February Meeting (Wed., Feb. 27, 2019) Franklin Station Room
"Find Answers with the FamilySearch Affiliate Library"
By Ryan Henrie, Director of the Cranberry Family History Center
Come learn how you can access FamilySearch at both the Cranberry Public Library & Cranberry Family History Center.
Ryan Henrie will use demonstration and case studies to illustrate how to access various collections on FamilySearch, new features for displaying your ancestry, and ways to explore and search FamilySearch.org with greater research success.
"Find Answers with the FamilySearch Affiliate Library"
By Ryan Henrie, Director of the Cranberry Family History Center
Come learn how you can access FamilySearch at both the Cranberry Public Library & Cranberry Family History Center.
Ryan Henrie will use demonstration and case studies to illustrate how to access various collections on FamilySearch, new features for displaying your ancestry, and ways to explore and search FamilySearch.org with greater research success.
Ryan Henrie is the Director of the Cranberry Township Family History Center. He leads a group of wonderful volunteers to help researchers in breaking through walls to have genealogy success when using the free resources and databases there.
Upcoming Meetings
March 27 - 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
Rich Venezia (picture below) 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.
March 27 - 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
Rich Venezia (picture below) 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.
April 24 - Mary Jane Kuffner Hirt - Migration Patterns
How to use tax, land, church and other public records to trace colonial American migration patterns.
How to use tax, land, church and other public records to trace colonial American migration patterns.
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.
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.
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:
- GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh) Registration for June and July Institutes opens Wednesday, February 20th at 1:00 PM for both sessions. Dates are 23-28 June, 2019, and 14-19 July, 2019. For more information, click here. To register, click here for the countdown timer
- 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, February 23 at 10 AM.
- NEW! Cranberry Library Genealogy: Limited engagement in 2019. Next meeting is Tuesday, March 12 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, February 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. Next meeting February 12, 6:15-7:45 PM. 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.
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.
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 18 February 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 18 February 2019