Georgia Genealogical Society Quarterly Educational Series

Saturday, November 7 2026
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET 

In-Person: Thomasville History Center, Thomasville, Georgia
Virtual: Zoom link to be provided

Join the Georgia Genealogical Society for a full day of engaging genealogical sessions with Cheri Hudson Passey, in-person at the picturesque Thomasville History Center in Thomasville, Georgia or virtually via Zoom.  Topics for the day will be valuable whether you are researching in Georgia, South Carolina, or beyond.

In-person attendees will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours through the historic buildings and grounds and to visit the museum at the Thomasville History Center.

Lunch will be provided for all in-person attendees.  For virtual attendees, a hosted genealogical discussion will take place during the lunch break.  Questions can be submitted them for the speaker at the live event.

All attendees will have access to the recordings of the sessions for thirty days following the live event.

Members of the Georgia Genealogical Society receive a $15 discount from the non-member cost of this event, whether attending virtually or in-person.

Visit https://gagensociety.org to find out more about the Georgia Genealogical Society,

To join GGS visit https://gagensociety.org/ggs-subscription-plan/

Seminar Cost:

• In-Person: GGS Member – $45, non-member: $60
• Virtual: GGS Member – $25, non-member: $40

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Schedule:

9:00 a.m. – Check-in

9:30 a.m. – Opening Remarks and Introductions

9:45 a.m. – Where in the World?  How to Tackle a New Research Location

Finding a branch from our tree that lived in a place we have never researched can leave us clueless about where to begin. Learn methods and strategies for understanding the records, history, and best practices for tackling a new research location.

10:45 a.m. – Break

11:00 a.m. – Enslavers in Your Family Tree?  Moving Past the Emotions to Help Families Connect

Have you found a record of your ancestor showing the ownership of the enslaved? What do you do with the information? Learn how to extract the names of the enslaved and where to share them so that they may be remembered, found, and connected.

12:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 p.m. – Enjoy touring the Thomasville History Center

1:30 p.m. – Discovering Hidden Treasure: Miscellaneous Papers and Mixed Provenance Records

Libraries and Archives often receive documents and other items that are difficult to catalog. They end up being placed in files or boxes labeled Miscellaneous or Mixed Provenance, so they are often overlooked. These records can hold hidden treasures that answer genealogy questions!

2:30 p.m. – Break

2:45 p.m. – Analyzing Probate Records: Following the Clues Left After Death

 Probate Records can shed light on your ancestors even when there’s no will. Learn how to use these records, find clues, and help answer your research questions.

3:45 p.m. – Closing Remarks & Door Prizes

Cheri Hudson Passey has been researching her family and helping others start their research since the early 1980s.  Born in Camden, South Carolina, her ancestors have been in the state for many generations.  She is truly a “Carolina Girl.” Cheri is an instructor with IGHR, having just finished her first full course (that sold out 3 times!)  Researching Your South Carolina Roots: Finding Family in the Palmetto State. She is involved in many genealogy societies and organizations and is on the National Genealogical Society board. For over ten years, Cheri has written the blog “Carolina Girl Genealogy,” sharing genealogy tips, methodologies, family stories, and her research adventures in South Carolina.

Cheri is the owner of Carolina Girl Genealogy, LLC.  She hosts the YouTube Genealogy Chat Show, GenFriends, and she writes the Carolina Girl blog.

The Thomasville History Center was formed in 1952 and opened the museum within the Flowers-Roberts House in 1972. Since 1972, the History Center’s collections have grown to include more than 500,000 artifacts and archival materials and eight historic structures. The History Center, in partnership with the state of Georgia, also operates the historic Lapham-Patterson House. Our board, staff, and growing membership invite you to join us in enriching the community through the exploration and discovery of its history, people, and stories.

The History Center has a vision to be the gateway for the history of the Red Hills region. We are uniquely positioned to provide historical context to the past and we aim to be a vital part of the unfolding future of this storied and distinctive geographic and cultural region. Our goal is to connect regional historical resources and ensure that they are relevant, dynamic, diverse, and most importantly…accessible.