Forsyth County Genealogical Society

The Forsyth County Genealogical Society will meet on the first Tuesday of each month, in the auditorium of the Reynolda Manor Branch of the Forsyth County Public Library, located at 2839 Fairlawn Drive, Winston-Salem, NC. The social time begins at 1:45 pm, announcements will begin at 2:00 pm, and the meeting will run approximately one to one-and-a-half hour.

All meetings are free and open to the public. Guests are welcome! Our programs are planned to be both educational and entertaining.

FORSYTH COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Schedule of Upcoming Programs for May 2023 through October 2023

 2 May 2023 – “Evergreen Farm by James Monroe Jarvis: A Rare Photographic Diary” Presented by Martha Hartley. Martha Hartley, a native of Winston-Salem and co-chair of the Hidden Town Project at Old Salem, will present research that she and her husband, Michael Hartley, conducted on Evergreen Farm. The Hartley’s study of James Monroe “Ploughboy” Jarvis and his Evergreen Farm culminated in the 88-acre farm’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2019.

 

6 June 2023 – “Documents Used for Establishing an Estate” with guest speaker Tina Thacker, North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal / NCBA PD Council Member, accompanied by Attorney B. Bailey Liipfert, III, of the Liipfert Law Group. She will speak to our society regarding what records (including FCGS records) are used to prepare an estate to go through the probate process. There will be information regarding what anyone can do ahead of time to make this process easier for their own heirs.

 

4 July 2023 – Due to the holiday and library closing there will be no July meeting

 

18 July 2023 – Special FCGS evening meeting start time of 5:30 pm – “Board sponsored indoor picnic with update on the FCGS and the Family Search Center” Board members Terri Thrailkill and Cathy Boyer will update those in attendance on the society, as well as Cynthia Greene, who will speak about the resources offered at the newly reopened Family Search Center. She will also offer some fun activities found on the Family Search website. If you have a smartphone, add the Family Search widget to your phone, and if you wish to partake in one of our favorite activities, a generation or two of your family tree. You will be amazed at what you will discover in the meeting! A light picnic-type meal will be supplied (as long as it lasts) by the board members.

 

1 August 2023 – Evening meeting, start time of 5:30 pm – “Creating Family Recipe Books” with guest speaker Grace May, NC Collection Special Collections Librarian in the North Carolina Room, located at the Forsyth County Main Library. She will discuss the variety of cookbooks and cooking related books that are housed in the NC Room, as well as the steps for compiling a family cookbook. This includes interview techniques that would be equally as effective for recording family histories.

 

5 September 2023 – A field trip to the Dr. Sydney and Camilla Teague Farm. Dr. Teague has moved a family cabin to his farm and it is now listed on the Historic Register. We will have the opportunity to tour this historical structure, see other historical items, and maybe even see some llamas! This event will be limited to members of FCGS only. Contact Cathy Boyer, treasurer, should you wish to join or renew your membership.

 

3 October – “Story of the Historic Shallow Ford of the Yadkin Valley” by Marcie Phillips. Marcia Phillips is the historian in the Martin-Wall History Room at the Davie County Public Library, and a Historic Preservationist. She will discuss stories from her new book, Historic Shallow Ford in Yadkin Valley.

 

The FCGS follows the inclement weather policy of the WS/FC Public School System, should classes be cancelled or dismissed early due to bad weather, the FCGS meeting scheduled for that same evening will be cancelled, as well.

We enjoy the richness of each member’s family history and support one another in exploration. We have many helpful resources for members.

The Forsyth County Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization that was formally organized in 1982. Its mission is to promote the preservation of local history and to help genealogists in their pursuit of accurate ancestral information. We assist genealogists, both new and seasoned, through educational programs, workshops, projects and publications. We believe that only by encouraging the efforts of those who are interested in preserving the knowledge of historical events, and developing a deeper understanding of those who came before, can we discover how we became the people and communities we are today.