Genealogical Forum of Oregon

02/19/2026

Please join our AFRICAN AMERICAN ANCESTRY GROUP: Our next online meeting
is Saturday, Feb 21 at Noon (PT). Register here: https://gfo.org/learn/special-
interest-groups/african-american.html
If you know of any other people interested in African American genealogy, tell them
about the group. They don't have to be a GFO member to participate.
Please join us.
It’s free and open to the public.
No meetings in June ever.

Finding Your Elusive Female Ancestors in Local Archives
Presented by Melissa Barker.
Local archives of all kinds have records for your female ancestors. Many times, these
records are not digitized or available online. Learn from a seasoned archivist how to
locate and research female-focused records in local archives.
Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and public historian currently working
at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives ; Museum. She is known as The Archive
Lady in the genealogy community. She writes a popular blog titled A Genealogist in
the Archives. She has been a professional genealogist for the past 20 years, with
expertise in Tennessee records, and has been researching her own family history for
the past 35 years.
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/african-american.html

Explore African American ancestry in our regular GFO African American Special Interest Group meetings.

02/16/2026

Please join our IRISH ANCESTRY GROUP: Our next online meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (PT) Register for this online SIG meeting at
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/irish.html
Although all of the island of Ireland is included, our primary focus is the genealogical research of the Republic of Ireland, also known as the Irish Free State, Éire, Ireland,
and Southern Ireland. Please join us and tell your friends. It’s free and open to the
public.
Whether a beginner or an experienced researcher, there is sure to be something for
everyone in this presentation.
SIG Facilitators Needed! We need your help finding an individual or team to
continue the GFO Irish SIG meetings after October 2024. Our current leaders can
offer support during the fall. We are eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions
for continuing the GFO Irish SIG into 2025.

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

Explore your Irish heritage. The GFO's Irish Ancestry Group is here to help you track your roots.

02/16/2026

DNA Q&A: THE BASICS - Our next online meeting is Feb. 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. (PT) Registration information can be found here:
http://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/dna-qa.html

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.

02/13/2026

Please join THE WRITERS’ ROOM: Our next online meeting is Sunday, Feb. 15 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 3 rd 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.

02/10/2026

Please join our Q REVIEW GROUP: Our next online meeting is Thursday, Feb. 12
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, February 12, we will discuss Pam Pracser
Anderson article, A Family Affair: Tracking James P. Walters of New York,
South Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Oregon,NGSQ 113 (Dec 2025), p. 295-312.
To register, visit The Q Review SIG web page at
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/the-q-review.html

02/09/2026

Please join our GREAT LAKES REGION ANCESTRY GROUP: Our next online
meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 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 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

02/05/2026

GERMAN ANCESTRY GROUP: Our next online meeting is Saturday, Feb. 7 from
1 to 3 p.m. (PT). Registration for this online SIG meeting is available at
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/german.html

At our February 7 th meeting, one of our group members, Jeff Eriksen, will be providing resources and websites that will be very helpful in our review of this month topic state, Nebraska. These monthly state discussions show just how influential the German immigrant has been to the growth and development of the US, as well as providing ways to trace the paper trail we need for identifying our German ancestors.

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.
We are continuing the New Year with our meetings based on the US states that were
hubs of German immigration, even prior to statehood. January state will be South
Dakota.
Our review of the state will include resources from public records, historical
and genealogical societies, and educational organizations.
https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/german.html

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

02/05/2026

Please join VIRGINIA ROOTS & VINES: Our next online meeting is Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to Noon. (PT). Registration available at https://gfo.org/learn/special-interest-groups/virginia.html

Colonial Migration Routes
The February 7th presentation will be Early Migration Routes. Weather, worn-out land, overcrowding, new immigrants, and most importantly, the availability of free or low-cost land led to surges of migration through and out of Virginia and mandated new roads through frontier areas. Learn how and why particular routes developed, and how this knowledge will assist your genealogy research and give you a better understanding of your ancestors' lives.
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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

01/31/2026

Please join our ROOTSMAGIC SIG: Our next online meeting is Monday, Feb. 2 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

01/31/2026

Please join our PACIFIC NORTHWEST GENEALOGY GROUP: Our next online
meeting is Sunday, Feb. 1 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.

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.

01/31/2026

Please join our ROOTS MAGIC SIG: Our next online meeting is Monday, Feb. 2 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 Roots Magic 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

01/30/2026

Please join our PACIFIC NORTHWEST GENEALOGY GROUP: Our next online meeting is Sunday, Feb. 1 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.

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.