National Family History Month

Why has genealogy become so popular?

• Finding out about your family history can give you a sense of self. Learning about what our ancestors went through reminds us if they can overcome hardships that we can, too.
• Family history research is the second-most popular hobby in the United States  (the first is gardening).
• Previously people went to cemeteries and visited records archives at state historical societies and courthouses to do research. With the advent of the internet, billions of records like census data and passenger lists are accessible.
• By 2017, six million people had taken the AncestryDNA test.
• TV shows like Who Do You Think You are and Kansas City PBS’  Finding Your Roots have increased the popularity of genealogy research.

How to Research Your Family History in Kansas City

• Interview relatives. Explore family albums and documents. Share stories among the generations.
• Begin their family history search using resources from Mid-Continent Public Library.
• Explore the Midwest Genealogy Center which is one of Kansas City’s “best kept secrets.”
• To visit mymcpl.org/FamilyHistory to see different ways to get started

About the Midwest Genealogy Center

• MGC is a branch of Mid-Continent Public Library that specializes in family history research, as well as other kinds of historic research.
• Opened in 2008 in Independence
• Located at 3440 S. Lee’s Summit Road, 1 mile north of I-70 and Lee’s Summit Road Rd. exit
• Largest family history research library in the United States - 32,000 square feet
• 750,000 resources – books, journals, maps, and other items.
• Can help you trace your family history no matter where you are from (not just the Midwest)
• People visit from all over the United States and internationally.
• Mymcpl.org/genealogy

Visiting MGC

• Open 7 days a week
• Open to the public and is conducting regular cleaning of public spaces.
• Masks are required.
• Public computers are available for use up to 60 minutes per day
• Staff will bring research materials to you to do you research as the shelves are not open for browsing at the moment.

How to Start Your Family History Research by visiting mymcpl.org/FamilyHistory

• Get a Mid-Continent Public Library card. A card is needed to check out materials and use the online resources. Anyone in the Kansas City area can get a and start using online resources right away by applying at mymcpl.org/NewCard.                                                                                                                                 
• Download a family tree form from mymcpl.org/FamilyHistory and start filling in what you know. Knowing names, birth and death dates, as well as places where they took place will help in determining where to look for other records. (no library card needed).                                                         
• Use the Library’s many online resources to help find details to fill in your search. The Library offers more than 20 other genealogy resources.
• Ancestry Library edition: Currently available from home on a month to month basis due to the pandemic, you can access millions of records even if you can’t build your tree like the paid version.
• MyHeritage.com: A new resource also with access to millions of records and available from anywhere.
• ShipIndex.com – if you know the name of the ship a relative came to the US on, you may be able to find out more information from its records.
• Fold3 Library Edition – if a relative served in the military going back to the Revolutionary Way, you may find information in this resource about them. 
• Check out a Tell Me A Story oral history recording kit from the Library to capture your own memories or those of a relative. You can reserve them in the catalog for pick-up at any MCPL branch, not just at MGC. MGC will provide you with a copy of the recording.  (card needed)                                                      
• Take a genealogy class online through the Library. Universal Class offers a self-paced Genealogy 101 class and Gale Courses offers a six-week, instructor-led course. (card needed). There are also classes by MGC staff on the Library’s YouTube page.       
• Do you have a Boy Scout in the family? He can earn a genealogy merit badge.                                                   
• Print a family history or recipe book. The Story Center staff at the Woodneath Library Center (near Liberty) can help you print soft cover books using its Espresso Book Machine for a nominal charge. Great holiday gift idea!  
• Teach the kids the importance of their family history. Scholastic Teachables, ReadIt, and National Geographic Kids have resources are available online. (card needed)