Beginning Genealogy

Join us in September for Beginning Genealogy!  We will have classes every Wednesday in September from 4:30-6:30 pm in the Indiana History Room.  Due to limited seating, registration is required.

Click here to register!

Courses will cover the following:

Wednesday, September 5th – Getting Started – You will learn what forms are used for genealogy and how to fill them out; which places have genealogical information; how to cite a source; how to organize your research; how to use the library’s website for city directories, family Bibles, and other useful genealogy tools; and how to look up obituaries, marriage announcements, etc. in the local newspaper. This also includes a tour of the genealogy resources available in the Indiana History Room.

Wednesday, September 12th – Vital Records – You will learn how to use indexes and microfilm to find birth, marriage, and death records; how to use cemetery records; how to use findagrave.com; and how to use Ancestry.com to find vital records and to use the Social Security Death Index.

Wednesday, September 19th – Census Records – You will learn what a census is and what information is on it; how to use the census tracking form with a census record; what the differences are between each of the census records from 1790 to 1940; and how to use Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest to find your ancestor in a census.

Wednesday, September 26 – Internet Genealogy – You will learn about websites that can help you with general genealogy searches, such as Cyndi’s List; which websites can help you find historical books and family histories; where to find newspapers online; where to look at photographs online; where to find information on DNA genealogy; where to find information for sharing genealogy with children; and a more in-depth look at FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com.

We hope you’ll join us!  If you are unable to join us, please stop in and see us when you can.  We’d love to help you begin your family history journey!