Midland County Library Hosts Free Genealogy Workshop

Every third Saturday of the Month, the Redfern Genealogical Research Center of Midland County Public Library is offering programs at no charge, to assist patrons in their family history research.  These programs are intended to reach area residents who are interested in researching their ancestors.   The focus is to provide a forum for sharing expertise, ideas, queries, and solutions to what is known in genealogy as 'brick walls'.   Programs will begin at 10AM, but attendees are encouraged to bring lunch and make a day of it!   Most genealogical research substance and proof can only be found within the books on the shelves of libraries, and Midland's genealogy collection is one of the largest in Texas.

August 20, Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck will present an all day workshop of three topics:  10 AM America's Lesser Known Wars, 11 AM Civilians in Military Records, and 1 PM Pitfalls in Research.  Mr. Bockstruck is in demand as a speaker all across the United States.  Anyone who has heard him looks forward to this next workshop.  Those who have not yet had the pleasure are in for a treat as he shares his wisdom.  The Midland County Public Library along with the Midland Genealogical Society is honored to be his host for these workshops.   There will be no charge to attend this workshop or future programs.  Light lunch for this workshop only will be provided at no charge.

Lloyd Bockstruck is a professional genealogist, educator, librarian, author, and columnist who served for 36 years (1973-2009) with the Dallas Public Library, the last 30 as the Supervisor of the Genealogy Section--an institution which was recognized by Family Tree Magazine as one of the "Top 10 Public Libraries for Genealogists" in the United States. He wrote a popular weekly "Family Tree" column for The Dallas Morning News from 1991 to 2008 and has been a contributing writer to the Eastman Online Genealogy Newsletter since 2008.

Lloyd's many other publications include Virginia's Colonial Soldiers, Research in Texas, Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants Awarded by State Governments, Naval Pensioners of the United States, 1800-1851, Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775,  Bounty and Donation Land Grants in British Colonial America,  and just released this year, Revolutionary War Pensions, Awarded by State Governments 1775-1874, the General and Federal Governments Prior to 1814, and by Private Acts of Congress to 1905.

Future topics for GENEALOGY OFF THE SHELVES will cover ethnic groups, local societies, census records, navigating the internet, etc - the list is infinite.  Our next program, scheduled September 17th will feature Devri Conlin of the Midland Family History Center.