WVGS Executive Board Meeting:
Thursday, July 9th, 2026
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Salem Public Library
Plaza Room
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon
Members are welcome to attend.
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Salem Public Library
Plaza Room
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon
Members are welcome to attend.
WVGS July General Meeting:
Saturday, July 11th, 2026
Salem Public Library
Library Collaboration Room (Lower Level)
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon
10:30 am – 11:45 am The General Membership Meeting.
A business meeting will be held to conduct society business.
12:00 am – 1:00 pm
Program: “Reclaiming the Silenced Story”
Speaker: Dr. Richard "Rich" W, Callis
The program is "My trip through History in finding my Family which was not passed down by my Father". This is about researching ancestors in southern California.
Dr. Richard "Rich" W. Callis was born and raised in Orange County, California. He attended the University of California, Irvine, and was awarded a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. He received a Doctoral Degree (Phd) in Electrical Engineering from the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, PA. He specialized in Applied Plasma Physics, the practical application of plasma behavior-the fourth state of matter-to develop technologies like fusion energy.
Rich worked for General Atomics, located in San Diego, CA, the only industrial company doing fusion research, in the USA, for 45 years, ending up as a Division Director.
Rich has discovered that he is a 3rd cousin 6x removed to Meriwether Lewis, a 2nd cousin 7x removed from George Washington, and related to at least 6 Governors of Colonia Virginia.
These meetings and programs are always open to members and the public. We hope to see everyone there.
Salem Public Library
Library Collaboration Room (Lower Level)
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon
10:30 am – 11:45 am The General Membership Meeting.
A business meeting will be held to conduct society business.
12:00 am – 1:00 pm
Program: “Reclaiming the Silenced Story”
Speaker: Dr. Richard "Rich" W, Callis
The program is "My trip through History in finding my Family which was not passed down by my Father". This is about researching ancestors in southern California.
Dr. Richard "Rich" W. Callis was born and raised in Orange County, California. He attended the University of California, Irvine, and was awarded a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. He received a Doctoral Degree (Phd) in Electrical Engineering from the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, PA. He specialized in Applied Plasma Physics, the practical application of plasma behavior-the fourth state of matter-to develop technologies like fusion energy.
Rich worked for General Atomics, located in San Diego, CA, the only industrial company doing fusion research, in the USA, for 45 years, ending up as a Division Director.
Rich has discovered that he is a 3rd cousin 6x removed to Meriwether Lewis, a 2nd cousin 7x removed from George Washington, and related to at least 6 Governors of Colonia Virginia.
These meetings and programs are always open to members and the public. We hope to see everyone there.
Upcoming 2026 General Meeting Programs:
July: Richard Callis on researching his California ancestors
August: Laurel Smith of GFO in Portland
September: Darrell Jabin, Oregon's Traveling Historian
October: Rik Vigeland, Breaking Down Brick Walls
November: Lynne McKee on Thomas Jefferson
December: Annual Pot Luck Genealogy Celebration & Auction
Do you have a suggestion or request for a program? Let us know!
August: Laurel Smith of GFO in Portland
September: Darrell Jabin, Oregon's Traveling Historian
October: Rik Vigeland, Breaking Down Brick Walls
November: Lynne McKee on Thomas Jefferson
December: Annual Pot Luck Genealogy Celebration & Auction
Do you have a suggestion or request for a program? Let us know!
Autosomal DNA Q&A with Denise Sproed
By Appointment Only
Salem Public Library
The WVGS Desk (Main Level, Southeast)
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon
Go to the 'Research' page to submit an appointment request.
Salem Public Library
The WVGS Desk (Main Level, Southeast)
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon
Go to the 'Research' page to submit an appointment request.