March 24th, 6:30 pm CST
Hybrid
This is hybrid, in-person at the John Gillum Branch of the Austin Public Library, 2505 Steck Ave, 78757 and via Zoom.
MERCY OR MURDER?
Step back into a haunting 1950 case where the most dangerous weapon wasn’t a rifle – it was the front page.
This program pulls back the curtain on a trial by media. We’ll follow the shifting narrative of a shocking death, revealing how a single word choice could mean the difference between sympathy and vilification.
Discover how “the news” can be used to hide the truth. Research the archives. Question the narrative. Uncover what was buried in the past.
Belinda Brouette is an burgeoning genealogist with a background in History, Germanic Languages, and Library
and Information Science.
She is the recording secretary for the Electronic Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians and Association of Professional Genealogists.
A graduate of ProGen, Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research Program, and NSDAR Genealogy Education Program, Belinda has been doing genealogical research for nearly 10 years. She is an Honorary Regent of the Thankful Hubbard Chapter, the second largest DAR chapter in Texas, and serves as the State Historian for the Texas Society Colonial Dames of the XVII Century.
Coming up in 2026
April 28 @ 6:30 pm CT, Lisa Medina will be in-person, presenting Your Personal Tour: Creating a Locality Guide. Yarborough branch and hybrid.
Now is the time to renew your membership with AGS in 2026. Our memberships are based on the calendar year: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.
Annual dues remain the same as last year:
$35 – Individual Membership
$50 – Family Membership (two people residing in the same household) ,br.
$500 – Lifetime Membership
Benefits of membership include:
- Monthly newsletter filled with helpful tips.
- Access to the AGS website’s
- Members-Only Portal
- Meeting presentation videos
- Select speaker handouts
- AGS Board Minutes, plus much more!
Stirpes Study Group
Join our new Stirpes Study Group!
Last Monday of each month at 6:30pm on Zoom. Click button below to reserve a spot!
Study groups have long been recognized as invaluable tools for learning and enhancing skills. For enthusiasts, novices, and seasoned genealogists alike, these gatherings foster an environment where questions are welcomed, resources are shared, and discoveries are celebrated.
Materials used for the Stirpes Study Group sessions
- Designated article
- Discussion questions
- Resources for further research
Need more reasons to join? Check out a sampling of some of the last years of presentations, many recorded and available behind the member wall!
July 2025 – Revolutionary Choices: Exploring Loyalist and Patriot Roots at 250 Years – Kathryn Lake Hogan
June 2025 – Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI – Thomas MacEntee
April 2025 – Organizing Your Ancestors: From Ancestral Mess to Historical Success – Jennifer Lava
March 2025 – Genealogical Ephemera – Jenna Cooper
January 2025 – From Hobby to Profession -Teresa Devine
November 2024 – Facts & Fables: Crafting Your Family Narrative – Kate Penney Howard
October 2024 – Researching Your Family History at the Clayton Library – Carl Smith
September 2024 – DNA Doe Project – Rhonda Kevorkian
June/July 2024 -WikiTree Basics pt I & II – Sarah Kroh
April 2024 – AI & Genealogy: Trouble Ahead? – Thomas MacEntee
March 2024 – Roll Call! Researching Your Veteran Ancestors: Civil War, WWI and WWII – Melanie McComb
February 2024 – European Immigrant Ancestors – Nancy Loe
January 2024 – It Might Be Time…To Write That Book – Shirley Salzmann Meyer
And so much more!
The Austin Genealogical Society gives you the tools to be a better genealogist.
• SIGs: AGS had several special interest groups (SIGs) that met regularly, and we launch new ones as our members want them. You can find notifications of DNA North at their Facebook page, Capital Area DNA SIG. If you are interested in others, or want to help with starting one, let us know!
• Monthly Membership Meetings: We showcase an expert on genealogical research methods and new technology. All presentations are designed to help our members become better genealogists.
Meetings are typically held on the 4th Tuesday evening of each month.
We are currently meeting in a hybrid model, with rotating locations around Austin and via Zoom.
• Research Trips: Further your research by visiting genealogy libraries and archives across the US. We had a successful trip to the Clayton (Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus) in Houston on Saturday, July 12, 2025. We look forward to more trips in the near future!
• Seminars: We bring in known experts for an extended seminar. In October 2025, we welcomed Blaine Bettinger for a hybrid full-day seminar.
Visitors are always welcome at any of our meetings. So please come, and bring a friend!
