2024
January
Are you looking in the wrong place?
Learn one of the foundations of family history research: placing your ancestor in the correct time and place. Discover ways to learn about the historical geography, jurisdictional boundary changes, migration and settlement patterns, where to find historical context and how to begin building your locality guide.
Presenter, Sheri Snodgrass, has recommendations on everyone’s New Year resolution to get your research organized!
Sheri will look at methods and options, examples, and ideas for organizing your genealogical paper/digital notes, documents, and files. Click on the link below to register and hold your spot for this class.
February
Saturday, February 17
Research Logs (Classes)
Instructor: Sheri Snodgrass
Saturday, February 17
What’s Your Plan? (Classes)
Presenter: Stacy Weaver
March
Finding Your Irish Roots (Classes)
The class will cover the basics of Irish research, including where to start your research in America. If you don’t know where your family came from, then moving on to the basics of Irish research and concentrating on 19th century records. We’ll look at geographical divisions, church and vital records, censuses, and land and tax records.
Contrary to rumors, not all Irish records have been destroyed and the Irish have done a great job of digitizing them and putting them online for free. And of necessity, we’ll talk about Irish history to try to understand why our ancestors can be so hard to find in Ireland and why they came to America.
April
May
Saturday, May 18
Widow Smith: Finding That Elusive Ancestor (Classes)
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Zoom only
We all have those female ancestors with no first name or maiden name. This class will provide you with tips on how to find the “Widow Smith”.
- Members: $15 Non-Members: $25 (*Note: New pricing for 2024)
- Presenter: Jennifer Ewing
Saturday, June 29
Non-Populations Schedules; Potpourri for Your Family Tree (Classes)
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Zoom only
Sometimes referred to as A.I.M.S. schedules (Agricultural; Industrial; Mortality; Social), Non-Population Schedules offer an abundance of foliage for your family tree, including a glimpse of what the family farm looked like, death-related tidbits, and undiscovered “ailments” and disabilities.
The various schedules were prepared at the same time Population Schedules were prepared, but are a bit more difficult to find on the internet. Various state censuses also include agricultural and social information. During the 19th century, “labeling” was used to differentiate the various “classes” of the population — such labels of which have since been outlawed by the same entity that introduced them – the U.S. Government.
- Instructor: Denise Gripp
- Denise Gripp is from Indianola and is a retired (??) Legal Assistant for a local attorney. She has been a member of I.G.S. since 2000, serving as 1st VP from 2007-2009. She also served as President of the Warren County Genealogical Society from 2010-2013.
- Members: $15 Non-Members: $25 (*Note: New pricing for 2024)
- Presenter: Denise Gripp
Saturday, Aug 24
Visiting a Repository: Plan Before You Go (Classes)
10:30AM-12:30PM CDT
Zoom only
Don’t drown in a sea of research about your immigrating ancestors! Discover methods that establish a good foundation with your research. Then sail forward to uncover clues about the people that came to make their home in the USA. Take a deeper look at record locations and search techniques to get the most out of your research.
INSTRUCTORS/SPEAKERS & BIOS:
Kevin Spire is a native Iowan and a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society. With over 20 years of genealogy research experience, he has traced his ancestors in the US Midwest, Germany, Denmark, and England.