Genealogical Forum of Oregon

10/19/2025

Please join THE WRITERS’ ROOM: Our next online meeting is TODAY Sunday, Oct 19 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PT). Contact writers@gfo.org for questions.

This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the public.

The Writers’ Room special interest group meets online on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PT), January through November.

The GFO's Writer's Room Special Interest Group (SIG) is here to help you hone your genealogical and family history writing skills.

10/19/2025

Please join our FAMILY TREE MAKER GROUP: Our next online meeting is TODAY Sunday, Oct 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. (PT) Register in advance for this free meeting here: https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/family-tree-maker.html

Whether you are considering a move to Family Tree Maker, just starting to use it, or have been using it for years, you will find value in this special interest group.� Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the public.

https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/family-tree-maker.html

Family Tree Maker software users can learn tips and tricks with the GFO's FTM group.

10/17/2025

Please join our GENEALOGY PROBLEM SOLVERS GROUP: Our next online meeting is Saturday, Oct 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (PT). Register to attend here: https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/genealogy-problem-solvers-gps.html

We will learn to do a reasonably exhaustive search and develop research plans. The focus will shift depending on the needs of the group. Several experienced researchers have volunteered to help. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the public.

Our research subject made their way from New England, traveled the Oregon Trail, and ended up being an early Oregonian. But, he wasn’t the only one. Learn how we worked through the records to determine which was which.

To attend, register here. Contact Katie Daly with questions.

The GFO's Genealogy Problem Solvers research one of your family tree brick walls and bring back lessons for everyone.

10/16/2025

Join us on Saturday, October 18th for the GFO GenTalk - Hiding in Plain Sight: Finding Elusive Ancestors with FamilySearch's Full-Text Search with Julia A. Anderson, MA, AG®, AGL™. Free and open to the public. Register at https://gfo.org/learn/gen-talks.html

10/14/2025

DNA Q&A: THE BASICS - Our next online meeting is Oct 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. (PT) Registration information can be found here: http://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/dna-qa.html
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This meeting is for those who are just beginning to use DNA testing for genealogy. Each class begins with a presentation of general information about DNA testing. General questions regarding DNA testing are welcome following the planned discussion. Lisa McCullough leads this group.

http://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/dna-qa.html

Learn about DNA for genealogy in this regular meeting to take your questions.

10/07/2025

Please join our Q REVIEW GROUP: Our next online meeting is Thursday, Oct
9th at 6 p.m. (PT). Go to our GFO SIG web page at https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/the-q-review.html for meeting registration information.

This is a "book club" of sorts to discuss a different National Genealogical Society Quarterly article each month. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an experienced genealogist; this group will help you learn about new techniques and resources while enjoying fascinating stories!

At our next meeting at 6pm on Thursday, October 9, we will discuss Shannon Green's article, "Stephen Hicks of Flushing, Queens County, New York: Identifying His Children Through Uncommon Sources," NGSQ 113 (Sep 2025), p. 165-178. Contact qreview@gfo.org if you need help finding the article. To register, visit The Q Review SIG web page at https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/the-q-review.html

The Q Review is an online NGSQ Discussion Group coming to talk about a different National Genealogical Society Quarterly article each month.

10/06/2025

Please join our GREAT LAKES REGION ANCESTRY GROUP: Our next online meeting is Wednesday, Oct 8from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (PT).
Registration for our online SIG meeting available at
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/great-lakes-region.html

The group's interests include migration, travel, trade, historical events, and research techniques specific to the area. The group generally meets every other month on the second Wednesday. The facilitation of this group is a joint effort between the Genealogical Forum of Oregon (GFO) and the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society (RVGS). Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the public.

https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/great-lakes-region.html

The GFO's Great Lake Ancestry Group is here to help you trace your family roots in the upper midwest.

10/04/2025

Please join our ROOTSMAGIC SIG: Our next online meeting is Monday, Oct 6 at 10 a.m. (PT). Go to our GFO SIG web page at
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/rootsmagic.html for meeting registration information.

A special forum for users of the RootsMagic genealogy software. Our goal is to learn and help others through live demonstrations and discussions about how the software can be utilized to support individual research.

https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/rootsmagic.html

A GFO Special Interest Group (SIG) on the RootsMagic genealogy database desktop software program.

10/03/2025

Please join our PACIFIC NORTHWEST GENEALOGY GROUP: Our next online
meeting is Sunday, Oct 5 from 5:30 p.m. (PT). Register for this online SIG
meeting at https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/pnwsig.html

Facilitated by Kenith Fritsche. The Pacific Northwest (PNW) has a unique history, from
hosting the most culturally diverse indigenous populations in the United States, to
supporting the arrival of tens of thousands of Oregon Trail settlers, and cultivating the
boom years of the Silicon Forest. The PNW region is a special collection of ethnicities,
people, and culture that deserves to be studied and learned about.
Please join us by Zoom on the first Sunday of every month to discuss genealogy
focused research topics, ideas, and project opportunities pertaining to the region.
Special text for October 2025:

https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/pnwsig.html

A GFO Special Interest Group (SIG) on the Pacific Northwest (PNW) area of the United States, its genealogical history, diverse population, and cultures.

10/02/2025

4 GERMAN ANCESTRY GROUP: Our next online meeting is Saturday, Octfrom 1 to 3 p.m. (PT). Registration for this online SIG meeting available at https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/german.html

It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German-speaking ancestors. Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the public.

The October 4th meeting will be covering Illinois. We will be reviewing the timeline for when documents were required, when census records were produced, and what resources are available, including other genealogy societies, libraries, and museums. Even though we are a German group, many of our members have generations of Germans having lived in Poland, so expect some resources for Polish research.

https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/german.html

The GFO's German Ancestry Group is here to help you find your family roots.

10/02/2025

Please join VIRGINIA ROOTS & VINES: Our next online meeting is Saturday, Oct from 10 a.m. to Noon. (PT). Registration available at https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/virginia.html

Back to the Beginning Part I

We’re starting our new season with a look at the history of Virginia and the people who were there. We’ll focus on the 1600s: establishing the colony, the groups of people involved, and what records are available for research. We hope to see you all there.
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Virginia, the birthplace of the United States - the first permanent British settlement, the birthplace of several presidents. Two more states were created from Virginia, and several more created from land ceded to the new government. The Great Wagon Road and the Wilderness Road – key routes to open and settle the country- ran through Virginia. In our meetings, we discuss all this and look at how to research in this difficult state. Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the public.

https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/virginia.html

The GFO Virginia Roots and Vines is here to help you trace your roots to the earliest days of the settlement.

09/27/2025

GFO Genealogy Talk (GenTalk) Sept 27 - Digging Up New Dirt by Steven Waltz Morrison. A two-part presentation -- 11 a.m. (PT) and 1 p.m. (PT). Online, FREE, and open to the public.
https://gfo.org/gentalk