Topeka Genealogical Society

04/17/2026

Join us for the Topeka Genealogical Society April Meeting!
“Topeka’s Constitution Hall” with Grant Glenn
Thursday, April 23, at 7:00pm
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Kansas first took shape as a free state in the fall of 1855, when delegates gathered in Topeka’s Constitution Hall to draft the Topeka Constitution. Now fully restored, this historic landmark stands as a powerful reminder of Kansas’s pivotal role in the antislavery movement leading up to the Civil War.
At our April meeting, Grant Glenn will share the remarkable story of Constitution Hall—its place in Kansas history, the people who shaped it, and the recent renovation that brought new life to this treasured site.
Monthly programs are free and open to the public.
Attend in person or online via Zoom.
Register for the Zoom link at https://tgstopeka.org/events/ #!event-list

04/17/2026

The TGS Writing Group had another great session together today. We each write a short piece on a suggested theme (or on our current project) and share it with the group. It's a great source of inspiration! We are learning together and plan to branch out by sharing how to add photos to layouts and how AI can be used as an assistant or editor in your writing. We welcome new members to our group!

03/27/2026

Last evening Brian Vazquez presented an engaging and informative program to TGS on membership in the Sons of the American Revolution and the society's resources for genealogy research. We especially enjoyed the demonstration of exploring various helpful features on the SAR website. https://www.sar.org/ Thank you, Brian!

03/22/2026

Our March 26, 2026, dining out/fundraiser will be at Jason's Deli, 6121 SW 12th St. TGS will receive 20% of total sales to our group.

Order online, for takeout or in-person dining any time between 10am and 8pm. For those who would like to join us in person, we will plan to gather at 5:00pm. Following dinner, please join us at 7:00 pm at the TSCPL for our monthly program presentation by Brian Vazquez, "Patriots Remembered: Tracing Legacy with the Sons of the American Revolution"

Thank you for your continued support of TGS.

Monthly Dining Out/ Fundraiser at Jason's Deli on Thu Mar 26 2026, 11:00am CDT: Our March 2026 dining out/fundraiser will be at Jason's Deli, 6121 SW 12th...

03/22/2026

Celebrate America 250 with Us!

“Patriots Remembered: Tracing Legacy with the Sons of the American Revolution,” presented by Brian Vazquez, President of the Topeka Thomas Jefferson Chapter, SAR.
Join the Topeka Genealogical Society on Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 pm at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for this special program.
As the nation prepares for the 250th anniversary of American independence, discover how the Sons of the American Revolution keeps patriot stories alive. Brian will share how SAR honors Revolutionary War ancestors, preserves historical records, promotes civic education, and offers powerful tools for tracing patriot lineages. Members of the local SAR chapter will also be available to answer your questions.
Free and open to the public.
Attend in person or via Zoom—no registration needed for in‑person attendance.
To attend remotely and receive the Zoom link, visit:

"Patriots Remembered: Tracing Legacy with the Sons of the American Revolution" by Brian Vazquez at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on...

03/21/2026

The new TGS Writing Group is thriving! You can see from our smiles that we had a wonderful time sharing our family stories and trading tips for success this morning. If you are interested in joining us, please check the "Upcoming Events" list on our website at https://tgstopeka.org/events/ #!event/2026/4/17/tgs-writing-group

03/16/2026

Don’t miss this week’s TGS events:

Tuesday, March 17, 9:30am (Zoom): TGS Brick Wall SIG: Cindy will present an overview of 15 free genealogy websites at the Topeka FamilySearch Center—perfect for all experience levels.

Friday, March 20, 10:00am in Anton Room 202 in the public library: TGS Writing Group facilitated by Phyllis and Terry—monthly prompts, friendly faces, and great stories. Theme: "Your Memory Has a Story - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words." Bring a one-page story or just come listen!

For more information and a Zoom link to the Tuesday SIG, visit the TGS website - link below:

There’s always something happening at the Topeka Genealogical Society, and we would love to have you participate! Check this page often to see what is coming up, and how to register (if needed) and attend. Are you interested in seeing only some types of events, such as all Monthly Programs? Use th...

03/11/2026

I finished another book which is now listed for sale on Amazon. I combined a description of my research to find the identity of Oscar Hoskins' and his wife, Mary Raiford's enslavers with Oscar's biography.

Here is the description of the book, Rev. Oscar Hoskins, "Called to Serve," by Cindy Cruz

Oscar Hoskins entered the world in bo***ge yet refused to let slavery define the limits of his life. During the Civil War he enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops, taking up arms against the very institution that claimed to own him. Illness, poverty, illiteracy, and prejudice shadowed his early years, but he steadily carved a path of service to God, to his family, and to his community.
Unlike many enslaved people whose identities were shrouded until they were named in the 1870 census, Oscar and his wife, Mary, were among the few whose parents’ names were preserved by enslavers. Those fragments of documentation open rare windows into their family histories and the world they inhabited before emancipation.
In Kansas, Oscar became known not only as a devoted minister of the gospel but also as a gardener whose produce was the pride of Junction City. His life’s work—tending both the soil and the souls of his neighbors—left a legacy of quiet strength and steadfast faith. This is the story of how he nurtured hope in every place he planted himself.

Oscar Hoskins entered the world in bo***ge yet refused to let slavery define the limits of his life. During the Civil War he enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops, taking up arms against the very institution that claimed to own him. Illness, poverty, illiteracy, and prejudice shadowed his early yea...

03/05/2026

RootsTech Watch Party Tomorrow! 9-5 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Free live stream from RootsTech in Salt Lake City FamilySearch event. Come for fun with friends and free food. Registration is required.

Please support this free event. Register at

Join us for a day of online genealogy sessions curated from the hundreds of sessions at RootsTech in Salt Lake City, Utah.. Event starts at March 6, 2026 9:00 AM CST

03/03/2026

Reminder - DNA SIG this morning at 10:30am. Sort, color code and cluster your matches!
Register at

DNA SIG - Getting Your DNA Results at Virtual - Zoom on Tue Mar 3 2026, 10:30am CST: Our DNA Special Interest Group is Making Some Changes in 2026! ...

03/03/2026

Tom Schmidt recently treated TGS members and guests to inspiring stories of Kansas men who carried "the Colors" into battle during the Civil War. Our February meeting, "Kansas Save the Flags" lecture, was about preserving the fragile remains of those flags and remembering the sacrifice of the men who carried them. If you missed the program, a recording is available to members (login required) for on-demand viewing under the Past Programs tab on the TGS website.: https://tgstopeka.org/past-programs/

03/01/2026

Attend the largest genealogy conference on the planet at the RootsTech Watch Party at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Friday, March 6 from 9-5 pm. Attend two general sessions and four other sessions of your choice. There will be fun and food, too! Come and go as you please, but registration is required! Register at

Join us for a day of online genealogy sessions curated from the hundreds of sessions at RootsTech in Salt Lake City, Utah.. Event starts at March 6, 2026 9:00 AM CST