Genealogy Lock-In

In celebration of October as Family History Month, Groesbeck Maffett Public Library will be joining the Genealogy Center of the Waco-McLennan County Library in its 16^th Annual Genealogy Lock-in. This state-wide initiative to provide educational and research opportunities for family historians takes place on October 21 from noon-10:40 pm.  This is the 6^th year that the Waco-McLennan County Library has spearheaded the collaborative effort to organize, provide and share programs remotely with libraries and genealogy societies across the state of Texas.

Groesbeck Maffett Public Library will be hosting the program via skype in the conference room at the Groesbeck Maffett Public Library located at 601 W Yeagua (Hwy 164 W). If you would like to attend any of the program, please call the library at 254.729.3667 and sign up for the times/sessions you are attending. Calls will be taken during normal business hours, Monday- Thursday, 11:30am- 5:30pm, and Saturday, 10am- 1pm.

Programming includes something for everyone:

·         Noon-1:30 pm: Genealogy 101: How to Get Started in Locating Your Ancestors: a beginners’ class for the novice family historian.

·         1:40 pm: Preservation Tips for Family Historians: Learn how to preserve your family documents/photos.

·         2:50 pm: Genealogical Resources of the Texas General Land Office: Learn about Texas land records.

·         4:00 pm: Introduction to Hispanic Genealogy Research: for those with Hispanic ancestry. 

·         6:10 pm: DNA Testing: What is it, what do the results mean, and how do I understand it all? DNA is a hot topic, so don’t miss out!

·         7:30 pm: Finding Your Slave Ancestors: will cover three distinct search strategies. 

·         8:40 pm: Paying It Forward, Recording OUR stories for Future Ancestors: Learn how to use technology to record your story.

·         9:40 pm: Genealogy Mecca - Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research: The final program for the evening includes an overview of the resources and services of one of the top national genealogical research libraries located in our backyard in Houston, Texas.

Also, the Lone Star Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists will be hosting an Ancestors Roadshow on-site in Waco and via Skype. The Roadshow takes place from 3:30 pm-9:30 pm and is an opportunity to enjoy a 15-minute consultation with a professional genealogist. Address a specific genealogical “road block” or get general research information and expert advice. Time slots are limited and appointments are limited to one per customer.

Registration for the Roadshow opens October 17. To register, fill out a questionnaire at lonestarapg.com/roadshow_forms.htm and email the form to WMCLGenealogyCenter@wacotx.gov or bring the form and register on-site in Waco starting at 3pm on October 21. You must be present in Waco or at a participating library to be assigned a time slot.

To help those researching their ancestors during the event a select list of genealogical/historical resources will be available for look-ups by participating libraries.

For a complete list of programs and participating libraries, and to register to attend the Lock-In, visit wacolibrary.org or ctgs.org. Contact Bill Buckner, Genealogy Center Supervisor, at (254) 750-5945 or e-mail billb@wacotx.gov with any questions about this or any other Genealogy Center programs.