Annual picnic set for June 1 at Georgia Archives

The Georgia Genealogical Society will host its annual picnic on June 1.

The event will take place at the Georgia Archives, from 9:45 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The day begins with Georgia Archives staff introducing participants to the New Virtual Vault layout, which helps researchers navigate all the new records available in the ever-expanding source for Georgia documents. At 11:15, the staff will concentrate on the archives Finding Aids, where they are on the website and the various records they can lead researchers to. If you think you know everything the Georgia Archives has, think again.

Lunch is from 12:15 to 1:30. Participants can go on their own to pick it up nearby, or get a sandwich there for a donation. Afterward, Brad Quinlin, Civil War historian, will speak on “Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Marietta National Cemetery.” When the event is over, attendees are free to research on their own at the archives until closing time.

Lectures are free, and no registration required. For more information, go to gagensociety.org or GeorgiaArchives.org. The Georgia Archives is located at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow, south of I-285.

The next Georgia Genealogical Society Seminar will be September 21 in Macon and features Diahan Southard, a nationally known DNA lecturer. It’s a rare chance to hear her close by.

Genealogical societies often offer unique opportunities

There are many genealogical societies that offer special opportunities for members, such as a DNA Special Interest Group or a First Families of that county group. I just noticed that the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society of Charlotte, N.C., has a “Memoir & Ancestors Writing Group.” Members share family stories and apparently help others write things down to share. Feedback from attendees helps clarify the details of the story being created. So let me know what your society, or one you know about, might be doing that is worth sharing with others. Reach me through my website kenthomasongenealogy.com.

British genealogy sites

“The Best British Websites” was featured in the March/April issue of FamilyTree Magazine. Besides the usual, there were some I had not used, such as familyrelatives.com, thegenealogist. co.uk, genesreunited.co.uk, all fee based. Some free sites are dustydocs.com and freereg.org.uk.

Check these out to help in your research. If you think an ancestor might have been put in jail, see oldbaileyonline.org with prisoner information from 1674 until 1913. There are a lot of good stories there.