Seeking Our Roots: Why Do Genealogy?
Presented in partnership with the Salem Public Library Foundation and Salem Reads
Friday, February 2, 2024
Dye Room, Willamette Heritage Center
1313 Mill St. SE | Salem, OR 97301
Doors open at 11:30
Program: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Who among us has not wondered about our forebearers – who they were, what they looked like, where they came from, what they did, when they lived, what they left? Finding family history and solving a mystery are central themes of the 2024 Salem Reads book selection: The Inheritance of OrquÍdea Divina, a novel about “…. what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming our power."
Doug Crosby, professional genealogist, and President of the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society will discuss the origins of genealogy, how it has changed over the centuries, contemporary uses of genealogy, and tips on getting started on your own search.
Doug’s serious efforts at genealogy began with a week at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City in 1980, analyzing census records to answer the question “Who was the father of William Crosby (his 3rd great grandfather), born 1801, Homer, NY?”
He is currently President of the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society and serves as a Board member. Doug volunteers at their Genealogy Help Desk in the Salem Public Library and is an occasional speaker. He also serves on the Steering Committee and is the webmaster for the Ancestry Detectives in Silverton.
To facilitate his research, and in connection with his small business “Looking for Grandma – a genealogical research service,” Doug has maintained all access membership with Ancestry.com (where he was part of their “Expert Connect” program), and access to a variety of online resources. He is a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, and the Association of Professional Genealogists.
After spending 18 months of his childhood in Peru, South America, dropping out of college, serving two years in the US Army, and working in residential construction for many years, he became a Rural Letter Carrier (US Postal Service) in 1987. Since retirement he has pursued interests in reading, travel, theology, photography, model railroading and genealogy. He resides in Silverton, Oregon.
Registration:
Members: Free
Non-Members: Free
