Minnesota Genealogical Society upcoming events

Timelines for Organizing, Analyzing, and Breaking Down Brick Walls (4 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

MGS November Webinar:
Timelines for Organizing, Analyzing, and Breaking Down Brick Walls
Instructor: Karen Fortin

Timelines can be a valuable tool in genealogical research. This presentation will explore ways to create timelines and use them to organize an ancestor’s information, analyze this information for gaps or conflicts, help break through genealogical brick walls, and more.

About the Instructor:

Karen has given hundreds of genealogical presentations since 2016, both in-person and online for societies such as Southern California, Massachusetts, Western New York, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. She presented webinars for Minnesota Genealogical Society in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and recently was chosen for one of the on-demand video presentations for the 2025 New York State Family History Conference, a live video presentation for the Utah Genealogical Society’s 2025 Virtual Conference, and as an in-person speaker at the 2025 New England Regional Genealogical Conference.

Sponsored by: Minnesota Genealogical Society

Experience level: All

Cost: Free

Registration Required (limited to 100). Click here to register

Folklore and Family History: A Conversation for Romanian Researchers (14 Nov 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Folklore and Family History: A Conversation for Romanian Researchers

What did your Romanian great-grandmother believe would protect her family — and where would you find it documented? Join us for an informal exploration of Romanian folk tradition, folk medicine, and superstition as genealogical evidence, using real document examples to show how cultural beliefs hide in plain sight in the records we already use. We’ll discuss the best sources for uncovering this kind of intangible family history, from the pages of America to oral history interviews. Bring your own stories, family legends, and document finds for discussion. We will also discuss the calendar of RIG meetings for 2027. (This meeting for RIG members is a follow-up to Vicki Albu's NorthStar presentation.)

Access to the Zoom links for members-only Interest Group meetings

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (14 Nov 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Are you refreshed and ready to start discovering your family's history? MGS Library Manager Jeanne Bielke-Rodenbiker will provide you with tips and tools to make 2026 the year you find out. A useful handout and library tour are included. And it is free!

No registration is needed - come and join us.

Writing Interest Group - Meetings (21 Nov 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Check in on goals and Setting Goals for 2027

African American Genealogy (Class) (21 Nov 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for a day of in person learning focusing on African Americans. Starting the day, Mica Anders will present “Discovering African American Roots: A Beginner’s Guide,” followed by a light lunch and a research period. In the afternoon, Jessica Fontanta will present “Urban Research: Using Correlation of Data to Solve Family Mysteries.”

Instructor: Mica Anders

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m

Mica’s class, “Discovering African American Roots: A Beginner’s Guide,” will teach you how to unlock the powerful stories of African Americans, while exploring the tools and uniquely African American sources that bring family histories to life. Learn how to honor your heritage by uncovering and preserving the legacy of those who came before you.

About the Instructor

Mica Anders is passionate about uncovering the rich, often overlooked stories of our past. With a focus on African American and Midwestern U.S. genealogy, she upholds the highest standards in her research while bringing underrepresented stories to light. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the first ever history fellow at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum, and recipient of the 2024 Minnesota Genealogical Society Ambassador Award. Her dedication and expertise make her a sought-after collaborator for projects that bring forgotten histories to life. She is the owner of Anders Genealogical Services.

Instructor: Jessica Fontana

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Jessica's class “Urban Research: Using Correlation of Data to Solve Family Mysteries,” uses case studies to focus on organizing your research, and combining analysis of data gathered to move the research forward and avoid the pitfalls of same-named people or people that disappear in the city.

About the Instructor:

Jessica Fontana is a genealogist with over 15 years of experience. She specializes in U.S. research with expertise in Southern, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Great Lakes states. She also specializes in African American Family research. She presented at the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MNGS) 2025 North Star Conference and the Upper Midwest Genealogical Institute hosted by MNGS, as well as the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center and the Arkansas Genealogical Society. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the APG Forensic Genealogists Special Interest Group, the National Genealogical Society, and the Minnesota Genealogical Society. She is the owner of Ancestral Path Genealogy Services.

Both Mica and Jessica are members of the Minnesota-based Early Midwest Black Experience Research (EMBER); a team of independent researchers working to find and share the stories of early Black residents across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Learn more at https://www.andersgenealogicalservices.com/ember

Sponsored by: Minnesota Genealogical Society

Experience level: All

Cost:
$40 for non-Members, $30 for MGS Members, limit to 35 registrants.

MGS Board of Directors Meeting (28 Nov 2026)

Sat, 28 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Monthly Board Meeting

MNYIG: 18th Century America Cultural Changes and Their Effect on Records (28 Nov 2026)

Sat, 28 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

18th Century America Cultural Changes and Their Effect on Records
Presenter: Sylvia Tracy Doolos

Location: Zoom.

Cost: The event is free and open to all MGS members

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (29 Nov 2026)

Sun, 29 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

No registration is needed - come and join us.

Using Church Records in Minnesota and the Midwest (2 Dec 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 01:00:00 GMT

MGS December Webinar:Using Church Records in Minnesota and the Midwest
Instructor: Sunny Morton

Learn to use religious records to find genealogical clues and stories about your relatives in Minnesota and the Midwest, whether they were Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, or another of the many possible denominations. Get tips for identifying a family’s congregation; clues about ethnicity and affiliation; what kinds of migration clues may be found in church records and histories; and how to locate extant records. From the co-author of the award-winning book, How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records and the author of the new volume, Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States.

About the Instructor:

Sunny is an experienced instructor, in-person and online. She has taught at GRIP Genealogy Institute; SLIG; NGS; the Library of Congress; RootsTech and RootsTech London; and other events throughout the United States and beyond. She is an experienced online instructor with Family Tree University, Your DNA Guide—the Academy, and Legacy Family Tree Webinars and has given hundreds of webinars to societies and libraries.

Sponsored by: Minnesota Genealogical Society

Experience level: All

Cost: Free

Registration Required (limited to 100). Click here to register

MGS Annual Meeting (5 Dec 2026)

Sat, 05 Dec 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Annual Meeting

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (12 Dec 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

No registration is needed - come and join us.

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (27 Dec 2026)

Sun, 27 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

No registration is needed - come and join us.

Dr. Andrei Popescu: It's All Relative - Pitfalls in Romanian Research (9 Jan 2027)

Sat, 09 Jan 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Dr. Andrei Popescu: It's All Relative - Pitfalls in Romanian Research

Access to the Zoom links for members-only Interest Group meetings

Laura Holzinger: My Research Trip to Romania (13 Mar 2027)

Sat, 13 Mar 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Laura Holzinger: My Research Trip to Romania

Access to the Zoom links for members-only Interest Group meetings

Minnesota Genealogical Society upcoming events

Timelines for Organizing, Analyzing, and Breaking Down Brick Walls (4 Nov 2026)

MGS November Webinar:Timelines for Organizing, Analyzing, and Breaking Down Brick Walls Instructor: Karen Fortin

Folklore and Family History: A Conversation for Romanian Researchers (14 Nov 2026)

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (14 Nov 2026)

Writing Interest Group - Meetings (21 Nov 2026)

African American Genealogy (Class) (21 Nov 2026)

MGS Board of Directors Meeting (28 Nov 2026)

MNYIG: 18th Century America Cultural Changes and Their Effect on Records (28 Nov 2026)

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (29 Nov 2026)

Using Church Records in Minnesota and the Midwest (2 Dec 2026)

MGS December Webinar:Using Church Records in Minnesota and the Midwest Instructor: Sunny Morton

MGS Annual Meeting (5 Dec 2026)

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (12 Dec 2026)

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (27 Dec 2026)

Dr. Andrei Popescu: It's All Relative - Pitfalls in Romanian Research (9 Jan 2027)

Laura Holzinger: My Research Trip to Romania (13 Mar 2027)

MGS November Webinar:
Timelines for Organizing, Analyzing, and Breaking Down Brick Walls
Instructor: Karen Fortin

MGS December Webinar:Using Church Records in Minnesota and the Midwest
Instructor: Sunny Morton