by Carol Cooke Darrow
People come to genealogy in a variety of ways. I learned about genealogy from Cyndi’s List, a website of links to the world of genealogy records. Trish Gagnon started at the top – at the Irish National Archives in Dublin. “I was looking for the Laughlin family and learned that that name was as common as Smith! It was then that I realized how little I knew about my mother’s family.” When Trish returned home, she took the free Beginning Genealogy class offered on the second Saturday of most months at the downtown Denver Public Library and attended the Genealogy Special Interest classes also at DPL on Saturdays. “I love the treasure hunt for new ancestors and have met many living cousins in the process. The learning process through the Denver Public Library, the Colorado Genealogical Society and the Broomfield Genealogical Society and the friends I’ve made have been priceless.”
Ed Walton was inspired by the TV production of Roots and took a course in Ethnic Identity at Wayne State University in 1978. After an extended period concentrating on family, work and recreation, Ed was introduced to the Black Genealogy Search Group in Denver. The group meets at the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library. Ed is now a volunteer at the National Archives in Broomfield and is active in several BGRG activities. As Ed says, “It’s probably safe to say the genealogy bug has bitten me.”
If you are interested in finding out more about your family history, visit any of these local genealogical societies:
• Adams County Genealogical Society meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Thornton Arts & Culture Center, 9209 Dorothy Blvd, Thornton, Colorado, 7 – 9 pm.
• Black Genealogy Search Group meets on the 4th Saturday mornings at the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St., Denver, from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.
• Broomfield Genealogy Society meets at Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Road in Broomfield on the 3rd Thursday of each Month from 6:30 -8:30 pm.
• Colorado Genealogical Society currently meets on the 3rd Friday each month except July, August, and December at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2300 South Patton Court, Denver, from 7 – 9 pm.
• Foothills Genealogical Society meets on the 2nd Wednesday (except June, July and August) at Applewood Methodist Church, 2035 Ellis St., Golden, CO, from 1 – 3 pm.
• Swedish Genealogical Society of Colorado meets on the 1st Saturday of each month, except June, July, August, and holidays at the downtown Denver Public Library from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.
• WISE Family History Society (Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England) meets 4th Saturdays of January through June, September, October and the 1st Saturday of December at the downtown Denver Public Library, from 1 – 3 pm.
~ Carol Cooke Darrow is a certified genealogist in the Denver area. She frequently lectures at local genealogical societies.