Longmont Genealogical Society - LGS

Longmont Genealogical Society - LGS LGS meets the 2nd Wed. of every month in-person & on Zoom. of the month, only on Zoom. See Events. https://lgsco.org/ Some accomplishments of the society:
1.

We offer a Collaborative Workshop on the 3rd Wed., Library Session last Sat. & a FamilySearch SIG 1st Thus. In the early 1980's, in Longmont, Colorado, a small group of ladies met in the Callahan House once a month to share family history. Their meetings consisted of getting together to record their research findings into pedigree and family group sheets and writing letters to seek additional information on their ancestors. When the Callahan House became unavailable for meetings, they met in the homes of their members. That only lasted a short time before the group became too large and meetings were moved to the Longmont Senior Center. Membership grew by word of mouth and a few published notices in the Times-Call newspaper. In 1986, a charter membership was offered for $5. At the end of 1987, thirty-nine charter members were recorded. In August and September of 1987, the Longmont Genealogical Society drafted bylaws, joined the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies, established a library of genealogy reference materials, published a newsletter and selected interim officers. The society was chartered as a nonprofit organization in August of 1988. In December that year the first elections were held, and officers installed for 1989. The founding officers were: President - Mary Heddles, Vice President - Sherry Sweetman, Secretary Cina Bower, and Treasurer - Doris Morgan. Through the years, LGS has strived to have interesting and informative meetings, and provide family history assistance. Extracted and published early Longmont water permits, voter records, newspaper announcements, Shaw Mortuary Records, Longmont City Records, and school lists.
2. Compiled on a CD interment data for four local cemeteries and over 25,000 headstones. The cemeteries were Burlington, Mountain View, Ryssby and Foothills Gardens of Memory.
3. Established and maintain Mountain View Cemetery memorials on Find A Grave.
4. Indexed the Longmont Ledger from 1890-1927.
5. Participate in the annual Longmont Memorial Day Observance at Mountain View and Foothills cemeteries supplying information and headstone location maps to visitors.
6. LGS offers free genealogy workshops and education classes.
7. For a donation, LGS offers Longmont area Genealogy Research help. Our Mission Statement
• To promote and encourage an interest in genealogy.
• To aid members in their genealogical pursuits by offering the means and opportunity to share, collaborate and assist each other in their research.
• To educate members and the interested public in genealogical research.
• To maintain and elevate genealogical standards; to stress the importance of accuracy in research through careful documentation.
• To locate, preserve, publish and index public and private genealogical/historical records.
• To assist and support any genealogical institutions or repositories in Colorado which are open to the public.

🎄 Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas from the Longmont Genealogical Society!May your holiday be filled with joy, laughte...
12/25/2025

🎄 Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas from the Longmont Genealogical Society!

May your holiday be filled with joy, laughter, and the stories that connect generations.

Whether you’re celebrating with family near or far, or remembering loved ones through cherished traditions, we hope your day is full of warmth and meaning.

Merry Christmas, LGS friends! ❤️

📚 Genealogy Terminology: What Are Chancery Records?You've heard of wills and deeds, but don't overlook Chancery Records!...
12/23/2025

📚 Genealogy Terminology: What Are Chancery Records?

You've heard of wills and deeds, but don't overlook Chancery Records!

⚖What they are: These were cases heard in courts of equity—meaning the issue couldn't be solved by strict common law. They were often used to settle disputes over estates, business debts, land boundaries, and even divorces.

📜Why they can be gold for genealogists: Chancery records often contain detailed depositions (sworn testimonies), lengthy lists of heirs (even women who were married and not listed in the will), and correspondence that spells out family relationships that are missing in other documents!

Have you ever found a relative in a Chancery case? Tell us about what you found!

☕ Happy Winter Solstice! Time to Hibernate and Research! 🌨️Today marks Yule, the First Day of Winter and the Winter Sols...
12/21/2025

☕ Happy Winter Solstice! Time to Hibernate and Research! 🌨️

Today marks Yule, the First Day of Winter and the Winter Solstice - the longest night of the year!

For genealogists, the cold season is a perfect excuse to cozy up, pour a warm drink, and dedicate some uninterrupted time to family research. ⛄

What is on your winter research to-do list? Are you indexing, climbing a particular branch of your tree, transcribing documents, or diving into a specific record set? Let us know what you're working on tonight! ❄

🎉 It’s National Ugly Sweater Day! 🎄Our ugly sweater says:“All I want from Santa is the 1890 Census.”(Please, Santa? We'v...
12/19/2025

🎉 It’s National Ugly Sweater Day! 🎄

Our ugly sweater says:
“All I want from Santa is the 1890 Census.”

(Please, Santa? We've been REALLY good this year! 😉)

If you’re celebrating today, show us your ugly sweaters or share what you hope Santa will be bringing you! 🎅

🖼️ Family History Show & Tell! If you are lucky, you have that one special item from an ancestor. What is the oldest or ...
12/17/2025

🖼️ Family History Show & Tell!

If you are lucky, you have that one special item from an ancestor.
What is the oldest or most special document, photo, or artifact in your family's possession?
Share a picture of it and tell us the story behind it! We'd love to see the treasures you've protected!

Post your photo and/or story in the comments below. 👇
Then like and share this post so others can play along!

🕎 Wishing a warm and joyful Hanukkah to all who celebrate.From our LGS family to yours. May your home be filled with lig...
12/15/2025

🕎 Wishing a warm and joyful Hanukkah to all who celebrate.
From our LGS family to yours. May your home be filled with light and love. ✨

🎁 Family Historian Holiday Gift List 🎄It's the most wonderful time of the year! If you still need some gift ideas for th...
12/13/2025

🎁 Family Historian Holiday Gift List 🎄
It's the most wonderful time of the year! If you still need some gift ideas for the family historian in your life, dropping a hint about what you'd really like to find under the tree, or buying your own gifts, we've compiled a wish list of essential tools, courses, and unique keepsakes.

Here are some top gift ideas for every family history enthusiast:

1. 💻The Digital Deep Dive (Subscriptions & Kits)
The greatest gift you can give a researcher is access to new records! Subscriptions are the fuel that keeps the research engine running.

Genealogy Subscriptions: A gift membership to a major research website can unlock billions of records. Top platforms include Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and Findmypast (great for UK/Irish research).

Record Access: For those who love digging into primary documents, a subscription to a niche site like Newspapers.com or Fold3 (military records) is invaluable.

DNA Testing: If they haven't tested, a kit from AncestryDNA, MyHeritage DNA, or FamilyTreeDNA can break through those stubborn brick walls and connect them with new cousins.

2. 📑The Preservation Station (Archival & Organization)
Most genealogists are also record archivists. Help them protect their precious documents and photos for future generations with quality archival supplies.

Archival Storage Boxes & Sleeves: Acid-free, lignin-free storage is a must. Products like the Itoya Profolio Archive-All Storage Box or archival document cases are perfect for safely storing old documents and photos.

Organization Systems: A specialized binder or starter kit makes organization easy. The Performore Family History/Genealogy 3 inch Ring Binder comes designed specifically for family records. For a full organizational overhaul, consider a kit like the Lineco Archival Preservation Kit which often includes gloves and acid-testing pens.

3. 🤓The Organizational & Learning Toolkit
Genealogy Software: Having a local copy of a family tree is essential. Programs like Family Tree Maker or RootsMagic are industry standards for tracking, charting, and reporting.

Education & Training: Gift a subscription to Legacy Family Tree Webinars for access to thousands of genealogy classes, or help fund a spot at a genealogy institute like SLIG or GRIP for immersive, in-depth learning.

Conference Trip: One of the largest genealogy conferences in the world is RootsTech in Salt Lake City. If you have some budget for a big-ticket item like a 3-day getaway, this is the one!

Essential Books: Every serious genealogist needs a few core texts, such as Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources by Elizabeth Shown Mills, or a book on breaking through "brick walls."

4. 📕Keepsakes & Custom Creations
These gifts are personal and beautiful ways to display the hard work of research.

Custom Family Tree Art: Personalized family tree charts or posters, such as those from Family ChartMasters, can turn research into a beautiful wall-hanging.

Heirloom Recipe Books: Take those old family recipes, often written in an ancestor's handwriting, and compile them into a professional-quality, keepsake recipe book.

StoryWorth: This unique service compiles a family member's answers to weekly questions into a beautiful, hardbound book, preserving personal stories and memories for generations.

🎄🎁We hope this list helps you or your loved ones find the perfect way to celebrate your passion this holiday season! ⛄🤶🎅

❓ LGS Mystery Photo Challenge! 📷Take a look at this family photo. Based on the clothing and style, when do you think thi...
12/11/2025

❓ LGS Mystery Photo Challenge! 📷

Take a look at this family photo. Based on the clothing and style, when do you think this photo was taken?

(A) 1880s
(B) 1890s
(C) 1900s

Give us your best guess and reasoning! Can you narrow down the date any further? Check back later for the answer!

Like and Share this post to test your friends' historical knowledge!

📜 Beyond the Will: Probate Records are Gold!Body: Are you stuck on an ancestor who died without a will? Don't skip the p...
12/10/2025

📜 Beyond the Will: Probate Records are Gold!

Body: Are you stuck on an ancestor who died without a will? Don't skip the probate records! You might miss key details in the entire "packet" (inventories, receipts, guardianship papers).

💡 Pro Tip: Did you know FamilySearch has been adding a full-text search capability to millions of their digitized records? If you're searching a specific county's probate images, use the search bar within the collection viewer. You might find your ancestor's name hidden in a handwritten inventory list, even if it wasn't indexed!

🎁 You're invited to the merriest meeting of the year!Join us on Tuesday, December 10th at 12:00 PM for a joyful holiday ...
12/07/2025

🎁 You're invited to the merriest meeting of the year!

Join us on Tuesday, December 10th at 12:00 PM for a joyful holiday gathering filled with music, food, and community.

🎶 The Take Note Singers are a beloved vocal group that has been performing in the Longmont area for over 30 years and will be joining us for a festive musical celebration of the season.

🍽️ Potluck Luncheon
Bring a favorite dish to share! Let’s fill the Friendship Room with good food and good cheer.

🗓️ Wednesday, December 10th at Noon
📍 Friendship Room, First Lutheran Church, 803 3rd Ave., Longmont, CO
🎄 Guests are warmly welcomed and encouraged!

💻 Can’t join us in person? You’re still welcome to attend via Zoom, but we’d love to see you in person so you can enjoy the potluck and the live performance.

Come celebrate the season, share stories, and enjoy a little holiday magic with LGS. ✨

12/04/2025

Hidden Newspaper Articles – Gem of the Week: Auction & Sheriff’s Sale Notices

Ever wondered where your ancestors’ financial ups and downs were recorded?
When property changed hands—whether through foreclosure, debt, estate settlement, tax delinquency, or court-ordered seizure—local newspapers documented the process in remarkable detail. Auction and Sheriff’s Sale notices weren’t just legal advertisements; they were public announcements describing land, belongings, economic hardship, and community change. These short block-style postings can reveal circumstances your ancestors never discussed openly. If your family suddenly appears with less land, fewer possessions, or a different address—these notices often explain why.

Check out all the details and examples of this week's GEM of the WEEK at https://theancestorhunt.com/blog/hidden-newspaper-articles-gem-of-the-week-auction-sheriffs-sale-notices/

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Longmont, CO

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