Join MGC next year for the 2026 Lock-In!
Lock-In 2025: X Marks the Spot
Friday, October 24
6:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Join us at the Midwest Genealogy Center Lock-In: X Marks the Spot, where maps, migration, and memory intersect! This year’s keynote speaker, genealogist Michelle Spencer, will headline with the session: “Using Maps to Fill in the Gaps in Your Family Story.” Learn how cartographic clues can unlock hidden chapters in your ancestry. Whether you're a seasoned sleuth or just starting your family history journey, this after-hours event offers expert insights, hands-on learning, and plenty of time to explore the MGC’s world-class resources. Tickets are $15 and include a light dinner.
If you need to cancel, please consider donating your registration fee to support the MGC Program Fund. Refunds will only be granted through September 28, 2025.
Keynote Session: Using Maps to Fill in the Gaps in Your Family Story
Have you used maps to search for your family? Maps can be powerful tools for genealogists but sometimes we pass them over with only a cursory look. In her keynote address, Michelle Spencer will take us on a journey in the footsteps of our ancestors utilizing maps spanning from original plats to Google. Join us on the highways and backroads of America and on to the front porch where the storytelling begins.
After the keynote, the night is yours. Dive into one of our exclusive breakout sessions, including a special class with keynote speaker Michelle Spencer and the premiere of three brand-new MGC classes, or skip the sessions and enjoy uninterrupted research in our world-class collections.
Keynote Speaker: Michelle Spencer
Keynote Speaker: Michelle Spencer
Michelle L. Spencer, owner of RomaMaryGrace, is a historian & professional genealogist specializing in family business research, material culture, pandemics, and historic preservation. Michelle has more than thirty years of speaking, research, and writing experience. She loves traveling, researching, and collecting old things. She has co-authored more than fifty nominations for the National Historic Register. This year she started a YouTube channel: @romamarygrace1909. Her website is: romamarygrace.com. She and her husband live in Millbrook, AL.
Schedule
5:30 p.m.
Doors Open
6:25 p.m.
Welcome
6:30 p.m.
Keynote Session: Michelle Spencer: Using Maps to Fill in the Gaps in Your Family Story
8:00-8:15 p.m.
Break
8:00-11:00 p.m.
Research at MGC after hours!
8:30-9:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
- Researching in a One-Horse Town: Michelle Spencer
Stuck in a ditch on the road to your ancestor's hometown? Sometimes the road to successful small-town research can feel like you have veered off the path. The lack of traditional sources such as city directories or local newspapers can make you feel trapped there. This session is the 4-wheel drive to get you out of the ditch by providing the tools to find your kin down a country road - Finding the Sweet Tea in Your Family Records: Southern Research: MGC Staff
Has your research taken you to the South? This class will provide insight into finding records for different time periods from the Antebellum South to the Reconstruction Era to the Great Migration, which collectively cover the years of about 1776 to around 1910.
9:45-10:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
- Finding Your English and Welsh Ancestors: MGC Staff
This class is designed to help you find records for tracing your English and Welsh ancestors. Administrative districts, record types, and differences/similarities between Welsh and English records are discussed. - Unlocking Family History Through Church Records: MGC Staff
Church records often hold the answers that public records leave out. In this class, discover how to identify your ancestors’ places of worship, explore the types of records churches kept, and learn what these records can reveal about your family’s history.
11:00 p.m.
Event ends. Thank you for attending!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I buy a ticket the day of the event?
No, advance registration only. Midwest Genealogy Center has limited accommodations for seating and food. Our staff will not be able to accept any registrations the day of the event. Deadline for all registrations and payments is Sunday, October 19, 2025. - What can/can't I bring to the event?
You may bring all devices, laptops etc. Make sure your devices are fully charged as there will be limited outlets to plug them in. Please do not bring in any food or beverages, except an approved water bottle. - Where can I contact the organizer with any other questions?
cruckman@mymcpl.org | (816)252-7228 - Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
No. - Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
We will have a list of attendees at the facility. You won't need a ticket to enter. - What is the refund policy?
If you need to cancel, please consider donating your registration fee to support the MGC Program Fund. Refunds will only be granted through September 28, 2025. - Are you able to accommodate patrons with a disability?
Yes. Our facility is wheelchair accessible, and we offer disabled parking. Please let us know if you need special seating. - Are there any special food options, or may I opt out for a reduced ticket price?
No. The menu is set and cannot be changed. The ticket price covers more than just food and is not negotiable.