Join the volunteers of your Milwaukee County Genealogical Society, with the support and cooperation of the Milwaukee Public Library Central and the fantastic librarians of the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Room at the Central Library, in taking a fresh look at your old habits. Sign up for the MCGS Genealogy Classes. Students are encouraged to bring their laptops to in-person classes.

 With sessions held one Saturday each month from September through June, taking the classes is a wonderful way to reinvigorate your research, to look at old habits with new eyes and possibly meet new cousins (which happens more often than you might think!). Many of us have taken the Beginner Classes more than once, and thereby gained more than a refresher; we’ve gained new perspectives and new friends.

The classes are free; however to cover printing costs, there is a $2 fee for handouts at each in person session. Class handouts contain information and forms used in the class, and to assist you in your research. Classes meet once a month from September until June between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Starting ONLINE and IN PERSON on Saturday September 24, 2022. Meetings will be held at Milwaukee Central Public Library Downtown, 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue, with convenient on and off-street parking. Metered street parking is available around the library building. Parking is free at metered spaces on Sundays city-wide. Parking is free on Saturdays in specific areas downtown, but may have time limits. There is also a parking lot on Wisconsin Avenue across the street from the library. MCGS Classes are held in the 1st Floor Rotary Club of Milwaukee Community Meeting Room near the main entrance of the Milwaukee Central Public Library. This room is located right next to the elevator. For handicap access, enter the lower level of the building via 8th Street and take the elevator to the first floor.

Register for the class series at Zoom Registration:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucuqvrTwvHNeSgRuc832s1-bhdv3e-Vcg

After registering, you will receive an automatic confirmation email containing information about joining the online meeting. (Check your spam folder.)

This class is also being held in person at the Milwaukee Public Library Central.

You are welcome at any in person or online session.

Email MCGS  with any questions.

Contact information requested:

name and email (optional - address, state, phone)

Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to each online class.

Class Syllabus 2022-2023

Saturday 9:30am - 11:30am (In Person and Online)

September 24

Getting Started: Organization and Software

Learn the best way to get started on your family history (or what to do if you've already started). We'll also spend some time discussing the various software programs available for managing your growing collection of data.

HANDOUT

October 29

More than Just Names: Census Records

Census records are one of the major sources of genealogical information and it's important to know how to make the most of this important source.

by Diane Piedt

November 19

Getting it on Record: Courthouses and Archives

and

From Cradle to Grave: Church and Cemetery Records

Learn about two different sources for important genealogical information that may not be available anywhere else -- local courthouses and cemeteries.

by Diane Piedt

January 28

Starting at Home: Milwaukee Public Library

A spotlight on the special resources found at the Central Library in Milwaukee.

by Milwaukee Public Library Librarian

February 25

More than Just Books: General Library Records

Learn about the many ways that libraries can be useful to the family historian.

by Margaret Sandoval Skare

March 25

Asking Questions, Finding Answers:

Queries, Newspapers, and Social Media

To get an answer, you must first ask the question. Find out what goes into a successful query -- whether you mail it or post it online. Also discover all the wonderful material to be found in historic newspapers.

by TBA

April 29

Travelling Abroad (or Not):

Foreign Research and Professional Help

by Karen Jegen

May 20

Don’t Jump to Conclusions: After the Research

So you've been finding documents, collecting information --- but what does it all mean? Learn how to use the information you find as evidence to support a sound genealogical conclusion.

by TBA

June 24

DNA for Genealogy: What It Can and Can’t Do