Category: Events

February 2: Broad Context; How to Find it and Use it!
By understanding the broad context of our geographic area and the era we can interpret the evidence
more accurately and thereby understand the decision-making of our ancestors more clearly. We
sometimes view context as just the historical events that affected our ancestor. We will broaden that
definition and explain the difference between it and social history. Examples clarify meaning and
illustrate how this is a project long process and not effort applied at the end.
Date: Monday, February 2, 2026, 7pm
Presenter: Jill Morelli
Location: via Zoom
Price: KDGS members Free; non-members $10; REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Bite-size: Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS), with KDGS member, Marlene Crane
Jill Morelli, CG, CGL is a writer, lecturer. In 2017, she founded the
Certification Discussion Group, an online series discussing the certification
journeys of successful candidates in order to demystify the process for others.
this award-winning program, now has over 775 graduates. She specializes in
Scandinavian research, and is constantly honing her methodological skills. She
lectures nationally and has written articles for National Genealogical Society
Quarterly, Swedish American Genealogist, Minnesota Connections and many
others. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society, program
director for the Puget Sound-APG chapter, and a member of many local and
national genealogical societies.

January 5: Prison & Court Records presented by Andrea Lister
Prison and court records can tell you a lot about your ancestors and their lives. Whether documenting legal battles or criminal activity these records will provide a wide variety of color and detail. We will look at records on everything from petty theft to illegal poaching to declaring someone’s husband dead. The scope includes Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
February 2: Broad Context; How to Find it and Use it! presented by Jill Mirelli
By understanding the broad context of our geographic area and the era we can interpret the evidence more accurately and thereby understand the decision-making of our ancestors more clearly. We sometimes view context as just the historical events that affected our ancestor. We will broaden that definition and explain the difference between it and social history. Examples clarify meaning and illustrate how this is a project long process and not effort applied at the end.
April 13: All Kinds of Loyalists presented by Kathryn Lake Hogan
During the American Revolutionary War, approximately 35% of the population of the Thirteen colonies was loyal to King George III of Great Britain. Was your ancestor one of them? How do you know if your ancestor was a Loyalist? In this presentation, learn what to look for in documents and records to determine if your ancestor meets the qualifications of being a Loyalist.
May 4: Using AI to Research Documents & Letters presented by Mark Thompson
Do you have old family letters and documents waiting to be explored? In this beginner-friendly session, learn how artificial intelligence can assist you in analyzing and researching your family’s personal archives. From summarizing key points to quickly identifying names and relationships, AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can help you speed up your research. You’ll also learn how to responsibly use some of the amazing, but riskier, aspects of AI like transcription and translation. Join Mark Thompson to learn how AI can lighten the load and help you reveal the rich history hidden in your family archive!

April 7: Lost in London, presenter Helen Smith of Brisbane, Australia. This recording is no longer available.
Bite-size: Employment Records in Genealogy: A Bank Manager in Summerland, presenters KDGS member, Brenda Gloster