VGS News & Events: March 28 through April 3, 2021

UPCOMING SIG MEETINGS
Thursday, April 1
Eastern European Genealogy SIG
Zoom Meeting:   1:00pm – 2:50pm
Coordinators:  Carol Myers & Marie Musialek

Friday, April 2
British SIG
Zoom Meeting:   9:30am – 11:20am
Coordinators:  Pat Adams & Phyllis Sample

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Legacy Family Tree Webinars Announces . . . 

"The 24-Hour Genealogy Webinar Marathon"

Date: April 8-9, 2021

Join us in making history as we embark on the second-annual 24-hour genealogy webinar marathon, where you will learn how to trace your ancestors from the world's top genealogists and educators. From creating your own YouTube channel to DNA, from Cherokee ancestry to Canada and England, there's something for everyone ... in every time zone. And thanks to FamilyTreeWebinars.com and MyHeritage, the entire event is free! Pop in for a session or two, or stick around for the full 24 hours – it's completely up to you. There will even be time for Q&A and door prizes. If you can't join us in real time, we've got you covered: all recordings will be available absolutely free for a week. Beyond that, you can watch them anytime with a webinar membership to FamilyTreeWebinars.com. You'll find the complete list of webinars and links to register for your favorites by clicking HERE.

WEBINARS
National Archives Foundation
The Agitators: Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Women’s Rights
Date:  Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Time: 12:00pm (EDT)
FREE Virtual Program – Advance Registration Required
From the perspective of three friends and neighbors in mid-19th-century Auburn, NY––the “agitators” of the title––Dorothy Wickenden tells the fascinating stories of abolition, the Underground Railroad, the early women’s rights movement, and the Civil War. Harriet Tubman, one of the most important conductors on . . .  continue reading

See your ancestors like never before with MyHeritage’s photo tools
Tuesday, March 30 @ 2:00pm (EDT)   Presenter:  Tal Erlichman 
Historical photos capture the likeness of our ancestors, and MyHeritage’s groundbreaking photo tools can reveal incredible details that bring the past to life. Discover the latest improvements to MyHeritage’s suite of photo tools and connect with your family history in new and exciting ways. This is a free FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

Fifty Overlooked Genealogical Resources in Fifty Minutes

Wednesday, March 31 @ 2:00pm (EDT)   Presenter:  Diane L. Richard

Many valuable and overlooked databases don’t make headline news. Every day new ones are being created. Let’s explore some juicy gems. This is a free FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

In Their Own Words: Genealogy in the Slave Narratives
Friday, April 2 @ 2:00pm (EDT)   Presenter:  Renate Yarborough Sanders

Uncovering the genealogy of the formerly enslaved can be challenging; but, sometimes, the information is left in first-hand accounts, commonly known as “Slave Narratives”. From books, to projects set up to learn about life during slavery, researchers can find an abundance of genealogical and other information about enslaved families, their owners, and their communities – straight from the mouths of the Ancestors. This is a free FamilyTree webinar – advance registration required – click HERE.

EDUCATION

Familytree Magazine

Free Irish Poor Law Unions Map Download

Poor law unions (PLUs), designed by the British government to administer services for the poor, are central to this research. By knowing the PLU your ancestor lived in, you can find him in Ireland’s civil birth, marriage and death records. Click HERE for details.