FWGS - Beginners Workshop Series


Beginners Workshop Series

Our Beginners Classes are typically scheduled on the 4th Saturday of each month, January through August. Refer to the schedule below for dates. The meetings are open to the public and registration is not required. Best of all... it is entirely free. After the class, you are welcome to spend time in the Genealogy and Local History Department putting your new skills to work.

 

Fort Worth Central Library (Downtown)
500 West 3rd Street
Fort Worth, Texas
Chappell Meeting Room (next to the auditorium)

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Contact us for more information.
Email address for Instructor

2018 Class Schedule

Session I

January

How to Get Started and Organizational Hints

Includes use of pedigree charts and family group sheets, collecting and documentation, difference in primary resources and secondary resources, importance of collateral lines, available resources, interviews, letter writing courtesy, suggestions of organization, suggested supplies and setting up of files.
Saturday - 27 January 2018

Session II

February

Using the Federal Census for Family Research

Explanation of each census, information available on each census, places censuses are available, suggestions for keeping tract of the information, explanation of soundex coding, mortality schedules, 1890 schedule of union veterans from the Civil War, slave schedules, state and territorial censuses, agricultural census, Indian records, AIS (Accelerated Indexing System).
Saturday - 24 February 2018 - Download Handouts

Session III

March

Researching at the County Courthouse

Records available at the county with explanations of each, legal terms, places these records can be found (publications, Family History Centers), how to find the correct county and county seat, etc.
Saturday - 24 March 2018

Session IV

April

Information from Archives and Libraries

Resources available at archives and libraries, reference books such as Genealogies in the Library of Congress, Family History Centers, lending libraries, libraries worth going out of your way, use of newspapers and how to find them, special collections, use of maps, migration trails, National Archives & Records Administration, State Archives.
Saturday - 28 April 2018

Session V

May

Church, Cemetery and Vital Records

Where and How to find vital records, includes what, clues in finding church records and cemeteries.
Saturday - 12 May 2018 -- Note the break in the routine this month, as this is not on the normal 4th Saturday schedule.

Session VI

June

Immigration, Emigration and Naturalization Records

Explanation of each, useful websites, available helpful publications and indexes.
Saturday - 23 June 2018

Session VII

July

Using Military Records As A Research Tool

Review of American Wars, records unique to each, WW I Draft Cards, types of pensions, DAR records, The Confederate Research Center in Hillsboro, which censuses can help.
Saturday - 28 July 2018

Session VIII

August

Leaving a Legacy

Unique ways of sharing your research with family members, publication hints, choice of numbering systems, indexing, proof reading, how to secure a copyright, acquiring a Library of Congress Catalog Card Number, suggestions for the design of your publication.
Saturday - 25 August 2018

Last Session of the Series.
Look for the series to repeat beginning in January 2019.

Click here for a Printer Friendly Version of our 2018 schedule.

This page was last modified: Monday, 10-Sep-2018 18:46:38 MDT
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