Florida State Genealogical Society will offer a Fall Virtual DNA Conference on Saturday, Dec 7 from 9am until 4:30pm EST. Five speakers, five sessions. (On demand viewing available with registration for two weeks after the live sessions.) Speakers include; Blaine Bettinger Diahan Southard Angie Bush Mary Eberle Judy G. Russell Visit FlSGS for pricing and details here. Looks like a great way to get smarter with out even leaving your sofa! Return to the WCGS Website

TRANSCRIPTION RETREATS WCGS is pleased to host the following transcription events to be held at Olivia Raney Local History Library at 4016 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC from 10:30 am – 12:30pm: ▪ Saturday, October 19, 2019 ▪ Saturday, November 16, 2019 ▪ Saturday, December 14, 2019 ▪ Dates for 2020 events TBD These events are not educational workshops, but time set aside for us to work together on transcription projects to benefit either the WCGS journal, Wake Treasures, or your own research. You can bring your own photocopies or digital files of documents or records needing transcription. We will also provide photocopies and digital files of Wake County-related records needing transcription. These transcriptions will be used in future issues of Wake Treasures. Need a refresher on how to properly transcribe a set of records for genealogical research and analysis? This video was recorded by past President Diane L. Richard and provides excellent instruction: VIDEO LINK: Accurate...

Update: New dates for Transcriptions Parties this fall - all on Saturdays 10:30-12:30 at Olivia Raney Library. October 19 November 16 December 14 Original story: We had such a great turnout for our recent Transcription Workshop on June 29. Results were so positive that more transcription events will be planned for the future. If you love old documents and the wonderful unexpected discoveries within, you will want to join us. Stay tuned for more info. Here are the attendees getting some video instruction prior to starting our transcriptions.  Photo: Monique Bunch Photo: Monique Bunch Photo: Monique Bunch Here is the cool deed that I got to work with that day. This is the original that dates back to 1796. Full of long S's (fs) and thence's! Definitely white glove work. Thanks to Diane Richard for the video and allowing Wakecogen to host on our website. It is on our home page  after you scroll down to the end of the page. Come join us!...

The new Fall 2019 issue of Wake Genealogy Watch (Vol. 3 Issue 1) , is now available online for reading or download.  This issue contains the following topics: • Use WorldCat to find old and not-so-old books to enhance your research • Create an art quilt to celebrate a favorite ancestor • Enrich the context of your ancestors life and times by visiting a historical reenactment • Transcription Time Sessions for Fall • A very full events calendar • Underused records for researching your elder Revolutionary War era ancestors • AncestryDNA power tools for sorting your no tree/private tree matches View and download your copy of the Fall 2019 Wake Genealogy Watch here. Or, click this newsletter page link to view this and all past newsletter content. Photo Note: When reading from a printed copy, please refer back to the online edition where you can enlarge the photos for better viewing.  We welcome your feedback, input, and submissions for inclusions i...

The Raleigh Family History Center will be closed September 21-28th due to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple Open House. If you were planning a research trip to RFHC, add these dates to your calendar.   For more Information visit RHFC.  https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/raleigh-north-carolina-temple/ Return to the WakeCoGen Website

There are some excellent classes and opportunities offered around Wake County this fall. First up, is this great series offered by Wake County Public Libraries and taught by members of our own WCGS. The topics will vary by library. Please consult individual libraries for details. These presentations are free. See flyer below. Other opportunities exist as well. Raleigh Senior TechEd will offer multiple series of genealogy content this fall including a five part series on using Ancestry.com from starting to research and build a tree, to working with DNA results. Also offered, Genealogy Basics, Library & Archive Research, and Organization Tools. Consult the Raleigh Senior TechEd schedule here for dates and pricing . Return to the WakeCoGen Website

We had a great time and a good turnout at our August DNA Q&A meeting.  Handouts for the meeting are located on the Wakecogen publication page: DNA Q&A slides DNA and Family History handout (provided by Kathy Ruse) All handouts from our Summer 2019 DNA series can be reviewed by clicking the Summer of DNA tab above or going directly to the Wakecogen website publication page Photos will be uploaded soon. Return to the WakeCoGen Website

I remember the huge mansion off Wake Forest Road just before you get to the Beltline. It used to fascinate me when we first moved to Raleigh in the 70s. Of course, this spot held other significance for Wake County and North Carolina, but I will get to that later... source "On the estate to the other side, the matriarch was even older, and of even a higher level of artistocracy, and she lived in a house so big it had its own name — Hardimont. Margie Biggs was the widow of James Crawford Biggs, who, in addition to serving as dean of UNC’s law school and being founder of the state’s bar association, served as solicitor general under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Inside the country manor home, when her husband was still alive, they entertained the likes of FDR, Adlai Stevenson and William Jennings Bryan, and held large and lavish parties, it is said, that featured silver service for up to 500 people." Visit this blogpost for a great account of Margie Biggs and Har...

The following journals were received by Wakecogen within the last month. Rowan - June 2019, Alleghany - Summer 2019 Broad River - Aug 2019 Wilson - Aug 2019 ***Please note*** as our location is changing in prep for ORL renovation, Linda Hames (Correspondence Secretary), will have these available for review at our next meeting at Cameron Village Regional Library. Return to the WCGS Website

Bloomsbury Park once hosted a roller coaster and a carousel. Both are shown in the photo below. source Bloomsbury Park was built in 1912 as the last stop on the Glenwood Trolley line. The park was the finest amusement destination in Raleigh for almost a decade. By 1920, its popularity had waned. Perhaps the stress of the war and the Spanish Flu epidemic had stolen residents attention for more practical pursuits. Bloomsbury Park is just a distant memory now, but portions of it remain for those nostalgic for old Raleigh lore. The carousel is easy to find, now restored and residing at Pullen Park. The other fixtures - the roller coaster, the trolley stop, and the dance pavilion - require a keener eye. Thankfully, Heather Leah, has that keen eye and has done the exploring for us. Please take a minute to read her article for ABC11 news. You will be glad you did. Return to the WCGS Website