Learn about Using PPL’s Rhode Island Collection & Other Resources to Research Your Own Genealogy!
The Providence Public Library (PPL) Rhode Island Collection is pleased to announce a Family History Workshop Series to run from January through September 2014, beginning Saturday, January 18. Designed to be cumulative in knowledge, each workshop builds upon the last to provide participants with a basic understanding of how to research their own genealogy and document personal family stories. All workshops will be held at PPL, 150 Empire Street, Providence in the newly restored Providence Journal Rhode Island Room. Complete workshop information is below.
Participants are welcome to sign up for all the workshops or just ones of interest. Space is limited. Reservations are required via the website (follow links to individual program listings). Contact Kate Wells at kwells@provlib.org with any questions.
Genealogy 101
Saturday, January 18, 2014:Â 10 – 11 am (plus open practice time after)
Reservations required; Max 30 participants.
(10 laptops available for reservation or bring your own)
What is genealogy? How do you start to build your own family tree? This workshop will cover the basics to get you started. We’ll cover basic research methods, traditional numbering systems and free websites that allow you to create your family tree online. You’ll have time to start your own family tree. Basic comfort using a computer for online research required.
Instructor:Â Kate Wells, Rhode Island Collection Librarian
Genealogy Databases: Ancestry, Heritage Quest & American Ancestors
Saturday, March 15, 2014:Â 10 – 11 am (plus open practice time after)
Reservations required; Max 30 participants.
(10 laptops available for reservation or bring your own)
You know some of the basics about your family and are ready to start doing actual research. This workshop will guide you through how to search genealogical databases and how to use the records that you find there to fill in the gaps in your family tree. We’ll discuss what kinds of records are available online, how to effectively search for them and how to use them to document your genealogy. Basic comfort using a computer for online research required.
Instructor:Â Kate Wells, Rhode Island Collection Librarian
Genealogy Print Resources
Saturday, May 17, 2014:Â 10 – 11 am (plus open practice time after)
Reservations required; Max 30 participants.
(10 laptops available for reservation or bring your own)
Not everything is online! In fact, a large majority of the records that you need to complete your genealogy is not available digitally. You’ll learn how to research your genealogy the old-fashioned way — using published books, historic newspapers and other print materials. We’ll cover the resources available to you here in the Providence Public Library and give you some pointers to what you might find elsewhere in Rhode Island.
Instructor:Â Kate Wells, Rhode Island Collection Librarian
Kids and Family History
Saturday, July 19, 2014:Â 10 am -12 noon
Reservations required. Max 20 families.
A child’s interest in history is often grounded in understanding their own place in the world. Where & who did they come from? What is their family background and culture? This family workshop will get parents, grandparents and kids talking about their shared pasts as they complete and decorate a basic family tree. Illustrated family tree poster provided, but individual creativity is encouraged! Best for children ages 8-12 accompanied by an older family member.
Instructors:Â Kate Wells, Rhode Island Collection Librarian; Lauren Lancaster, Americorps Project Intern
Oral History
Saturday, September 20, 2014:Â 10 am – 2 pm (light refreshments provided)
Reservations required; Max 30 participants.
(10 laptops available for reservation or bring your own)
This workshop will provide you in-depth training on how to do oral  history. You will get training and practice on best practices in interviewing, using a digital audio recorder and saving the files, and background information on a particular theme that the Rhode Island Collection is interested in collecting. You’ll leave prepared to complete your own oral history interviews… and hopefully, will donate them to our collection for the benefit of all Rhode Islanders!
Instructors: Kate Wells, Rhode Island Collection Librarian; Amelia Grabowski, Brown University, MA candidate in Public Humanities
