2022 Meetings
Scroll through the page, to see our exciting 2022 lineup!
July GRIP Virtual Presentations
Wed., June 29, 2022 (alternate date)
in is able to reschedule our program. (Due to international flight delays she was unable to be with us on March 23).
During the 1800s, 1 in every 7 people in the United States was a member of a fraternal society. Explore the various types of organizations and understand how they differ from each other and gain your own secrets to accessing their record collections.
Our presenter: Jen Baldwin has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old, enjoying her grandmother's stories - and her cookies. She is currently the North American Acquisition & Evangelism and Global Ambassador Program Lead for FindMyPast, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, on PBS. She is the author of course materials for the National Institute of Genealogical Studies. Learn more about Jen and Ancestral Journeys
June GRIP Virtual Presentations
Wed., May 25, 2022
Heinz History Center Detre Library & Archives
Our presenter: Sierra Green, Archivist with the Heinz History Center Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives will give us a virtual tour of the Library - Western Pennsylvania’s preeminent source for researching the region’s rich history.
Founded in 1879, the Library & Archives preserves the rich history of Western Pennsylvania, and makes its collections accessible to researchers, students, and the general public. We’ll learn how to prepare to conduct research at the Detre Library and much more.
The collection includes:
• 700,000 photographs, prints, and negatives
• 40,000 books, pamphlets, and monographs
• 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries
• 600 periodical titles
• 500 maps and atlases
Wed., April 27, 2022 - Hybrid Meeting
Betty Steup, one of our dedicated club members, will present "Planning a Successful Research Road Trip'', both in-person at the Cranberry Library and also broadcast via Zoom. .
Wed., March 23, 2022
Pledging Brotherhood: An Introduction to Fraternal, Benevolent, and Secret Societies
During the 1800s, 1 in every 7 people in the United States was a member of a fraternal society. Explore the various types of organizations and understand how they differ from each other and gain your own secrets to accessing their record collections.
Our presenter: Jen Baldwin has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old, enjoying her grandmother's stories - and her cookies. She is currently the North American Acquisition & Evangelism and Global Ambassador Program Lead for FindMyPast, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, on PBS. She is the author of course materials for the National Institute of Genealogical Studies.
Wed., February 23 , 2022
Happily Ever After?
Yes, No, Maybe? Our ancestors married for many reasons besides ‘true love’. Wedding traditions from the past influence ceremonies today. Sweet, funny and strange! We’ll explore resources and strategies for locating marriage licenses, and more. Bring your ancestral wedding stories or brick walls. Our presenter: Judi Boren, program chair for the Cranberry Genealogy Club and amateur genealogist seeking answers.
Wed., January 26, 2022
Researching German Civil and Parish Records
If German record sets are puzzling to you, come to this meeting. The complexity of Germany’s history, and its effect on genealogical sources can be difficult obstacles for a family historian to overcome. The session will focus specifically on German civil records and parish records, with emphasis on how/where to locate the records and how to interpret the records. This ranges from using Family Search’s catalog to using German repositories like Archion.de to contacting local archives. Additional attention will be provided to historical geopolitics of what is today Germany, handwriting styles, as well as useful German reference materials. Lastly, the session also covers territorial regions formerly included in the German Empire (i.e. Alsace-Lorraine and eastern Prussian provinces).
Our presenter: Alex Tolksdorf is a financial analyst for the Ford Motor Company, the President of the Ford Genealogy Club, and a native resident of the Metro Detroit area. He has been active in researching his family for 12 years, starting with a high school class trip to Ellis Island in 2009. https://tolksdorfresearch.com/
July GRIP Virtual Presentations
Wed., June 29, 2022 (alternate date)
in is able to reschedule our program. (Due to international flight delays she was unable to be with us on March 23).
During the 1800s, 1 in every 7 people in the United States was a member of a fraternal society. Explore the various types of organizations and understand how they differ from each other and gain your own secrets to accessing their record collections.
Our presenter: Jen Baldwin has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old, enjoying her grandmother's stories - and her cookies. She is currently the North American Acquisition & Evangelism and Global Ambassador Program Lead for FindMyPast, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, on PBS. She is the author of course materials for the National Institute of Genealogical Studies. Learn more about Jen and Ancestral Journeys
June GRIP Virtual Presentations
Wed., May 25, 2022
Heinz History Center Detre Library & Archives
Our presenter: Sierra Green, Archivist with the Heinz History Center Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives will give us a virtual tour of the Library - Western Pennsylvania’s preeminent source for researching the region’s rich history.
Founded in 1879, the Library & Archives preserves the rich history of Western Pennsylvania, and makes its collections accessible to researchers, students, and the general public. We’ll learn how to prepare to conduct research at the Detre Library and much more.
The collection includes:
• 700,000 photographs, prints, and negatives
• 40,000 books, pamphlets, and monographs
• 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries
• 600 periodical titles
• 500 maps and atlases
Wed., April 27, 2022 - Hybrid Meeting
Betty Steup, one of our dedicated club members, will present "Planning a Successful Research Road Trip'', both in-person at the Cranberry Library and also broadcast via Zoom. .
Wed., March 23, 2022
Pledging Brotherhood: An Introduction to Fraternal, Benevolent, and Secret Societies
During the 1800s, 1 in every 7 people in the United States was a member of a fraternal society. Explore the various types of organizations and understand how they differ from each other and gain your own secrets to accessing their record collections.
Our presenter: Jen Baldwin has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old, enjoying her grandmother's stories - and her cookies. She is currently the North American Acquisition & Evangelism and Global Ambassador Program Lead for FindMyPast, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, on PBS. She is the author of course materials for the National Institute of Genealogical Studies.
Wed., February 23 , 2022
Happily Ever After?
Yes, No, Maybe? Our ancestors married for many reasons besides ‘true love’. Wedding traditions from the past influence ceremonies today. Sweet, funny and strange! We’ll explore resources and strategies for locating marriage licenses, and more. Bring your ancestral wedding stories or brick walls. Our presenter: Judi Boren, program chair for the Cranberry Genealogy Club and amateur genealogist seeking answers.
Wed., January 26, 2022
Researching German Civil and Parish Records
If German record sets are puzzling to you, come to this meeting. The complexity of Germany’s history, and its effect on genealogical sources can be difficult obstacles for a family historian to overcome. The session will focus specifically on German civil records and parish records, with emphasis on how/where to locate the records and how to interpret the records. This ranges from using Family Search’s catalog to using German repositories like Archion.de to contacting local archives. Additional attention will be provided to historical geopolitics of what is today Germany, handwriting styles, as well as useful German reference materials. Lastly, the session also covers territorial regions formerly included in the German Empire (i.e. Alsace-Lorraine and eastern Prussian provinces).
Our presenter: Alex Tolksdorf is a financial analyst for the Ford Motor Company, the President of the Ford Genealogy Club, and a native resident of the Metro Detroit area. He has been active in researching his family for 12 years, starting with a high school class trip to Ellis Island in 2009. https://tolksdorfresearch.com/