Topeka Genealogical Society

11/16/2025

The Topeka Genealogical Society was well represented today at the Identity Quest event at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. It was a great opportunity to learn from a nationally known speaker, meet representatives of 14 community organizations, and engage in small group discussions about five specific DNA topics. The snacks were yummy and six lucky participants won DNA kits. Thank you, Topeka public library!

10/28/2025

Are your treasured photos ready to pass the test of time? Did you know that printed photographs are the absolute best way to preserve your images? Jim Mathis presented a well-received program to the Topeka Genealogical Society on the history of photography and how to best preserve the countless digital images we collect today. We have more photos than any generation before us, but we risk losing them for future generations if they only exist on our devices and cloud storage. Print your most important digital photos and restore and preserve copies of historical photos you own! Jim specializes in restoring historic images at his studio in Overland Park, KS.

https://www.mathisphotorestoration.com/

10/23/2025

If you need a little inspiration to work on your family tree, check out the Topeka Genealogical Society Special Interest Groups! Cindy teaches and/or collaborates with members in the Brick Wall SIG on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:30am, Barb tackles a variety of Foundations of Family History topics on Zoom the second Tuesday at 7:00pm, and Marty digs into DNA topics on the third Friday at 10:00 on Zoom. You can also bring questions to our Morning Joe and Jaw informal coffees on the first Monday of the month at 9:30am at Perkins Restaurant.
I will meet you at the public library by appointment if our SIG times don't fit into your schedule. Just give me a holler!
Click here for more information or to register for a Zoom meeting
https://tgstopeka.org/events/ #!event-list

10/15/2025

The Topeka Genealogical Society Brick Wall Special Interest Group will meet in the second-floor genealogy room at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Tuesday, October 21st, at 9:30am. Bring your own laptop or use the library computers to access the free library genealogy websites including Ancestry World Library Edition, FamilySearch Affiliate Library website (more than you can see at home!), Fold 3, Newspapers.com, American Ancestors, and more. I will be happy to assist you with your genealogy questions and accessing the databases that might be most helpful to you. No registration is necessary for this meeting.

https://tgstopeka.org/events/ #!event/2025/10/21/brick-wall-problem-solving-special-interest-group

Brick Wall Problem-Solving Special Interest Group at In person - location to be announced on Tue Oct 21 2025, 9:30am CDT:   In Person Guided...

10/15/2025

The Topeka Genealogical Society October dining out social and fundraiser will be on Thursday, October 23 at Panera Bread, 1421 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, at 5:30 pm.

If you are unable to join us for dinner, purchases made any time between 8am and 8pm at the restaurant or online will count toward our fundraiser if you show the flyer to the cashier or use the code FUND4U when you check out with online orders. Please review the flyer for further information.

Following dinner please join us for our monthly program, "Curating Old Photos" by Jim Mathis. Program starts at 7:00 pm at the TSCPL.

This is our final fundraiser for 2025. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you on the 23rd!

10/15/2025

Jim Mathis will present "Curating Old Photos: Scan-Sort-Share" at the October 23rd Topeka Genealogical Society meeting at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library at 7:00pm. Jim owns a photo restoration and photography studio in Overland Park and is a member of the Johnson County Genealogical Society. He will talk about the history of photography, preserving images, and restoring damaged or faded images.
The program is free and open to the public. If you prefer to watch from home, register for a Zoom link here:
https://tgstopeka.org/events/ #!event/2025/10/23/monthly-program-curating-old-photos-scan-sort-share

Jim has many talents and interests. If you would like to learn more about him, check out the following links to his photography website, business, and his blog, "As I See It." He is also an author, coffee shop owner, and musician!

https://jim-mathis.pixels.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

https://www.mathisphotorestoration.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

https://thejoyoftraveling.net/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

https://jimmathis.substack.com

My thoughts and views on photography and other social interests. Click to read As I See It, by Jim Mathis, a Substack publication.

10/15/2025

The Topeka Kansas FamilySearch Center located on the west side of the LDS Church at 2401 Kingsrow Road has a number of free databases you may find useful in your genealogy research. The center has reopened after closure during the Covid shutdown. A sign on the door gives the following information:

Open to the public on Monday from 11:00am - 2:00pm, Tuesday from 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Wednesday from 9:00am - noon and 6:30pm - 8:30 pm.

Questions can be answered by calling a number posted on the door.

Subscription websites available FREE at the Topeka FSC:
19th Century British Library Newspapers
Alexander Street - Civil War manuscripts, women & social movements
American Ancestors - New England and other records
Ancestry Institution - world records
ArkivDigital - Swedish records
FamNet - New Zealand
Findmypast - United Kingdom
Fold 3 - military and other records
Geneanet - France, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden & Germany
Goldie May - genealogy software tools
Irish Ancestors - Irish records
My Heritage Library Edition
Newspaper Archive - 1607 to present
Paper Trail - 19th Century American Migration Documents
Puzzilla - Descendant lines

Check it out!

10/10/2025

Genealogists love to hang out in cemeteries! Did you know that we have online, searchable cemetery listings for all but one of the cemeteries located in Shawnee County? Check out the searchable databases on our website: https://tgstopeka.org/search-our-records/

09/27/2025

Cathy Ramirez of Ghost Tours of Kansas presented a spooky program to a large group at our September TGS meeting at the public library. We enjoyed seeing evidence of paranormal sightings in photographs of Topeka area landmarks and learned how simple everyday objects can be used to observe ghostly activity. Everyone had a few goosebumps before the program was over! Thank you, Cathy!

09/18/2025

🕯️👻 Haunted History in Topeka – September TGS Monthly Meeting 👻🕯️
📅 Thursday, September 25th
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library – Marvin Auditorium 101C
This month, we’re diving into the eerie side of Topeka’s past with Cathy Ramirez, founder of Kansas Ghost Tours, as she presents “Haunted Sites and Ghosts in Topeka.” With 20+ years as a paranormal investigator, Cathy brings ghost stories to life—grounded in real history and local lore.
For genealogists and family historians, this is more than just a spooky evening. Discover how haunted locations often connect to real families, forgotten ancestors, and untold stories. You might even uncover clues that lead to new research paths or deepen your understanding of your own Topeka roots.
Whether you're tracing lineage or just love a good ghost tale, come join us for a night where history and mystery meet. 🎩🕰️
📣 Free and open to the public—bring a friend and your curiosity!
Or register here for a Zoom link and enjoy the program from home.

Monthly Program - Haunted Sites and Ghosts in Topeka at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library on Thu Sep 25 2025, 07:00pm CDT: September 25, 2025 at...

09/03/2025

Bring your genealogy questions to our upcoming Foundations of Family History Interest Group meeting! To register and get the Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/3wkfapcb

08/26/2025

TGS Dinner and Quilt Program this Thursday, August 28! Don't miss this opportunity for fun, friendship, and food!
We will meet for dinner at 5:30 pm at On the Border restaurant before our monthly program at the Topeka and Shawnee County Library at 7:00 pm. TGS member, John Manning will present our August program, "Quilting and Genealogy: Stitching Together the Fabric of Our Lives." He will share how handmade quilts can reveal hidden genealogy gems.
If you cannot attend dinner, please make a purchase at On the Border any time between 11:00 am and 9:00 pm and mention TGS. 20% of your purchase will be donated to our organization. See details on the flyer in the comments section below.
If you prefer to attend the meeting from home, register for the Zoom link at

Monthly Program - Quilting and Genealogy: Stitching Together the Fabric of Our Lives at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library on Thu Aug 28 2025,...