Eastside Genealogical Society

Genealogy Book SIG
2026-09-11 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
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.
Note that the Genealogy Book SIG will not meet in July or August. The next meeting is September 11th.

German Interest Group
2026-09-11 12:30 - 14:30
Please note, this presentation will not be recorded.
Topic: 1816: The Year Without a Summer & Its Impact on German Migration.
The eruption of Mt. Tambora in Indonesia unleashed a volcanic winter that reverberated around the globe, earning the year 1816 the name “The Year Without a Summer.” Immense quantities of volcanic ash drastically altered weather patterns and created unseasonably cold temperatures that caused crop failures and food shortages. This crisis prompted many Germans to seek new opportunities abroad, both in the U.S. and in the Russian Empire, which offered both land and religious freedom.
This presentation discusses the intertwined environmental, economic, and social ramifications of the Year Without a Summer, highlighting its pivotal role in the history of German emigration.
Presenter: Carolyn Schott, CG®

Carolyn Schott CG has researched her German ancestors for 30 years, following their wanderings through Eastern Europe before arriving in the U.S. She is a founder of the Black Sea German Research Community (www.blackseagr.org), a former board member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS), and author of the book, “Visiting Your Ancestral Town.”
Schott’s research has required her to research records in the U.S., Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Poland. The Black Sea German Research Community, which she helped found, is a website dedicated to helping people with hard-to-find information on their ethnic German ancestors who lived in areas bordering the Black Sea.
She has been speaking on genealogy-related topics since 2007 and has been a regular speaker at the International German Genealogy conventions, the Foundation for East European Family History Studies, the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, other genealogy societies.
Please note, this presentation will not be recorded.

Registration is required.
REGISTER

AI Special Interest Group
2026-09-15 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-10-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-11-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Purpose:

Use AI to help with genealogy, learning together
Encourage members in the use of AI
Share resources, tips, information, results

Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of most months via Zoom.
To get the Zoom link or answers to questions, email AIsig@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org

Lunch Bunch
2026-09-17 11:30 - 13:00 | Bellevue FamilySearch Center, 10675 NE 20th Street, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
On the third Thursday of most months, from 11:30 to 1:00, we meet for lunch and discussion 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.
After lunch, 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.
Note that the Lunch Bunch won’t meet in August. The next meeting will be in September.

Family Tree Maker SIG
2026-09-18 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-10-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-11-20 10:30 - 12:30 | Zoom
The Family Tree Maker SIG meets on the 3rd Friday of most months from 10:30AM to 12:30PM Pacific time via Zoom.
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.

Field Trip: Lake View Cemetery, Capitol Hill, Seattle
2026-09-19 00:00 - 23:59 | Lake View Cemetery, 1554 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
What genealogist doesn’t love a good cemetery!?
Lake View was founded in 1872 and is known as Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery.
We’ll have an overview of the cemetery and tour approximately seven plots, including the Denny plot, Doc Maynard’s grave, Princess Angeline (the daughter of Chief Sealth) and Henry Yesler’s grave, and others including John Nordstrom and Bruce Lee.
It’s a beautiful and just walking through is viewing a book of place names of Seattle: Mercer, Chittenden, Burien, Yesler, and so more.
We’re planning on arranging carpools and there will be an optional lunch afterwards. Email publicity@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to RSVP, get parking information, and/or arrange carpooling.

Italian Interest Group
2026-09-19 13:30 - 15:30 | Zoom
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 Helpdesk
2026-09-24 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-10-08 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-11-12 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-12-10 10:30 - 12:30 | Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Get genealogy help at the Bellevue Library Computer Lab
We are available to help on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, when the library is open.
No registration is required. Get in-person assistance with…

Ancestry Library Edition

Genealogy Book SIG
2026-10-09 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.

What’s In Your Attic – Is There A Treasure There?
2026-10-10 13:30 - 16:30 | Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Eastside Genealogical Society and Bellevue Library present
What’s In Your Attic – Is There A Treasure There?
Date: Saturday October 10th, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: Bellevue Library
1111 110th Ave NE
Bellevue WA
Room 1
Presentation by Meriann of Ginny’s Girls Estate Services on Collecting and Care of Your Treasures, followed by participants sharing the items they bring.
Meriann will do a quick appraisal of one item for each person who brings items.
Participate by bringing a family treasure OR by coming and listening to the presentation.
Door Prizes!!!
Want to share an Item? Questions – contact vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities is available by request. Email access@kcls.org at least seven days before the event. Automated closed captioning is always available for online events.

Lunch Bunch
2026-10-15 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-11-19 11:30 - 13:00 | Bellevue FamilySearch Center, 10675 NE 20th Street, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
On the third Thursday of most months, from 11:30 to 1:00, we meet for lunch and discussion 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.
After lunch, 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 Helpdesk
2026-10-22 10:30 - 12:30 | Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Get genealogy help at the Bellevue Library Computer Lab.
We are available to help on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, when the library is open.
No registration is required. Get in-person assistance with

Ancestry Library Edition

Genealogy Book SIG
2026-11-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is The Death Certificate by Stephen Molyneux
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.
Note that the Genealogy Book SIG will be on break in December. The next meeting will be January 8th.

Genealogy Book SIG
2027-01-08 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me by Paul Joseph Fronczak
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.
Note that the Genealogy Book SIG will be on break in December. The next meeting will be January 8th.

Genealogy Book SIG
2027-02-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is Hiding The Past by Nathan Dylan Goodwin.
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.

Genealogy Book SIG
2027-03-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 a.m. PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is The Record Keeper: The Unfolding of a Family Secret in the Age of Genetic Genealogy by Allison Barnhart.
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.

Genealogy Book SIG
2027-04-09 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is Your Roots Cast A Shadow: One Family’s Search Across History for Belonging by Caroline Topperman
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.

Genealogy Book SIG
2027-05-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG meets on the second Friday of most months at 10 AM PT via Zoom.
The book for this month is The Sawtooth Slayer by Nathan Dylan Goodwin.
Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.
