SPRING 2025 GENEALOGY CLASS
"Time to Start on Your Geneaology"
Dates: Class 1 Monday March 17, 2025
Class 2 Monday March 24, 2025
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Center 50+, 2615 Portland Rd NE, Salem
Insructor: Liz Tice, WVGS Member
Cost: $10 each ($12 ea for non-Salem residents)
Have you been wondering how to get started on researching your family history? Willamette Valley Genealogical Society will have two Genealogy Classes at the Senior Center 50+ in the Spring of 2025. Each one will have a presentation and handout on the topic. You may bring your own laptop/tablet, but it is not necessary.
This your chance to learn about how to do your family research.
The first class will show you how to get started, what forms to use and how to stay organized.
The second class will cover the two biggest genealogy sites online—Ancestry .com (which is free at Salem Public Library) and FamilySearch.org which is free to use for all.
Register online at https://egov.cityofsalem.net/Center50Plus
Class 2 Monday March 24, 2025
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Center 50+, 2615 Portland Rd NE, Salem
Insructor: Liz Tice, WVGS Member
Cost: $10 each ($12 ea for non-Salem residents)
Have you been wondering how to get started on researching your family history? Willamette Valley Genealogical Society will have two Genealogy Classes at the Senior Center 50+ in the Spring of 2025. Each one will have a presentation and handout on the topic. You may bring your own laptop/tablet, but it is not necessary.
This your chance to learn about how to do your family research.
The first class will show you how to get started, what forms to use and how to stay organized.
The second class will cover the two biggest genealogy sites online—Ancestry .com (which is free at Salem Public Library) and FamilySearch.org which is free to use for all.
Register online at https://egov.cityofsalem.net/Center50Plus
Fall Genealogy Class 2025
Dates: Mondays, Sept. 29th, Oct. 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, & Nov. 3rd
(6 classes)
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 PM
Location: Center 50+, 2615 Portland Rd NE, Salem
Contact: The Senior Center, (503)588-6303
Insructor: WVGS Member
Cost: $10 for each 3 hour class ($12 for non-Salem residents.)
Willamette Valley Genealogical Society will have a series of genealogy classes on a variety of genealogy topics. You can sign up for each one separately, or all of them. Each one will have a presentation and hand-out on the topic. The last hour is for
attendee’s research; WVGS will help you search for your records on the topic of the class. You can bring your own laptop/tablet. This is your chance to learn more about how to research your family.
Class Schedule
(6 classes)
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 PM
Location: Center 50+, 2615 Portland Rd NE, Salem
Contact: The Senior Center, (503)588-6303
Insructor: WVGS Member
Cost: $10 for each 3 hour class ($12 for non-Salem residents.)
Willamette Valley Genealogical Society will have a series of genealogy classes on a variety of genealogy topics. You can sign up for each one separately, or all of them. Each one will have a presentation and hand-out on the topic. The last hour is for
attendee’s research; WVGS will help you search for your records on the topic of the class. You can bring your own laptop/tablet. This is your chance to learn more about how to research your family.
Class Schedule
Class 1 Sept. 29, 2025: How to Get StartedClass 2 Oct. 6, 2025: Ancestry.com and Family SearchClass 3 Oct. 13, 2025: Vital RecordsClass 4 Oct. 20, 2025: Military Records & Land RecordsClass 5 Oct. 27, 2025: Immigration & Cultural SourcesClass 6 Nov. 3, 2025: Googling and Free Genealogy Sites
Special Notice:
Statewide birth certificates are now available at the Oregon State Archives (OSA) for the first time from mid 1903 through 1922 (birth records are restricted for 100 years from the date of birth). They are sent from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in Portland to the OSA. Some of the earlier year's records aren't complete, because the counties didn't always send the records in to the state.
The OSA is allowing the WVGS to publish their index of the Oregon 1916 birth certificates. This index was compiled by volunteers at the Archives and includes birth name, date of birth, county, names of parents and additional updates such as later name changes. A copy of the 1916 index in searchable PDF format is available on our [Member Page], and the birth certificates for 1903-1922 are available at the OSA.
See the [Membership] page for information on how to become a WVGS member with full access to the 1916 index along with all issues of our 'Beaver Briefs' quarterly publication, many other WVGS documents, and publications from societies we exchange with. Members also receive discounted pricing on search requests (see the [Research] page for more information).
The OSA is allowing the WVGS to publish their index of the Oregon 1916 birth certificates. This index was compiled by volunteers at the Archives and includes birth name, date of birth, county, names of parents and additional updates such as later name changes. A copy of the 1916 index in searchable PDF format is available on our [Member Page], and the birth certificates for 1903-1922 are available at the OSA.
See the [Membership] page for information on how to become a WVGS member with full access to the 1916 index along with all issues of our 'Beaver Briefs' quarterly publication, many other WVGS documents, and publications from societies we exchange with. Members also receive discounted pricing on search requests (see the [Research] page for more information).
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.
DNA Consultation
Appointment Request Form
Please use this form to submit a request for an appointment to meet with Denise Sproed at the Genealogy desk in the Salem Public Library's Main branch.
Denise can be available Tuesday thru Friday in the evenings after 5 PM, and some Friday afternoons. She will contact you at the email you provide to confirm your appointment.
Please note that fields marked as * are required. The date you request may be changed depending on Denise's availability, but she will work with you to arrange a time and date that is mutually convenient. Use the Comments box to alert Denise about any specific questions or topics you are interested in.
Denise can be available Tuesday thru Friday in the evenings after 5 PM, and some Friday afternoons. She will contact you at the email you provide to confirm your appointment.
Please note that fields marked as * are required. The date you request may be changed depending on Denise's availability, but she will work with you to arrange a time and date that is mutually convenient. Use the Comments box to alert Denise about any specific questions or topics you are interested in.
*Name:
*Email:
*Date to meet:
Comments:
Genealogical discovery can also be achieved through genetic matches using one of the available DNA testing serivces. These extensive databases can help you connect to lineages that are sometimes lost due to data destruction (fires etc.), or migrations across political boundaries.
If you would like information on Autosomal DNA testing, or assistance with analysis and research of your test results, Denise Sproed, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, is available for counseling via email exchange. Click below to submit your request. Note that in-person counseling is not available at this time.
If you would like information on Autosomal DNA testing, or assistance with analysis and research of your test results, Denise Sproed, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, is available for counseling via email exchange. Click below to submit your request. Note that in-person counseling is not available at this time.