Idaho Genealogical Society

03/01/2026

DATE: Saturday, March 14, 2026, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
TOPIC: Decades of Data: Understanding the Evolution of Census Questions
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
SPEAKER: Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew

This talk explores how U.S. Census questions have changed from 1790 through 1950 and what those changes mean for genealogical research. We'll look at why certain questions appeared, disappeared, or shifted over time, and how those shifts reflect broader social and political priorities. Attendees will learn how to interpret their ancestors' census entries within the context of each decade's unique questions, gaining deeper insight into both the records and the people behind them.

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02/05/2026

DATE: Saturday, February 14, 2026, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
PRESENTERS: Research Committee Members
TOPIC: Genealogical Help Session

The Idaho Genealogical Society’s Research Committee has been busy working to break through genealogical “brick walls” submitted by several of its members. Join us at our February meeting to hear how they approached the problems, what they found, and what they suggest for further research. Time permitting, attendees will have the opportunity to ask for research suggestions regarding their own "brick walls."

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12/31/2025

TOPIC: A Quick and Dirty Guide for Reading Old Handwriting & Script
DATE: Saturday, January 10, 2026, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
SPEAKER: Kelley Barrett

Decoding old handwriting can feel like cracking a secret code — but with the right tools, you can master it! This lively session strips away the mystery and gives you practical, proven techniques to more confidently read letters, records, and documents written decades or even centuries ago. You’ll learn how to recognize tricky letterforms, spot common handwriting quirks, and discover reliable resources to turn to when you hit a scribbly brick wall. Whether you’re a genealogist, historian, or curious reader of the past, this session will help you bring old words back to life.

Speaker Bio

A professional researcher, writer and certified Master Trainer, Kelley Barrett's genealogy journey began in childhood. Family stories of suspicious name changes, disappearances, cattle rustling, and other mysteries sparked her imagination and a lifelong passion for family history. Following a successful career in Human Resources, she turned her skills in investigation, analysis, and documentation toward finding "lost" relatives, solving family mysteries, and breaking through brick walls.

Follow Kelley's genealogy adventures in her blog "Jaunts and Junkets" and learn more by visiting her website www.ancestor-hunter.com.

For information on attending this presentation remotely contact IdahoGenSociety@gmail.com

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10/29/2025

DATE: Saturday, November 8, 2025, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
SPEAKER: Christine Cohen
TOPIC: Grand Army Of The Republic: Researching Union Civil War Veterans

Do you have a Union Civil War Veteran? Did you know that in 1890 there were over 400,000 Veterans who belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R)? This organization existed from 1866 to 1956. It generated records noting Civil War service, birth, marriage, death, residences, occupations, detailed biographies and even photographs. I will show you where and how to find these hidden gems.

Speaker Bio

Christine Cohen is a long-time member of the Whittier Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) in California, currently serving as the Society's Program Director. She is also a member of the Tualatin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, and the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Her interest in genealogy began in 1977 with the airing of the TV mini-series "Roots" and her enthusiasm was piqued when she was given a typed pedigree chart, commissioned by her maternal grandfather, of the family's Dutch heritage from the New Netherlands in the 1650s. She is a native Californian and a graduate of UCLA in Political Science, now retired and pursuing her genealogy interest full time.

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08/27/2025

Idaho Genealogical Society Annual Meeting and Seminar
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 9:00AM-4:45PM

BUSINESS MEETING & 3 PRESENTATIONS
Idaho’s Basque Diaspora: A Tale of the American West
How to Research Like a Pro
An Early Idaho Settler and His Swedish Heritage
Program and registration details available at

08/17/2025

https://idahogenealogy.org/ for programming and registration information.

08/17/2025

TOPIC: Order in the Court! An Introduction to United States Court House Records
DATE: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
SPEAKER: Julia A. Anderson

From lawsuits to divorces to guardianships, U.S. court records can provide exciting details about your ancestors and how they interacted with others in their communities. This presentation will introduce the history and background of court records in the United States, describe their genealogical value, and demonstrate ways you can locate and use these interesting records in your research.

Speaker Bio

Julia A. Anderson, MA, AG®, AGL™ has a master's degree in history and education and is an Accredited Genealogist® and Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ with expertise in the United States Gulf South Region. She works as a full-time United States and Canada research specialist at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and teaches genealogy research classes for Salt Lake Community College. Julia owns and manages Anderson Genealogical Research, LLC and volunteers as a commissioner on the board of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) and is the Conference Chair for the Utah Genealogical Association.

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06/26/2025

TOPIC: What in the World is Find-A-Grave
DATE: Saturday, July 12, 2025, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
SPEAKER: Elaine Fraser

This talk serves as an introduction to Find-a-Grave. Find-a-Grave can be a valuable tool for finding information and clues on your ancestors that may not be found in Ancestry or FamilySearch vital records. It includes so much more that just names and dates and we will explore photos, flowers and profiles to see what else might be revealed.

Speaker Bio

Elaine Fraser is a GenMentor for the Pikes Peak Genealogy Society in Colorado Springs and as such she helps other members with their research questions. She also belongs to the Italian Research Group in Denver and the Italian Interest Group of EGS. Her interest in genealogy started in her mid-twenties and continues today. She researches on Find-a-Grave nearly every day and knows how to wring out the details.

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05/05/2025

DATE: Saturday, May 10, 2025, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
TOPIC: Genealogical Research Using Railroad Records
SPEAKER: Kim S. Harrison

Our May speaker will provide of an overview of the different types of records or sources that were created by the railroad or the people who worked on them. A quick look at the value these records tell us about our railroad ancestors.

Kim S. Harrison has been doing genealogy since 1974, and in 1998 was fortunate to turn her passion into her vocation. She had the privilege of working in the library community by representing some of the big online providers of information (Gale, Otherdays.com, ProQuest, NewsBank, and Ancestry) before relocating to Arizona for seven years and now back in Michigan (May 2023).

Her genealogy membership since the 1970s has been the NGS and the Ohio Genealogical Society as well as being past President of the Michigan Genealogical Council, founding member of the Grand River Trails Chapter of the DAR (MI), and past President of the Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board. During the 1980s she lobbied the National Archives to stop the destruction of the Railroad Pension Application files. Later she wrote a grant for the preservation of the investigation in the Sultana Disaster, which is now available (free) on Fold3. Her most interesting ancestor was Lot Little, and she was able to join the DAR under his service. Lot was a freed slave from New Hampshire.

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01/28/2025

TOPIC: Using Fold3 Library Edition
DATE: Saturday, February 08, 2025, 12:00 noon (Mountain Time)
LOCATION: Idaho State Archives (Idaho History Center), 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise
SPEAKER: Debra M Dudek

Love it or hate it, Fold3 is a treasure trove of online military records. However, there are records and resources on this site that stretch beyond armed forces data. Using the Library Edition of this site, you'll learn how to navigate between pages, browse resources effectively, and find the hidden gems on this fantastic database.
Speaker Bio
Debra M. Dudek is Head of Adult and Teen Services at the Fountaindale Public Library District in Bolingbrook, IL. She holds a post graduate certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Ms. Dudek is the Book Review Editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, a board member of the Illinois State Historical Society, and is the author of the World War I Research Guide: Tracing American Military and NonCombatant Ancestors — Includes a Guide to Canadian Military Research.

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07/09/2024