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Date: September 14, 2026

Title: Probate Records

Speaker: Janna Larson

Description: Few other sources so clearly state family relationships as probate records, and they can usually be depended upon to be accurate. The lecture will cover the steps in the probate process and provide examples of the many kinds of documents that may be created along the way. Suggestions are given for finding the records in various court offices. Items to note as you study the papers are highlighted and thorough abstracting is emphasized.

Biography: Janna Larson has been an avid genealogist since 1981. She has ancestors who were English, Irish, Scottish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch. Belgian and German. Some came in colonial times; others came in the 1850’s. She has extensive experience with many types of research. She holds a BA degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Before becoming a genealogist, she worked in manufacturing administration. Her father was in the foreign service and she has lived in and visited many foreign countries. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Janna has been a member of the Family History Society of Arizona since 1982. She has held many offices in the Society, including President, Vice President, Chapter President, Treasurer, Seminar Chairman and Membership Chairman. She has taught beginning and  advanced genealogy classes at Phoenix College and many locations in the Phoenix area.

In 1991 she indexed, compiled and published the second edition of Will Hall’s “Bennington Genealogy” an 840 page book and published a quarterly newsletter, the Bennington Bulletin. She edited the “Easy Guide to German Genealogy” by Marianne Southworth. She is a co-author of the Family History Society of Arizona’s “Seminar Planning Guide.” In addition, she has had several articles published in the scholarly genealogical journals including The American Genealogist and The New Hampshire Genealogical Record.

Handout: Pending – Check back later.

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IN-PERSON MEETINGS are held at the First Presbyterian Church

located at 12225 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ. (click here for map) – will open in new tab in your web browser)

Please arrive after 12:30 pm to sign up for classes, SIGs, or the 2027 Seminar, ask questions of a Board Member or Committee Chairperson, etc. Note: We will not be offering coffee at this time.

The short business meeting will start at 1:00 pm sharp followed by our featured speaker.

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FROM DUPLICATE BOOKS TEAM

Books will be available for purchase at the meeting.

Jill Mitchell, Elaine Wright, and Della Jones
WVGS Duplicate Book Sales team

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Please bring Aluminum Cans & Plastic Bottles to the
Membership Meeting

We appreciate your efforts to collect these items and dropping them off at our Membership Meetings. We especially thank you for collecting from your neighbors and friends. Please be sure to let these helpers know the best way to help us collect and recycle.
Remember, bring them to the church, NOT the Library!

Not These	Only Clear Plastic
These are NOT accepted and need to be hand picked out of the collection or the whole bag will be rejected. Please, only CLEAR plastic bottles.	ALUMINUM CANS & CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLES ONLY Drop-off

Guidelines for dropping off Aluminum Cans/Clear Plastic Bottles:

• Place aluminum cans and clear plastic-water/soda bottles in separate bags.
• Cans do not have to be crushed, but should be rinsed and empty.
• Water bottles can take up less room if they are smashed before putting the cap back onto the bottle.

Please, NO glass, prescription bottles, milk bottles, or food cans as these items need to be hand picked out. Also, NO bags with holes, as any item not rinsed may leak.

Aluminum Cans + Clear Plastic Bottles == $$$ for WVGS