Step into the world of basic genealogy and learn how to build a solid foundation for your family history research. We'll walk through the records that matter most, the mistakes researchers make, and simple strategies to stay organized. Ideal for beginners—and a helpful refresher for anyone ready to sharpen their skills.
Instructor: Kevin Spire
Kevin is a professional genealogist and volunteer for the Iowa Genealogical Society. He is a PLCGS-certified researcher with experience in US Midwest, German, Danish, and English research.
IGS Conference Center, 628 Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
Discover how Google's free tools can transform your genealogy research and organization! In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn practical ways to use Google Search, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and other Google tools to organize records, collaborate with family members, and preserve your family history. Whether you're just getting started or looking for better ways to manage your research, you'll leave with tips, techniques, and digital tools that can save time and help you make new discoveries in your family tree.
This in-person workshop will guide you through the steps to use many Google tools and provide 1:1 support, so make sure you bring a laptop or IPad.
Instructor: Stefanie Wager
Stefanie Wager is a former social studies teacher and has worked at the district, state, and national levels in social studies education. She also holds a Google Educator Level 1 certification.
Location: In-Person only at the IGS Conference Center
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) started moving into Iowa before its statehood in 1835, establishing 83 meetings for worship before 1900. Today only 44 active meetings remain in the state.
We will discuss the early Quaker settlements and spread throughout Iowa.
Where did these people come from?
Why did they come to Iowa?
Where did these people go?
What impact did these Quaker have in early Iowa history?
We'll explore these questions and more in this presentation. We will also discuss the records they created, their genealogical value, and how to access them.
Your Choice: Zoom or IGS Conference Center, 628 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
Dead Men DO Tell Tales
Join us for a day exploring some of the genealogy resources available around the death of our ancestors. Whether you're digging into military records, uncovering treasures at the Library of Congress, or tapping into Midwest repositories, this conference is packed with tips, strategies, and new discoveries for your family history research.
Our presenter, Kimberly Alberg, will join us in-person for four hybrid sessions, available in-person and via Zoom. She is the owner of Jigsaw Genealogy in the Kansas City Missouri area. Bitten by the genealogy bug in her early childhood, Kim blends her lifelong passions for family research and jigsaw puzzles with nearly 40 years of classroom instruction at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels plus an additional eight years spent "educating" and assisting customers at the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri.
Click the "Learn More" button (below) to discover details about the sessions included with this event.
Join the conference in-person at the IGS Library & Research Center in the East Village of Des Moines or join virtually on Zoom. Lunch options are available for those attending in person. Details provided at the time of registration.
The party starts at 4 pm October 31st and ends at 6 am November 1st.
Stay for a few hours or all night and dig into all the library has to offer including Ancestry Library Edition, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch records only available at FamilySearch affiliate libraries.
Kim Alberg (our fall conference speaker) will return to present a mini research class and pizza will be served about 10:30 pm.
You're welcome to bring snacks to share. We recommend bringing a light sweater or jacket to the event as the library temperature is cool. You may also want a pillow and blanket for a short nap.
Registration is $20 per person for members and non-members. Please register no later than October 27th.
Beyond the Family Tree: Using Social History to Tell Your Ancestors' Stories (Classes)
10:00 am
Zoom only
Names and dates tell you who your ancestors
were — social history tells you what their lives were like. This
introductory session shows how to move beyond vital records by
researching the everyday world your ancestors lived in: their
communities, occupations, and the historical events that shaped their
lives. Learn where to find this context and how to weave it into richer,
more compelling family stories.
Instructor: Stacy Weaver Stacy Weaver has been researching family history for over 30 years, an interest that began with organizing and preserving family photographs and asking relatives to share the stories behind them. That early curiosity about the people and moments captured in old photos sparked a lifelong passion for uncovering the fuller stories behind genealogical records. For the past five years, Stacy has led the Publishing and Preserving Special Interest Group at the Iowa Genealogical Society, helping fellow researchers find meaningful ways to document and share their family histories. Stacy brings a storyteller's eye to genealogy, encouraging researchers to look beyond names and dates to discover the rich historical context that brings ancestors' lives into focus.
