GenFriends Genealogy Chat Show: Grip 2026 with Gena Philibert-Ortega and Kristi Sexton.

 

The panel, Melissa Barker, Laura Hedgecock, Shelley Murphy, Mary Kircher Roddy, and I, welcome Gena and Kristi to tell us about what the GRIP Institute is, the 2026 lineup of courses, and how to become a GRIP course coordinator.

Have you been to GRIP?

We'd love to hear from you.

Links in this episode:

Grip Institute

https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/

GRIP Call for Presentations:

https://conferencekeeper.org/call-for-papers/

Contact the panelists:

Melissa Barker -A Genealogist in the Archives

http://ageneaTlogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/

Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com

http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com

Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy

https://like-herding-cats.com/

Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories

https://treasurechestofmemories.com/

Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy

https://www.mkrgenealogy.com/

https://appliedgen.institute/

Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl

https://familytreegirl.com/

  Thank you so much for watching!

                   Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

GenFriends Genealogy Chat Show: Kate Penney Howard: From RootsTech to Professional Genealogist.

 

The panel, Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, Laura Hedgecock, Mary Kircher Roddy, and I welcome Kate Penny Howard.

Watch as Kate shares her compelling story of how setting a goal to attend RootsTech after chemo led her to become a Professional Genealogist.

We all have journeys that lead us to where we are today. 

What's yours?

We would love to hear from you!

Links in this episode:

Kate Penny Howard

https://katepenneyhoward.com/

Contact the panelists:

Melissa Barker -A Genealogist in the Archives

http://ageneaTlogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/

Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com

http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com

Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy

https://like-herding-cats.com/

Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories

https://treasurechestofmemories.com/

Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy

https://www.mkrgenealogy.com/

https://appliedgen.institute/

Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl

https://familytreegirl.com/

  Thank you so much for watching!

                   Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar-Remembering Two Female Ancestors

 

February 17~
   Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918), my paternal great-grandmother, would be celebrating her 140th birthday today. Blanche was born in Clarendon County, South Carolina, to Benjamin Thomas Thames (1854-1930) and Margaret Francis (Gibson) Thames (1854-1929).

February 20~
My Paternal 3rd great-grandmother, Mary Alice (Dargan) Bradford (1825-1875), died 151 years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina.

Who are you remembering this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Celebration Sunday -Genealogy Happy Dance! A Book Signing at RootsTech

 

You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 

This weekly series enables everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling 

down and add your story to the comments section, or you may also link to a blog post about what had you dancing this week.

My Happy Dance Moment for the week:

I am so honored to be participating in a book signing at RootsTech 2026 with these wonderful authors! If you are going to RootsTech in person, please drop by the GenealogyBank Booth (1209) on Thursday, 5 March at 3:30! I would love to see you!

What were you celebrating?

Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

GenFriends Genealogy Chat Show: New AI Feature on Goldie May with Richard Miller

 

The panel, Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, and I welcome Richard Miller, developer of Godie May, to tell us about its new AI feature.

Watch as Richard shows us the way AI has been added to Goldie May for a powerful way to research your family.

Have you tried Goldie May? 

We'd love to hear from you.

Links in this episode:

Goldie May https://www.goldiemay.com/ Goldie May's AI Assistant https://youtu.be/vHoTMgopnIk

Contact the panelists:

Melissa Barker -A Genealogist in the Archives

http://ageneaTlogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/

Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com

http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com

Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy

https://like-herding-cats.com/

Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories

https://treasurechestofmemories.com/

Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy

https://www.mkrgenealogy.com/

https://appliedgen.institute/

Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl

https://familytreegirl.com/

  Thank you so much for watching!

                   Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar-Remembering Pop and a Paternal 6th Great Grandmother

 

February 9 ~

 Catherine Ann (Singleton) Dargan (1729-1808), my paternal 6th great-grandmother, was born in Virginia 297 years ago. Her parents were Robert Singleton and Ann. Catherine may have been called by her middle name, Ann. She was the wife of  Capt. John Dargan (1726-1766) and lived in Sumter County, South Carolina.

Headstone of Benjamin Allen Hudson
Sumter City Cemetery
©CheriHudsonPassey

Feb. 14~
 My paternal grandfather, Benjamin Allen Hudson (1918-1976), died 50 years ago in Lake City, Florence, South Carolina. He was 57 years old when he suffered a heart attack while working in his backyard and passed away.

We miss you, "Pop."

Who are you remembering this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Celebration Sunday-Genealogy Happy Dance! Finding an Ancestor in the Freedmen's Bureau Records-Thanks, Shelley!

 

You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 

This weekly series enables everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling 

down and add your story to the comments section, or you may also link to a blog post about what had you dancing this week.

"South Carolina, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZG-8XCR?view=explore : Feb 8, 2026), image 1067 of 1268, BR Gibson contract with Richard Gibson, 1867, pg. 3.

My Happy Dance Moment for the week:

After listening to Shelley Murphy share how to search the Freedmen's Bureau Records on FamilySearch using Full Text Search, on GenFriends, I used her instructions to search for some of my family who may have been included.

And sure enough, I found a record! This is a labor contract between my ancestor Benjamin Reese Gibson and a man named Richard Gibson. Richard said he would work the land and, in return, receive a portion of the harvest. Now, I am trying to determine who Richard was. He was not a family member, and most likely was someone who was formerly enslaved either by the Gibson family or someone else in the community. He doesn't appear in the 1870 census, at least under this name.

A clue to add more to the family story. 

Thanks, Shelley!

What were you celebrating?

Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

GenFriends Genealogy Chat Show: How to Search for Family in the Freedmen's Bureau Records

 

The panel, Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, Laura Hedgecock, Mary Kircher Roddy, and I learn how to search for family in the Freedmen's Bureau Records from Shelley Murphy.

Watch as Shelley walks us through how to find and search through these records that can help families connect with ancestors during the aftermath of the Civil War in many southern states. We learn that these records are often mistaken for records of African Americans, but they include all ethnic groups, from labor contracts to letters and more.

Have you used the Freedmen's Bureau in your research?

We'd love to hear about it.

Links in this episode:

Freedman's Bureau 

https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau

Freedmen's Bureau FamilySearch

https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/2721171

Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau

https://mappingthefreedmensbureau.com/maps/

Freedmen's Friday

https://thebpog.org/thebpog/

Freedmen Friday

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063649637247

Contact the panelists:

Melissa Barker -A Genealogist in the Archives

http://ageneaTlogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/

Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com

http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com

Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy

https://like-herding-cats.com/

Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories

https://treasurechestofmemories.com/

Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy

https://www.mkrgenealogy.com/

https://appliedgen.institute/

Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl

https://familytreegirl.com/

  Thank you so much for watching!

                   Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,