VGS Spring Virtual Conference - The Eve of Independence: Colonial Research in Virginia
2026-04-25 09:50 - 15:50 (America/New_York)
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
Description coming soon!

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
