Genealogy program on April 28 focuses on ‘Ten Best Reasons to Learn Your Ancestry’

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Photo courtesy of Tom Curtis

Tom Curtis, Southington Genealogy Society member, right, shares his own personal genealogy story involving his wife, Bonnie, during the April 28 program “Ten Best Reasons to Learn Your Ancestry & Ten Ways to Help You Do That.”

The Southington Genealogical Society meeting on Tuesday, April 28 will be both in person at the Southington Historical Society building and online via Zoom. New member Tom Curtis will present “Ten Best Reasons to Learn Your Ancestry & Ten Ways to Help You Do That.” Curtis will share his own genealogical love story. The building is located at 239 Main St. and the meeting will start at 7 p.m. Email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com for the Zoom link. This is open to the public. Learn more at www.southingtongenealogicalsociety.org.

Curtis, a Connecticut native who recently returned home after more than 63 years of residence in the American South, will discuss amazing discoveries he has made in the last few years of researching his mostly Connecticut ancestry including a heart-warming genealogical love story, “the greatest accomplishment in the history of the human race,” and the truth that Southington’s first minister Jeremiah Curtis is great-great-great-great-uncle of US Vice President Charles Curtis from Kansas. Tom Curtis will share the genealogical techniques he used to make these discoveries in hopes attendees can use them to make their own amazing discoveries. Those who attend in person will also be able to see several genealogical items that complement the presentation.

The Southington Genealogical Society Inc., founded in 1984, is a non-profit organization located in central Connecticut that promotes the accurate recording, research and preservation of family history. The organization meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Southington Historical Society. The website is www.southingtongenealogicalsociety.org.

Genealogy Society explores role of AI in family research

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The Southington Genealogical Society will present a webinar on the topic of Artificial Intelligence and Genealogy on Tuesday, March 24. The 7 p.m. program will be held in-person at the Southington Historical Society, 239 Main St. and can also be accessed through Zoom. For more information or to receive the link, email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com. Everyone is welcome.

Speaker Mary Beth Krafcik, X-DNA and Genealogical Research

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On Tuesday, October 28th at 6:30 pm, Mary Beth Krafcik will be giving a presentation on X-DNA, which was initially written for a family newsletter and revised for publication in both the IGSA and IGG newsletters. It represents years of original research pulled from numerous sources and presented in this format:
 Description (The Biology of X-DNA)
 X-DNA Recombination
 X-DNA Inheritance Pattern
 X-DNA Inactivation
 How to Use X-DNA in Genealogy Research
 Examples from Her Own X-DNA

Mary Beth Krafcik, a former long-time resident of Southington, has roots in the U.S. which extend back to the beginning of the 20 th century. While researching her ancestry in Italy and Slovakia, she became interested in DNA and its applications in genealogy research.

Mary Beth is a former Board member of the Italian Genealogical Society of America (IGSA) and a member of the Italian Genealogical Group (IGG).She has contributed articles to the newsletters of both groups. Her IGG newsletter articles on “Affinity” and “How I Found a 6th Great-Grandfather Using the Antenati Website” were among those reviewed by the National Genealogical Society for its 2025 Large Society Newsletter award, which was subsequently
awarded to the IGG. An interest in future research is the immigration patterns of ancestors to America at the beginning of the 20th century and how the residents of Southington are related to each other.

The meeting will be via Zoom with an option to join from home or from the Southington History Museum. Email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com for the zoom link.

Note the program will start at 6:30 pm.

Expressions reveal family backgrounds – Genealogy society to meet Sept. 23

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Do you drive on the highway or the freeway? Do you like going to a yard sale or tag sale or garage sale for the bargains? On a hot summer day do you enjoy a cold soda or pop? These are just some of the regionalisms we use that tell others where we are from.

Ever wonder why people from Connecticut wear “mi-uns” in the winter instead of miTTens? This accent traces back 400 years.

Did your parents or grandparents have some unusual or colorful expressions? If you know what “gotchies” are, I bet I can guess where your family originated.

The way we use English can tell a lot about our backgrounds. Join Southington Genealogical Society for a light-hearted discussion about words, accents, idioms and those distinctive phrases that define us on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7pm at the Southington Historical Society. Zoom will be available this month. Program is free. For more information, email southingtongenealogicalsociety@gmail.com.

No meeting on Aug. 26; consider alternative, ‘Rochambeau in Southington’

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Please note there is no Southington Genealogical Society meeting on Aug. 26.

The society suggests that people may want to consider an alternative event, “History Pints: Rochambeau in Southington,” being held on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. The program will be held at Kinsmen Brewing Company, 409 Canal St., Milldale. The is Part II of the Barnes Museum’s American Revolution lecture series, focusing on the dramatic journey of General Rochambeau and the French army, right through the heart of Southington in June 1781. The program is free but a $10 donation is suggested.

The genealogical society will resume meeting in September featuring a presentation by Mary Beth Krafcik about X-DNA and how it can be used in genealogy research.

Genealogy society in-person meeting welcomes stories, roadblocks

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Problem-solving and brainstorming will be the focus of the Southington Genealogical Society’s meeting on Tuesday, July 22 at 7 p.m. at the Southington Historical Society, 239 Main St. Please come prepared to share exciting discoveries you have made in your research because your work may help someone else. Also, bring any questions and roadblocks you have as other members may be able to help. We would also love to hear about any success you have had following the advice given during some of our previous programs. Let’s make it a night of fun and conversation. Hope to see you there. **Note: This meeting is in-person only; Zoom is not available.

“Problem-solving and brain-storming”

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Problem-solving and brain-storming will be the focus of the Southington Genealogical Society’s meeting Tuesday July 22, 2025 at 7pm at the Southington Historical Society. Please come prepared to share exciting discoveries you have made in your research because your work may help someone else. Also bring any questions and roadblocks you have as other members may be able to help. We would also love to hear about any success you have had following the advice given during some of our previous programs.

Let’s make it a night of fun and conversation. Hope to see you there.