genealogical researcher of 33 years and a project leader at WikiTree where she specializes in helping members find sources.

May Program 2019

Saturday, 11 May

Leesburg Public Library, Meeting Room A

"Finding Your WWI & WWII Ancestors"

Want to learn more about your ancestors' military experiences in WWI and WWII? This program will discuss the wide variety of military records and resources available online: how to find them, how to use them, and how to combine them to paint a rich picture of someone's wartime service. This presentation will be especially helpful to those whose ancestors' military personnel files were destroyed in the 1973 archives fire.

KB Barcomb is a professional genealogist who specializes in WWI and WWII research. A retired Army officer, she uses her military background to further understanding of the many nuances and details found in military records. She has presented both locally and nationally, to include the 2018 Association of Professional Genealogists annual conference.

April Meet-Up & Program 2019

Saturday, 13 April

Leesburg Public Library, Meeting Room A

Program: "Backing Up to the Boat"

Looking for your immigrant ancestors? This comprehensive presentation will discuss not only passenger lists & immigration records, but important considerations such as time frames, ethnic backgrounds, ports of entry, and the naturalization process. It will also address indentured servants, name changes, and using family documents and oral histories in your search. Timelines, census documents, and on-line databases will also be covered.

Ann Mohr Osisek is a highly experienced genealogist, speaker, and educator. She has been a genealogy instructor for the Disney Institute, the Orange County FL Adult Education Program, Seminole County Community College, Elderhostel, and the John C Campbell Folk School. She is a Past President of the Florida State Genealogical Society and the Central Florida Genealogical Society. She has also been published in the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Quarterly, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Forum, and numerous genealogical and historical society journals.

March Program

Saturday, 9 March at 10:30

Leesburg Public Library, Meeting Room A

Program: "Write, Edit, and Publish Your Family Stories"

Want to capture and share the discoveries you're making about your family history? Not sure how to start or maybe not sure how to bring it all together? This presentation is for both beginners and advanced writers interested in writing and sharing family stories. You'll learn writing methods, editing tips, and current resources that will help you create a family history narrative. Ideas for self-publishing will also be discussed.

Susan Ennis is a professional genealogist, writer, editor, and researcher based near Pittsburgh, PA. She has published in journals, magazines, and newspapers and has editorial credit for five published books. She is also the newsletter editor for the North Hills (Pittsburgh) Genealogists, a society with over 250 members. Additionally, she serves as the genealogy instructor for several public libraries in Butler County, PA and is an active member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.