BGS Meeting — April 27, 2013 — Using the Alabama State Loose Records Database/Index on the Web

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, April 27th at 2 p.m.;Board Meeting at 1:00 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker: Jim Anderson

Program Topic: Using the Alabama State Loose Records Database/Index on the Web

Please join us as Jim Anderson, current Webmaster and Treasurer, Alabama Genealogical Society(and BGS member) presents “Using the Alabama State Loose Records Database/Index on the Web.”

Jim is the database architect for the AGS Loose Records web index that gives searchable access to over fifty thousand names culled from archival records of Alabama probate courts – the subject of which is his presentation today. With a degree in Film and TV production his early career was producing programs for the military, and later, the Alabama ETV (now APTV) network.  Following work in medical television at UAB, Jim moved into sales of AV and video equipment, and computers.  After owning and managing an Apple dealership for fourteen years Jim retired to pursue his family history research while working in a theatre troupe bringing performances to seniors in retirement homes throughout Jefferson County.

Jim has previously made two extremely interesting presentations to BGS: First, the recounting of a murder in Shelby County and it’s connection with a prominent Birmingham business man, and second,  an analysis of the question of who is buried on the Birmingham Country Club golf course.

BAAGSG Class — April 14, 2013 — Analyzing Census Entries

The Birmingham African-American Genealogy Study Group (BAAGSG), a special interest group of the Birmingham Genealogical Society, meets the second Sunday of each month (ex. May and November) in the Arrington Auditorium at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are welcome!

Next meeting:  Sunday, April 14th at 3 p.m.

Meeting Place:  Birmingham Central Library, Arrington Auditorium

Topic:  Analyzing Census Entries

Instructor:  Donald Debrow

 

BGS Meeting — March 23, 2013 — How to Research Your American Revolutionary War Ancestor

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, March 23rd at 2 p.m.;Board Meeting at 1:00 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker: William “Bill” Clement

Program Topic: How to Research You American Revolutionary War Ancestor

Please join us as Bill Clement, current President of the Birmingham Chapter, Alabama Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (and BGS member) presents “How to Research Your American Revolutionary War Ancestor.” Bill is a graduate of the Marion Military Institute, Marion, AL and received a BS in Industrial Management from Clemson University and a Masters in Business from the University of South Carolina. Finding and documenting a Revolutionary War patriot ancestor for membership eligibility in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) is not as difficult as many people believe. This program will benefit those seeking to join the DAR or SAR. Hope to see you at the meeting!

BGS Meeting — September 22, 2012 — Shopping in Yesteryear Birmingham

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, September 22nd at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Tim Hollis,  Author

Program Topic: Shopping in Yesteryear Birmingham

Mr. Hollis is a historian and curator of all things Birmingham. He is the curator of the Birmingham Rewound website and has written several books about the Magic City’s past, from its old movie theaters to its vintage advertising signs. His latest Birmingham history book is entitled “Lovemans: Meet Me Under The Clock.”

BAAGSG Class — September 9, 2012 — Using Process of Elimination in Your Search for Ancestors

The Birmingham African-American Genealogy Study Group (BAAGSG), a special interest group of the Birmingham Genealogical Society, meets the second Sunday of each month (ex. May and November) in the Arrington Auditorium at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are welcome!

Next meeting:  Sunday, September 9th at 3 p.m.

Meeting Place:  Birmingham Central Library, Arrington Auditorium

Topic:  Using Process of Elimination in Your Search for Ancestors

Instructor:  Donald Debrow

 

BGS Meeting — August 25, 2012 — Baseball and Steel: Industrial League Baseball

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, August 25th at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Joe Holley,  Industrial League Baseball enthusiast and historian

Program Topic: Baseball and Steel:  Industrial League Baseball

Joe Holley is a native of Walker County and retired after a lengthy career with the Alabama Department of Transportation. While in college, Mr. Holley took a history course on techniques of research including conducting oral histories.  Because of longtime family involvement, he chose local industrial league baseball as the subject of his research project.  He initially interviewed old timers who dated back to the turn of the 20th Century.  In the intervening years, he has continued his research and has become an “expert”  on the local industrial league teams and players.

Stockham Baseball Team, Late 1930′s

BAAGSG Class — August 12, 2012 — Using FamilySearch

The Birmingham African-American Genealogy Study Group (BAAGSG), a special interest group of the Birmingham Genealogical Society, meets the second Sunday of each month (ex. May and November) in the Arrington Auditorium at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are welcome!

Next meeting:  Sunday, August 12th at 3 p.m.

Meeting Place: LDS Family History Center

Topic:  Using FamilySearch

Speaker:  Pat Coleman

Note:  This month’s meeting will be held at the LDS Family History Center on Altadena Road.  Click the link above for the full address and directions.

BGS Meeting — July 28, 2012 — Goin’ North, the African-American Women of Sloss Quarters

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, July 28th at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Karen Utz,  Curator/Historian at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Program Topic: Goin’ North, the African-American Women of Sloss Quarters

Karen Utz is the Curator/Historian at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.    Goin’ North: The African American Women of Sloss Quarters will focus on the traditions
and customs the mothers, wives and daughters of ex-sharecroppers brought with them to the urban industrial landscape of Sloss Furnaces and its company housing, Sloss Quarters.   A 30 page monograph (plus 10 pages of citations) will be provided to those in attendance.

BGS Meeting — June 23, 2012 — In Your Backyard: Secrets to Wallace State’s Famed Genealogy Collection

The Birmingham Genealogical Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month (ex. Nov. & Dec.) at the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. Guests are always welcome!

Next meeting: Saturday, June 23rd at 2 p.m.; Board Meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting Room: Arrington Auditorium, 4th Floor, Linn-Henley Building

Speaker:  Robert Scott Davis, Director of the Genealogy Department at Wallace State Community College – Hanceville

Program Topic: In Your Backyard: Secrets to Wallace State’s Famed Genealogy Collection

Robert Scott Davis is the director of the Genealogy Program of Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, Alabama. His duties include organizing field trips for his classes to libraries throughout the country; helping to build one of the South’s most extensive genealogical collections; operating a microfilming facility; and teaching genealogy in one of the first colleges to offer genealogy as a college level course.

In 2006, this program that he built received the Award for Outstanding Leadership in History from the American Association for State and Local History. Professor Davis also teaches survey courses in geography and history. In Alabama and Georgia, Bob has worked to raise public awareness on saving local government records and has been a member of the Alabama governor’s historical records commission. He has been the guest speaker at hundreds of meetings of civic, genealogical, and historical organizations.