Next Meeting - March 27 at 6:30 PM
Rich Venezia
The Aliens Are Coming: USCIS Record Sets
A-Files? AR-2 Forms? C-Files? Oh my! Wade through the alphabet soup of the five record sets the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services holds to find where your recent immigrant ancestor may be hiding. This lecture mainly applies to 20th-century immigrants. Audience Level: Intermediate
In addition to handling current immigration into the USA, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) holds indispensable genealogical records for anyone with immigrant ancestors who arrived from the late eighteenth-century forward. This lecture explores a bit about how USCIS came to be, but more importantly, the valuable records it holds. Participants will learn who is likely to show up in which USCIS file set, how the index searching and ordering process works, and see examples of each record set held by USCIS. The files that will be discussed are:
· A-Files (Alien Files) (including which files are held at NARA and which are held by USCIS)
· AR-2s (Alien Registration Forms)
· C-Files (Naturalization Certificate Files)
· Registry Files
· Visa Files
In addition to handling current immigration into the USA, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) holds indispensable genealogical records for anyone with immigrant ancestors who arrived from the late eighteenth-century forward. This lecture explores a bit about how USCIS came to be, but more importantly, the valuable records it holds. Participants will learn who is likely to show up in which USCIS file set, how the index searching and ordering process works, and see examples of each record set held by USCIS. The files that will be discussed are:
· A-Files (Alien Files) (including which files are held at NARA and which are held by USCIS)
· AR-2s (Alien Registration Forms)
· C-Files (Naturalization Certificate Files)
· Registry Files
· Visa Files
Rich Venezia is a New Jersey native, who now calls Pittsburgh home, with roots in Italy, Ireland, England, Wales, and Prussia. He founded Rich Roots Genealogy in 2013. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons, and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel). Rich specializes in 20th-century immigrant ancestry. His main areas of focus include Italian, Irish, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey/New York City research. He also assists clients with dual citizenship applications for Ireland and Italy. He holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, and is Immediate Past-President of North Hills Genealogists. He is a proud Italian dual citizen. He spoke about "How to Grow Empathy From Uncovering Your Roots" at TEDx Pittsburgh 2017.
Check out our new logo!
Thanks to Sue Ennis and Judi Boren for putting it all together!
<- You can see it on our new membership brochures and cards.
And thanks to Judi for finding us a real bargain on printing.
Thanks to Sue Ennis and Judi Boren for putting it all together!
<- You can see it on our new membership brochures and cards.
And thanks to Judi for finding us a real bargain on printing.
Upcoming Meetings
April 24 - Mary Jane Kuffner Hirt - Crossing the Pond from Northern Ireland to America
Mary Jane Kuffner-Hirt is back from a recent trip to Ireland, further enriching her ancestral story of James Leech. She will share James’ 1763 Irish passport and Pennsylvania and Virginia land, tax and militia records and maps that she used to trace the migration of her Scots-Irish ancestors from Northern Ireland through Lancaster and Cumberland Counties and later to Rockbridge County Virginia. She will also discuss the resources and repositories where the records were found.
Our presenter - Dr. Kuffner-Hirt, has published in Familia, the journal of the Ulster Genealogical and Historical Society, and presented at the 2017 FGS conference; and in 2016, to an international migration studies conference in Northern Ireland. Now retired from positions at IUP and city and state government, she is applying her research skills to family history.
Mary Jane Kuffner-Hirt is back from a recent trip to Ireland, further enriching her ancestral story of James Leech. She will share James’ 1763 Irish passport and Pennsylvania and Virginia land, tax and militia records and maps that she used to trace the migration of her Scots-Irish ancestors from Northern Ireland through Lancaster and Cumberland Counties and later to Rockbridge County Virginia. She will also discuss the resources and repositories where the records were found.
Our presenter - Dr. Kuffner-Hirt, has published in Familia, the journal of the Ulster Genealogical and Historical Society, and presented at the 2017 FGS conference; and in 2016, to an international migration studies conference in Northern Ireland. Now retired from positions at IUP and city and state government, she is applying her research skills to family history.
May 21 and 22
Photo Detective Roadshow (in conjunction with the North Hills Genealogists)
Maureen Taylor is an internationally recognized expert on historic photograph identification, photo preservation and family history research. The author will join us via webinar, broadcast from her home in New England.
Photo Detective Roadshow (in conjunction with the North Hills Genealogists)
Maureen Taylor is an internationally recognized expert on historic photograph identification, photo preservation and family history research. The author will join us via webinar, broadcast from her home in New England.
March and Beyond - Local Workshops:
Free genealogy workshops led by local genealogist Susan Ennis
Beginners are especially welcome. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you.
Tuesday, March 12, April 9 and June 11. Curious about your family's past? Looking for a new hobby? Learn how to use the library's online genealogy resources to dive into your family's history. All ages and all skill levels welcome! Please bring your own laptop or technology so you can participate in hands on learning. Cranberry Township Public Library from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Attend one or all sessions. Please pre-register through the library at this link.
Beginners are especially welcome. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you.
Tuesday, March 12, April 9 and June 11. Curious about your family's past? Looking for a new hobby? Learn how to use the library's online genealogy resources to dive into your family's history. All ages and all skill levels welcome! Please bring your own laptop or technology so you can participate in hands on learning. Cranberry Township Public Library from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Attend one or all sessions. Please pre-register through the library at this link.
Other Local Events:
- Zelienople Genealogy - Zelienople Public Library. 4th Monday at 10 AM - 12 Noon. Next session is Monday, February 25th. Check the Zelie Library genealogy page and web calendar for event details.
- NEW! Evans City Library Genealogy: Limited engagement in 2019. Next meeting is Saturday, March 23 at 10 AM.
- NEW! Cranberry Library Genealogy: Limited engagement in 2019. Next meeting is Tuesday, March 19 at 6 PM.
- Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (WPGS) meets the second Saturday. Next meeting is Saturday, March 9th, at 10:30 - 12:00. "What's New In Irish Family History Research." Click here for their website events page.
- North Hills Genealogists meet the third Tuesday at Northland Library. Next meeting Tuesday, March 19. Meetings begin at 7 PM, but there is a "tip time" to ask questions of more experienced genealogists. Click here for their website.
- The Cranberry Family History Center is a great resource, as they have many paid subscription websites available for our use, at no charge. Volunteers are available to help you with your research. Beginners are welcome. The FHC is open every Wednesday from 9:30-3:30 and 7-9. Get on their mailing list for notifications when they are closed due to inclement weather or holidays.
- Butler Area Genealogy Society - meets 2nd Tuesday at the Butler Public Library. Tuesday, March 12 at 6:15 PM Rebecca Kichta Miller of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society will present “Finding Your Irish Roots”. Many have become frustrated and have given up finding their Irish ancestor within the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland. For many years the consensus has been that all searching will do is give you a headache and will lead to a dead end. Learn how to methodically search the newest resources, whether online or in repositories that will require correspondence. Learn how to locate these present-day resources and how to find those long lost Irish ancestors. Click here for the Butler Area Public Library calendar page.
About Us:
Our purpose is to assemble people who are interested in genealogy and in preserving family history, to provide programs for instruction and education of interested persons, and to help others locate and retrieve genealogical information.
We are based in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. We meet the 4th Wednesday of the month, January through October, with special events scheduled for early November. Our meetings are free and open to the public, but membership is encouraged. The $10 annual dues allows us to obtain speakers and support this website, among other activities. Click on Schedule in the upper menu for information on current and future meetings.
President: Susan Ennis
Secretary: Patricia Robison
Programs: Judi Boren
Membership: Pat Purifoy
Treasurer/Webmaster: Debbie Billeter
We are based in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. We meet the 4th Wednesday of the month, January through October, with special events scheduled for early November. Our meetings are free and open to the public, but membership is encouraged. The $10 annual dues allows us to obtain speakers and support this website, among other activities. Click on Schedule in the upper menu for information on current and future meetings.
President: Susan Ennis
Secretary: Patricia Robison
Programs: Judi Boren
Membership: Pat Purifoy
Treasurer/Webmaster: Debbie Billeter
Meeting Location:
We meet in the Franklin Station meeting room, inside the Cranberry Public Library, The address, for those using a GPS, is:
2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066. Meetings start at 6:30 PM unless otherwise indicated on the schedule.
Franklin Station is a divided meeting room. We usually meet in the front section, accessed through the library. When the front section is in use, there will be a sign in the community center hallway directing you to the rear hallway, where the door will be unlocked to allow our members entry. Unless you see a sign, enter through the library.
2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066. Meetings start at 6:30 PM unless otherwise indicated on the schedule.
Franklin Station is a divided meeting room. We usually meet in the front section, accessed through the library. When the front section is in use, there will be a sign in the community center hallway directing you to the rear hallway, where the door will be unlocked to allow our members entry. Unless you see a sign, enter through the library.
Contact Us
If you have questions or would like more information, please e-mail us or send a letter. Our mailing address is:
Cranberry Genealogy Club
c/o Debbie Billeter, Treasurer
27 Sunset Court
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
Click here to e-mail us. If that doesn't work for you, copy this info@cranberrygenealogy.org into your e-mail "To:" field.
Last updated 10 March 2019
Cranberry Genealogy Club
c/o Debbie Billeter, Treasurer
27 Sunset Court
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
Click here to e-mail us. If that doesn't work for you, copy this info@cranberrygenealogy.org into your e-mail "To:" field.
Last updated 10 March 2019