Our club is active and engaged! Ready to join or renew?
Prefer to pay by mail?
Mail a $15 check, payable to 'Cranberry Genealogy Club', to Debbie Billeter, Cranberry Genealogy Club Treasurer, 27 Sunset Ct., Cranberry Township, PA 16066. Please include your name, email address, phone number(s) and regular mailing address with your mailed payment.
Mail a $15 check, payable to 'Cranberry Genealogy Club', to Debbie Billeter, Cranberry Genealogy Club Treasurer, 27 Sunset Ct., Cranberry Township, PA 16066. Please include your name, email address, phone number(s) and regular mailing address with your mailed payment.
Creating an Ancestor Biographical Sketch
Face it: most genealogists never get around to publishing that family history book based on their genealogy research. How about a different approach: producing short 3-5 page “sketches” about an ancestor? You’ll learn how to include a cover, photos, facts, family stories, source citations and more! And guess what, once you get a few of these ancestor sketches done, you can compile them together for one big book! Our presenter: Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community. Register for the Zoom link... |
Register for Zoom link and Reminders
Our Club uses the free registration feature of Zoom Meetings. Those who choose to register and participate via Zoom will receive automated meeting reminders.
* To register, click on the "Registration Link" for a specific meeting.
* At the Zoom registration page, enter your first and last name, and e-mail address.
* After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.
* 24 hours before the meeting, you will receive a reminder e-mail resending the Zoom meeting link.
* To register, click on the "Registration Link" for a specific meeting.
* At the Zoom registration page, enter your first and last name, and e-mail address.
* After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.
* 24 hours before the meeting, you will receive a reminder e-mail resending the Zoom meeting link.
Genea-Break
2nd Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Members Only Join your fellow members using Zoom to learn, ask, and discuss genealogy and to celebrate your research success. This year, we will highlight a genealogical reference/non-fiction book and a website each month with demonstration and insight. Plus, there's always open time for questions and discussion. Members - watch your inbox for the GeneaBreak Zoom link. And, if you want to watch again or missed a session, you may revisit on the Members Only page. If you are not a member, visit our Membership page and join using the Online option, so your e-mail can be added to the members list in a timely manner. |
Brick Walls and Bagels
1st Saturday at 8:00 AM. Open to All We call it "Bricks and Bagels" but feel free to grab a donut or muffin! Brainstorm your genealogy challenges with Cranberry Genealogy Club friends! If you don't have any 'brick walls', come and help others solve theirs or talk about your successes. We meet on the first Saturday each month at 8:00 AM at the Cranberry Giant Eagle. There is a Starbucks inside. We meet in the seating area between Starbucks and the beer and wine section. Starbucks has pastries, muffins and breakfast sandwiches, and Giant Eagle has donuts, bagels, etc. in the Bakery section. |
Zelienople Public Library
10:30 AM. Open to All Just starting to build your family tree? Or, interested in group sharing and problem solving? We begin with a mini-lesson and go from there. If you'd like to join the session via Zoom, call the library for the link. 724-452-9330. Registration is not required. Sessions are free and open to the public. |

Tracing Your Steelworking Ancestors
Heinz History Center | Tuesday, Aug. 12 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | $5 for members, $10 for non-members
In-person and Virtual
Join the History Center as we launch a new genealogy series designed to help you learn more about your blue-collar ancestors. The first session will focus on Western Pennsylvania steelworkers and the rich, often underutilized, historical sources that can help reconstruct their lives.
Professional genealogist Kate Townsend, CG® will guide participants through essential records and research strategies, including how to find employment files, union records, company newsletters, historic photographs, and more. Plus, local archivists will deliver lightning talks showcasing lesser-known resources within their collections that hold significant genealogical value related to the steel industry.
The program will also highlight the History Center’s multi-year partnership with Ancestry.com to digitize over 100,000 employee files from the Jones & Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh Works. A significant portion of these records is now searchable online, offering a rare opportunity to explore the individual experiences of steelworkers across generations.
Register now, for in-person or virtual...
The Cranberry Township FamilySearch Center is closed for renovations
We'll notify club members as soon as it reopens.
Visit the FamilySearch Center for free access to technology and to a menu of library databases with assistance from volunteers at every center. Using FamilySearch.org within the FamilySearch Centers provides exclusive access to certain record collections as well as those that can be accessed from home. In addition to FamilySearch.org, there is also access to worldwide records from these databases: Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, Geneanet, American Ancestors, Newspapers.com, and other quality options.
If visiting for the first time, ask a volunteer for a short orientation about using the resources. Then dive into the records and accomplish some research goals! There are easy ways to save records that you discover. You may download the images onto a thumb drive or e-mail the records to yourself. There is also the option to print the record images there at the FamilySearch Center.
Seeing a familiar face might be important to you when you visit the center. Members of the Cranberry Genealogy Club often volunteer there. If you are interested in serving as an occasional volunteer at the Cranberry FamilySearch Center, your help would be welcome! Stop by on a Wednesday and offer your help for future sessions.
We'll notify club members as soon as it reopens.
Visit the FamilySearch Center for free access to technology and to a menu of library databases with assistance from volunteers at every center. Using FamilySearch.org within the FamilySearch Centers provides exclusive access to certain record collections as well as those that can be accessed from home. In addition to FamilySearch.org, there is also access to worldwide records from these databases: Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, Geneanet, American Ancestors, Newspapers.com, and other quality options.
If visiting for the first time, ask a volunteer for a short orientation about using the resources. Then dive into the records and accomplish some research goals! There are easy ways to save records that you discover. You may download the images onto a thumb drive or e-mail the records to yourself. There is also the option to print the record images there at the FamilySearch Center.
Seeing a familiar face might be important to you when you visit the center. Members of the Cranberry Genealogy Club often volunteer there. If you are interested in serving as an occasional volunteer at the Cranberry FamilySearch Center, your help would be welcome! Stop by on a Wednesday and offer your help for future sessions.
Cranberry Township Family History Center is located at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2771 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Township, PA 16066. (intersection of Rochester & Powell Rds.) E-mail: [email protected]. Park in the lot off Powell Road and enter on the left rear side of the building. If Seneca Valley Schools are closed on a Wednesday, due to weather conditions, the FHC will be closed. Call to verify open hours. Ph: 724-742-0922, during center hours.
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Partners Across the Pond
News from ABC Family History Association
The ABC Family History Association in Northern Ireland is a partner group to CranGenClub, and they have months of programming outlined at the bottom of the home page of their website, at https://www.abcfha.com/.
To become an individual member of the ABC FHA, consider the options on the “Membership” web page, found online at
https://www.abcfha.com/membership. Fill out the membership form to email. A nice option is the Online Membership, which offers a reduced annual rate from the Full Membership. A major benefit of having your own membership to ABC FHA is access to all programming, including recordings. Upcoming virtual programs available to any interested genealogists:
ABC FHA’s Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/ABCFamilyHistory
The ABC Family History Association in Northern Ireland is a partner group to CranGenClub, and they have months of programming outlined at the bottom of the home page of their website, at https://www.abcfha.com/.
To become an individual member of the ABC FHA, consider the options on the “Membership” web page, found online at
https://www.abcfha.com/membership. Fill out the membership form to email. A nice option is the Online Membership, which offers a reduced annual rate from the Full Membership. A major benefit of having your own membership to ABC FHA is access to all programming, including recordings. Upcoming virtual programs available to any interested genealogists:
ABC FHA’s Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/ABCFamilyHistory
Local Genealogy Groups
North Hills Genealogists
Visit their website for details... They also have a Facebook page
Beaver County Genealogy & History Center
Meets on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Visit the Beaver County Genealogy and History Center website for open hours and program details or call the Center at 724-775-1775.
Butler County Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
Meetings are open to the public, and pre-registration is required when meetings take place on Zoom. For the latest information refer to their Facebook page and join the group. Search for Butler County Genealogy Society of Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
Check the WPGS website for coming events and programs.
Visit their website for details... They also have a Facebook page
Beaver County Genealogy & History Center
Meets on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Visit the Beaver County Genealogy and History Center website for open hours and program details or call the Center at 724-775-1775.
Butler County Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
Meetings are open to the public, and pre-registration is required when meetings take place on Zoom. For the latest information refer to their Facebook page and join the group. Search for Butler County Genealogy Society of Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
Check the WPGS website for coming events and programs.
About Us
Our purpose is to assemble people who are interested in genealogy and in preserving family history, to provide educational and instructive programs, and to help others locate and contextualize genealogical information, to build their family tree. We are based in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. We meet the 4th Wednesday of the month, typically January through October, plus other special events. Often our meetings are both in-person and via Zoom. Our meetings are free and open to the public, but membership is encouraged. The annual dues allow us to obtain speakers and support this website, among other activities. Review our 2024 Annual Report.
2025 Annual Dues are $15 ($16 if paid online).
President and Newsletter Editor: Susan Ennis
Secretaries: John Francis, Rita Romig
Outreach: Rita Romig
Programs: Judi Boren, Patricia Robison
Membership: Pat Purifoy
Treasurer: Debbie Billeter
2025 Annual Dues are $15 ($16 if paid online).
President and Newsletter Editor: Susan Ennis
Secretaries: John Francis, Rita Romig
Outreach: Rita Romig
Programs: Judi Boren, Patricia Robison
Membership: Pat Purifoy
Treasurer: Debbie Billeter
Contact Us
If you have questions, or would like more information, Click here to e-mail us. Or copy [email protected] into your e-mail "To:" field. Feedback on this website is welcome! Please let us know how we can improve this site. We try to post a lot of information on the main page, so nobody misses an announcement due to a missed mouse click.
Last updated 11 July 2025
If you have questions, or would like more information, Click here to e-mail us. Or copy [email protected] into your e-mail "To:" field. Feedback on this website is welcome! Please let us know how we can improve this site. We try to post a lot of information on the main page, so nobody misses an announcement due to a missed mouse click.
Last updated 11 July 2025