SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- You may hear stories about your ancestors from your parents or at family gatherings.
If you've always wanted to find out more, there are lots of free resources at the Springfield-Greene County Library.
Marilyn Ables brings notebooks full of her family's history to the Springfield-Greene County Library Center.
"This is one book of many, this is my husband's family," Ables points out.
Ables says she comes in every two to three weeks to do some detective work with the library's extensive genealogy research center.
"It's kind of like a mystery, you're trying to find out clues to where people came from."
Ables came today for a monthly workshop sponsored by the Ozarks Genealogical Society, and advice from research specialist Stephen Buffat.
"You're always looking for that next clue."
Buffat says genealogy is an accessible and enjoyable hobby. And it's for anyone searching for answers to their heritage.
"It gives me a chance to understand who I am, and where I'm going."
Resources at the Greene County Library help you figure out where your family's name falls into history.
"For those of us who do have the genealogy bug bite them...You cannot. Stop. Doing Research," laughs Linda Chesebro, President of the Ozarks Genealogical Society.
The genealogy bug has bitten Marilyn Ables and other family tree hobbyists, and the library provides ointment for the itch.
"The find that's around the corner, the finds, the unknowns, the brick walls."
There are many volumes of local history, says John Rutherford, history assistant at the library. "We also have things in here on the signers of the Declaration of Independence."
Scanable microfilms of nearly any Springfield newspaper, ever. "They may find a story about themselves from their high school days," says Rutherford.
And access to other primary sources "The more original sources you have the better."
But there's lots of government data you can access at home, too.
"You'll always be researching constantly," Chesebro admits.
And for both the hobbyist researcher and expert genealogist, the local library is a wealth of information to those who treasure their past.
Helpful Links:
Springfield-Greene County Library Genealogy Research
Search government archives: www.archives.gov/research/search
If you've always wanted to find out more, there are lots of free resources at the Springfield-Greene County Library.
Marilyn Ables brings notebooks full of her family's history to the Springfield-Greene County Library Center.
"This is one book of many, this is my husband's family," Ables points out.
Ables says she comes in every two to three weeks to do some detective work with the library's extensive genealogy research center.
"It's kind of like a mystery, you're trying to find out clues to where people came from."
Ables came today for a monthly workshop sponsored by the Ozarks Genealogical Society, and advice from research specialist Stephen Buffat.
"You're always looking for that next clue."
Buffat says genealogy is an accessible and enjoyable hobby. And it's for anyone searching for answers to their heritage.
"It gives me a chance to understand who I am, and where I'm going."
Resources at the Greene County Library help you figure out where your family's name falls into history.
"For those of us who do have the genealogy bug bite them...You cannot. Stop. Doing Research," laughs Linda Chesebro, President of the Ozarks Genealogical Society.
The genealogy bug has bitten Marilyn Ables and other family tree hobbyists, and the library provides ointment for the itch.
"The find that's around the corner, the finds, the unknowns, the brick walls."
There are many volumes of local history, says John Rutherford, history assistant at the library. "We also have things in here on the signers of the Declaration of Independence."
Scanable microfilms of nearly any Springfield newspaper, ever. "They may find a story about themselves from their high school days," says Rutherford.
And access to other primary sources "The more original sources you have the better."
But there's lots of government data you can access at home, too.
"You'll always be researching constantly," Chesebro admits.
And for both the hobbyist researcher and expert genealogist, the local library is a wealth of information to those who treasure their past.
Helpful Links:
Springfield-Greene County Library Genealogy Research
Search government archives: www.archives.gov/research/search
