From Rolodex to Records: The Secrets Beneath the Candy Shop
2026-01-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Meeting
AGS Kitchen Roundtable; Presented by Wendy Citron

In this session, Wendy guides attendees through the intricate world of Jewish genealogical research—where languages shift, borders blur, and myths that “all the records were lost” persist. Drawing from her own family’s extraordinary journey—one that began with a simple question and ultimately revealed a family secret tied to Murder, Inc., the infamous Jewish Mafia—she demonstrates how persistence and methodical research can uncover truth in the most unexpected places.

You will learn essential strategies for Jewish genealogical research—how to successfully overcome gaps in sources and records, interpret shifting identities, and follow clues across languages, cultures, and time. You will also gain an understanding of how to piece together fragmented stories, trace Ashkenazic roots hidden under “Russian” or “Polish” labels, and bring to light the vibrant histories once thought irretrievable.

Registration is required. The link is coming soon!

Wendy Citron is a professional genealogist, artist, and educator specializing in Jewish and Eastern European research. She serves as a Research Specialist at the FamilySearch Library and as an administrator with the JewishGen Ukraine Research Division’s Data Acquisition Team. Wendy is also the founder of two professional genealogy communities: the Ukraine Genealogy Alliance, focused on resource sharing, education, and collaborative efforts for research, and Geniends, a professional genealogist networking group that supports mentorship and shared expertise. Her research also extends to a one-name study in West Limerick, Ireland, where she integrates genetic genealogy, advanced digital tools, and traditional research to reconstruct interconnected family networks and migration patterns.

Climactic Clues: Our Ancestors Weathering Their Lives
2026-02-02 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Ann Staley, CG®, CGL

Ann Staley, CG®, CGL will present.

Seems the weather has interfered with our weather presentation! We are trying to stay ahead of “snow-magedden” The weather plays a factor in how we handle our day-to-day activities. Our ancestors were no different. Hurricanes, tornadoes, coal inversions, ice storms, etc. played havoc with crops and lives. On the other hand, the sun and rain helped to produce the items necessary for subsistence. The weather, during certain time periods, could give you a clue as to why you can’t find your ancestor; one reason – they may have moved. This presentation will examine the various ways our ancestors were affected by the weather including folklore, weather phenomena, climate driven migration, military conflicts, National Weather Bureau, on- and off-line resources, and more.

Ann Staley, CG®, CGL®, is an educator, consultant, and lecturer. She is the Membership Chair for the Genealogical Speakers Guild; a volunteer on a number of committees of the National Genealogical Society; a volunteer of the Florida State Genealogical Society; author of several articles for the NGS Magazine; co-author of the NGS Research in the States Series-Florida; and is on the faculty of the International Institute for Genealogical Studies. Ann has been researching her family from Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, and Virginia to Ireland, England, France and Germany. Her specialties are methodology, vital records and their sources, computer research resources, and conference planning.

Using Collateral Relatives & Cluster Research to Solve Genealogy Problems
2026-02-09 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Kim Richardson, Southern Heritage Genealogy

Kim Richardson founded the research and consulting firm Southern Heritage Genealogy. Kim created and developed the “Brick Wall Buster Cards” to share her secret for solving tough genealogy problems and family mysteries. She regularly teaches and presents to groups across the country. She also writes for local and state genealogy publications and wrote the Mississippi Research Guide for Family Tree Magazine.

A Zoom link will be sent to members and mailing list subscribers the morning of the event.

Southern Ancestors—Black and White in the Freedmen’s Bureau: A Rich Resource for Researching Southern Ancestors
2026-02-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Sharon Batiste Gillins

Sharon Batiste Gillins has been actively involved in genealogical research and teaching for more than 30 years. She frequently delivers lectures and workshops at regional genealogy conferences and national genealogy institutes. Her research and teaching focus on African Americans in the 19th Century through the mid-20th century, including the Freedmen’s Bureau, Southern Claims Commission, probate records, and Juneteenth history to reveal the lives of enslaved persons, free people of color, and southern planters. Her work with slave-era manuscripts encourages more open communication and information exchange between families holding private manuscripts that document the presence of enslavers and/or enslaved people.

She has taught at many of the country’s most recognized genealogy conferences and institutes, including the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), RootsTech, and numerous regional genealogy societies and research groups. Ms. Gillins is recognized for her research in Freedmen’s Bureau Records and is the author of several published articles on the subject.

What We Wore: Dating Photos Through Clothes
2026-03-09 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Heather Zbinden

Using photos from the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies collection, learn how to date family photos by the clothes worn by the photo sitters.

Heather Register Zbinden is the Adult Program Coordinator for the Central Arkansas Library System. She has worked in public history for over 20 years and has contributed to projects at the Old State House Museum, the Central High School National Historic Site, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and Life Interrupted: The Japanese American Experience in World War II Arkansas. Her research passion is fashion and clothes – any clothes – from haute couture to dime store finds.

A Zoom link will be sent to members and mailing list subscribers the morning of the event.

Effective Use of Ancestry.com
2026-03-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Scott Lee

We click all those little green leaves and build a tree, but keep finding mistakes. How do we fix them? This presentation will show you how to avoid incorporating other people’s mistakes into your tree and use the Ancestry.com service effectively. It will teach techniques for building a more reliable, evidence-based tree. This is a great refresher even for experienced Ancestry.com users!Scott Lee is a retired software engineer who has researched his family history since 1979. He has served as an officer in several genealogical societies and lectures on genealogical topics. Currently, he is the 1st Vice President of the Arkansas Genealogical Society.

Scott grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, but his work took him to Indiana, Oregon, North Carolina, and New York City. In retirement, he and his wife, Deirdre, have returned to their families in Arkansas. His career included the medical field, engineering, computer graphics, and consulting in the process of building reliable software. In retirement, he is working on the design of deep learning neural networks and software for genealogy. In his spare time, he enjoys writing science fiction, studying ancient calendars, developing open-source software, keeping up with the latest advances in physics and astronomy, and, of course, researching his family history.To register for this free webinar, please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KC2lat_XTpCRyfZlTkR0_w#/registration.

AHS Annual Conference - Arkansas at Work: Histories of Labor, Land, and Learning
2026-04-09 08:00 - 2026-04-11 17:00
The Arkansas Historical Association will host its eighty-fifth annual conference in Monticello, April 9-11, 2026. Presentations will cover a wide range of topics from all time periods that explore the history of Arkansas at work, from the production and trade of material goods by Indigenous peoples for hundreds of generations to a diverse economy based on agriculture, mining, forestry, manufacturing, and tourism in more modern times.

See the AHS website for more details.

Arkansas State Archives Spring Symposium
2026-05-02 08:30 - 12:00 | Historic Arkansas Museum, 201 W 3rd St, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, United States
From 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, the Arkansas State Archives (ASA) will host their spring symposium at the Historic Arkansas Museum.

The symposium will focus on the legacy of sports in the Natural State. Historian Jim Yeager will talk about the history of the Arkansas Travelers; ASA archival assistant Brian Irby will speak about the history of prizefighting in the state; UCA Professor Buckley T. Foster will talk about Arkansas’ history of hunting and conservation; and Muskie Harris will discuss his football career at Central High School and with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Seating is limited, so be sure to register below!

Register on Eventbrite

Memorial in May Cemetery Preservation Conference
2026-05-15 09:00 - 2026-05-16 15:30 | William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72114, United States
The Preservation of African American Cemeteries invites you to attend its 17th Memorial in May Cemetery Preservation Conference.

***The Ancestors are Calling*** and we are asking YOU to join us in the work of protecting our cemeteries, honoring those that have gone before us, and restoring pride.

As with all elements of our historic past, traditions are kept alive only because they have been passed down from generation to generation. But somewhere along the way, the tradition of involving our youth in the upkeep of our family gravesites has been lost. PAAC is recruiting for PAAC Junior.

Do you or your preservation group need help with cemetery or burial identifications, documentation, mapping, preservation plans, relocation, and conservation treatments? Been active in political and legal efforts to identify and stop desecration and destruction of cemeteries, but need help? Unsure of the laws that govern perpetual and non-perpetual cemeteries? Then please join us May 15-16 for this two-day conference.

The Laman Library was built on the site of North Little Rock’s Odd Fellows Cemetery, an African-American cemetery.

The Preservation of African American Cemeteries, Inc. (PAAC) was founded in 2003 by a group dedicated to preserving, restoring, and documenting African American cemeteries.

Oakland & Fraternal Cemeteries Walkabout
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Oakland & Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park, 2101 Barber St, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72206, United States
Join the Friends of Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery for a Walkabout and Wellness Day.

This event features a guided walk at 10:30 a.m., but visitors are welcome to walk on their own. Use the new mile markers (1.5 miles) on the paved roads of the cemetery. The day will include coffee, water, Find A Grave coaching, a fitness Demo, and info door prizes.

Park inside the cemetery on any unpaved road.

Dogs on leashes are welcome!

Questions? contact Friends.OaklandFraternal@Gmail.com

Beyond the Census: Discovering Ancestor Stories
2026-05-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Regan Richardson

Census records provide valuable snapshots, but they rarely tell the full story of an ancestor’s life. In this workshop, participants will learn how to move beyond census data to find the stories that census records can’t tell. Using alternative sources such as historical encyclopedias, newspapers, city and business directories, and more, we will work to shape your ancestors’ stories. Through practical examples, attendees will discover how these records can add context, personality, and depth to ancestor profiles, transforming names and dates into meaningful life stories.

Regan Richardson is a professional genealogist, managing editor of The Arkansas Family Historian, and second vice president of the Arkansas Genealogical Society. With a deep commitment to uncovering the human stories behind historical records, Regan specializes in transforming traditional research—such as census data—into rich, contextual family narratives. She works with researchers and writers to strengthen historical storytelling while maintaining rigorous documentation standards. Through her editorial leadership, training sessions, and public presentations, Regan encourages genealogists to look beyond the records and discover the lived experiences that bring ancestors fully to life.

The Arkansas Genealogical Society hosts Kitchen Roundtable Talks on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM Central Time. These are free Zoom Meetings, and all are welcome. Please visit the webpage at https://argensoc.org/kitchen/ for future topics and information.

35th North Arkansas Ancestor Fair
2026-06-05 13:00 - 2026-06-06 15:00
A Two-Day Genealogical Event in North Arkansas

June 5-6, 2026

To brag on your North Arkansas ancestors, or to learn about them, go to the 35th North Arkansas Ancestor Fair June 5 & 6, 2025.

On Friday afternoon, four local history and genealogy speakers will present great information about local history and genealogy at the Searcy County Library from 1:00 to 5:00, followed by a mixer-dinner to make early contacts from 5:30 to 8:30 at Los Locos Mexican Restaurant.

On Saturday from 9:00 to 3:00 at the Veterans Hall in Marshall, family genealogists, local historians, and north-central Arkansas county historians will be there to help researchers. People who want to share information will be provided with a table and chairs to display their information. WiFi is available.

The Searcy County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization that hosts monthly history presentations in Marshall and hosts the annual Ancestor Fair on the 1st Friday and Saturday in June. Founded in 1989 by James Johnston, the North Arkansas Ancestor Fair has since been held at various locations throughout Searcy County, with up to 500 participants in some years.

When asked to explain what an Ancestor Fair is, one involved person said, “It’s a genealogical swap shop.” A local dentist described the Ancestor Fair as a place where people went to show off their ancestors. Both statements are correct. Gatherers come to the Ancestor Fair looking for information. Providers display and share their information because they enjoy helping others, but also because they are proud of their research and would like a bit of appreciation for their years of work.

For additional info, contact Thereisa Housley at rafter@ozarkisp.netand http://ancestorfair.us Schedule:

Friday, June 5, from 1:00-5:00 p.m.Searcy County Library202 East Main StreetMarshall, AR 726501:00 pm James J. Johnston-Welcome and Jayhawker Tales2:00 pm Randy & Melissa Smyth, Stories & History3:00 pm Sherry Southerland-A Peace Society Spy4:00 pm Jo Watts-Easier Genealogy Research 5:30 – 8:30 pm – Mixer Dinner – Meet kin, get an early start on researchLos Locos Restaurant – order individually from the menu234 US 65 NMarshall, AR 72650 Saturday, June 6, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.Veteran’s Memorial Hall108 Noah Horton Memorial Dr.Marshall, AR 72650

7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Providers set up9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – Ancestor Fair open to the public

Arkansas Black Officials in Reconstruction
2026-06-06 09:00 - 13:00 | Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. 9th St., Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, United States
The Black History Commission of Arkansas with the Arkansas State Archives will host its June symposium, “Arkansas Black Officials in Reconstruction” on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock.Featured speakers include Matthew Caston, Dr. Donna Shelton, Phyllis Hammonds, Mayor Ora Barnes, and Pastor Jarvis Smith. Topics include “Rush to Freedom: The Story of Anderson Louis Rush,” “Gilded Age Grassroots Politics in the Arkansas Delta,” “Local to State Black Political Power in the Late Nineteenth Century,” and “A discussion on the successes, obstacles, and distinct personalities of 10 legislators who represented Phillips and Lee Counties during Reconstruction.”Light refreshments will be served. Teachers can earn up to 3 hours of Teacher PDH credit.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Deadline to register is May 26, 2026. Register through Eventbrite.

From the Cradle to the Grave Genealogy Workshop
2026-06-12 09:30 - 2026-06-13 12:30 | William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72114, United States
Join the Laman Library, the Preservation of African American Cemeteries, and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society for a jam-packed family history weekend!

Join us June 12-13 from 9:30 am-12:30 pm (both days) at the William F. Laman Public Library for another From the Cradle to the Grave two-day workshop! These informational sessions are open to all ages and backgrounds, with a little something for everyone interested in doing family history research or cemetery preservation. Guest speakers will provide talks on conducting family history and cemetery research. Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis will present an overview of the history and legacy of the Odd Fellows Cemetery. PAAC Junior will join us to share new ways to get involved with the organization and upcoming projects for youth cemetery preservationists. These sessions will serve as the finale of a community-driven project to continue documenting the history of the Odd Fellows Cemetery and the Military Heights neighborhood in North Little Rock. Workshops over the last several months dove into conducting oral histories and digitizing family records. Supported in part by a Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant from the Black History Commission of Arkansas and the Arkansas State Archives, this weekend will also mark the opening of the permanent poster exhibit on Odd Fellows and Military Heights. For questions about the program or project, contact North Little Rock Public Library Archivist Jamie Middleton, jmiddleton@nlrlibrary.org.

I Am Just Like You: I Am Not Like You — Researching LGBTQ+ and Underrepresented Ancestors
2026-06-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Beyond LGBTQ+ research, we’ll examine approaches to researching other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups, including Hispanic/Latino, Jewish, and Black communities. You’ll gain guidance on evolving terminology, culturally aware research practices, and how to navigate uncertainty with confidence, along with resources to help you uncover and honor diverse family histories.

This evening’s presenter, Phil James, has been a practicing genealogist since about 1970, first as a hobby, and now full-time. His background in anthropology and computer science, specifically software, firmware, and hardware testing in Quality Assurance, has informed his pursuit of data and nuance — and his desire to be represented and counted. He has taught numerous classes, most recently: three 90-minute sessions for Open House, a San Francisco LGBT housing and social organization.

This is a Kitchen Roundtable presentation and discussion hosted by the Arkansas Genealogical Society. For more programs in this series, check the AGS website.

Cemetery Preservation with PAAC Junior
2026-07-10 10:00 - 12:00 | William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72114, United States
Dig into the past in this hands-on cemetery preservation workshop with PAAC Junior.

Join us for a hands-on technical workshop in cemetery preservation with PAAC Junior! Workshop participants will learn to use Google Earth to locate cemeteries and the basics of family history research to track an ancestor through their life. This workshop is best suited to tweens and teens with some familiarity with computers and an interest in family history. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend as well! Laptops will be provided for workshop use. PAAC Junior, established in 2009, aims to train youth in becoming advocates working to increase public awareness and activism in preserving, protecting, documenting, and restoring endangered and forgotten historic cemeteries, writing the significant histories of those interred, and publishing their findings through modern technology to youth and adults around the state of Arkansas.

As with all elements of our historic past, traditions are kept alive because they are passed down from generation to generation. But somewhere along the way, the tradition of involving our youth in the commitment and dedication to the upkeep of our family gravesites has been lost. The PAAC Junior Preservation Society is in place to ensure that the stories of our forefathers will be told and that the resting place of their ancestors will be preserved and not lost to vandals, abandonment, or developers.

Through technological tools, the world can view the plight of Arkansas Cemeteries under the leadership of PAAC/PAAC Junior Preservation Society.

DNA Oddities: Uncovering the Strange Truths of Genetic Research
2026-07-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Scott Lee

DNA and biological reproduction are more complex than most people realize. Misunderstandings about how DNA is inherited can lead to false assumptions and confusing, seemingly contradictory results. This presentation reveals fascinating and little-known facts about DNA that are crucial for interpreting unexpected genetic findings. Topics include: the importance of centimorgans, DNA crossovers, vanishing twin syndrome, chimeras, and the impact of endogamy. Technical details and jargon will be kept to a minimum, making these concepts accessible to all.

This is a Kitchen Roundtable presentation and discussion hosted by the Arkansas Genealogical Society. For more programs in this series, check the AGS website.

This evening’s presenter is Scott Lee, a retired software engineer who has researched his family history since 1979. He has served as an officer in several genealogical societies and lectures on genealogical topics. He is currently the 1st Vice President of the Arkansas Genealogical Society.

Scott grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, but his work took him to Indiana, Oregon, North Carolina, and New York City. In retirement, he and his wife, Deirdre, have returned to their families in Arkansas. His career included the medical field, engineering, computer graphics, and consulting focused on building reliable software. In retirement, he is working on the design of deep learning neural networks and software for genealogy. In his spare time, he enjoys writing science fiction, studying ancient calendars, developing open-source software, keeping up with the latest advances in physics and astronomy, and, of course, researching his family history.

Family History Research in Arkansas: An Introduction
2026-07-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Russell Baker

Russell Baker has been active in Arkansas genealogical education for decades. He is retired from the Arkansas State Archives and recently stepped down as the long-time editor of the Arkansas Genealogical Society’s journal, The Arkansas Family Historian.

A Zoom link will be sent to members and mailing list subscribers the morning of the meeting.

The presenters retain the copyright to their presentations, including all images and other intellectual property. Copying, recording, taking screenshots, transcribing, AI note-taking, or redistributing any portion of these presentations in any form is strictly prohibited under penalty of law. The official recording of presentations will be available for a limited time in the members-only section of the Heritage Seekers website. Thank you for understanding and cooperating.

You Only Have a Death Announcement: Now What?
2026-08-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Meeting
Deborah A. Abbott, Ph.D.

Dr. Deborah Abbott is a professional genealogist specializing in African American research, manuscript collections, and genealogy methodology. She is a Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Archives Advisory Commission member and serves on the Lake View (Ohio) Cemetery Outreach Committee. She is an associate with the Kentucky-Tennessee Associates based in Springfield, TN; past president of the African American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, OH; and a retired professor of Counseling from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. She holds both a BS and an M.Ed. from Tuskegee University in Alabama and a PhD from Kent State University in Ohio.

Dr. Abbott is an instructor and the coordinator for both the week-long African American tracts at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), held at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, and the Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), held at LaRoche University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is also an instructor at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) in Salt Lake City, UT. She presents lectures and workshops at national, state, and local genealogy conferences. She lectures at colleges, businesses & libraries. She has published in both the Ohio Genealogy News and Family Tree Magazine. Dr. Abbott can be seen teaching the African American research course “Needles & Threads” in an educational video on Ancestry Academy, available on Ancestry.com. She coordinates monthly classes for the Genealogy and Family History Clinic for the Cleveland Public Library.

A Cleveland, Ohio native, Dr. Abbott is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Tuskegee University National Alumni Association, and Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland.

A Zoom link will be sent to members and mailing list subscribers the morning of the meeting.

The presenters retain the copyright to their presentations, including all images and other intellectual property. Copying, recording, taking screenshots, transcribing, AI note-taking, or redistributing any portion of these presentations in any form is strictly prohibited under penalty of law. The official recording of presentations will be available for a limited time in the members-only section of the Heritage Seekers website. Thank you for understanding and cooperating.
