BPL’s Southern History Department Hosting Several Classes in Celebration of Family History Month

October is Family History Month. The Birmingham Public Library (BPL)’s Southern History Department is celebrating by teaching six different classes, including the debut of a new program called Findmypast.

The Southern History Department will also be teaching genealogy classes at several libraries across metro Birmingham. See its October schedule below:

Introduction to Genealogy 
Wednesday, October 12, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Clay Public Library
Want to learn how to do genealogical research? Come to this introductory class that will help get you started on your genealogical journey. For more information or directions, please call the Clay Public Library at 205-680-3812.

Piles of Paper and Digital Dilemmas: Organizing Your Genealogy Research
Tuesday, October 18, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Homewood Public Library
Is your genealogy research out of control with piles of paper and scattered files on your computer? If you answered yes, come learn about different methods of organization and techniques for both paper and digital files and set yourself up for organizational success. We will be meeting at the Homewood Public Library, Room 101 on the lower level. For more information or directions, please call the Homewood Public Library at 205-332-6600.

Introduction to Genealogy
Tuesday, October 18, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Central Library
Want to learn how to do genealogical research? Come to this introductory class that will help get you started on your genealogical journey. This class meets on the first floor of the Linn-Henley Research Library in the Southern History Department.

Findmypast Workshop
Wednesday, October 19, 9:15-10:15 a.m., Central LibraryThis hands-on class will introduce you to Findmypast, our newest genealogy database. Findmypast is an ever-expanding collection of over 2 billion historical records from around the world. We will cover some of the most popular record collections and tips on how to make your database searches more effective. This class will be held in the computer lab, 4th floor, Linn-Henley Research Library, and space is limited. To register, please call 205-226-3680.

The Bases Are Loaded! Genealogical Research with BPL’s Databases
Tuesday, October 25, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Trussville Public Library
Don’t be left sitting in the dugout. Make use of all our resources in your game plan for family history research. Learn how to locate BPL’s databases and discover the wealth of genealogical information they have to offer. Let us help you knock one out of the park. For more information or directions, please call the Trussville Public Library at 205-655-2022.

Fold3
Wednesday, October 26, 9:15-10:15 a.m., Central Library
This hands-on class will introduce researchers to Fold3, the premiere genealogy database for U.S. military records. We will cover the different records which are included in Fold3 (military and non-military), how to do a basic search, and how to interpret your results. This class will be held in the computer lab, 4th floor, Linn-Henley Research Library, and space is limited. To register, please call 205-226-3680.

Life in 1916
Wednesday, October 26, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Avondale Regional Branch Library
What was life like in Birmingham 100 years ago in 1916? Get a glimpse into the past as the Southern History Department takes you on a journey through the news, stories, and advertisements gleaned from Birmingham newspapers for the year 1916. For more information or directions, please call the Avondale Public Library at 205-226-4000.

For more information on BPL’s Southern History Department, call 205-226-3665, e-mail askgenlocal@bham.lib.al.us or go online to http://www.bplonline.org/locations/central/southern/. You can also like the Southern History Department at www.facebook.com/SouthernHistoryBPL.