Free workshops provide research tips for new genealogists
Many people begin their genealogy journey by opening an online ancestry account or purchasing family tree software. While those are good research tools, a “how to” workshop will cut down on frustration during the ancestry search.
Terri Meeks teaches amateur genealogists how to navigate the maze of records available for research.
“The Fort Worth Genealogical Society’s Beginners Workshop is a series of lectures designed to introduce the study of genealogy and family history by presenting the various large record groups available for research,” Meeks said. “These records are a starting point for gathering the facts about the lives of our family members which will hopefully lead us to create and understand our ancestors’ life stories.”
The Beginners Workshop is a series of eight free presentations open to the public. The sessions are offered on the fourth Saturday (not the last Saturday) of the month from January through August. Workshops are held at the Fort Worth Public Library (main downtown branch) from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Topics and dates for the 2012 workshops are:
- January 22: How to Get Started and Organizational Hints
- February 26: Using the Federal Census for Family Research
- March 26: Researching at the County Courthouse
- April 23: Information from Archives and Libraries
- May 28: Church, Cemetery, and Vital Records
- June 25: Immigration, Emigration, and Naturalization Records
- July 23: Using Military Records as a Research Tool
- August 27: Leaving a Legacy
Meeks said The Beginners Workshop is a popular annual event.
“The event is sponsored by the Fort Worth Genealogical Society and the Genealogy and Local History Department of the Fort Worth Public Library. Both of these organizations recognize that genealogy is one of the most popular hobbies and that the records associated with our ancestors and their families need to be safeguarded and disseminated,” she said. “The workshop is designed to show people how to use these records to discover where our ancestors came from, what their lives were like, and how their lives shaped our lives.”
Meeks has been in the beginner’s seat before. She was a workshop student before she was a teacher.
“I was introduced to genealogy by a co-worker in 2000. I started attending the general membership meetings of the Fort Worth Genealogical Society and learned to start with census research,” she said. “Because my grandparents were all immigrants, I quickly ran into a brick wall. I turned to the Beginners Workshop taught by Betty Richhart. Her classes were so informative that I sat through them two times. I discovered that I shared her passion for genealogy and that I wanted to share that passion and enthusiasm with others.”
Meeks said 2012 will be a good year for genealogists.
“Excitement in the genealogy community should be peaking again in 2012 with the release of the 1940 census,” she said, “so I look forward to many new students.”
For more information visit the Fort Worth Genealogical Society website or contact Terri Meeks at terri.meeks@sbcglobal.net
