Share your family’s heritage with future generations by researching your roots and creating a family tree. Join Tulsa City-County Library’s Genealogy Center in July at its annual Family History Month series featuring a variety of free programs for new genealogy researchers as well as lifetime enthusiasts.
Located on the second floor of the Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St., the Genealogy Center has one of the largest genealogical collections in Oklahoma. Plus, it is designated as an official FamilySearch Center, enabling it to borrow resources from the largest genealogy collection in the world – the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Family History Month series kicks off Wednesday, July 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Nathan Hale Library, 6038 E. 23rd St., with the program “Start Your Research @ the Library.” On Thursday, July 7, the Bixby Library, 20 E. Breckenridge, will host the program “An Overview of the Genealogy Center” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The following Family History Month programs will be held at the Hardesty Regional Library. A hearing loop is available in Frossard Auditorium.
Beginning Genealogy Workshop
Saturday, July 9 • 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. ● Pecan Room
Today's family history researcher has more resources available than ever before. However, with all that's out there, it is hard to know where to start and what to do. Kathy Huber, Genealogy Center manager, will guide you through the process and explain the records and sources that will help you get started on your journey.
Exploring Genealogy Software
Saturday, July 9 • 2:30-4 p.m. ● Pecan Room
Genealogy software can help you organize and share your family history research. Join Nancy Shively, IT training coordinator, Tulsa City-County Library, and learn how to choose the software that is right for you. Shively will demonstrate various products and explain how to transfer your files from an old program to a new one.
DNA 101
Saturday, July 16 • 9:30-10:30 a.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
Genealogists are using DNA test results to further their family history research and connect with others who are researching their family. Join Liz Walker, Genealogy Center library associate, for an overview of the different kinds of tests and what results to expect from each one.
Tulsa Genealogical Society Library
Saturday, July 16 • 10:45-11:45 a.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
The Tulsa Genealogical Society (TGS) recently donated its library collection to Northeastern State University's Broken Arrow campus. The collection is now available and open to the public. Join Dorothy Becknell, TGS president, as she shares the latest updates on accessing and using this research collection.
Documenting Our Families
Saturday, July 16 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
Join a panel of genealogists who have written and published their families' stories and history. Discover the steps and processes they took to achieve a finished product. Following their presentations, a question-and-answer time will allow participants to get advice from panel members. Later, Genealogy Center manager Kathy Huber will share resources available at the center that will aid writers in creating their own family book.
Genealogy Workshop With Mark Lowe
Saturday, July 23 • 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
Professional genealogist Mark Lowe returns to Tulsa for a full weekend of genealogy programming. He will begin the day showing how maps, atlases and gazetteers can be used to locate family farms and residences. Following a break, he will follow a case through court, explaining the basic records of the legal system. After lunch he will discuss private claims made by civilian families requesting payment for services or damages. Learn how and when these requests were honored, ignored or lost, and what information might be found in them. We will end the day with a behind-the-scenes look at the research and preparation done before those genealogical TV programs are aired. Using clips and actual research problems, Lowe will show us how the story is told. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust.
Testing Outrageous Family Stories
Sunday, July 24 • 1:30-4 p.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
Most genealogists have heard undocumented outrageous family stories. Join professional genealogist Mark Lowe for this lighthearted look at some outrageous family stories. Using these examples, Lowe will share some strategies and suggestions that can be used to test the stories and determine their likely truths. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust.
The National Archives at Your Fingertips
Saturday, July 30 • 9:30-10:30 a.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
Meg Hacker, archives director, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Fort Worth, will provide an overview of NARA's genealogical information available online, highlighting an array of military, naturalization and federal population census records. Learn where to find these important records on NARA's online website. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust.
National Archives' Online Resources Relating to American Indians
Saturday, July 30 • 10:45-11:45 a.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is creating Web pages full of information and resources for researching American Indian ancestors. With a focus on the American Indian tribes in Oklahoma, Meg Hacker, archives director at NARA at Fort Worth, will demonstrate how to use these online guides which make this vast collection of records easily accessible to family history researchers. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust.
Honoring the Survivors
Saturday, July 30 • 2-2:45 p.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
The Oklahoma Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association is locating and marking the graves of survivors of the forced removal of the Five Civilized Tribes, which occurred in the 1830s. Join chapter representative David Hampton as he describes the efforts taken to determine who is eligible, the research conducted on the individual and their descendants, and how this research is used during a ceremony conducted at the grave site.
American Indian Resources at the Genealogy Center
Saturday, July 30 • 3-4 p.m. ● Frossard Auditorium
The Genealogy Center maintains a large collection of resources for researching American Indian ancestors. Join Kathy Huber, Genealogy Center manager, for a brief overview of these materials.
For more information about Family History Month programming or the Genealogy Center, go to http://guides.tulsalibrary.org/genealogy/ or call 918-549-7691.
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