No, the history of our families is not lost, as long as we have a little time to devote to genealogical research. Forsyth County Public Library and professional genealogist Wayne Andrews can help you uncover your family’s roots and record them for future generations.
A former intelligence analyst, Andrews says he discovered that genealogical research is quite similar and requires finding some hidden truth. He’s been researching his own family history for more than 40 years.
“In 1975 my wife and I were visiting my parents. The subject of my mother’s parents came up. As she talked about them and her grandparents I realized I understood very little of my family history,” explains Andrews of his motivation to embark on genealogical research.
“My mother wrote down everything she could remember, including the town in Germany where her paternal ancestors lived until 1839. She gave me a book written in 1913 which contained my father’s paternal history back to 1821. I was fascinated by how much was known, but I wanted to know more,” says Andrews.
“Next to learning my family history, I love teaching others the techniques and methods to perform effective genealogical research,” adds Andrews, whose first Genealogy session, How to Get Started, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4.
During the session, Andrews will demonstrate research techniques by starting with yourself and working backwards to begin mapping your family tree. He’ll discuss the use of personal sources, family records and materials, interviewing relatives, and organizing information.
Creating a Family Tree & Using Censuses, the second session beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, will extend family tree research by incorporating primary and secondary sources and learning to identify errors. Andrews will also discuss how to use and understand American, British, Irish, and Canadian census records.
The third workshop, Advanced Record Types, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 18 and will demonstrate how to locate and use advanced record types such as religious records, obituaries and cemetery records, immigration and naturalization records, and military records to add more detail to the story of your family’s history.
Using the Internet for Research, the final workshop in the Genealogy 101 series, will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 19 and will focus on the successful use of internet resources, including how to structure searches, how to use message boards, and finding a balance between traditional and electronic research.
It’s common to “hit a wall” in genealogical research, says Andrews. His last presentation is intended to help participants learn techniques to overcome those obstacles so they can avoid frustration and continue making progress on their research.
Genealogy 101 is expected to be well-received, so registering early is recommended.
“We get many requests for genealogy programs and any program related to local history always seems to be popular in the Forsyth community,” explains Brooke Rose, Information Services Supervisor at the Hampton Park Library and the workshop’s organizer.
“The library provides several print and online resources to help patrons research their ancestry. Workshops such as Mr. Andrews’s Genealogy 101 series educate people on how to use these resources to dig even deeper into their family’s history,” adds Rose.
For more information or to register for a Genealogy 101 workshop, please visit www.forsythpl.org or call 770-781-9840.
