Birmingham Genealogical Society

05/06/2026

We are thrilled to announce an author talk with Tim Hollis on Saturday, May16th 2026, in the Arrington Auditorium on the 4th floor of the Research Library. Hollis has written 40 books on pop culture history, a number of them concerning southeastern tourism and local history. He also operates his own museum of vintage toys, souvenirs and other pop culture artifacts in Walker County, Alabama.

For Images of America: Vintage Birmingham Signs, Hollis has scoured the archives of Birmingham's former sign companies, as well as other private collections, to compile some of the best remembered or most obscure signs that dotted the urban and suburban landscape. Here readers will again see the Buffalo Rock bottle pouring its ginger ale into a glass, the Golden Flake clown smiling down at passersby, the Barber's milk clock at the Five Points South intersection, and many more. Through these vintage photographs, readers can once again visit such once-thriving destinations as Eastwood Mall, Burger in a Hurry, and the Kiddieland amusement park.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Catherine Oseas at [email protected].

05/06/2026

Please join us on Saturday, May 30th at 11am in the Arrington Auditorium for a talk by Marvin Clemons about passenger rail travel in Birmingham.

“A Journey to the Great Temple of Travel” recounts Terminal Station's history from its construction in 1905 through six decades of operation. Included are rare views of the station’s interior and colorful images of the splendid passenger trains that served Birmingham, from the namesake “Birmingham Special” to the deluxe “City of Miami.” The presentation concludes with a post-mortem of the circumstances leading to the station's abandonment and removal, and a tribute to the station’s legacy of historical preservation in the Birmingham District.

Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the station’s removal, “Great Temple of Travel” is a tribute to the memory of Terminal Station and the passing of the romantic era of passenger rail travel in America.

For questions, contact Connor at [email protected] or call 205-226-3630.

05/02/2026

Join us online Monday, May 4, at 12:00pm, for this month’s Research Rundown!

Reference Coordinator Courtney Pinkard will discuss the Revolutionary War pension application process and share tips for tracing your Revolutionary patriot ancestors through online resources. The program will stream live on Facebook and YouTube, and a recording will be available after the presentation.

05/02/2026

Put us on your calendar!

04/15/2026

Our friends at the Southern History Department (Birmingham Public Library System) are offering a brand-new workshop next Monday, April 20, 2026. Join in-person in the Central Library Computer Lab or online via Zoom at noon for a close look at a new AI tool just for genealogists: AI Genealogy Assistant: A User’s Guide to Goldie May.

Follow the link below for more information:

Birmingham Public Library - Your gateway to knowledge, culture, and community enrichment

04/09/2026

FamilySearch is celebrating DNA Month with several free webinars! https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/events/dna-day

03/05/2026

Just a reminder that RootsTech 2026 starts today (3/5). You can sign up for free to attend virtually. Don't forget to check out the virtual Expo Hall to find promotions and discounts from the vendors!

Explore online and in-person sessions. Filter by day, skill level, or speaker. Build your schedule by clicking "+ Schedule" on your favorite sessions. View your personalized agenda by selecting My Schedule.

01/29/2026

Upcoming program on Homesteading in Alabama presented by the Alabama Archives. See link for details on attending online or in-person.

Mon 2 Feb, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM [EST]: Presented by Alabama Department of Archives & History (Free) (Hybrid/AL) Join us online Monday, February 2, at 12:00pm CT, for a Research Rundown! Reference Coordinator Courtney Pinkard will discuss t

01/15/2026

Upcoming free webinars on German genealogy research

Webinar: 7 Essential Tips for Starting German Genealogy

Webinar Link:https://germanologyunlocked.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6e06d1af8f69a2c11512b8313&id=7272cf8d4f&e=d27f2dcf5e

Dates: January 20, 21, or 22 (pick one)

In this free webinar hosted by internationally-known German genealogy expert Katherine Schober, you'll learn the 7 must-know tips that successful German genealogy researchers use to fill in their family tree —without feeling overwhelmed by old handwriting or foreign-language records.

By the end of this session, you’ll know:

- Where to start (and what not to waste time on)
- What German records are available - and how to get your hands on them
- How to fill in your German family tree with a clear, action-oriented plan

You’ll leave this webinar empowered to work - accurately - with your German documents!

01/01/2026

If you missed the Black Friday Sale, here's a chance to get 50% off a 6-month subscription.

Ancestry® helps you understand your genealogy. A family tree takes you back generations—the world's largest collection of online family history records makes it easy to trace your lineage.