2024-2025 Speaker Series

First Tuesday of the month, September through May, 7:00 p.m., except October
Plan now to join us in person (when available) or online for these outstanding presentations by top genealogy speakers and local historians! All in-person programs will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3536 Lutheran Way, San Angelo.
Speakers and programs are subject to change without notice. Also – for any meeting, virtual access may not be available due to technical issues.
 
September 3 – Virtual
"Spending a Day with Criminal Court Records" presented by J. Mark Lowe, FUGA
Do you have a "bad boy" legend in your family tree? Uncover the details with criminal court records! Mark lays the groundwork for criminal court research, leading viewers to learn the basics and understand the terminology and organization of the Courts. Then follow along as Mark works through a criminal court case. Develop a richer understanding of court records and develop a strategy for discovering the rich information contained in these oft hidden briefs.
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
 
October 1 – No meeting is scheduled. Watch for events celebrating Family History Month!
 
November 12 – Virtual and In Person
"Colonel John Moore’s 1840 Indian Fight on the Colorado - Correcting History" presented by James Hays, MD, Col. Ret., Texas National Guard
Dr. Hays has spent many years studying early Texas history. In this presentation he will tell about an expedition led by Colonel John Henry Moore in the fall of 1840 in the Republic of Texas to control the Comanches. He will present the body of evidence he gathered to correct the location of the 1840 Indian fight that took place in October 1840.
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
December 3 – Virtual and In Person
"Old Homes of San Angelo, Part II" presented by Lisa Dennis Mahler, Local Historian
Take a journey through time with Lisa Mahler as she presents a fascinating glimpse into the old homes of San Angelo. These stately mansions once graced the heart of downtown San Angelo and beyond.Attendees can look forward to uncovering the untold stories of these historic homes and learning about the lives of the people who inhabited them. Lisa's presentation promises to shed light on the unique charm and heritage of these old homes, making this event a must-attend for anyone interested in the rich history of San Angelo.
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
January 7 – Virtual
"7 Essential Tips for Getting Started in German Genealogy" presented by Katherine Schober
German genealogy can seem incredibly overwhelming. Records in a foreign language, which are written in old-fashioned handwriting, are enough to make finding German ancestors seem near impossible to researchers looking to cross the pond. Luckily, there's help! In this session, Katherine Schober will share the top seven tips to get you started - and confidently embark on - your German genealogy journey.
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
February 4 – Virtual
"Creating Custom Genealogy Maps for Genealogy with Google" presented by Hannah Kubacak, Genealogy Reference Librarian at the West Waco Library and Genealogy Center
Discover how to use features of Google Earth Pro and Google Maps to create maps of your ancestors’ world. Features demonstrated will include overlaying historic maps with modern maps, finding family land, and plotting migration routes. Being able to see your ancestor’s land can provide a greater understanding of their life, and maybe even help solve a family mystery.
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
March 4 – Changed to Virtual Only
"Beyond the Index: Discovering Ancestors in Unindexed Records with FamilySearch's Full-Text Search" presented by Susan E. Ball
One of the most exciting recent developments in genealogy research is FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search for unindexed records. There are millions of records that might include your ancestor’s name, perhaps a maiden name, a parent, or a child, but they are unindexed and difficult to access, appearing in probate and estate records, land deeds, civil case files, and more. Learn how you can now find unindexed names and leverage the power of Full-Text Search to break down your brick walls!
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
April 1 – Virtual and In Person
"Unraveling Ancestral Mysteries:  Identifying some of  Mary Ann Rucker’s Ancestors Using DNA and Traditional Methods" presented by Sharlene Miller
This session is a case study which demonstrates how useful DNA testing can be to break down genealogical brick walls.  Sharlene will explain how she used of the three types of DNA testing to identify the parents of Mary Ann Rucker.  The use of these DNA tests pointed me in the right direction to finally find documentation that directly stated who her mother was. Without the DNA testing it would have been much more difficult to identify her ancestors.  
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.
 
May 6 – Virtual and In Person
"Navigating the Southwest Collection: Accessing Digitized Archives for Genealogy and Research" presented by Austin Allison
Explore the digitization projects of the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library ranging from maps to newspapers and other archival material that may be useful to researchers and genealogists. Austin will give detailed instructions about how researchers can access and use these materials for their topics. He will also discuss other materials housed at the Southwest Collection that are relevant to the history of the region including local cookbooks and county histories.
CLICK HERE to register for virtual access.