Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10-4
June 25th, 10 am – 3 pm (lunches on your own from noon – 1 pm)
Exploring your family history can be a rewarding experience, one that is often filled with surprises and discoveries. Join Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist for Findmypast, as we work through the foundational skills needed to get started in genealogy and investigate the potential for unraveling your own family stories. Jen Baldwin has been working in the realm of professional genealogy since 2010 but has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old, enjoying her grandmother’s stories – and her cookies. She is currently the North American Acquisition & Evangelism and Global Ambassador Program Lead for Findmypast. Jen lectures, writes, and consults on a variety of genealogy related topics, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, season two on PBS. She is the author of course materials for the National Institute of Genealogical Studies. She is excited to discover unique resources that allow for a different perspective in genealogical research.
Through the day we’ll cover four areas of focus:
- Release Your Inner Sherlock! Exploring Genealogy for the First Time. Family history can be an extremely fulfilling pursuit, but what is the best way to get started? We’ll walk through the tried-and-true methods that everyone should embrace.
- They Became American: Our Ancestor’s Naturalization. Explore the records of the Naturalization process in America, and see the many benefits of using these materials for your family history.
- Pledging Brotherhood: An Introduction to Fraternal, Benevolent, and Secret Societies. During the 1800s, 1 in every 7 people in the United States was a member of a fraternal society. Explore the various types of organizations and understand how they differ from each other and gain your own secrets to accessing their record collections.
- Digging for Details: Getting the Full Story. Creating your family story is more than just locating the records; it’s learning to evaluate each record for every single clue. From the standard death certificate to PERSI and JSTOR, learn to capture every detail and take advantage of them in your research.
The event is 10 am – 3 pm with an hour break at noon for lunch. We’re thrilled to be joined by Jen Baldwin for this workshop. Pre-registration is required for this event, although drop-ins are welcome. Pre-registration opens on May 3rd at 10 am for non-members. Members can register starting April 19 at 10 am. Registration can be done by calling (307)868-2423 or stopping by in person. Email or voicemail registrations will not be considered. Registration is open until slots are filled or the week prior to the event unless otherwise noted.
Bring a pen and paper or a device to take notes on and get ready to learn the basics of genealogy!
More details to come. This event was made possible with a grant from Wyoming Humanities.
