May 2026
NOW IS THE TIME!
Do you need to renew your membership?
Do you want to become a member of STGS?
NOW IS THE TIME!
Dues are $30 for individuals, $35 for families, and $20 for students.
You can join/renew at the next in-person meeting or you can mail your dues to: STGS, P.O. Box 1904, Covington, LA 70434 .Click the button below to download a membership form.
ANNOUNCING A GENEALOGICAL PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE
ST. TAMMANY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (STGS) and
THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY(STPL)
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2026
Hybrid Meeting: Program will be offered in-person at the
St. Tammany Parish Library’s Causeway Branch in Mandeville Branch in Mandeville, LA
and as a virtual broadcast for those at home.
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH USING TWO ONLINE DATABASES NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE AND FOLD3
with Ramona Elder and Byron Holdiman
The St. Tammany Parish Library subscribes to several genealogical online databases to assist its patrons who are engaged in family history research. This program, presented by two members of the St. Tammany Parish library staff, will explore two of these valuable genealogy databases that can be accessed by everyone from any of the twelve St. Tammany Parish library branches or from home for those who have a St. Tammany Parish library card.
First, Ramona Elder, the St. Tammany Parish Library’s Genealogy Librarian, will introduce the audience to NewspaperArchive, a database which offers one of the largest collections of historic newspapers from 48 countries, spanning from 1607 to the present. Ramona will demonstrate how to locate obituaries, community news, and social notes in old papers that can help you uncover your family’s past.
Then, Byron Holdiman, the St. Tammany Parish Library’s Reference Coordinator, will demonstrate how to use Fold3, a historic military records database, to access U.S. military records, and some international military records, from the Revolutionary War to modern-day. Key records in the database include service records, pension files, draft registration cards, bounty land applications, unit records, casualty lists, and photographs. Byron will also show the audience how to create a memorial page for a loved one who served in the military.
Ramona Elder came to St. Tammany Parish Library in 2023 as a Children’s Librarian and now serves as the Genealogy Librarian. Ramona holds a bachelor’s degree in General Studies and a bachelor degree in Anthropology, both from LSU. In 2023, she earned a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Mississippi, graduating with honors. Her capstone paper titled, “Internet Archive Website: Pulp Fiction Mystery Collection Analysis” was published in the University of Mississippi’s magazine SLIS Connecting, volume 12, dated December 2024.
Byron Holdiman came to St. Tammany Parish Library in 2022 as the Genealogy Librarian and now serves as the Reference Coordinator. Byron has a bachelor's degree in Genealogy and a master's degree in Library and Information Science. He has taught genealogy courses as a remote adjunct professor for Brigham Young University-Idaho and has been a presenter for several years at the RootsTech conference. Byron has also served in various genealogical societies. He is currently serving as a board member for the Illinois State Genealogical Society.
DATE: Saturday, June 13, 2026
TIME: 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Central Time
TWO LIVE VIEWING OPTIONS:
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE BROADCAST
In-Person Attendance: DATE: Saturday, June 13, 2026
ADDRESS: 3457 U.S. HWY 190 in Mandeville, LA
At Home Viewing: St. Tammany Parish Library (STPL) Live Broadcast via Zoom
You must register for this program on the St. Tammany Parish Library’s event calendar whether you plan to attend in-person or view from home.
Admission is limited, so please pre-register right away.
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TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (STGS)
For all those who have not yet joined STGS, you can download a membership form from the STGS website at sttammanygenealogy.com, print it, fill it out, and mail it with your dues. We will add you to our list for future webinars. If you do not have access to a printer, please email STGS at stgsgenealogy@gmail.com and ask STGS to mail you a membership form. Please feel free to contact us at the above referenced email address if you are not sure whether you
have renewed for 2026.
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Ask to be added to the STGS Mailing List! Use the "Contact Us" button in tool bar above.
Meeting Location:
This month's program is at 3457 U.S. Hwy 190, Mandeville, LA and remotely via zoom.
St. Tammany Genealogical Society