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 – September 10th 6:30 PM

    Eastside Genealogical Society presents:

    Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries

    Our speaker: Blaine Bettinger
    Thursday, September 10, 2026
    Networking and announcements at 6:30 PM PT; program at 7:00 PM PT
    Via Zoom – Registration is required for this meeting.

    Click here to register for the September meeting

    Note that we are on break for July and August. Our next EGS General meeting is in September.

    About our speaker: Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence and the use of artificial intelligence for genealogical research. He is the author of the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist, and frequently gives presentations and webinars to educate others about the use of DNA and artificial intelligence.

                                                                   

    About our program: Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries – Even though our 18th and 19th century ancestors have been dead for decades, their DNA still survives in their descendants. Learn how to use autosomal DNA to attack and potentially solve genealogical mysteries and brick walls for ancestors who were born or lived in the 1800’s, 1700’s, and beyond.

    Everyone is welcome—we hope you will join us.

    Click here to register for the September meeting

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

  • Italian Interest Group – Saturday September 19th 1:30 PM

    Italian Interest Group
    Click to request the Zoom meeting invitation

    DATE: September 19, 2026
    TIME: 1:30 PM (PT)
    TOPIC: Update on FamilySearch and Italian Records
    PRESENTER: Joel Cole

    Description:   In this presentation “Update on FamilySearch and Italian Records,” the following topics will be discussed:

    •  An overview of the principal repositories of Italian genealogical and historical records throughout Italy.
    • The latest updates and developments on the FamilySearch website.
    • Recent developments in FamilySearch’s collaboration with the Direzione Generale Archivi (DGA) and other Italian institutions.
    • Future expectations regarding Italian records, including upcoming acquisition initiatives and the availability of new indexes and searchable collections.

    Presenter: Joel Cole was born and raised in Padova, Italy. He has been involved with Italian Family History for over 30 years. He accompanied his father Trafford for his first genealogical research in Maniago, Italy, when he was 15 and since then he has been fascinated by family history. He has worked as a researcher for over 25 years, visiting almost every State Archive in Italy and almost 1,000 parish archives. He is familiar with paleography having taken several classes in Italy, and with Latin documents, having studied it for over 10 years. Joel has presented in many international genealogical conferences about Italian Family History and has worked for years for private companies performing research in all of Italy, consulting Civil records, Parish and Diocesan Catholic records, Notary records and many more sources. In 2015 he moved to Utah covering several roles for FamilySearch. He is currently the content strategist for Southern Europe, including Italy. Joel’s research specialties are: Italy, Southern Switzerland and Istria-Croatia. Expert at deciphering ancient Italian and Latin documents.

    Note that the Italian Interest Group will not meet in July or August. The next meeting is this one, September 19th.

  • Genealogy Help – August 13th 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 Sept 17th 11:30 AM

    Please note that Lunch Bunch won’t meet in August.

    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.

  • Genealogy Help – July 23rd 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.

  • Genealogy Help – July 9th 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.

  • Family Tree Maker SIG – Friday August 21st 10:30 AM

    Note that the Family Tree Maker SIG will not meet in July. The next meeting will be in August.

    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.

  • Lunch Bunch – Thursday July 16th 11:30 AM

    The Lunch Bunch topic for discussion this month is Colonial Records on FamilySearch.

    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.

  • Mercer Island Summer Celebration – July 11th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Help Wanted! Help with the EGS booth—setup, staffing, and take-down options. The event runs from 10—3, with set up starting at
    8:30 AM. You can volunteer for all or a portion of the event. Contact Celia McNay.

    Or stop by and visit at our booth. Hope to see you there!

    Full info from Mercer Island

  • Genealogy Book SIG – Friday September 11th 10:00 AM

    The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.

    Note that the Genealogy Book SIG will not meet in July or August. The next meeting is September 11th.

    The books for this month are Piece by Piece by Irene Lewis Ward and The Leading Ladies: An Ella Graepenteck Genealogy Mystery by Erika Maren Steiger

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