By Staff
On Saturday, Oct. 22, we will host our Second Annual Local History and Genealogy Day.
The keynote speaker will be Curt B. Witcher from the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. At 10 a.m. he will present &#8221Doing Effective Genealogical Research in Libraries,“; which will cover:
Understanding the four major types of libraries and their missions.
Organizing data.
Techniques for &#8221scouting“; a research facility.
Functioning well in a wide variety of research facilities.
At 3 p.m., Witcher will present &#8221Mining the Mother Lode: Using Periodical Literature for Genealogical Research.“; He will identify the major types of periodical literature, the indices available and how to use them effectively.
Toni I. Benson will present the program, &#8221The Road map of Your Genealogy: Documenting Your Sources“; at 9 a.m. Benson has been the local history librarian for the Van Buren District Library in Decatur since 1995. Her lecture will provide examples of the proper way to document the most commonly used sources in genealogy.
Michele Spencer will present &#8221These Old Houses: Local Historical Architecture“; beginning at 2 p.m. Spencer currently works for the library and holds a B.A. in teaching from Western Michigan University, with a major in history and special studies in American architecture. She will show photos and discuss local examples of historic buildings.
At 11 a.m., tours of the Fort St. Joseph Museum and the Chapin Mansion (City Hall) will be lead by Carol Bainbridge and the Fort St. Joseph Historical Association.
There is no charge for any of the presentations. A box lunch may be ordered in advance for a cost of $7.50 (prepaid). To register for any or all of the programs, please stop in the local history room or call 269-683-8545, extension 7. Pre-registration is requested, but not required.
Some of the newer books available in the local history and genealogy department of the library are listed below:
Cemeteries of Berrien County, Michigan: Coloma Township by The Berrien County Genealogical Society
Cemeteries of Berrien County, Michigan: Royalton Township by The Berrien County Genealogical Society
Cemeteries of Berrien County, Michigan: Watervliet Township by The Berrien County Genealogical Society
Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable brick Wall by Marsha Hoffman Rising
Michigan Genealogy: Sources and Resources by Carol McGinnis
Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan, Michigan, by The Friends of Oak Ridge Cemetery