Next Meeting – September 7, 2024

SGSC is pleased to welcome Geoffrey Fröberg Morris as its special speaker at the Society’s September 7th membership meeting. Geoff will speak on two topics: Estate Inventories and Marriage Customs and Records.

A reception will follow his talks.

SGSC is pleased to open this meeting to the public. Non-members may purchase tickets in advance or at the door. The cost is $10. If you decide to join SGSC before October 1, the cost of your ticket is applied toward your new membership. Zoom attendees must purchase their tickets on or before Thursday, September 5.

Reading and analysis of marriage records in Swedish church records and estate inventories in Swedish probate records can be challenging. However, research into each of these record groups can expand one’s genealogical search considerably. Estate inventories, for instance, are rich in genealogical details such as the valuation of an estate, outstanding debts of the deceased and a list of names. Geoff will show us how to analyze both of these record groups so we can correctly interpret what they mean. He will also describe the context within which these records were created to help us better understand our ancestors whenever they are listed in them. In addition to being an Accredited Genealogist, Geoff is also fluent in Swedish. This is an added benefit for his pronunciation of Swedish words in these records proves valuable to those of us who struggle to say these words correctly.

Geoff has done Swedish genealogical research for over 35 years. He has been employed for many years at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah as a Nordic research specialist. Geoff has helped thousands search for their Swedish ancestors, authored hundreds of pages into the FamilySearch Wiki and routinely presents at conferences. He is the author of the book, A Practical Guide to Swedish Church Records for Genealogy and Family History, published in 2020.