Learn the basics of starting your family history research with The Genealogy Center’s Beginners' classes during Summer 2012.

Getting the Most from a Book

Saturday, May 12, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Delia Bourne

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But not all books are the same. Differing formats, different types of information, different indexing systems can actually make evaluating the information a little more difficult, especially for beginners. This class will discuss the basics of using books and how to retrieve and evaluate all possible information.


How to Use the Genealogy Center: Basics

Saturday, June 23, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Melissa Shimkus                        

Have you taken a tour of The Genealogy Center and still feel confused? Do you wonder how all the details make sense to other people? Spend time with a staff member who will explain the catalog, microtext area, and how to use the facility. Note: This session is not a beginning genealogy class, but rather an explanation of the collection.


Ancestry: The Beginner’s Way to Search

Saturday, July 28, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Melissa Shimkus                           

Are you new to genealogy? Have you tried Ancestry.com and felt confused? If so, attend this session to learn the basic steps to begin your genealogy search and navigate this database successfully.


Beginner's Guide to Vital Records

Saturday, August 25, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Delia Bourne             

Vital records are the Holy Grail of genealogical records, definitively providing a legal document that records a date of birth and parents, marriage date and place, or evidence of a death, perhaps providing parents or cause of death. However, birth and death records were not commonly recorded until the 20th Century, and even the availability of marriage records depend on the locale and culture. This class will explain what can be found in a vital record, and what other sources may be used when the official record is missing.


For more information, please see the brochure. Please register for either of these classes by calling 260-421-1225 or send an email to Genealogy@ACPL.Info.