Virginia Genealogical Society

Webinar – The Power of the People: Voices via Petitions with Diane L. Richard, MEng, MBA [8 Apr 2026]
2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Many researchers don’t realize how common it once was to petition state government just to make things happen. Communities often had to formally request approval for everyday needs like schools, roads, bridges, ferries, and poorhouses. Individuals, neighbors, or even entire counties could submit petitions—not just for new services, but also to address problems like property damage or unequal access to resources.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, petitioning was a normal part of civic life. People could direct petitions to different authorities, including colonial officials, governors, legislatures, and local governments, depending on the issue.
In this session, you’ll learn who could be petitioned and for what kinds of concerns, along with examples of common petition types. You’ll also explore how petitions can be valuable for research. While many finding aids mention petitions, they often don’t list the people who signed them—so how can we still use them effectively?
Petitions frequently include original signatures, which can help distinguish between people with the same name or track movement across places. They also offer insight into what mattered most to the people who signed them. By the end, you’ll be ready to include in-state petitions in your research, with examples and resources from North Carolina, Virginia, and beyond.
Diane L. Richard, MEng & MBA, is a professional genealogist and founder of Mosaic Research and Project Management (MosaicRPM). With over 35 years of genealogy research experience, she has been working with clients professionally since 2004. Diane has written over 600 articles for Internet Genealogy and edited numerous publications, including the blog Upfront with NGS, and the North Carolina Genealogical Society journal.
As an international speaker, Diane has given hundreds of webinars and in-person programs on genealogy research strategies and record exploitation. She has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and published a book on African American research, “Tracing Your Ancestors — African American Research: A Practical Guide.” Diane’s special interests include researching formerly enslaved individuals, their descendants, and Free Persons of Color, as well as the often-overlooked lives of female ancestors. Tips, tricks, strategies & resources are also a focus.
Diane co-founded GenWebinars, offering live online genealogy webinars, and Tar Heel Discoveries, providing in-person research assistance. She serves as Vice President of NC Historical Records Online, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public access to North Carolina historical records. Learn more about Diane’s services and expertise through the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Register for the Webinar

VGS Spring Virtual Conference - The Eve of Independence: Colonial Research in Virginia
2026-04-25 09:50 - 15:50
If you can’t attend, no worries. All lectures will be recorded and available for 60 days after the event.
Saturday, 25 April 2026
9:50 a.m.–10: a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
From Jamestowne to the Commonwealth, 1607-1776: Virginia’s Surviving Records and What They Can Tell Us – Barbara Vines Little, CG®, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS. Vandals, careless record keepers, and disasters have all taken their toll, but there are still numerous avenues to information about the men and women who created the foundation upon which this Commonwealth was built.
11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m. BREAK
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
From Crown to Commonwealth: A Revolution in Virginia Inheritance – Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA. The Revolution didn’t just topple a king—it ended up dismantling Virginia’s inheritance system. In the new Commonwealth, entailed estates and primogeniture fell, heirs multiplied, and daughters gained new claims. As genealogists, we need to understand how that upheaval reshaped families and left a visible mark on probate records.
12:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK and VGS ANNUAL MEETING
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
The Virginia Colonial War Experience – Craig R. Scott, MA, CG®, FUGA. Conflicts among the French, Spanish, British, and indigenous tribes were common during the colonial period, from Jamestown to Lord Dunmore’s War. Several wars were fought over the land, resulting in records that can identify ancestors in a specific time and place. Virginians also traveled as far as Cartagena de Indias to fight with the British against the Spanish and played a significant role in the French and Indian War.
2:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. BREAK
2:45 p.m.–3:45 p.m.
Lines of Descent: Standards and Strategies for Colonial Era Lineage Applications, a Panel Discussion – Nicki Peak Birch, CG®; Lyndon H. Hart III, and Kimberly Ormsby Nagy, MD, AG®, AGL™ This panel discussion offers practical guidance on how lineage societies evaluate applications and supporting evidence. Panelists will explain common documentation standards, outline proof expectations for establishing lineage, and discuss how applications are reviewed and verified. Attendees will gain insight into common challenges and pitfalls, and strategies to strengthen their submissions, leaving with a clearer understanding of what lineage societies look for and how to present well-documented proof.
Funds for the speakers for this Conference were provided in part by the Richard Slatten Endowment for Virginia History of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia.
BCG’s credentials and their acronyms—Certified Genealogist and CG—Certified Genetic Genealogist and CGG—Certified Genealogical Lecturer and CGL—are all registered certification marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certification marks may be used under license by certificants after periodic competency evaluations (and only during the current five-year period for which they are certified).
The ICAPGen℠ Accredited Genealogist®, AG®, Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™, and AGL™ marks are the property of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. All Rights Reserved.
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Purchase a ticket below.
Non-members: $40 Members: $32
Members be sure to log in to the website before purchasing a ticket. The member discount will appear on the checkout page.
The Zoom link and a link to download the syllabus will be emailed to the email address you used to purchase the ticket approximately three days before the conference.
Conference recordings will be available for 60 days after the event. An email with the recordings link and password will be sent to all registrants once the recordings are available.

VGS: Barbara's Book Club - May Discussion [19 May 2026]
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for the third meeting of Barbara’s Book Club, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session, led by Mary O’Brien Vidlak, CG®, will focus on Chapters 5 and 6, which examine Court and Law.
Whether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book, your questions, and your curiosity!
See https://www.vgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BarbarasBookClub_Chap5and6_Rev.pdf for a list of questions to prompt our discussion.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubMay2026

Webinar – Using the Power of Genealogy to Impact Your Local Community with Timothy N. Pinnick [10 Jun 2026]
2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:00
Experienced genealogists can provide an invaluable service to the places in which they live. Many of these communities are “genealogy deserts.” The presenter will share details of a long-term, ongoing mission revolving around an assortment of straightforward, innovative, and pioneering projects and activities targeting a specific community. The overarching goal being to help community members and organizations where they are, add to the historical record, and use your skills for the public good.
Timothy N. Pinnick is an avid genealogist and lover of local history that has been sharing his knowledge on the national level for nearly 2 decades. Tim has served in the past on the boards of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Genealogical Speakers Guild and Federation of Genealogical Societies. In the summer of 2024, he was appointed to a 3-year term on the Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board in Wilmington, North Carolina.
He is the Lead Researcher for the New Hanover County Community Remembrance Project (NHCCRP), formed in 2019 and his efforts now center on developing a network of individuals, groups and organizations working to gather, share and preserve the history and stories of the Wilmington African American community.

Register for the Webinar

VGS: Barbara's Book Club - July Discussion [8 July 2026]
2026-07-08 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for the fourth meeting of Barbara’s Book Club, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session, led by Nicki Peak Birch, CG®, will focus on Chapters 7 and 8, which examine Vital Records and Probate.
Whether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book, your questions, and your curiosity!
A link to a list of study questions to prompt our discussion will be available here approximately 30 days before the meeting.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubJuly2026

VGS: Barbara's Book Club - September Discussion [23 September 2026]
2026-09-23 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for the fifth meeting of Barbara’s Book Club, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session, led by Judy G. Russell, CG®, CGL®, FUGA will focus on Chapters 9 and 10, which examine the Colonial Land Office and The Northern Neck/Fairfax Proprietary.
Whether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book, your questions, and your curiosity!
A link to a list of study questions to prompt our discussion will be available here approximately 30 days before the meeting.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubSep2026

VGS: Barbara's Book Club - November Discussion [17 November 2026]
2026-11-17 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for the sixth meeting of Barbara’s Book Club, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session, led by Deborah Harvey, CG® will focus on Chapters 12 and 13, which examine Tax and Census Records.
Whether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book, your questions, and your curiosity!
A link to a list of study questions to prompt our discussion will be available here approximately 30 days before the meeting.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubNov2026
