Picnic planned for June 10

The Georgia Genealogical Society’s next meeting will be a Summer Genealogy Picnic on June 10 from 9:45 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Road, in Morrow. The theme will be “Researching at the Georgia Archives.”

Speakers include Caroline Crowell and Allison Hudgins, Georgia Archives reference archivists. In addition to discussing the archives’ new online catalog, they will provide research tips for using the vast manuscript collections that are most often overlooked by genealogists.

Joanne Smalley, professional genealogist, will give a presentation from the perspective of a researcher about the best ways to use the collections of books, microfilm and manuscripts located therein.

The meeting is free and open to the public. To register go to gagensocprograms@gmail.com.

Lunch options will be provided for a small donation.

There will be a genealogy book sale by the society, and other groups will have booths with information about their organizations and their publications.

After the lectures and lunch there will be time for research from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. with assistance, if needed, from members of the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

For further information, check gagensociety.org, or call Maggie Thomas 678800-8456.

Georgia Archives catalog access is lunch topic

The Georgia Archives Lunch and Learn Lecture on June 9 will feature Caroline Crowell, reference archivist, with the topic: “Meet GIL: Our New, Improved Book and Manuscript Catalog.” It’s in Morrow at noon, it’s free, and bring your own lunch.

For further information see GeorgiaArchives.org or call 678-364-3710.

The catalog can be accessed via their website from home, as well as on site. Checking the catalog is important because many researchers just browse the shelves. If that is your only strategy, you miss books on the oversized shelf, the new book shelf, as well as county-related books cataloged under say “court records” found elsewhere in the reading room.

Those who have never been to the Georgia Archives should note that it contains a great deal of printed material from other Southern states — for example, several hundred books, as well as genealogy and historical journals, from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. It is well worth a visit, even if you don’t have a Georgia ancestor.

Federation of Genealogical Societies to meet in Pittsburgh

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) meets Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 in Pittsburgh, Pa., with the theme being “Building Bridges to the Past.” For the full program and registration details, see fgs.org.