Birmingham Public Library Genealogy Workshops through 2017

The Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department has released a slate of workshops through 2017, many aimed at helping patrons in the metro are learn how to research their family tree.

Parisian, 1928, BPL Digital Collections
August marks the return of BPL’s popular Beyond the Basics of Genealogy workshop series with Mind Your Own (Family) Business on August 12. Did your ancestors own a pharmacy, furniture shop, or other business? Many genealogists know that their ancestors owned or started a business. This Beyond the Basics of Genealogy workshop will show you how to use city directories, government websites, newspapers, and other sources to learn more about the history of the family business or the company your ancestors worked for.

Workshops are free of charge, but registration is requested. Register online through the BPL events calendar, or contact the Southern History Department of the Birmingham Public Library at 205-226-3665 or askgenlocal@bham.lib.al.us.

Below is a listing of upcoming workshops Southern History Department will be hosting in the coming months over the last half of 2017:

Tuesday, August 8, 10:00-11:00 a.m., Bessemer Public Library
Piles of Paper and Digital Dilemmas: Organizing Your Genealogy Research – 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. For more information or directions, please contact The Bessemer Public Library at 205-428-7882.

Tuesday, August 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Central Library, Computer Lab
DNA Testing at 23andMe – Whether you just want to discover your ethnic composition or if you really want to do DNA genealogy, you will want to learn all you can about the website of this popular DNA testing company.

Tuesday, August 8, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
Introduction to Genealogy – Want to learn how to do genealogical research? Come to this introductory class that will help get you started on your genealogical journey. No registration required.

Saturday, August 12, 10:00-11:30 a.m., Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Mind Your Own (Family) Business Did your ancestors own a pharmacy, furniture shop, or other business? Many genealogists know that their ancestors owned or started a business. This workshop will show you how to use city directories, government websites, newspapers, and other sources to learn more about the history of the family business or the company your ancestors worked for.

Thursday, August 24, 2:15-3:15 p.m., Central Library, Computer Lab
Patent Basics – Are you interested in inventing, or had an ancestor who was an inventor? In this class, participants will learn more patents, basic search methods, and will conduct searches in the U.S. Patent and Trademark databases.

Sunday, August 27, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Central Library, Southern History Department
Introduction to Genealogy – Want to learn how to do genealogical research? Come to this introductory class that will help get you started on your genealogical journey.

Saturday, August 12, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Mind Your Own (Family) Business – Did your ancestors own a pharmacy, furniture shop, or other business? Many genealogists know that their ancestors owned or started a business. This workshop will show you how to use city directories, government websites, newspapers, and other sources to learn more about the history of the family business or the company your ancestors worked for.

Saturday, September 9, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Family Tree DNA Services and Website
– Explore the offerings of Family Tree DNA, a company that offers hundreds of different DNA tests and that supports them with the most detailed website in the industry.

Saturday, September 23, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Ancestry.com – Participants will be introduced to the Ancestry.com Library Edition database in which you can research your family history as well as learn how to search this database to locate your ancestors.

Saturday, October 28, 10:00 a.m., Central Library, Arrington Auditorium
Google Your Peeps – What do you want to know about your ancestors? Everything. The Internet is a great tool for genealogy, but are you using it to its full potential? This workshop will teach you how to create a research template and look for details that will help you discover more about your ancestors using search engines, genealogy databases, and a few other, perhaps surprising websites.

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