Time to write your family history “Donʼt put off today what you should have done yesterday.” Each day put on paper family remembrances.
MISSION The purpose of the Mount Vernon Genealogical Society, Inc. is to encourage the affiliation of persons interested in the pursuit of their ancestral heritage and to promote fellowship and cooperation among them. To stimulate and provide instruction in the use of genealogical research methodology and adherence to standards of accuracy and thoroughness in genealogical research. To provide a forum for the sharing of knowledge gained by individual members in their own research, and to collect, preserve, and disseminate genealogical, biographical and historical knowledge and information.
The New England SIG concentrates on pre-Civil War research in all the New England States, plus New York. Meetings alternate monthly between the MVGS Research Center in Hollin Hall and the Mclean Family History Center, 3034 Great Falls Street, in Falls Church. Check here for the latest SIG Information.
The German SIG exists to explore our German-speaking immigrant ancestors and their lives. Our presentations are given primarily by members of the SIG who can share their experiences and discoveries. We meet the 3rd Monday of the month (unless it falls on a holiday) from 1:00-3:00 at Kings Park Library in the meeting room. All are welcome. Check here for the latest SIG Information.
Researchers of ancestors from the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. This group meets at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, before the monthly MVGS meeting on the third Tuesday of the month at 10:30 AM. If you are interested in participating, please let me know either by e-mail at gac@cheerful.com, or at the next MVGS meeting. Check here for the latest SIG Information.
The Methodology SIG meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:30 PM in the MVGS library. The programs will be of interest to both beginning and intermediate level researchers and will cover various types of records, researching in various facilities, and how to solve research problems. Unlike the other SIGs that cover geographic areas, the programs will not relate to a specific geographic area.
Reminder notices announcing the topic for the month as well as any handouts will be emailed prior to each meeting. To be included on the email list send an email to Chuck Mason at cgrs791@netscape.com . Please include your name, email address, and telephone number in your email. Check here for latest SIG information.
Mount Vernon Genealogical Society has joined forces with genealogy societies and organizations around the country as part of the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project. The initiative aims to publish a free, online searchable name index of the 1940 U.S.
If you wish to participate, just follow the instructions in the following paragraph. If you have any questions you may contact Jim Fisher at (703) 718-0177 or e- mail him at MVGS1940Census@verizon.net.
Go to www.the1940census.com/society and register to participate with MVGS. Simply select “Mount Vernon Genealogical Society -VA” on the profile screen when creating your account. Every new person indexing with our society gets us closer to milestones that qualify us for incentives provided by the sponsors of the project, so sign up today
The June program is “ World War I Graves Registration and Gold Star Mothers”. The presenter is Constance Potter.
Beginning in World War I, the military began an extensive program of marking the graves of soldiers and later consolidating the burials in a central cemetery. In the early 1930s, the Federal government paid for a trip for the mothers and widows of World War I soldiers killed and buried overseas. The women visited Paris and the grave sites of their sons and husbands. Because of the 1973 fire in St. Louis, these graves registration records can be the best source of information for a World War I soldier. Constance Potter is a reference archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration Washington, DC. She writes and speaks about federal record of interest to genealogists including federal census records, Laura Ingalls Wilder, World War I graves registration and Gold Star Mothers, the effects of weather on family history, and women during the Revolutionary War era. She is working on the reference aspects of the 1940 census. Potter has worked at the National Archives since 1983.