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12 Stories in 12 Months
FGS Tampa challenges you to write a story about your ancestors each month for the next 12 months. Each month is a different theme or topic. The FGS Board will select one or two stories per month to share at our next meeting. At the end of the 12 months we will select one story to receive a grand prize (TBD). Click the button to read more information. Submit your story today.
Florida History and Genealogical Library Newsletters
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Recent Articles
Question: Should FGS Tampa Go to the State Fair?
For many years FGS Tampa participated in the Florida State Fair with a booth offering free genealogy and family history advice. This is part of our effort to give back to the Tampa Bay community, encourage people to explore their own family histories, and attract new members. The 2023 Florida State Fair is set for 9-20 February and FGS Tampa plans to be there on the weekends. We ask volunteers to sign up for 4-hour block to assist fair-goers by…
A Day with Aunt Honey
The fall season is the time of year when the crispness in the air, the change in the leaves and the overall shift in things tend to cause memories to swirl in my mind and move to the forefront of my thoughts. One such memory is of a special visit with my paternal grandfather’s sister, Aunt Honey, and one of the family cemeteries. Born in 1921, and having never moved from her birth place, she knew much of what I…
Biannual Bylaw Review
Every two years we required to review our society bylaws. The executive board completed this review last month and submits our recommended changes to the membership for your review and approval. Please read the attached revised Bylaws. The current Bylaws can be found here. Per our bylaws, we must allow 3 weeks for the membership to review prior to a vote. Voting will occur on December 3, 2020 at our Holiday Show & Tell meeting. If you have a question…
Will Power
When I was young, writing a will felt like a very adult concept. Colombo episodes, Nancy Drew books and Scooby-Doo cartoons informed my romantic notion that only rich old men had wills to instruct the disposition of their vast lands and priceless fortunes upon death. Their controversial decisions to favor one descendent over another always seemed the genesis of a murderous plot that kept Hollywood in business. The first time I wrote a will, I opted for the standard template…
Luck of the Irish
I always wanted to be Irish. Afterall, Lucky Charms was my favorite breakfast cereal. Unlike other kids my age I loved the corned beef and cabbage dinner Mom routinely whipped up for St. Patrick’s Day. I became a rabid Notre Dame Fighting Irish football fan as a young teen. I even picked a four-leaf clover during recess and crafted a pressed bookmark to save my place in my Nancy Drew stories. Call it fate, destiny, kismet, or luck of the…
2021 Florida State Fair
This year we have the wonderful opportunity to share our love of genealogy with others through our booth set up at the Florida State Fair grounds. We will have computers set up to engage in live demos with our visitors, as well as have wonderful treats for children and adults alike including a raffle prize of admission to our Annual Seminar held in October. Our booth will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on opening day, Thursday, February…
“You’re NOT a Victoria. Just Vicki.”
One day, I might have been about ten, Mom was cutting carrots in the kitchen. I asked her if my full name was Victoria. I’d had a friend at school whose name was Victoria and she went by the nickname Vicki like me. Victoria sounded so elegant, like a Queen, or like that pretty Victoria Principal I’d recently seen on Fantasy Island. Anyway, I thought it would be nice to be a Victoria. Mom stopped cutting and hesitated for a moment. I never…
The Chameleon
I didn’t have many pets growing up. I recall having a turtle as a youngster. A stray white poodle, who we named Tuffy, found his way into our family for a few months before we gave him to my great-grandmother. I had the requisite gerbil until, sadly, I found Chewbacca expired in his cage the morning after a thunderstorm. The chaos in the skies must have caused the poor thing’s heart attack. Once for a school project, I was the…
Chloe’s “Text”
I love to travel. Many years of experience have taught me that a light load is the way to go. My souvenirs are limited to refrigerator magnets and Christmas tree ornaments. I often feel quite inadequate as a tourist when I document $5 of purchases on my customs paperwork upon my return. Likewise, my mom searches for perfect postcards. They serve as her memories of the beautiful places she has visited. Interestingly, postcards didn’t start out as mere souvenirs. They…
Tell Us What You Think
Please take a few short minutes to complete this survey on our most recent special interest group on DNA orchestrated by Jean Sanner. We welcome your constructive feedback to help improve the content, delivery, and value of these presentations. Thank you in advance for your feedback.