Digging Your Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Genealogy

Ever wondered where your family really came from? Join us for a hands-on introduction to genealogy that will turn you from a curious bystander into your family's official detective.  Join us for a FREE genealogy workshop and start uncovering your family's history.

No subscriptions, no DNA kits, no credit card required — we'll show you how to trace real ancestors using FamilySearch, one of the largest genealogy databases in the world, completely free. You'll leave with a start on your own family tree, a toolkit of research strategies, and the confidence to keep digging on your own.

Come with a laptop, some curiosity, and any family names you already know. We'll provide the knowledge, experience learned doing research the wrong way, and the occasional bad pun. A limited number of laptops will be available.  To register, please contact Brian Bray at brian.bray@siu.edu.

About the Instructor:  Andree Swanson, a member of the Madison County Genealogical Society, first became interested in genealogy at age 19 when she saw her 6-year-old grandfather on microfilm on the 1910 census. Over the years, she’s cranked through more microfilm, visited cemeteries, dug through courthouse records, and written tons of letters — before online research became a possibility. Today, Andree uses AI to organize and crack those brick walls that have bugged her for decades.