Napa Valley Genealogical Society upcoming events

Program: Early California Families (16 Jul 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:00:00 GMT

NVGS is proud to host historian Anthony Ray, a University of Utah scholar

who studies early Napa, Solano, and Sonoma families.

Early California Families:

The Higueras of Napa and Sonoma

Presented by Anthony Ray, University of Utah

In many ways, the Higueras were no different than most other Alta California families. However, when delving into the archival record, we find stories of hardship and perseverance.

This presentation will look at the lives of Nicolas Higuera and his five daughters, giving a rare glimpse into the experiences of women in nineteenth-century Spanish-Mexican Californio society.

Members: FREE! (no need to register)
Non-members: $5 donation — Please register to pay

Anthony Ray is a Salt Lake City-based genealogist, historian, musician, and theologian. At the age of twelve, he became interested in his family history, sparking a life-long passion for learning about long-forgotten ancestors.

As a historian, his research focuses on the family stories he has unearthed to produce new insight into his own ancestry and on the broader historical landscape. He has conducted research throughout California, Arizona, and northern Mexico and focuses on his Alta California and Mexican ancestry.

Originally from southern California, Anthony has also enjoyed a professional career as a tenor and countertenor. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from California State University Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in history from the University of Utah, and a Master of Arts in theology from St. John’s School of Theology in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Round Table: DNA Experiences (3 Aug 2026)

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

DNA Experiences

Host: Linda Jesmok

This month, we'll gather to share our DNA testing experiences -- what we learned from our results, surprises we've uncovered, and some best practices for using these valuable tools.

Members and Friends: Join us at our monthly round table! Each month, we choose a theme to spark the conversation, then gather on Zoom to have a great time sharing our tips, tricks, and stories.

Program: It’s Academic! Finding Your Ancestors in Records of Higher Learning (20 Aug 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

It’s Academic!

Finding Your Ancestors in Records of Higher Learning

Presented by Cindy Brennan

Not only do college and university libraries contain a plethora of information on faculty and students, but the academic library is usually the storehouse for the surrounding community. You may discover your ancestors’ records there, even if they did not attend the university.

Members: FREE! (no need to register)
Non-members: $5 donation — Please register to pay

Cindy Brennan has been an avid family history researcher for more than 25 years after finding a photograph of her husband’s family from 1899. He had no clue who the people were and so down the rabbit hole she went!

Cindy has been the Newsletter Editor of Sonoma County Genealogy Society’s Monthly Newsletter since 2009. The many articles she continues to research and publish led to a desire to share this information through presentations with other genealogists and family historians.

Visit NVGS at Napa Farmers Market (22 Aug 2026)

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Visit NVGS at Napa Farmers Market

Next Chance: Sat, Aug 22

Join NVGS at another great Farmers Market!

Once again, Napa Valley Genealogical Society will host a booth at the Saturday Farmers Market in downtown Napa. We'll be there four Saturdays in 2026.

Get free resources
Ask questions
Chat with people who love family history!

Pick up your favorite fruits and veggies.

Swing by our booth and say hi. Bring a friend or two!

Aug 22, and Oct 24 — Only 2 chances left
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Napa Farmers Market, 1100 West St, downtown Napa
Map It

Hope to see you there!

Round Table: Our Female Ancestors (7 Sep 2026)

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Our Female Ancestors

Host: Frances Anamosa

This month, we'll share stories, as well as research tips and successes, about our female ancestors. Often difficult to research or forgotten, the lives of women in our family trees can give us tremendous insights, if we can just unearth their stories.

Members and Friends: Join us at our monthly round table! Each month, we choose a theme to spark the conversation, then gather on Zoom to have a great time sharing our tips, tricks, and stories.

Program: Understanding AI in Genealogy (17 Sep 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Understanding AI in Genealogy

Foundations & Tools

Presented by Diana Elder

Learn how artificial intelligence can help with your family history research. This presentation covers what AI is, how it works, and which tools are most useful for genealogy. We’ll look at popular AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini and discuss what each one does best. You’ll learn how to work effectively with AI, including how to ask questions that get the best results and how to verify the information it provides.

Whether you’re new to AI or already experimenting with it, this program will help you understand how to use these tools responsibly in your genealogy work.

Members: FREE! (no need to register)
Non-members: $5 donation — Please register to pay

Diana Elder AGⓇ, AGLTM is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region and serves on the advisory board for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). She is the author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide and co-author of Research Like a Pro with DNA, which have helped thousands of researchers strengthen their genealogical methodology.

With her daughter Nicole, Diana has built a comprehensive educational platform teaching the Research Like a Pro methodology through study groups, an interactive eCourse, and the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She shares research strategies on Family Locket (familylocket.com), making professional-level techniques accessible to genealogists worldwide.

A sought-after speaker, Diana presents regularly at RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society Conference, and institutes, as well as genealogy societies throughout the United States and internationally.

Round Table: Top Genealogy Sites (5 Oct 2026)

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Top Genealogy Sites

Host: Susan Ingersoll

Join us for an informal discussion of the top 5 online genealogy sites: Ancestry, FamilySearch, FindMyPast, MyHeritage, and Geneanet. These sites are often the first stop in our research journey; we'll share the successes we've had with each site, as well as alternatives we use when they don't have what we need.

Members and Friends: Take a break, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and join us for our monthly round table! Each month, we choose a genealogy topic to spark the conversation, then gather on Zoom to have a great time sharing our tips, tricks, and stories.

Visit NVGS at Napa Farmers Market (24 Oct 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Visit NVGS at Napa Farmers Market

Last Chance: Sat, Oct 24

Join NVGS at another great Farmers Market!

Once again, Napa Valley Genealogical Society will host a booth at the Saturday Farmers Market in downtown Napa. We'll be there four Saturdays in 2026.

Get free resources
Ask questions
Chat with people who love family history!

Pick up your favorite fruits and veggies.

Swing by our booth and say hi. Bring a friend or two!

Oct 24 — Only 1 chance left
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Napa Farmers Market, 1100 West St, downtown Napa
Map It

Hope to see you there!

Round Table: Adoption Stories (2 Nov 2026)

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Adoption Stories

Host: Frances Anamosa

This month, we'll share our adopted ancestors and discuss the research techniques we used.