September 2021 Chapter Meeting
2021-09-19 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | SC
An Introduction to DNA Clustering, presented by chapter member Nina Bruhns
Do you have a brick wall you can’t get past? Or perhaps you are searching for an unknown parent or grandparent due to adoption or an NPE? Using DNA is an awesome way to help you uncover new information that can aid in your quest to fill in those gaps and unknown ancestors. One of the very best tools available to sort out all those zillions of DNA matches is known as clustering. With clustering you can quickly and easily identify groups of matches who all share a common ancestral couple, and sometimes even a single ancestor, thus focusing your search to the matches that are most relevant. It is also the first step to take when starting a DNA chromosome mapping project. Join Nina’s presentation to learn about this super useful technique!
Please CONTACT US if would like to participate in this Zoom meeting but are not yet a Chapter member.

October 2021 Chapter Meeting
2021-10-17 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
History of the Charleston Fair (now the Coastal Carolina Fair)
Our October speaker, Frank Shorter, will present a history on the Charleston Fair which has operated from 1872 to the present. The Exchange Club of Charleston is the owner and operator of the Coastal Carolina Fair. Mr Shorter is a 42 year member of the Club and will present a slide show of the fair’s history.
NOTE: This will be an “in person” presentation by Mr. Shorter at the Masonic Center but will also be available via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you’d like to participate via Zoom but aren’t a Chapter member.

November 2021 Chapter Meeting
2021-11-21 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
“The Wanderer” – author Erik Calonius will discuss his book about “The Wanderer” which sailed to the coast of Africa in 1858, loaded 471 Negroes on board and landed weeks later on the Georgia coast.
NOTE: This will be an “in person” presentation by Mr. Calonius at the Masonic Center but will also be available via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you’d like to participate via Zoom but aren’t a Chapter member.

December 2021 Chapter Meeting
2021-12-19 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
December is our annual “Show and Tell” holidays get-together. We invite chapter members to talk about genealogy-related “news” from the year. Come join us and learn a bit more about what’s been happening with our members.
If you would like to present at this meeting, please let Doreen Larimer (dlarimer “at” comcast.net) know.

January 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-01-16 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this month’s chapter meeting will be a Zoom presentation. Chapter member Charlie Black will review several recent changes to the FamilySearch website search tools that were implemented in 2021. Charlie is a long time volunteer at the local Family History Center and has devoted considerable time to understanding the “ins and outs” of finding records on the FamilySearch website.
Please CONTACT US if you would like to participate via Zoom but are not a Chapter member. Guests are always welcome.

February 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-02-20 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Chapter member Pat Kruger will provide us with the latest guidance concerning the 1950 US Census which will be released in April 2022. The release of a US census occurs only once every ten years, so this is an anxiously anticipated event for genealogists throughout the country.
The meeting will be conducted via Zoom (not in person). Guests are always welcome.

March 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-03-20 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Chapter member Lynn Baker will present Researching the National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration (aka NARA) is the original source for most of the U.S. Government information that is available to genealogists, including federal censuses, military records and many more collections. Learn how to use the NARA databases to search for these records yourself, including some images that are not identified in the databases of the “Big Four” genealogy web services. Also learn about how many government records are still waiting to be digitized.
The meeting will be conducted via Zoom (not in person). Guests are always welcome so please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

April 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-04-24 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Chapter member Lahnice Hollister will discuss her book, Resisting Jim Crow: the Autobiography of Dr. John A. McFall
Lahnice’s great-uncle John McFall was the eldest of eleven children born to a Black couple in Charleston and was also among the first generation of his family born into freedom. His writings provide insight into the state-sponsored segregation following Reconstruction whereby people of color were treated as second-class citizens in Charleston and elsewhere in the South.
We plan to meet in-person (assuming COVID doesn’t flare up again), but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom – so please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

May 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-05-15 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Chapter member Lynn Baker will present Research in New England
New England is one of the best documented historical parts of the U.S. This presentation will give an approach to tackling all of this data and finding what you want for your family research. We will review various databases available to you both in the U.S. and in Britain.
We hope to meet in-person (if COVID doesn’t flare up again), but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom – so please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Sep 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-09-18 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Ruth M. Miller, well-known Charleston historian and author, will share her knowledge of cemeteries and graveyards, including the art and architecture of them, in her presentation, “Touring the Tombstones”.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Oct 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-10-16 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Virginia Ellison, Vice-President of Collections and Chief Operating Officer of the South Carolina Historical Society, will present, “What’s In Your Attic?” She will discuss the procedures of donating materials to an archival repository or museum, how to navigate the donation process, which questions to ask, what factors to consider when giving your family’s treasure to an institution, and basic preservation tips you can do at home. Something in your possession may fill a gap in our state’s record!
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Nov 2022 Chapter Meeting
2022-11-20 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Grahame Long, the Director of Museums for the Historic Charleston Foundation, will discuss the fascinating life of enslaved Charleston cabinetmaker, John Gough.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

January 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-01-15 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Dr. Shelley Murphy will present an overview of the Center for Family History at the soon-to-open International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston. As Coordinator of Genealogy Education for the Center, Dr. Murphy developed the staff and public genealogy educational programs for them.
Please note that this will be a Zoom meeting; we will not be meeting in person at the Masonic Center. Please CONTACT US if you would like to participate via Zoom but are not a Chapter member. Guests are always welcome.

Feb 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-02-19 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Our guest speaker for February is chapter member Jayne Larion who will speak on her “Mayflower Adventure.” Genealogy is her true passion. In fact, a first cousin named it “Jaynealogy” when she first began and that name stuck. Jayne was hooked!
Several years ago, she joined the Mayflower Society with ancestors, Francis Cooke and Mary Chilton. She is active in the South Carolina Mayflower Zoom Book Club, having read and studied about ten books. It intrigued her enough to go to Plymouth,MA, last July.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Mar 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-03-19 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Our speaker this month is chapter member Doreen Larimer who will speak on land ownership in South Carolina. The principles of land ownership have been in place in South Carolina for over 300 years. After a brief review of how land is transferred by a chain of title Doreen will explain Charleston County’s records of ownership using the Charleston County web site.
Doreen will also review the ownership of several cemeteries in Charleston where the ownership is known and others that are considered heirs property. Some of the cemeteries to be discussed are:
Third Presbyterian Church inside Riverview Cemetery on Azalea Drive
Grimball Farms Cemetery on Grimball Road
Scanlonville Cemetery on 4th Ave in Mt Pleasant
Friendly Union Cemetery on Skurvine Street
McLeod Plantation cemetery on Country Club Drive
Unnamed cemetery on Dunlap Street in North Charleston
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Apr 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-04-16 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Our speaker this month is chapter member Pat Kruger who will highlight alternative approaches to tackle research challenges. We all have research challenges – stumbling blocks, dead ends, brick walls, whatever you call them. If you don’t, you just haven’t been doing research long enough. If you are out of ideas and stuck, this session will discuss ways to approach brick wall research. It will include suggestions for breaking through those walls, ideas to focus your research strategy and solutions for those family puzzles.
Pat will highlight alternative approaches to tackle research challenges, building on the descriptions and links in the most recent “Sites and Bytes” columns of our Courier newsletters. If you haven’t read “Sites and Bytes” recently, we advise you to do so.
Pat has been a member of CCSCGS since the early 1990s (with a three year break back in Chicago). Since her return to Charleston in 2000, she has written Courier newsletter columns, coordinated programs and served as Chapter President. After retirement, she spent five years at the South Carolina Historical Society in her “Hobby Job” working in their library.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Apr 2023 Board Meeting
2023-04-27 19:00 - 20:00 | virtual via Zoom
The Charleston Chapter Board of Officers will meet via Zoom. Please contact an officer if you want to participate via Zoom or if you have an issue to present to the board.

May 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-05-21 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Our speaker this month is chapter member Patrick Harwood whose talk is titled, “Tales of a Taphophile: From Magnolia Cemetery to the Churchyards of Charleston.” Harwood, a communication professor at South Carolina State University and formerly at College of Charleston, has researched and written about hundreds of old Charlestonians in two of his books, “In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery – Charleston’s Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry” and his newly published “Stories from the Underground: The Churchyards of Charleston.” He will trace his journey to becoming a taphophile and the genealogy tools he has used in these two major works.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

May 2023 Board Meeting
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:00 | virtual via Zoom

Sep 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-09-17 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Our speakers this month are chapter members Marilyn Trevino and Susan Dobbs who will discuss “Aha Moments from the National Genealogical Conference” which they attended held this summer at Richmond, Virginia.
(Due to issues beyond our control the presentation was by Zoom only).

Oct 2023 Chapter Meeting
2023-10-15 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Chapter member Charlie Black will present “Do’s and Don’ts in Genealogy” which will be a condensed version of the presentation he gave at the FamilySearch Center’s annual workshop last year. Charlie will also provide an overview of registering for the Chapter’s group on “Relative Finder” (an on-line tool created the BYU Family History Technical Lab for identifying relationships in the FamilySearch Family Tree).
Please note that this will be a Zoom meeting only; we will NOT be meeting in person at the Masonic Center. Please CONTACT US if you would like to participate via Zoom but are not a Chapter member. Guests are always welcome.

Jan 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-01-21 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Chapter member Mary Lucas will give a presentation on her Barnwell County family home, with several artifacts and written history from the home built before the Civil War.
Mary was born and raised in North Charleston. She is a licensed clinical psychiatric social worker in South Carolina and was named DHEC social worker of the year.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Feb 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-02-18 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Chapter member Susan Dobbs’ presentation “Using Newspapers in Genealogy Research” will cover the kinds of information you can find in newspapers, several websites where you can find newspaper links as well as Genealogy Bank and Newspapers.com.
Susan has been researching her family history for over fourteen years and has uncovered some interesting stories on her ancestors. She is a member of the Emily Geiger Chapter NSDAR and Co-Chair for the Sun City Hilton Head Genealogy Group where she resides as well as being the Secretary for our Chapter. She worked as a High School Guidance Counselor, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Manager and Realtor. She has lived in northern Virginia, in the Charleston/Summerville area from 1978-1982, and in the northern suburbs of Atlanta for over 25 years.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Mar 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-03-17 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Chapter member Lynn Baker will give a presentation on Family Tree Maker and it’s companion plugin Family Tree Creator. Lynn will cover some of the basics of Family Tree Maker and synchronizing with Ancestry.com; how to use some of the built in features for finding mistakes or issues with your data; how to create reports for your research and sharing with others; and how the Family Book Creator plug-in can help you build a customized Family Book with ALL or PART of your information from Family Tree Maker.
Lynn has been doing genealogical research since 1980 and is passionate about learning new ways to do genealogical research and then sharing that with others. He runs an active Genealogy Club on Seabrook Island / Kiawah Island. He’s a frequent speaker at the NSDAR, Summerville Genealogy Club, Charleston Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society and the Charleston Family Search Center. He continues to learn new ways of doing genealogy. He is retired from International Business Machine and the U.S. Navy. He has a lovely wife and four grown children.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Apr 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-04-21 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Our April meeting will be a 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Charleston Chapter (this will be for Chapter members only).
Due to logistical issue, we will not have a Zoom link available for this meeting.

May 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-05-19 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Elizabeth (Libby) Steadman, our speaker for the May meeting, will discuss “Migration of the Scots-Irish Immigrants in 1770’s in South Carolina”. Libby is a retired Colonel with the Army Reserves and a veteran of Desert Storm and the Afghanistan War. She is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of American Colonists, National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, National Society of US Daughters of 1812, and is in the process of applying for membership is Jamestowne Society. She has an extensive educational background including her Masters in Strategic Studies at the US Army War College.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Sep 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-09-15 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Our speaker for the September meeting, Carter Jones will present “Legacies That Live On — Stories of South Carolina’s Fire Service.” Carter is the Historian & Heritage Coordinator for the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association and his presentation is a chance to step back in time to learn some history of our State’s fire service, including the legacy left by the late Charleston Fire Chief, Louis Behrens, the contributions of African-American firemen and the little known history of Castle Pinckney as it relates to Civil War prisoners of the New York volunteer firemen. He’s researched and authored a fire service history, and is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the S. C. Firefighters’ Association.
We will meet in-person, but we also plan to make the meeting available via Zoom. Guests are always welcome – either in person or via Zoom. Please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Oct 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-10-20 14:30 - 16:00 | virtual via Zoom
Chapter member Charlie Black will explain how to use the experimental Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool Full-Text Search offered on FamilySearch. Full-Text Search will be a paradigm shift in researching techniques once it’s fully deployed, as it lets users search for words or phrases in AI generated transcripts of hand-written documents.
Charlie is a retired engineer who has been volunteering at the FamilySearch Center in Charleston for over 15 years and has been a presenter at the Center’s workshops for several years past – he’s also serving as our Chapter’s Archivist.
PLEASE NOTE: This will be a ZOOM ONLY meeting. Guests are always welcome, so please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Nov 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-11-17 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
Chapter member Pat Kruger’s program “Discovering YOUR ‘Greatest Generation'” will focus on research for WWII era veterans and ways to find more about their experiences and to access information surrounding their personal stories. Even with some military archival record challenges, you can still find location and military descriptions, sort through conflicting personal stories and even find relevant images. You may be the closest family link to this part of your ancestral story, so expand it and document it now.
This will be an in-person meeting at the Masonic Center. Guests are always welcome, so please CONTACT US if you are not yet a chapter member and want to participate via Zoom.

Dec 2024 Chapter Meeting
2024-12-15 14:30 - 16:00 | The Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407, United States
December is our annual “Show and Tell” holidays get-together. We invite chapter members to talk about genealogy-related “news” from the year. Come join us and learn a bit more about what’s been happening with our members.
If you would like to present at this meeting, please contact Melanie Zimmerman (melanieszimmerman “at” gmail.com).
