Monroe County Library hosts genealogy class

On Monday, June 12, the Monroe County Public Library’s Bloomington branch will host a discussion-based class entitled “Finding Female Ancestors.”

The event is one in a series of genealogical classes held every other month at the library. The classes take place in the Indiana Room, the library’s central resource for local information. The classes are geared toward amateur genealogists who are willing to learn as well as share their own experiences.

Librarian Luann Dillon is the organizer of the event series. Sometimes she teaches the classes herself, and other times, she brings in an outside expert to teach on a specific topic. In the past, speaker’s topics have included immigration and the specifics of German genealogy.

For the June event, Dillon invited Leigh Anne Johnson of the Indiana State Library to speak about the problems and difficulties of tracing the ancestry of female relatives.

“In the 19th century, it is particularly hard to find a woman’s maiden name, and therefore, information about that branch of your family,” Dillon said.

After a woman married, she was listed under her husband’s name in census records. Because women rarely worked outside of the home, owned property, or were included as heirs in wills, their names are noticeably absent from other public records.

“The class will focus on getting around some of the barriers to finding the history of the female half of the family,” Johnson said.

It was not until the 20th century, when women began gaining civil rights that women and their maiden names were fully included in public records, such as marriage decrees and wills.

To search public records, the library subscribes to Ancestry Library Edition. The database includes census records, marriage records, and even passenger ship manifests. Using the database at the library saves individuals personal subscription expenses.

People are interested in genealogy for many reasons, Johnson said.

“Some do genealogy to connect with their relatives or to find cousins or even parents that they have lost touch with.  Some do genealogy in order to gain membership to hereditary societies, such as Daughters of the American Revolution.  Still others are just curious as to their ethnic, medical, or religious history,” Johnson said.  

Anyone is welcome to attend the event, but registration is preferred. One can register online through the library’s website, http://monroe.lib.in.us.