Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide an opportunity for members to meet with others who have similar genealogical interests. Each group has a volunteer leader. Meetings focus on specific topics or questions, with lots of time for discussion and interaction. SGS strives to provide a safe, comfortable environment for participants to share their research and knowledge. SGS membership is encouraged but not required.
SGS strives to provide a respectful and comfortable environment.
Each participant is expected to introduce themself on camera and include their name on their Zoom screen. It is prohibited for participants to record or transcribe any SGS meeting.
Upcoming meetings are listed on our Events List, Monthly Calendars and Home Page.
Tools
AI for Genealogy
Welcome to the AI for Genealogy SIG, a dedicated community for exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research.
This group is a space for genealogy enthusiasts, researchers, historians, and technologists interested in leveraging AI to enhance their family history research. Whether you are a seasoned genealogist or just starting, this community provides a collaborative environment to discuss AI-powered tools, share best practices, and navigate the ethical considerations of using AI in genealogy.
This SIG meets monthly on the 1st Thursday at 6:30PM Pacific, 9:30PM Eastern on Zoom. For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsAISIG.
Leader: Sylvia Vargas
Register for zoom on the SGS calendar.
MAC SIG
Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske Genealogical Library, this group addresses topics and resources helpful for those using MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion program in their genealogy research.
The group meets every other month on the second Wednesday at 7:00 PM Pacific via Zoom.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact MacUsersSIG@seagensoc.org.
Leader:
Register for this meeting on the SGS calendar
Skills
Ancestry Users SIG
The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Members will share research strategies, exchange tips on using Ancestry’s resources effectively, and collaborate to enhance their understanding of Ancestry’s tools, features, and databases.
This SIG meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 6:30PM Pacific via Zoom.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsAncestrysig.
Leader: Ceil Rogers
Register for this meeting on the SGS calendar
Organizing for Genealogy
Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey.
This SIG meets monthly on the 1st Monday at 7:00PM Pacific via Zoom.
Leader: Susan McKee
Register for this meeting on the SGS calendar
To participate you need to be on the SGS Organizing SIG email list. Contact sgsOrganizingsig to join.
Publishing SGS Journal
Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Join the team responsible for generating and gathering content, editing, proofreading, formatting, and distributing this important publication.
Several libraries across the nation, including the Allen County Public Library, subscribe to the Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society (formerly the SGS Bulletin). Online access to current and recent issues is limited to SGS members. Older issues of the SGS Bulletin are available to the public through the Seattle Public Library.
This SIG meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday at 7:00PM Pacific via Zoom.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact SGSPubSIG.
Leader: Laura Sandidge
Register for Zoom on the SGS calendar.
FamilySearch Users Group
Meeting the first Saturday of the month September through June, this group explores use of the free universal online Family Tree maintained by FamilySearch. Meetings are virtual via Zoom. SGS membership is encouraged but not required.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org.
Leader: Ceil Rogers
Register for this meeting on the SGS calendar.
View video recordings of recent meetings here. (You must first be signed in as an SGS member.)
Transcription Special Interest Group
The focus will be on transcribing and tagging historical documents. We will rotate through federal, state, and local records. The first project will focus on Revolutionary War Pension Records, one of the National Archives’ largest Citizen Archivist missions.
This SIG meets the third Wednesday of the month at 6PM Pacific In Person at SGS LIbrary.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact Education@seagensoc.org
Leader:
Facilitator: Betsey Cotter
Write It Up! Writers’ Group
Whether you are writing an article for a scholarly journal, recording family stories, or compiling a genealogy, all are welcome to share your work with others. This group meets virtually on the third Monday of each month at 7PM Pacific. Members are encouraged to post their work in a shared folder by the beginning of the month to give others a chance to read in advance. SGS membership is encouraged but not required.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact SGSWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org.
Leader: Sheyna Watkins
Register for zoom on the SGS calendar.
DNA Interest Group
We seek to determine how best to use DNA test results in our family history research: which test to use, who to test. Each meeting begins with a review of currently available DNA tests followed by a presentation of “What’s New” and a presentation on select DNA research topics.
Resource-rich handouts are provided at each meeting. The archive of DNA Interest Group handouts may be viewed here (SGS Members only).
Meetings are held quarterly, online using Zoom. SGS membership is encouraged but not required.
Sign up to receive meeting handouts and links by contacting sgsDNAsig@seagensoc.org.
DNA Workshops – The DNA Interest Group also sponsors monthly workshops, online using Zoom, to explore tools for genealogical analysis of DNA test results, such as GEDmatch, DNA Painter, and GDAT (formerly GenomeMate Pro).
Leader: Cary Bright and Craig Gowens
Heritage Groups
Eastern European SIG
Eastern Europe is a region with a rich and complex history and diverse ethnic groups. Its frequent border changes, language barriers, and influences from several powerful empires can lead to challenges when researching family history. If you are researching people from the Baltics to Balkans come join this exciting new SIG.
This SIG meets quarterly (Feb, May, Aug, Nov) on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7:00PM Pacific. This meeting is hybrid. Please feel free to either join via Zoom or meet us in-person at the SGS library.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact the EESIG leader.
Leader: Molly Tarlofsky
Register for Zoom on the on the SGS calendar.
German SIG
Get information and help with your Germanic-area research.
This SIG meets monthly on the third Saturday at 1PM Pacific.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsGermansig@seagensoc.org.
Leader: Carolyn Schott
Register for this meeting on the SGS calendar.
Irish SIG
Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research.
To participate you need to be on the SGS Irish Interest Group email list. Contact Susan McKee at sgsirishsig@seagensoc.org to join. Susan will email you the Zoom link for the monthly meetings.
This SIG meets monthly on the second Saturday at 10 AM Pacific, via Zoom. For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsirishsig@seagensoc.org
Leader: Susan McKee
Register for zoom on the SGS calendar.
Japanese-American SIG
This group has been suspended pending interest from four or more people with one as leader.
Meetings were held quarterly on a quarterly basis.
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Mexican SIG
Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research.
This SIG meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday at 7:00PM Pacific via Zoom.
Additional information can be found in the SGS event calendar.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsmexsig@seagensoc.org.
Leader: Diane Hughes-Hart
To participate you need to be on the SGS Mexican SIG email list. Contact sgsmexsig to join.
Pacific Northwest Interest Group
Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. This new SGS-sponsored special interest group meets monthly on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM Pacific via Zoom. SGS membership is encouraged but not required.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsPNWsig@seagensoc.org.
Leaders: Siri Nelson and Leslie Vogel
Register for zoom on the SGS calendar.
Scandanavian SIG
This group meets quarterly (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct) on the second Sunday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 Pacific. Meetings are virtual via Zoom. Occasional in-person meetings may be scheduled. See calendar. SGS membership is encouraged but not required.
For more information or to express interest in this SIG, contact sgsSCANsig@seagensoc.org.
Leaders: Karen Knudson and Kathi McG
Register for zoom on the SGS calendar.
Are you interested in a leading a discussion on particular topic or geographical area for which SGS does not yet have a special interest group? Contact the Director of Education, education@seagensoc.org, to discuss your idea.