Genealogy Workshop Series

Iowa PBS is partnering with the Iowa Genealogical Society to offer a beginner to intermediate genealogy workshop coming in February. Finding Your Roots Through Records will consist of four (4) two-hour sessions focused on the public records individuals can research in order to find more information about their ancestors.

Each session will feature a combination of lecture and discussion, question and answer time, and a homework assignment relating to your family search. Handouts will be provided for each session. The Zoom webinars will be recorded and registrants can view the sessions later; however, because this workshop is interactive, we encourage all registrants to attend the live sessions in order to get the most out of the series.

These sessions will provide valuable information to guide researchers as they dive into genealogical pursuits, and each session will use Iowa examples.

Registration is $100 and includes access to all four sessions, the recordings and any supplemental materials provided by the instructors. Registered attendees will receive each workshop recording within 48 hours after the workshop.

Newspapers and Iowa's State Censuses

Thursday, February 29, 2024
Presenter: Theresa Liewer

This session will explore newspaper research, including where and how to find online newspapers, especially those with free access. The information will be applicable to other states, but we will use Iowa examples. This session will also introduce Census records, a mainstay of research, including where to find them online. Besides the Federal Census records, we'll help attendees understand what’s unique about Iowa’s State Census records.

Vital Records

Thursday, March 14, 2024
Presenter: Theresa Liewer

This session gives attendees a history of Iowa’s Vital Records system along with what information can be found in birth, marriage and death records as well how to find them, both online and in person.

Cemetery, Church and Funeral Home Records

Thursday, March 28, 2024
Presenters: Dennis Allen and Kevin Spire

This session will detail the steps to follow to get the most out of your visits to your family’s cemetery plot and a whole lot more! We’ll also cover the value found in accessing church records for your genealogical research and what you could find by visiting the funeral home. As a cemetery sexton, Dennis will give attendees an idea of the information that may be asked for or collected by cemeteries and discuss why researchers who are trying to be too specific in their searches can sometimes walk away with less than they want.

Our Discoveries, Let's Learn Together

Thursday, April 11, 2024
Presenters: Theresa Liewer, Dennis Allen and Kevin Spire

This fourth session will be about the homework you've received during each of the three sessions. Attendees are encouraged to use the information in the three previous sessions to make progress in their research.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to build your family tree and connect with your heritage.