Eastside Genealogical Society

PO Box 374 • Bellevue, Washington 98009-0374

Eastside Genealogical Society invites you to attend an event or become a member.

Events

  • General Meeting and Speaker – January 8th 6:30 PM 

    Please note that there is no EGS general meeting in December.

    Getting Started with AI in Family History

    Our speaker: Andrew Redfern
    Thursday, January 8, 2026
    Networking and announcements at 6:30 pm Pacific; program at 7:00 pm
    Via Zoom—join the meeting

    About our speaker: Andrew Redfern is a passionate family historian and technology educator. Since his initial interest in researching his family tree in the mid- 1980s, Andrew has developed a deep interest in how technology can enhance the way we explore and preserve our family histories. The integration of AI into his genealogical toolkit was a natural progression and he is excited by the possibilities while remaining aware of the limitations.

    About our program: Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just getting started, this talk will provide you with valuable insights and strategies for using AI to uncover your family’s unique story. Lots of practical demonstrations and uses of various tools currently available will provide a starting point for attendees to use these technologies straight away with their own family tree. And for those not sure, there will be plenty of discussion about navigating security, privacy and bias.

    Everyone is welcome—we hope you will join us.

    For more information about EGS, visit our website at eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org

  • Genealogy Help – Thursday Jan 8th 10:30AM to 12:30PM

    Get genealogy help at the Bellevue Library Computer Lab
    1111 110th Avenue NE
    Bellevue, WA 98004
    We are available to help on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of most months.
    No registration is required. Get in-person assistance with…

    Ancestry Library Edition.

  • Lunch Bunch – Thursday Jan 20th 11:30 AM

    On the third Thursday of most months, from 11:30 to 1:00, we meet in a reserved room in the church across from the FamilySearch Center, at 10675 NE 20th Street, Bellevue. Bring lunch from home or buy food at a nearby local location.

    Use the FamilySearch Center Library with databases either available only by subscription or unavailable online. Bring your laptop. The library is open until 6:00 PM. No reservation required.

    Contact: Celia McNay with questions.

  • Family Tree Maker SIG – Friday January 16th 10:30 AM

    The Family Tree Maker SIG meets on the 3rd Friday of most months from 10:30AM to 12:30PM Pacific time via Zoom. (Check this website for information on each upcoming meeting date.) If you would like to attend and are not on the SIG e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to ftmsig@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request the meeting link.

  • The Eastside Genie Dec/Jan 2025/6 Newsletter

    2025_Dec_Jan_cDownload

  • German Interest Group – Friday January 9th 12:30 PM

    Eastside Genealogical Society
    German Interest Group

    Presenter:
    Josian Schmidt


    Josiah Schmidt is a
    history and genealogy
    specialist for the Saint
    Louis County Library
    System in Saint Louis,
    Missouri. He specializes
    in German, Jewish and
    Genetic Genealogy.

    When: Friday, 9th of January, 2026
    from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT

    Zoom Registration Required:
    https://tinyurl.com/ypmc7kyx

    Topic: Free Websites for German
    Genealogy

    Take a guided exploration of how to
    access and use numerous free
    websites for your German family
    history research.

    More information: Visitors are
    always welcome. Our website is:

    https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org

  • Italian Interest Group – Saturday January 17th 1:30 PM

    Please note that the IIG will not meet in December.

    Date: January 17, 2026
    Time: 1:30 PM (PT)
    Topic: Italian POWs in the US during WWII and The Ferramonti Concentration Camp in Italy
    Presenter: Kathy Kirkpatrick

    Presentation #1: Italian POWs in the US during WWII

    Description:     During World War II there were 1,210 POW camps, hospitals and cemeteries for German, Italian and Japanese soldiers in the United States. Among those POWs were 51,000 Italian soldiers. The camps not only gave the Italian prisoners a glimpse of American life, but enabled interaction with Americans leading to friendships and even marriage. About two-thirds of Italian prisoners chose to become Allies and served in Italian Service Units here and as part of the Allied push to liberate Italy. This presentation discusses camp life and rules, work by the POWs, and postwar activities. A variety of records and repositories in the US and Italy are described in detail with links.

    Presentation #2: The Ferramonti Concentration Camp in Italy

    Description:     This presentation takes us to Italy to learn about the Ferramonti Camp and the local Italian community. Out of the 3,823 prisoners, only fifty died. One hundred forty-one of these prisoners were Italian, the rest having fled from Europe before capture in Italy, Bengasi (Libya) and Rhodes (Greece). Most of the prisoners were Jewish and were able to observe that religion in the Camp. There were also non-Jewish people from China, France, Greece, and Yugoslavia. The cooperation between the camp staff, prisoners, and the community enabled this situation in a dark time. Sources and repositories described.

    Presenter: Kathy Kirkpatrick

    Kathy Kirkpatrick earned her B.A. in History from Humboldt State University at Arcata, California. She is currently President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Utah. Kathy has written family histories, genealogical and Italian research instruction, and eight volumes on American Prisoner of War Camps since 1986. Kathy speaks locally and internationally on a variety of topics since 1993, including at RootsTech, National Genealogical Society, the Foundation of Eastern European Family History Studies (FEEFHS), and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). Kathy’s research takes her on-site to Italy (including the Vatican Secret Archives since 2015), Sicily, Greece, the United Kingdom, and France as well as close to home in the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Her extensive websites are at http://www.gentracer.com for genealogy
    and http://www.gentracer.org for military research and cemeteries.

  • Genealogy Book SIG – Friday January 9th 10:00 AM

    Please note that the Genealogy Book SIG will not meet in December.

    The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG will meet Friday January 9th at 10 AM PT via Zoom.

    The book for this month is The Quest For Annie Moore
    of Ellis Island     by Megan Smolenyak

    Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.

  • German Interest Group – Friday December 5th 12:30 PM

    Eastside Genealogical Society
    German Interest Group

    Presenter: Anette Isaacs
    German born, Anette Isaacs is a Historian and Public Educator who has been presenting programs all over the United States.
    She holds Master’s Degrees in American Studies, Political Science, and History and is currently serving as the Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at FIU (Florida International University) in Miami, FL.

    When: Friday, 5th of December, 2025
    from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT
    Zoom Registration Required:
    https://tinyurl.com/4jpfbswx

    Topic: Frohe Weihnachten:
    Unwrapping the Charms of German
    Christmas Traditions

    Uncover the rich history and cultural significance behind cherished customs such as the Advent calendar, Christkindlmarkt, and St. Nicholas Day. Delve into the heartwarming tales of the
    Christkind and the festive decoration of the Tannenbaum, while also exploring the delectable delights of traditional holiday treats like Lebkuchen and Stollen.

    Join German Historian Anette Isaacs and journey through time and tradition, exploring how Germany’s unique customs have shaped the magic of Christmas celebrations worldwide.

    More information: Visitors are always welcome.
    Our website is: https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org

  • Italian Interest Group – Saturday November 15th 1:30 PM 

    Italian Interest Group

    How Italian Migration Laws Affected Our Ancestors

    DATE: 15-Nov-2025 (Saturday)
    TIME: 1:30 pm (PST)
    TOPIC: How Italian Migration Laws Affected Our Ancestors
    PRESENTER: Victoria Calabrese
    PLACE: Zoom meeting

    If you aren’t a registered member, Click Here for meeting registration.

    Description: How easy was it to emigrate from Italy? What was the process like after one made the decision to leave? This presentation will discuss Italian emigration laws regarding migration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and how these laws influenced our ancestors’ lives. The talk will cover topics such as who could and could not emigrate (and why), what was needed to get a passport, how to buy tickets, and travelling to the port of departure.

    Speaker Bio: Victoria Calabrese received her Ph.D. in modern European history from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York. Her research focuses on modern Italian history, gender, migration, and nation building. Her book, Italian Women in Basilicata: Staying Behind but Moving Forward during the Age of Mass Emigration, 1876–1914, was published by Lexington Books in 2022. The book examines women in the southern Italian region of Basilicata and the many ways their lives changed when their husbands emigrated. In addition to the women who remained behind, she has written articles on honor and infanticide, and on traveling child musicians. Victoria is an avid genealogist, focusing on southern Italian genealogy research. She is currently an adjunct professor at Lehman College, teaching courses in early modern and modern European history.