Our speaker will be James M. Beidler, genealogical lecturer and author of books on German research, as well as writing the award-winning newspaper column "Roots and Branches."  He is a columnist for "German Life" magazine and is editor of Der Kurier, the quarterly journal of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society. He is also an instructor for online "Family Tree University".

Mr. Beidler will be presenting 2 lectures in the morning and one in the afternoon on topics such as research at the PA State Library and State Archives and application to lineage societies.  Mr. Beidler will have his books available for sale.

10:30 am – 12:30 PM   

Session 1)  Exploring Pennsylvania's State Archives and State Library.  The Pennsylvania State Archives and State Library of Pennsylvania are well worth a researcher's attention – catalogs and some records can be accessed onlineand a research trip can be worthwhile with advance planning.

Session 2) Unlocking the Door to Lineage Societies Ever wondered how to get into Daughters of the American Revolution? Or Mayflower Society? Or more obscure groups such as the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick? This seminar goes over the qualifications for various groups and the types of documentary proof needed to complete applications

12:30 – 2 PM  Lunch On Your Own. Two restaurants are available in the Carnegie Museum of Art and History (Fossil Fuels Cafe and The Café Carnegie), as well as numerous restaurants in the area.  

2 PM – 3 PM   Session 3) German Research Online. Searching for German-speaking ancestors is undergoing a paradigm shift in which the resources of Ancestry, FamilySearch and European-based Genealogy.net are all major players and German church records are being digitized. Learn about the many websites that can help you break down brick walls and find the villages of origin for your ancestors!

Doors open at 9:30 am and the presentation is free and open to the public. All-day parking in the Carnegie Museum parking lot  behind the Library is $6.  Remember, we will be in the Lecture Hall, so dress comfortably and bring a hard surface to write on for your notetaking.  Watch for updates on the WPGS website and on our Facebook page.  For questions, call 412-622-3154.