Can you ever imagine a time without AOL or a computer in your life? Or even back to the time when home computers were still considered a novelty or a luxury most could not afford? Do you remember when the Apple IIs first hit the market?

If you can remember those times, then you are in the times of the very first Genealogy Forum. Back then, it was run on QLink and PCLink, joining later with AppleLink around 1991, when it formed what we now know as AOL.

Back in the early stages, when George Ferguson and a few other people ran the forum on Apples and PCs, the forum was completely text-based, beginning with only a file library, a message board, and 'a' chat room. This chat room was hosted just one night a month -- hardly like what we have now. In fact, it wasn't until 1992 that anyone realized that the room would hold 23 people!

The Genealogy Forum was run by George Ferguson and a lot of help from Russ Kyger, Pat Richley, Terry Morgan and Julie Owens. The chats were small and friendly, with everyone really becoming "family" in all senses of the word. George searched the various bulletin boards for software and articles to bring into the Forum. Since most bulletin boards were PC, it was a search to find things for the AppleII based systems.

It wouldn't be long before the MACs made their appearance and with them, many more people interested in genealogy. By the fall of 1991, there were three more chats as well as a scheduled lecture. It was also at this time that George took over as 'leader' of the merged forums as Russ stepped down. We were now seeing 50-100 people posting and uploading files. As with a seed after planting, it slowly grows, so did the Genealogy Forum.

Now we come to 1993, and the launch of the Windows version of AOL - a total overnight success! Suddenly the Genealogy Forum really took off. There was a 700% increase in hours that were spent in the Forum that year. We also started our "topic" chats such as New England, Southern, Scot/Irish, African-American and Canadian.

By 1994, the Genealogy Forum had grown another 300% and George made the decision to devote his time to the running of it. He started attending various genealogy conventions and conferences, promoting the Forum and handing out AOL disks which enabled others to 'see what we were all about.'

The Genealogy Forum had another 'growth' in 1995 with the addition of being able to build the content (rooms, information and design) itself. There was also a 'growth' in staff -- both online and at the various conventions and conferences. By the time December arrived, Golden Gate Services was formed, and the forum officially became the "Golden Gate Genealogy Forum."

The Forum was named the "Best Online Community" at the AOL Partners convention as well as being named "Members Choice" for the first of many times in 1996. Conference attendance grew for the Forum team, AOL went 'unlimited' (which caused some chaos online), and the Forum expanded yet again. The expansion continued on through 1998 with the creation of DearMYRTLE, Along Those Lines by George Morgan, as well as the introduction of the Beginners, Internet, Surname and Reunion Centers. With the expanded forum, there was also a very necessary increase in staff. George Morgan also wrote a book during this time about the Forum that included several screen shots of the Forum's features.

In 1998, we also saw the creation of 'our' website -- www.genealogyforum.com. As the area grew, the website outgrew the server it was hosted on and was then sponsored by Rootsweb.

Since these beginnings, the Genealogy Forum has grown to having hosted chat rooms every night of the week as well as some during the day. The host staff now numbers over 130 and cover topics from Beginners to specialized areas such as Canadian, Portuguese, Eastern Europe, Irish and Scot, Wales and even the Civil War, to name just a few. One of the more popular chat rooms is the "Treehouse," where the topic is general genealogy, the atmosphere relaxed and friendly, with the feeling that 'no question is a dumb question.' The hosts are all knowledgeable in the various aspects of genealogy, with some better versed in specific areas and welcome everyone to join in and ask questions. It's a great feeling to be in one of the chats, whether a person is a host or just a 'guest,' when someone is able to make a connection with another -- or have a 'bingo' as we like to call it. All of the chats, at one time or another, will have a special theme or topic, or even have a special guest speaker to give more information on a specific topic.

These 'special' topics are frequently announced by the Forum's feature button, located on the main screen at KEYWORD: ROOTS. This changes daily so it is an area to watch. Also on the main screen, you will find links to all the Centers, Chat rooms, File Libraries and the Message Boards where you can add your own query. The Forum boasts of an extensive collection of information and links to help locate your ancestors as well as a monthly newsletter full of the happenings of the Forum and those that visit.

As you can tell from this information, what started out as an idea of a few people in the early days of computers, has now become one of AOL's popular forums. Be sure to browse through the Forum and see what we have to offer!

© 2001 GFNEWS, a monthly publication of the Golden Gate Genealogy Forum, Inc. of Franklin, MA.
(America Online Keyword: roots.) The Editors welcome your ideas and articles,
success stories, favorite genealogy research tips, comments and suggestions.

© 2001 Graphics By Carol, All Rights Reserved