Minnesota Genealogical Society upcoming events

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

From colonial expansion to revolution, 18th-century America was a time of upheaval. Discover how political, cultural, and social transitions shaped recordkeeping, and learn where to find the surviving documents of your ancestors.

Presented by Sylvia Doolos, New Leaf Genealogy

Sylvia Tracy Doolos is a professional genealogist and owner of New Leaf Genealogy with more than forty-five years of research experience. She serves as President of the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE) and is Past President of both the Int’l. Society for British Genealogy and Family History and the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She is the recipient of the Birdie Monk Holsclaw Award and the National Genealogical Society’s Award of Merit.

The program is free and open to all MGSmembers. The Zoom link will be posted in the Members Only section of the MGS website on Thursday, November 26.

Choose Member Resources – Member Zoom Links

Beginning Genealogy (Class) (29 Nov 2026)

Sun, 29 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.

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

December DNA Interest Group meeting (6 Dec 2026)

Sun, 06 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

November DNA Interest Group Meeting November 6, 1p.m.-3 p.m.

Individual 2027 DNA Goals; Bring a Case for “Stump the Chump”

Set a personal 2027 DNA goal and share with group! We are hopeful it helps you feel more focused AND helps group leadership think about programming for the year!

Bring a question or case to the group! We have great knowledge among the members, and it can be a great resource to break down barriers. No written prep needed, just bring a clearly formed question and/or pertinent details to provide to the group.

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

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

Stasa Cvetkovic, Genealogical Research in Banat (Serbia and Romania) (8 May 2027)

Sat, 08 May 2027 15:00:00 GMT

Stasa Cvetkovic, Genealogical Research in Banat (Serbia and Romania)

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

Andrei Cucuruz, Overview of Genealogica Website for Romania Research (10 Jul 2027)

Sat, 10 Jul 2027 15:00:00 GMT

Andrei Cucuruz, Overview of Genealogica Website for Romania Research

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

Peter Schubert, Researching German and Romanian Ancestors in Romania (11 Sep 2027)

Sat, 11 Sep 2027 15:00:00 GMT

Peter Schubert, Researching German and Romanian Ancestors in Romania

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

MNRIG Annual Meeting & Member Sharing (13 Nov 2027)

Sat, 13 Nov 2027 16:00:00 GMT

MNRIG Annual Meeting & Member Sharing

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

Minnesota Genealogical Society upcoming events

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)

December DNA Interest Group meeting (6 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)

Stasa Cvetkovic, Genealogical Research in Banat (Serbia and Romania) (8 May 2027)

Andrei Cucuruz, Overview of Genealogica Website for Romania Research (10 Jul 2027)

Peter Schubert, Researching German and Romanian Ancestors in Romania (11 Sep 2027)

MNRIG Annual Meeting & Member Sharing (13 Nov 2027)

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