1. Facebook Groups for Genealogy
Ted Shapas
SRVGS
April 16, 2019

2. Recent Experience with FB
I was stuck in finding Polish records
I joined the Polish Genealogy FB group and posted a question

3. In two days, a lady from Toruń, Poland responded, pointing me to online birth and marriage records for my grandmother!

4. But these records were in Russian :^(

5. I can’t read handwritten Cyrillic
So I joined the Genealogy Translations FB group
I posted the record, asking for a translation to English

6. Within 2 days, I had my translation
Within 2 days, I had my translation! Over next month, I had 4 other records translated.

7. What is a FB Group?
A place for group communication and for people to share their common interests and express their opinions.
Allows people to come together around a common cause, issue or activity to organize, express objectives, discuss issues, post photos, and share related content.

8. How many FB groups exist?
Lots, over 600 million!
So pick a topic and there’s likely a group that revolves around it.

9. What about genealogy-related FB groups?
Again lots!
Katherine Willson tracks these things: her last count tallied over 13,000 different FB groups and pages!

10. For genealogy…
Think of a FB Group as an online SIG, with global reach;
A place to ask questions, or help others with answers;
A sanctuary where (almost) all of the FB drama is absent (thanks to moderators!)

11. How to find them Go to Facebook
Type your interest in search box in upper left
Click search, choose the one you want

12. Search for “Lithuania genealogy”

13. Search for “Virginia genealogy”

14. Search for “Legacy Family Tree”

15. Search for “Genetic Geneology”

16. What’s inside a Group?

17. Joining is easy
Click on “Join” button or follow instructions on group’s home page
Wait a few days
A message will arrive indicating you’re in!
Be sure to read posting instructions

18. For genealogists, FB groups are:
Another part of your toolkit of resources
Ways for you to reach experts from around the world
Free! Most require signing up for FB, which is also free.
Maybe your new FB friends!