Special Interest Groups

FxGS SIGs

AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY SIG

SIG Leader: Marlene Parker
aamericansig@fxgs.org

The African American Genealogy Special Interest Group will explore research areas unique to the African American community, including how using census records, Reconstruction and Freedman Bureau records, plantation records, slave schedules, and other record groups can reveal information about African American ancestors.  Meeting dates are the second Tuesday of the month, September through June, except December from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, with summer months recess. Details are under each listing in the event calendar.

Upcoming Meetings: View African American SIG Events

ARCHIVE SIG
SIG Leader: Michele LeTourneur

The Archive Special Interest Group [Archive SIG] provides hands-on experience actively archiving our own family's genealogical treasures.  The group will bring documents, photographs, books and scrapbooks to in-person meetings to assess, prepare and store these documents.  Throughout the year, we will meet together virtually and in-person to discuss material storage, digitizing, digital file management, home storage solutions and future proofing strategies.  Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 5 to 7pm on a rotating schedule; generally 1 month via Zoom and 2 months in person. Zoom links will be posted on the event calendar.  The SIG is open to members and non-members. 

Upcoming Meetings: View Archive SIG Events

BEGINNER'S SIG
SIG Leader: Stephany Glotfelty

beginners@fxgs.org

Are you new to genealogy? Feel the need for a refresher on certain topics? Are you trying to figure out what to do with all the names and dates that you have gathered? Are you running into brick walls before you feel like you've even gotten started? The Beginners’ SIG is a chance for novice genealogists to gather, learn, and share some of the challenges they are facing. Meetings are held on the 2^nd Wednesday of every month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. In odd-numbered months, we will meet in person at the Annandale FamilySearch Center, and in even-numbered months, we meet via Zoom. Email Stephanie Glotfelty to be added to the SIG email list to get Zoom links.

Upcoming Meetings: View Beginner’s SIG Events

FAMILY HISTORY WRITING SIG

SIG Co-Leaders: Michael Mason and Fran Millhouser

fhwritingsig@fxgs.org

Are you done with the research? Have you begun to write? Come to the Writer’s SIG! Learn to create non-fiction genealogic narratives so compelling that your family will crave to read them. Learn to incorporate historical context, tell two stories simultaneously, place your protagonist in the center of the action, add suspense, inject drama, and use dialogue to move your story forward. Benefit from the critical review of your peers. Visit us and check it out.

Upcoming Meetings: View Family History Writing SIG Events

GENETIC GENEALOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SIG

SIG Leader: Janet Hall Werner

geneticsig@fxgs.org

The Genetic Genealogy (DNA) and Artificial Intelligence SIG generally meets the first Wednesday of each month throughout the school year (Labor Day through June), at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Contact Janet Hall Werner at geneticsig@fxgs.orgto receive notices and the Zoom link for the meetings.

Janet Hall Werner leads the SIG. Her focus as a professional genealogist is on the now-daily use of DNA and AI to solve practical problems in genealogy and break down brick walls. Recent successes with the explosion of AI and autosomal DNA testing will be reviewed, as well as practical applications of DNA in finding elusive ancestors, using DNA to find birth parents of adoptees, the use of Y-DNA, and other DNA strategies. 

Upcoming Meetings: View Genetic Genealogy SIG Events

GERMAN GENEALOGY SIG

SIG Leader: Mark Lazaroff

germansig@fxgs.org

The German SIG’s mission is to promote historical and genealogical research into the lineage and lives of our German-speaking ancestors. Our area of interest covers all German-speaking countries in Europe, both in today’s Germany and areas formerly part of the 1871 German Empire. We emphasize how to track your German-speaking immigrant ancestor backward through American sources and repositories as well as in European archives. We usually have a speaker and meet on the third Monday of each month from 1pm to 3 pm except in December and the summer months.

German SIG September 2023 Summary

German SIG October 2023 Summary

Upcoming Meetings: View German SIG Events

IRISH GENEALOGY SIG

SIG Leader: Ed Potter

irishsig@fxgs.org

Genealogists of varying experience meet to share their knowledge of Irish research and Irish history with other members; provide ideas or direction on how members could achieve successes; better understand why relatives left Ireland through the study of Irish history; locate family members the emigrant may have left behind through study of Irish records; encourage members participation in Irish research.

Irish SIG for New Members Handout

Upcoming Meetings: View Irish Genealogy SIG Events

MID-ATLANTIC GENEALOGY SIG

SIG Leaders: Linda McConnell and Christopher Smith

midatlanticsig@fxgs.org

The Mid-Atlantic SIG covers the states of New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia and New York City. To the extent of interest, the SIG will also temporarily cover Virginia and West Virginia in the absence of an Old Dominion SIG leader. SIG meetings will consist of interactive presentations by SIG members of their genealogical research, mostly related to the Mid-Atlantic region, but occasionally wandering further afield if our Mid-Atlantic research leads to other places. We also go on field trips to Mid-Atlantic research facilities.

The group meets the 1st Monday of each month from 2-4pm via Zoom.

Mid-Atlantic SIG September 2023

Virginia Published Sources November 2023

Virginia Sources November 2023

View Mid-Atlantic SIG Events

NEW ENGLAND SIG

SIG Leader: (Volunteer Leader Wanted!)

newenglandsig@fxgs.org

Meetings: Currently on hiatus while we recruit a new SIG Leader.

Many Americans can trace at least part of their ancestry to the New England colonies. From the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620 and the Puritans who settled Massachusetts Bay, to later generations who spread throughout New York, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, and westward across the United States, colonial New England families have had a lasting influence on American history. Researching these early families presents unique opportunities and challenges, including town records, church registers, probate files, land records, military service, and the many published genealogies that document early settlers.

The Fairfax Genealogical Society (FxGS) is seeking a volunteer to lead this Special Interest Group. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with an interest in colonial New England research to help fellow genealogists explore resources, share research strategies, discuss brick-wall problems, and build a community of researchers with similar interests. Support from FxGS leadership and other SIG Leaders is available to help you get started and support you throughout this opportunity.

If you are interested in learning more about serving as the New England SIG Leader, please contact the FxGS President. We would love to hear from you.