Contact: Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov, (515) 281-3858

(DES MOINES) – As genealogy continues to increase in popularity, the Iowa Genealogical Society and the State Historical Society of Iowa are offering a two-day conference filled with information and tips on researching and preserving family history.

“Finding All Your Ancestors in Iowa’s Capital City” will be May 5-6 at the Iowa Genealogical Society, 628 E. Grand Avenue, and at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street. Both sites are located in the heart of Des Moines’ Historic East Village.

The May 5 activities revolve around a reception at the Iowa Genealogical Society Library at 5 p.m., followed by “Gems in the Archives” at 7 p.m. focusing on archival resources in the State Archives and Special Collections at the State Historical Building.

The May 6 activities begin at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast at the IGS Library and will be followed by a series of workshops at the State Historical Building beginning at 8:45 a.m. The workshops include:

• Non-Iowa Resources at the SHSI and IGS Libraries
• Research Resources in Area Libraries
• Caring for Family Photos
• Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors
• Preserving History – the Norwegian-Iowa History Project
• Where’s the Money??
• Non-Traditional Family Resources
• Battle Flag Laboratory Tour
• Military History and Records

Please visit www.iowagenealogy.org to register for the conference. Registration is $50 and includes meals and refreshments. The optional Battle Flag tour is $20. Please contact the Iowa Genealogical Society at 515-276-0287 or igs@iowagenealogy.org for more information.

Founded in 1965, the Iowa Genealogical Society is a non-profit educational organization that seeks to encourage genealogical and historical research by maintaining an extensive research library (open to the public for a fee); keeping members informed of IGS activities, resources, and pursuits through a bimonthly newsletter and the “Hawkeye Heritage”; sponsoring an annual state conference; conducting classes and workshops to assist and encourage those interested in or already actively researching history through genealogy; publishing collections of genealogically-related records in cooperation with county chapters, including census, church, marriage, birth, deaths, cemetery, naturalization, probate, wills and newspaper extractions.

The State Historical Society of Iowa is a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy and an advocate for understanding Iowa’s past. It identifies, records, collects, preserves, manages and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources. Its dual mission of preservation and education serves Iowans of all ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates information, and encourages and supports historical preservation and education efforts of others throughout the state.

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