Introduction to Genealogy & Genealogy Resources in Omaha Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh Librarian Omaha Public Library 444-4800 [email_address]

Genealogy Rule Number 1

• Start with yourself and work backwards to your parents, grandparents, etc.

• Interview older relatives and get as much information you can from them about their siblings, other family members, where they immigrated from, stories, etc.

Genealogy Rule # 2

• Genealogy without proper documentation is Mythology so document, document, document where you get your information!

• • - Karen Tippets, GOGS Genealogy Expert

Omaha Public Librarys Genealogy Room W. Dale Clark (Main) Library-3 rd Floor

OPLs Genealogy Room

Obituary Clipping Files 1977-2008

OPL has the Best Genealogy Collection between Chicago & Denver!

• Free access to 7,000 genealogy resources

• Census microfilms and mortality indexes

• Omaha newspapers back to 1860s

• Place name directories and maps

• Obituary Clipping Files (1977-2008)

• GOGS volunteer research assistants

• Tours available by appointment

Popular Print Resources

• Nebraska County Histories

• Omaha City Directories 1866-Present

• Filbys Passenger and Immigration Lists

• Prospect Hill and other Cemetery Burial Records

• Rosters of Soldiers & Sailors from Nebr.

• Index to 1913 Atlas of Douglas, Sarpy, Washington Co. NE, and Mills & Pottawattami Counties, IA

Microfilm Room- 2 Digital Reader Printers

Microfilm Readers

Microfilm filing cabinets

Popular Microfilm Resources

• Douglas Co. Marriage Licenses 1856-2005

• Douglas Co. Birth 1874-1910

• Douglas Co. Death 1873-1915

• Cemetery Records

• Census Records 1790-1860 complete

• • Nebraska complete through 1930

• City Directories

• Church Records (7)

Popular Subscription Databases @ OPL

• Heritage Quest

• • Available remotely from home with valid Omaha Public Library card at www.omahapubliclibrary.org

• Ancestry Plus

• -NOT available remotely

• -Available at any Omaha Public Library

Heritage Quest www.omahapubliclibrary.org/research

Ancestry Plus Available at any Omaha Public Library

Other Good Online Resources

• Cyndis list http://www.cyndislist.com/

• Since 1996 she has been collecting the best genealogy sites found on the Internet

• www.usgenweb.org search by state/county

• www.FamilySearch.org LDS site

LDS Family History Libraries 11027 Martha St Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States Phone: 402-393-7641 Hours: T,W,Th 9:30am-2:30pm; 7pm-9:30pm Closed: Sat-Mon, 1st Tue eve.

Douglas County Historical Society www.omahahistory.org

Douglas County Court House

• Public Records

• Vital Statistics- Room 402-$11 search

• County Court (probate/estate records)

• County Clerk (marriage records)

• District Court (divorce actions)

• Register of Deeds (Real Estate Records)

Greater Omaha Genealogical Society http://gogsmembers.wordpress.com

Omaha Obituaries Index http://omahaobits.wordpress.com

Omaha Area Marriages & Anniversaries Index http://omahamarriages.wordpress.com/an/

GOGS PROJECTS

• Cemetery Readings

• Obituary Extracting from OWH

• Typing for various marriage and obituary indexing projects

• Volunteering at W. Dale Clark Genealogy Room

• Collecting local annuals and creating index for annuals

• Host Spring and Fall Genealogy Workshops & teach Beginning Genealogy

GOGS Beginning Genealogy Classes

• Taught by Karen Tippets

• Greater Omaha Genealogical Society

• Mormon Trail Center

• 3215 State Street

• January June

• 3 rd Saturday - 9-Noon

• 706-1463 or genehelper@aol.com

• http://gogsmembers.wordpress.com/

Beginning Genealogy Class Covers

• Tool, rules and tricks

• Vital records and substitutes

• Overview of U.S. Census from 1790 to 1930 (every one asks different questions)

• Searching The Worlds Records

• Name Game, changes

• Local records

• Military records

Get Involved! GOGS Meetings

• MEETINGS are held at 7:00 PM on the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at Crown Point Retirement Center, 2820 S 80th, (just south of Center St.) Omaha, NE 68124. Enter through the front door of the building for the dining rooms. A picnic or other activity is held at a location to be announced in the newsletter in August.

More questions?

• Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh

• Omaha Public Library

• 215 South 15 th Street

• Omaha, NE 68102

• 402-444-4800

• www.omahapubliclibrary.org

• Thank you for your attention!