An Interview with MGC Staff: Meet Jolene

September 06, 2012

Jolene got her start in genealogy research by taking a correspondence course through BYU (Brigham Young University). Her most exciting find was during her first visit to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. That first day, she went in. After requesting help, the volunteer took an educated guess and chose a microfiche for her to look at. He inserted it in the machine for her, turned the machine on, and there, to her wondering eyes, was the very name for which she had been searching for so long!

Jolene’s brick wall ancestor happens to be a convict. She was transported from England to Tasmania, Australia for embezzling money from her employer from the sale of butter. Since she did not come with any family to Australia, locating this ancestor's parents in England is a brick wall Jolene continues to work on.

When pressed to name one of her favorite sources, Jolene said, "It’s hard to name just one favorite." Of the many resources available here at the Midwest Genealogy Center, Jolene said she frequently uses Red Book, American State, County, and Town Sources.

Ancestry Library Edition is one of her favorite MCPL databases. This database is accessible in any MCPL, using your library card. Jolene also frequently uses the free website, FamilySearch.org — Free Family History and Genealogy Records to do much of her research.

Whether she is doing her own research or helping the many researchers who come into the Midwest Genealogy Center, Jolene says, "Genealogy is fun for everyone!"

Charlotte M. & Jolene C.
Midwest Genealogy Center