Recently, I was helping a patron get started on his research. I asked him if he knew someone who would have been alive during the 1930 census. His response: "Yes, me. I was." When I asked what his birthdate was, he replied, "May the 5th, 19 and 11". I looked him up in the 1920 Census, and there he was as a 9-year-old son. So, we then had his parents' names, and I was able to help him go back a little farther. I’m not sure how much research he got done while he was here that day, but he told me he would be back when he could spend more time.
Are you ready for the next season of WDYTYA? This popular series will be airing the first show of its second season on Friday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. (CST). Stars for this season are: Tim McGraw, Rosie O’Donnell, Lionel Richie, Kim Cattrall, Steve Buscemi, Vanessa Williams, and Ashley Judd.
The second season of Who Do You Think You Are? began this past week. Which stars have a Kansas City connection? Midwest Genealogy Center volunteer and professional researcher Kathleen Brandt of a3Genealogy did research for both the Tim McGraw and Ashley Judd episodes.
Looking for an example of a "good" family history book? Look no further than the Midwest Genealogy Center shelves. Several organizations give awards to individuals who create exemplary family histories. Among those are the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, North Carolina Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, Heart of America Genealogical Society’s Anna Ford Book Contest, Association of Jewish Libraries, and American Society of Genealogists.
Midwest Genealogy Center has a team of experts who help patrons with one-on-one appointments. Each patron may have one free appointment per month. Current experts include researchers in French, German, Italian and Irish genealogy. Expert help with military records, lineage society memberships, databases, writing, and other topics have been available for several years. In addition, you can make an appointment with our archivist, Diana, who can show you how to save and preserve your other important documents, pictures, and heirlooms.
What is one of the few things that practically every genealogist has? Forms! Most genealogists have notebooks full of forms. You can find many genealogy forms right on the Midwest Genealogy Center website including a Six Generation Chart, Family Unit Chart, Individual Information Sheet, Record Log, and even Family Tree Coloring Sheets for those descendants of yours who are budding genealogists. What makes these forms even better? Many of them, you can fill out online and save them.
I’m just back from the National Genealogical Society conference that was held in Charleston, South Carolina, and I’d like to share a bit of what I saw and learned there! Opening session was GREAT! The Charleston Police Bagpipes and Drums, the Knights of Columbus Color Guard, and U.S.
The classes at Midwest Genealogy Center are some of the best in the area. We cover the basics of Beginning Genealogy, Internet, How to Use the Midwest Genealogy Center, and Census Records once a month. Some of the other topics include: Researching female relatives, Church records, Colonial immigration, Organization, and French research.
One of our regular patrons called to let us know that she had been on a genealogy road trip to the western part of Ohio. While there, someone showed her a book with "an impossibly long title" that was very useful, and she was able to obtain much information from it. She said she really wanted to copy all 400+ pages! When she got home, she looked at our catalog and was astonished to find that we have that book in our holdings. She was very happy to know she could come here to the Midwest Genealogy Center and look at the book at any time; she won't have to travel back to O
The Midwest Genealogy Center receives donations of many kinds, including school yearbooks. In fact, the only way the yearbook collection grows is through donations. Some time ago, we received a donation of a copy of a 1937 edition of Central High School’s Centralian. In the inside cover, there were two pictures. The first picture is of a bride and groom, and the second picture is of a small child.
