Family history is an enduring gift, gently passed from old souls to young ones.
David Randall
The Robson Ranch Genealogy Club has enjoyed a busy start to the fall season, with September and early October offering members a rich variety of opportunities to expand their skills and deepen their family history research.
In September, members viewed a video presentation by Geoff Gentilini of the National Archives in St. Louis, “Using Military Service Records to Research Family History.” This program highlighted how often-overlooked 20th-century service records can provide important details about our families, and attendees left inspired to explore this valuable resource.
October began with a visit from Barb Coakley of the Texas State Genealogical Society who delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “Avoiding Bias: Consider All the Possibilities.” Coakley’s talk explored the ways in which unconscious bias can mislead genealogists and offered practical methods for maintaining accuracy, including the Genealogical Proof Standard and comprehensive research checklists. Her examples showed how even experienced researchers must stay vigilant to avoid drawing the wrong conclusions.
The club’s October schedule continues with several additional programs. On October 13, during the monthly Help Session, David Randall will present “An Introduction to WikiTree – Part II,” demonstrating the unique tools and collaborative features of this free family history website, along with some specific tricks for using AI in your family history project. Then on Oct. 21, members will view “Let There Be Light: Using Church-Related Periodicals,” a video presentation by genealogist Mark Low. This program will show how religious publications can reveal valuable information about our ancestors and their communities.
As November approaches, members can look forward to three additional events. On Nov. 4 the club will feature a video presentation from the Texas State Genealogical Society by Susan Ball titled “Delving into Divorce: Finding Family Details in the Civil Court Docket.” Although divorce was often a difficult chapter in family history, the records it left behind provide genealogists with case files filled with details that may not appear in other sources. These records can be especially important for learning about short-lived marriages and families that formed and dissolved between census years.
On Nov. 10 the regular Help Session will be held at 2 p.m., this time featuring a Stirpes Study Group for those interested in the Texas State Genealogical Society’s award-winning journal. Finally, the season will conclude with the club’s annual business meeting and social event on Nov. 18. Members will gather to review the year’s accomplishments, share fellowship, and elect officers for the upcoming year.
All meetings take place in Room 104 of the Creative Arts and Technology Center. Regular programs are held at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month, while Help Sessions occur on the second Monday at 2 p.m. Newcomers are always welcome, with the first visit free and an annual membership of just $20.