MEET PERSI AND DISCOVER TREASURES IN GENEALOGY PERIODICALS
You may be missing out on 30% of genealogy discoveries if you’re not digging into history and genealogy newsletters, journals and magazines. Biographical profiles, stories about ancestral churches or schools, how-to tips for researching a locale, indexes and transcripts of local records are all among those treasures. Learn to find and access this content using PERSI, the Periodical Source Index. Let Sunny show you how to navigate PERSI on the FREE Allen County Public Library website portal and hear success stories that can inspire your own foray into periodical research.

Sunny Jane Morton is a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine and the  Content Director at YourDNAGuide.com. She is co-author of How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, co-authored with Harold Henderson, which received a book award from the National Genealogical Society. Her other book, Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy, is now in its 2nd edition. Her forthcoming book is a guide to the archives of Catholic nuns and sisters. She has been an instructor for GRIP Genealogy Institute and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Ancestor Short
Story Workshop

Bring your ancestor’s story to life!

This workshop is designed for anyone working on a short story about an ancestor. It’s not about fiction—it’s about turning real family history into meaningful narratives.

 What to Expect

There’s no set agenda — we’ll start with some light discussion and sharing to see where everyone is in their writing journey. We’ll touch on a few helpful resources and practical tips to get ideas flowing. Then it’s time to write, share, and encourage one another as we develop our ancestor stories together.

Open to All Writers of Family History

• BGS Members may choose to submit their finished story for possible inclusion in the upcoming BGS Publication—but there’s no requirement to do so.

• Non-members are warmly welcome too! The workshops are open to anyone who wants to write a short story about an ancestor.

Details

• Date & Time: Thursday, Nov 13 | 1:00–3:00 PM

• Location: BGS Library [MAP]

• Cost: Free for members and non-members alike

• What to Bring: Laptop, journal, or digital notebook. Wi-Fi and extension outlets will be available.

• Registration: Required
  (see the Ancestor Short Story Project page for details).

✨ Whether you’re polishing a story for publication or simply capturing family memories, this workshop is a welcoming space to explore, write, and connect.

We look forward to seeing you there!

GRATEFUL—THANKFUL— GIVING

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Learn Family Tree Maker (FTM): Genealogy Program
for Windows and Mac

ZOOM-only & FREE for everyone

Join the FTM Interest Group, facilitated by Sue Dolezal, to learn about using the features of FTM in the most effective ways, and discover the additions and improvements in version 2024. 

On the 1st Saturday of the month, BGS regularly hosts a FREE, in-person Genealogy Open Lab. The Lab is dedicated genealogy research time without the distractions at home. Research on your own, or if you have questions about a research problem, the Open Lab volunteers or other participants are nearby to offer assistance.

There is not a program presentation at the Open Lab. Bring your laptop or other device to use for research; WiFi is available. Come once, or come every 1st Saturday. The BGS Library is open, too, from 10 AM to 2:00 PM.

The public is invited to the Open Lab. If you are interested in starting your family tree, come to the Lab. We can help your find you first ancestor and assist you in beginning to research your family history. 

Location: Williamson Hall, 2200 NE Hwy 20, Bend, 97701. Click here for a map to see the Hall's location. Thank you for clicking Register to RSVP, so we know to expect you.

This year's Holiday Potluck and Celebration is at Williamson Hall on  Tuesday, December 9 beginning at 10:00 AM. It's time to celebrate genealogy and share a meal together!  Feel free to bring a guest.  Bring cash or your checkbook to pay for your Silent Auction purchases.

The program is members of our Ancestor Short Story Project sharing part of their written short story. These stories have been submitted to our own Kelly McCray who is also BGS's Newsletter Editor. For timely reasons, folks will share part of their story with you.

Silent Auction: This is a fundraiser for BGS, please bring new or gently used items to donate to the auction. Anything you like. Some suggestions are a Christmas ornament, houseplant/planter/vase, figurine, bottle of wine, book, or offer your services for IT help, genealogy research or other special skill. Bidding occurs throughout the morning. Pay for your purchases before you leave. If your item doesn't sell, please take it home with you. 

Potluck (after the Sharing Time):  Everyone brings one or more dishes to put on the potluck table to share. Bring whatever you would like, such as an appetizer, main dish, salad, side dish, pizza, vegetable tray, dessert, or anything else to share with friends.

BGS provides: Coffee, tea, water and all tableware, salt/pepper, etc. The Hall’s kitchen has a refrigerator, stove, a small microwave, and there are outlets for crock pots.

HELP!  We need help with set-up and take-down for the potluck. Tables/chairs and decoration set-up will start on Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM. Then, on Tuesday morning, we’ll be brewing coffee, etc. If you can help with set-up and/or clean-up, please email: info@bendgenealogy.org or call BGS at 541-317-9553.

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

“Naturalization And Citizenship”

Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. These records can provide a researcher with valuable information such as an ancestor’s person's birth date, birth location in the old country, occupation, immigration year, marital status, spouse information, witnesses' names and addresses. Naturalization and the individual steps to citizenship could be done at any “court of record”.

Learn more about Naturalization and Citizenship with Christine Cohen!

Christine Cohen is active in the Whittier Area Genealogical Society and also belongs to the Tualatin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, and the Association of Professional Genealogists. Her passion for genealogy started in 1977 after watching "Roots" and receiving a pedigree chart detailing her Dutch ancestry from New Netherlands in the 1650s. She recently retired to focus full time on genealogy.

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Learn Family Tree Maker (FTM): Genealogy Program
for Windows and Mac

ZOOM-only & FREE for everyone

Join the FTM Interest Group, facilitated by Sue Dolezal, to learn about using the features of FTM in the most effective ways, and discover the additions and improvements in version 2024.   

While the group will use the free, online FTM Companion Guide as a study guide for the sessions, your comments, questions, and tips will make the interest group a lively workshop experience for everyone.

Click here to  view the FTM webpage in the Events section of the BGS website. The plan right now is for the group to meet every other month through May.

The Zoom meeting will be open at 5:45 PM for extra chatting time before the official start at 6 PM. Join early, if you are available.

Registration is required to receive the link to join the Zoom meeting.

10 AM (Pacific Time), Tues, February 10 - Zoom Only

Let Tech Work for You:

Harnessing the Power

of Apps and Tools

 with Kate Penny Howard  

Are you encumbered with boxes of papers left to you by dear Aunt Madge?  Have your grandchildren shown interest in your research, but they want to see information on their phones?  Do you struggle with filling in the rest of the story ("the dash") between a person's birth and death?  Not sure you're ready to trade in your pencil for a stylus, but you want to know more?  This class is for you!

Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist and speaker specializing in endogamy and breaking down challenging research barriers with DNA. She brings decades of experience in family research and hundreds of successfully solved genetic genealogy cases.

Known for her compassionate approach, Kate helps clients uncover ancestral mysteries while providing them with more complete family medical histories and a stronger sense of identity. Her presentations captivate audiences by seamlessly blending historical context, technical guidance, and well-placed humor that keeps listeners engaged. 

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

10 AM (Pacific Time), Tues, April 14th, 2026 - Hybrid Mtg

ROADS WEST — How Your Ancestors Got Where They Wanted to Go!

with Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew

Since the first immigrants touched the shores of this continent, settlers have been on the move. Whether for adventure, religious freedom, overpopulation, or seeking a better future, people have found a way to move; south, north but mostly west. In this presentation, we will explore the methods they used, including roads, rivers, canals, and rails, the reasons for moving, and the records created along the way. 

Meet Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew, whose adventure into the annals of  history began as a teenager in the cozy corners of her living room, with her mother as her first mentor. Together, they navigated the labyrinth of census records and pored over ancient tomes, revealing secrets from the past.
Fast forward five decades, and Jamie's childhood curiosity has blossomed into a lifelong quest. In 2010, she founded California Cousins. In her role there, Jamie applies her extensive expertise to uncover family histories and piece together narratives once lost in the shadows of time. Her work transcends the traditional scope of genealogy; it's about connecting the dots of the past, bringing to light the stories and legacies that shape families, one discovery at a time.

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome!