David M. Randall
After a quiet summer spent enjoying family, warm weather, and various local and distant excursions, the members of the Robson Ranch Genealogy Club are ready to return this month to a full calendar of exciting presentations and workshops.
We will begin the new season with back-to-back presentations from one of our favorite speakers, author, lecturer, and professional genealogist Diane Richard. On Aug. 18, Diane will speak about the Freedmen’s Bureau and the remarkable records it created. These records can be an invaluable resource for family historians, offering insight into the lives of formerly enslaved individuals, refugees, laborers, families, and communities in the years following the Civil War.
Then, on Sept. 1, Diane will be back again to explain how photo collecting can be used in genealogical research. Family photographs, unidentified portraits, albums, and inherited image collections often hold clues that can help us better understand our ancestors, connect family branches, and preserve stories that might otherwise be lost.
On Sept. 7, our own Dr. Terry Babcock will present an afternoon workshop on DNA basics. This session will be especially helpful for anyone who has taken a DNA test, is thinking about taking one, or simply wants to better understand how DNA results can support traditional genealogical research.
Whether you are brand new to genealogy and need help getting started, or you are a seasoned researcher working to break through a stubborn brick wall, the Robson Ranch Genealogy Club is the place for you. Our members enjoy learning together, sharing discoveries, and helping one another uncover the stories of those who came before us.
The Robson Ranch Genealogy Club meets in CATC, Room 104. Presentations are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. Help sessions and workshops are usually held on the second Monday of the month at 2 p.m. First-time visitors are always welcome to attend free. Annual dues are $20 for an individual or $30 for a household.