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Special interest groups (SIGs) hold workshops and meet regularly for discussion and self-help sessions. Click on the links to find out more about each group, when they meet, and who to contact for additional information.

The Group meets between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon on the fourth Saturday of each odd numbered month at the QFHS library and resource centre. All members (or prospective members) with an interest in the Central European area are welcome at the meetings.

Meetings are relatively informal and provide an opportunity for sharing problems and successes. It is encouraging to note the number of people who attend and find others researching a family of interest. Help is available to locate towns and villages. A short talk or workshop covering some area of interest -- such as use of the library, finding towns, reading old German records, or locating the correct parish -- is usually given. 

Meeting schedule for 2012 -

The Group has been instrumental in acquiring many resources which are held in the QFHS library. Some of these are -

Maps
An extensive collection of sheet maps covering the eastern end of the former German Empire. These are mostly reprints of maps originally published in the 1930s. No index of towns or villages are included with these maps.

• State Maps (scale 1:300000 or 1 cm : 3 km) of Ostpreussen (East Prussia), Pommern (Pomerania), Brandenburg, Schlesien (Silesia, and Nieder Schlesien (Lower Silesia).

• Kreis (County) Maps (scale 1:100000 or 1 cm : 1 km) for many of the Kreise of the former German eastern territories.

Atlases
Large scale (1:200000 or 1:300000) modern road atlases of many European countries, including Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Hungary, the Benelux countries, and France. These include indexes to towns and villages.

Emigration Lists
"Würtemberg Emigration Index" and the "Emigrants from Hamburg to Australasia" series.

Gazetteers to the old German Empire

• Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs- Lexikon ... This is a microfilm copy of a book which was published about 1910. It is probably the most comprehensive list of cities, towns, villages, groups of houses, and obscure localities for the old German Empire. The information given allows you to locate villages on the sheet maps, as well as mentioning the appropriate Standesamt (Civil Registration Office) and sometimes the Pfarramt (the parish office). The book is printed in the old Gothic Type, and contains many abbreviations. Users are advised to read the notes on its use before attempting to use this resource.

• Deutsches Orts Verzeichnis ... This is a facsimile edition of a book published about 1931. Because it is a book, it is easier to use, though less comprehensive, than Meyers Lexikon. It has quite a comprehensive list of cities, towns, and villages for the German Empire of 1930. The information given allows you to locate villages on the sheet maps, as well as mentioning the appropriate Standesamt (Civil Registration Office). The book is printed in the modern Latin Type (the same as we use) so is easy to read, but it contains many abbreviations. Users are advised to read the notes on its use before attempting to use this resource.

• Gemeinde Lexikon den Freistaat Preussen : 1931 . This is a microfilm copy of books which were published in 1931. It has a most comprehensive list of cities, towns and villages for the State of Prussia as it existed in 1931. Interesting statistics from the 1925 census are provided, but of most interest to the researcher is the name of the Protestant and Catholic parish for each town and village. This information is essential for the researcher to allow the church book records to be accessed. The books were printed in the old Gothic Type. Users are advised to read the notes on its use before attempting to use this resource.

• Die Mitteilende

If you have research interests in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset or Somerset, come and join in this group's discussions. As a special project, this group is currently establishing a database to facilitate members' research and invites members with families from these counties to submit their names of interest. Click here to send your contributions. If your interests extend a little further and lie in Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire or Wiltshire, this site could be worth a visit (a service to our members).

The Group meets in the QFHS library and resource centre at 12 noon the 4th Thursday of odd numbered months.

This group meets on the third Saturday of odd-numbered months. Discussions start at 9:00am in the QFHS library and resource centre.

Meeting schedule 2012

This is a self-help group. At the meetings, we have discussions about the writing we are doing on our families / family histories. We also read and critique our writing exercises.

If you use the Family Tree Maker (FTM) program, and want to learn more about it, this enthusiastic group is for you.

Meetings are held at the QFHS library and resource centre at 10:00am on the -

• first Friday of each month (except January) and

• last Saturday of even numbered months (except December).

FTM technical support and sales information also available.

Meetings are held on the second Saturday of the even-numbered months at the QFHS Library & Resource Centre at 10:00am. 

Meeting schedule for 2012 -

All QFHS members with an interest in researching family who migrated from Ireland are welcome to attend. Some meetings will include an invited guest speaker, with specialist knowledge, to talk on topics and Irish history that will greatly assist with your own specific research.

Another important reason of meetings is to share already acquired knowledge and to spend some time discussing details of each other's research. This assists overall with everyone's research and you may be pleasantly surprised to "find" your missing link if you are researching the same surname or family. The group's objective is to help each other, particularly anyone who is having difficulty.

Currently we are working towards finding a way to include country members in our group and assist them with their Irish research.

Members interested in joining: please write to or email the Co-Convenors.

Can't get along to the QFHS general meetings because they are held at night? We have the answer for you.

The Monday Daytime Group (MDG) meets informally in a private home on Brisbane's northside, courtesy of Maureen. We support each other with our family history and genealogy research by exchanging new ideas, tips and advice for those who have come up against a "brick wall" (so to speak). Also, we are a very friendly bunch and our host serves up Brisbane's best tea and coffee and tantalising (usually home made) biscuits. This is all for the cost of a mere 50c. 

The group has been meeting for several years and has proved very beneficial to anyone who finds difficulty attending the regular general meetings. And the good thing is meetings are not restricted to QFHS members … everyone with an interest in this fascinating hobby is welcome to attend.

The Group meets at 20 Marmont Street, Geebung at 10:00am on the FIRST Monday of each month (except January).

NOTE: If a public holiday falls on the first Monday, the meeting defaults to the SECOND Monday.

Maureen Mutton
Host/Convenor
Tel (07) 32 65 43 78

The Queensland Pre-Separation (QPS) Group is a sub-group of the Queensland Family History Society Inc. The group was formed in 1982, based on similar groups in New South Wales (First Fleeters), and Victoria (Port Phillip Pioneers).

Membership criteria -

• a member of the Queensland Family History Society Inc. and

• a proven direct-line descendant of an ancestor who was living in what is now the State of Queensland prior to separation from New South Wales on 10 December 1859. Applicants must also complete an application form and provide photocopies of certificates, shipping and any other papers necessary to prove their lineage back to the pre-Separation ancestor.

A Certificate of Membership is issued to new members of the group at the Society's Annual General Meeting in June. A membership badge is also available for purchase.

The QPS Group now has more than 255 members with proven pedigrees.

Two significant projects undertaken by the group for the 1988 Bi-centenary were -

• The Pre-Separation Population Index, a compilation of people living in Queensland prior to Separation. It contains more than 120,000 entries extracted from more than 70 sets of records; and

• The compilation by members of a book of 50 biographies of pre-Separation ancestors.

Several members of the QPS Group are descended from ancestors who arrived at Moreton Bay in 1849 aboard the ships, Fortitude, Chaseley and Lima. A 150th anniversary reunion of descendants of these pioneers was organised in May 1999.

To celebrate Queensland’s 150th birthday, QFHS invited people to submit stories for publication about families who resided within the boundaries of the state of Queensland before 10 December 1859. The collection of stories, Queensland Founding Families: Biographies of families living in Queensland prior to separation from New South Wales, was published during 2009 by QFHS both on CD and as a book. Click on the link here to find out more

Copies of the regulations and forms needed to apply for membership of the Queensland Pre-Separation group are available for download in .rtf and .pdf format:

1    Application Form
2    Regulations
3    Register Form
4    Table of Details

co-ordinator of the QPS Group.

Meetings are held on the second Saturday of odd numbered months (January excepted) at the QFHS Library & Resource Centre at 10:00am . Members interested in joining: please write to or email the Convenors. Donations gratefully received towards the purchase of Scottish resources.

Meeting schedule 2012 -

All QFHS members are welcome. You need not be Welsh and meetings are conducted in English

Meetings are held  at the QFHS Library & Resource Centre from 10:00 am to 12 pm. Members interested in joining: please write to or email the Convenor. Donations gratefully received towards the purchase of Welsh resources.

2012 meeting dates are:
Sunday 22 January
Sunday 25 March
Sunday 27 May
Sunday 22 July
Sunday 23 September
Sunday 25 November

After being hosted for more than six years by QFHS member, Peter Collins, the Brisbane TMG User Group has become a welcome addition to the Society’s special interest groups. The group caters to the needs of all users, from novice to advanced.

The group meets in the QFHS Library on the third Saturday of each month (except December) at 1.30 pm.

2012 meeting dates are:
Saturday 21 Jan
Saturday 18 Feb
Saturday 17 Mar
Saturday 21 Apr
Saturday 19 May
Monday 11 Jun 10am-3.30pm
Saturday 16 June
Saturday 21 Jul
Saturday 18 Aug
Saturday 15 Sep
Saturday 20 Oct
Saturday 17 Nov
Saturday 15 Dec

For a limited period, new members to the group will have the opportunity to purchase The Master Genealogist v7 Gold Edition at a bargain price.

Central European (CEG) | CEG FAQs | English West Country | Family History Writing | Family Tree Maker Users | Irish Interests | Monday Daytime | Queensland Pre-Separation | Scottish Interests | Welsh Interests | The Master Genealogist