Category Archives: Conferences

Upcoming Webinar

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October is conference month! I have presented at Greek genealogy conferences in Baltimore and Philadelphia the last two Saturdays.

My next presentation will be a one-hour webinar on Friday, October 19 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time:  “It’s All Greek to Me: Genealogy Research in Greece.” This will be an abbreviated overview of civil and church records available in Greece.  You will see examples of records and the information they contain, and how to access them. Handouts will be available upon registration. I hope you can attend!

Information and registration is here:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lixNswdsSTWCYSGDeJwZLQ

Mitroon Arrenon, Agios Ioannis, Sparta: 1844-1847

Conference Time!

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Hellenic Genealogy Conferences are fabulous events. Participants have the opportunity to learn how to begin or progress in their research skills, and to network with each other.

It is no secret that Greek genealogy is not easy–there are issues regarding language translation, lack of digital records, and missing/incomplete record collections in Greece.

However, it CAN be done! Our Hellenic Genealogy Geek Facebook page has 19,300 members as of today! That’s a huge group! There are thousands of people who are diligently seeking their Hellenic roots, and we work together to help each other.

In October, there are two all-day conferences which will focus on teaching Greek genealogy research skills:  one in Baltimore, and one in Philadelphia. Details are below. Please join us, and share this post with others who would like to learn more.

Saturday, October 6:  Baltimore
Sponsor: Hellenic Heritage Museum of Maryland
Where: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 West Preston Street, Baltimore MD 21201
Time:  9:30-5:00
Cost:  $40 which includes lunch
Contact:  Harry Maistros at harry.maistros@comcast.net

Topics:
Getting Started: Research Strategies, Greek Genealogy Toolkit, Research Help

Using U.S. Records to Prepare for Research in Greece: learn which records can
help you find your original surname and village of origin

Passenger Ship, Naturalization and Alien Registration Records

Civil and Church Records in Greece:  what is available? what information do they
contain? how to access?

Putting It All Together:  Organizing and sharing your research

Presenters: 
Carol Kostakos Petranek
Antigoni Ladd

Saturday, October 13:  Philadelphia
Sponsor:  St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Where:  St. George Cathedral, 256 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Time:  9:00 – 5:00
Cost:  $20
Contact:  Barbara Lyngarkos, Event Coordinator
blyngarkos@illuminationsinc.com

 

Website with information and registration:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07efaiha2eacf36714&llr=n448eqkab

 

Agenda:

Introduction to Greek Genealogy

How to Use U.S. Records to Prepare for Research in Greece {Census – Marriage – Passenger Ship-Naturalization (very brief; full discussion in separate section) – Social Security Applications – World War I and II Draft Registration Cards – Death Certificates – Obituaries – Cemetery Records / Tombstones – Personal Letters, Documents – Photographs)

Locating and Using Passenger Ship, Naturalization & Alien Registration Records

Ancestry DNA – Testing

Ancestry DNA – Analysis

Research in Greece – Civil Records (Male Registers – Town Registers – Election Lists – Contracts and Dowries)

Research in Greece – Church Records (Records in local churches – Records in Mitropolis offices)

Planning a Research Trip and Wrap-Up

Presenters:
Carol Kostakos Petranek
Georgia Stryker Keilman
Nicole Zizos Gulledge 

 

Portland, Oregon Greek Genealogy Conference

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On Saturday, April 21, 2018, I was excited to be the speaker at an all-day Greek Genealogy conference in Portland, Oregon. Sponsored by the Hellenic-American Cultural Center and Museum of Portland, this was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Fr. Elias Stephanopoulos Center. For those in the U.S. who know of the broadcast journalist, George Stephanopoulos, his uncle is the one for whom this Hellenic Center is named. In the early 1900’s, Greeks traveled across the U.S. and settled in Portland to work on the railroad. The present-day community is strong and closely knit. Many are descendants of the early Greek immigrants.

The hall was filled with about 80 enthusiastic people who were ready to dive into the “how-to’s” of research. From 9:00-5:00, we studied five major topics:

Session 1 – Getting Started
Session 2 – Using US Records to Prepare for Research in Greece
Session 3 – Passenger Ship, Naturalization, Alien Registrations
Session 4 – Civil Records in Greece, online
Session 5 – Church and Civil Repositories in Greece; Researching in Greece

The handouts for this conference can be found at the Hellenic Genealogy Conferences website here: Portland.  I uploaded many supplementary documents — please download and use all of these materials, and email me if I can be of help (spartanroots1 at gmail.com)

Portland Greek Genealogy Conference, April 21, 2018

I was so pleased when several people approached me to share what they were doing as researchers. Their stories were fascinating, and I invited them to share with the group.

l-r: Gus Chamales, Carol Kostakos Petranek, Chris Zervas, Portland, April 21 2018

Gus Chamales had become interested in the World War II military service of one of his church parishioners, and has expanded that to research the history not only of this person, but of his entire company. This interest is growing to conducting research on many more Greek-Americans who have served in the military.

Chris Zervas began researching his family in a small village outside of Corinth. He soon found his work expanding to include neighboring villages. Chris is engaged in what professionals call a “one-place study” as his research now includes every resident in his village and neighboring ones. His family tree currently contains 24,000 names and continues to grow!

The Hellenic Museum occupies a large room in the upper level of the Stephanopoulos Center. Its holdings are true treasures of the quality one would see in a museum in Athens. I could have spent several hours reading the inscriptions and examining every artifact, but I had to rush through during a 30-minute lunch break. I was told that the Archbishop said this was the most beautiful Greek museum in America. Here are just a few of the many photos I took.

No Greek event is complete without dinner and Greek dancing! I now have many new friends in Portland.

If your community would like to sponsor a Hellenic genealogy conference, let me know. It is fun to learn together — and, you may meet a new cousin!

 

Mini-Classes at a Festival!

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Greek festivals are all about food, dancing, and fun–not the usual venue for genealogy lectures. But, during its Festival last weekend, the Annunciation Cathedral in Baltimore, Maryland offered its visitors and parishioners something different–mini-classes (20-30 minutes) about beginning Greek genealogy. I was honored to be invited to give these presentations.

This idea came from the directors of the Hellenic Heritage Museum and Archives of Maryland, an organization working to document and preserve the rich Greek heritage in Baltimore.

Part of the Museum’s exhibit for the Festival included photos of early Baltimore Greek families; and a brief talk about “Finding Your Yiayia” fit perfectly with the theme. Joining me was Antigoni Ladd of Westminster, Maryland, who spearheaded a project to document the founding families of Westminster:

I had a lot to cover in 30 minutes: U.S. documents that may reveal a family’s original surname and village of origin; what types of documents are found in Greek Archives and Town Halls and how to access them; Orthodox Church records; planning a research trip. During conferences, each of these topics take a full hour. But I talked fast and provided attendees with a two-page handout with links to the most relevant websites. This handout can be downloaded here.

I gave five presentations over three days; about 50 people attended in total. They ranged in age and area of origin. Several had families from Asia Minor; some from the Peloponnese; some from the islands. But all were surprised and delighted to learn that records do exist and are accessible.

These are some of the family photos brought by parishioners to honor their ancestors.

Nicholas Prevas, who has been the official historian of the Annunciation Cathedral since he was 20 years old, wrote two extensive histories of the Cathedral and has been lauded as setting the standard for such works.

Nicholas Prevas with a display featuring his book, House of God…Gateway to Heaven

Every year, Nicholas creates an outstanding display of photos and documents to honor Baltimore Greek families. This display is replaced annually with new items and a new theme. These beautiful cases line the hallway leading to the chapel where they are enjoyed by thousands of people throughout the year.

Greek festivals are a source of enjoyment for the entire community. I stood in a food line behind a young man from the neighborhood who said that he waits all year for the food and music. Churches depend on festivals to bring in revenue and to enhance regional relationships. This year, Panos from kantyli.com traveled from Chicago to set up a vendor table with items that were popular and fun.

Greek road signs, created by Panos at kantyli.com

Of course, I had to get one from Sparta! In the box on the table are keychains with names written in Greek.

And what is a festival without dancing and music? These brightly costumed children stole the show.

I hope that the idea of holding mini-classes during Festivals catches on. It’s a low-key and easy way to introduce people to the basics, and to broaden their perspectives on family history. The jovial environment and ethnic surroundings provide the perfect backdrop for enhancing a desire to learn more about our heritage.