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Genealogy and Family History: Getting Started

A guide to assist those interested in starting a family history project.

What Is Genealogy And Why Should I Care?

The Merrian Webster Dictionary defines it as:

1) an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms

2) regular descent of a person, family, or group of organisms from a progenitor 

3) the study of family ancestral lines

4) an account of the origin and historical development of something

Librarian (I am available for one on one appointments as well)

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Sue Malek
Contact:
Truckee Meadows Community College
Elizabeth Sturm Library
7000 Dandini Blvd
Reno NV 89512
775-673-8260
Website

Genealogy: Part of Sustainability

Generally speaking, there are three parts to sustainability: social equity, economic viability and environmental protection. Under social equity genealogy can help to prevent social exclusion and discrimination, promote solidarity and contribute to the well-being of stakeholders.

Using the TMCC Library To Learn About Genealogy

This research guide will help to meet the following objectives:

  • Understand what the definition of genealogy is and why it might be important for you to pursue it
  • Explore genealogy topics such as creating a family tree, locating family records, preserving your research, networking to collect additional information
  • How to use Social Networking to increase your genealogical research
  • Develop critical thinking skills by evaluating historical documents and information
  • How to use both print and eBooks, as well as Reference sources in your research
  • Becoming familiar with terminology used in the field of genealogy
  • Learn how to construct an effective online search for genealogical information
  • Understand how to effectively use a web search to find quality sources appropriate to your task
  • Learn which type of information source is effective for which part of a search
  • Learn which library databases contain information on specific genealogy subjects
  • Learn what a peer reviewed journal is and how to search for them
  • Learn how to use digital newspaper databases
  • Websites that will teach you new genealogical skills (Boolean/Advance Google searching, Cemetery Research, etc.)
  • Learn how to cite genealogical sources and write a research plan
  • Learn to use a variety of sources to locate information (paper, electronic, etc.) 
  • Learn how to visualize complex data sets using Mind Maps, apply it to your family tree
  • Using Table of Contents and back of the book index to save time
  • How do I pursue a career in genealogy? What are the professional organizations associated with it?
  • What is DNA Genealogy? What types of DNA testing is available?
  • What local resources are available for me to learn more about genealogy?
  • How do I write and publish my family history?
  • Sources for faculty and librarians, how to incorporate genealogical research across the curriculum

TMCC Research Guides will assist you with your research and documenting and writing your family history:

Beginning Genealogy

How to Fill out a Pedigree Chart

Use Social Networking To Further Your Research, Its Easy And Free!

Start Here: Download And Fill Out As Much In These Charts As You Can. Organize it on paper before you put it online.

Mission Statement

TMCC Library Family History Research Room

Mission Statement

To be the leading local resource for family history, genealogy and their associated disciplines.

Promote recognition of the worth of family history research by:

  • Influencing academic standards
  • Providing education, skills and standards for research
  • Inspiring individuals in all sectors of society to study their heritage and their own place in history
  • Assisting students, faculty and the public in their research objectives by making widely available an expanding collection of relevant records, finding aids and other materials both physically in the reading room and through online databases
  • Work with faculty to explore ways of incorporating family history research into the curriculum
  • To conduct periodic educational programs and other learning opportunities to explore cultural, genealogical and historical topics
  • To disseminate cultural, genealogical, historical and biographical information to our students, faculty and the public

Create and encourage collaboration with:

  • Local community groups
  • Local veterans organizations
  • Other departments and clubs on campus

to further the needs of those we serve.

Grand Opening: TMCC Library Dedicated Genealogy Research Room

The TMCC Library is pleased to offer you three ways to research your family history. First, we offer a free online Open Genealogy Lab each Friday, secondly we have a dedicated family history research collection, and thirdly we offer free online one on one genealogy research assistance appointments.

Flyer

TMCC Library Open Genealogy Lab

If you would like attend our online Open Genealogy Lab, please contact Suzanne Malek at smalek@tmcc.edu. 

TMCC Library Open Genealogy Lab

  • We meet each Friday online using Zoom from 11:30am-2:00pm
  • Free, open to everyone (students, faculty, employees and the public)
  • No registration required
  • All skill levels welcome!
  • Get a free TMCC Library Card, check out our outstanding genealogy collection of books and wide selection of databases

Attend online and learn new research techniques, hear guest speakers, collaborate and have fun while building your family tree. 

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Looking for a guest speaker? 

Click here to see a list of the TMCC Experts List

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TMCC Library Open Genealogy Lab YouTube Channel:

Past TMCC Library Open Genealogy Lab guest speaker presentations are now available on the TMCC YouTube Channel! Click here to visit our YouTube Playlist.

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Below are links to newspaper, magazine and website articles about the TMCC Library Open Genealogy Lab and Family History Research Room:

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List of Upcoming Guest Speakers at the TMCC Library Open Genealogy Lab:

To get a Zoom link to join us live, please email your request to smalek@tmcc.edu.

 

Feb 2025

Feb 7 - Researching Irish ancestors in Ireland with Richard Dalton, Governor, Nevada Society of Mayflower Descendants

Feb 14 - Building Fort Monroe with Jessica Meadows, Ft. Monroe, Virginia

Feb 21 - Beverly Bevel - Once Enslaved; Once Slaveholder, Forging A Family Reunion

Feb 28 - Cassandra Castle, Executive Director, Herkimer, New York Historical Society

 

March 2025

Mar 7 - No class today so everyone can attend Rootstech

Mar 14 -  Frances Tryon, Historic Hillside Cemetery, GAR and Woman's Relief Corp. (WRC)

Mar 21 - Carol Ansel, Library Director, Godfrey Memorial Library - Introduction to AGBI 

Mar 28 - No class today

 

April 2025

April 4 - LaJoy Y. Mosby MBA, National President-AAHGS, Inc. 

April 11 - Barbara Hemmingsen - Civil War Ancestry

April 18 - Al Wilson, Chairperson Historical Committee, Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, PA

April 25 - Randy Dodds - Adoption Genealogy

 

May 2025

May 2 - Edith Wagner, Editor, Reunions Magazine

May 9 - Open Forum

May 16 - Gene E. Salecker - Sultana Disaster Museum

May 23 - Yvonne Fasold, Ph.D.- Past National President of the American Rosie the Riveter Assoc.

May 30 - Conor Doherty-Greene, Deputy Consulate General, Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles - Dual Citizenship

 

June 2025

June 6 - No class today

June 13 - Karen Dustman - Writing your Memoir and/or Your Family History 

June 20 - No class today

June 27 - Courtney Carr, WWII Veterans Legacy Programs Mgr. - Society of Sons & Daughters of Veterans WWII

 

July 2025

July 4 - Closed holiday

July 11 - TBA

July 18 - No class today

July 25 - TBA

 

August 2025

Aug 1 - TBA

Aug 8 - Coat of Arms - Presented by the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century

Aug 15 - TBA

Aug 22 - No class today

Aug 29 - No class today