Our next meeting will be September 21, 2019 (one week earlier), at 10:00 a.m. at the Johnson County Central Resource Library.  During this meeting we will focus on how to break through brick walls in your genealogical research. JCGS president and professional genealogist Char Mitts will lead the discussion.

 

Breaking through Genealogy Brick Walls: In addition to helping some members who have reached an impasse in their research and have submitted their brick walls in advance, Char will provide some general tips. Members of the audience will also be asked to share how they were able to break through their brick walls. By sharing their success, others will learn how to find solutions to those roadblocks they have encountered. If you have a brick wall you have been able to leap over or bore through, please plan to take a few minutes at this meeting to share your victories with the group. Visuals (on thumb drives) are welcome.

 

Char Mitts' parents grew up one block from each other outside of Boston, so there were always stories that related to both sides of the family at reunions and gatherings. She enjoyed listening to all of them which peeked her interest when she first heard about the study of genealogy in 1976. Char is a professional genealogist & lecturer for C & J Genealogical Services, Temple and Family History Consultant for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is a trainer, lecturer and helps people with FamilySearch. Char is the president of the Johnson County Genealogical Society, and is the leader of the Kansas City Area Legacy Users Group. She is a Para Educator at Olathe Northwest High School specializing in Mathematics. Most important of all, she is the mother of seven children, a mother-in-law to six and a grandmother of twenty-one.

 

Please plan to attend and learn about those areas in which you may also need help. And don’t forget it is one week earlier, September 21.

 

On the afternoon of our general meeting, Saturday, September 21st, at 1:00 p.m. the DNA Special Interest Group of the Johnson County Genealogical Society will meet in the Carmack room of the Central Resource Library.  The topic this month will be "Bringing It All Together".  Angela Fields will present a case study explaining how a 100 year brick wall was solved, finding ancestors born in the 1700s, using traditional genealogy, DNA, and collaboration.  This will be our last DNA group meeting for 2019.

 

Our DNA special interest group is for anyone who is interested in using genetic genealogy to help further their family history research.  Whether you are just starting to think about taking a DNA test, or have already tested yourself, your great aunt, and a dozen fourth cousins twice removed, this group is for you! 

JCGS volunteers are available Monday - Saturday from 9-5 at the Genealogy Desk at the Johnson County Central Resource Library for general questions.  For those looking for a little extra help with either Basic Genealogy or DNA & Genetic Genealogy we also offer free one-on-one sessions that can be booked in advance.

 

Basic Genealogy sessions are available most Tuesday mornings. This is not for brick wall or advanced research help.

 

 

 

DNA & Genetic Genealogy sessions are available most Friday mornings.

 

 

 

---

 

Congratulations to Joyce A. Mitchell, JCGS member, for her first-place award from the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors. The award-winning article, "Gold Star Mothers Visit Overseas Cemeteries," appeared in the September 2017 quarterly on page 7.

 

Joyce has been a regular contributor to The Genealogist since 2014. Lately she has researched and written a WWI series, focusing on men from Johnson County who served in that conflict. At other times, she contributes an article just because the topic is of interest to her. In addition to her writing, she works behind the scenes as a proof-reader for the quarterly and spends a lot of time finding the little things we miss, thus making us look good. We were thrilled when we heard she had won an award and are thankful for all her contributions to JCGS.

 

In honor of her award, the full September 2017 Quarterly is available to everyone by clicking here. Other issues of our Quarterly can be accessed on our website by current members of JCGS.  To become a member, please click here.