Each year CGS offers weeklong guided research trips to come of the best genealogical libraries in the country. These trips are geared to be of value to both novice and the experienced genealogists. Participants receive assistance preparing for the trips and conducting their research while at the library. The week offers participants the opportunity to totally immerse themselves in genealogical research for the week and share their break time with a group of people who share their enthusiasm for genealogy.
Do you have suggestions for research trips? Are there other places you’d like CGS to visit? Do you have a suggestion of who might lead such a trip? Please Leave us a Suggestion.
Family Search Library Salt Lake City, UT
This trip is offered every Fall. The Library is the most complete library for world-wide genealogical research in the US. The collection includes over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 727,000 microfiche; 356,000 books, serials, and other formats; over 4,500 periodicals and 3,725 electronic resources. Records available are from the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. This trip is led by two experienced genealogists. The trip leaders will help participants plan for the trip and assist them with their research while at the library. You can access the Family Search Library Catalog at FamilySearch.org.
Allen County Public Library Fort Wayne, IN
This trip is offered in the late summer every odd year. ACPL is the best public genealogy library in the US and has over 513,000 rolls of microfilm, 55,000 compiled genealogy volumes, an impressive collection of state and territorial censuses, and many other resources unique to this library. You can search their online catalog to get an idea of the breadth of their collections. ACPL also has the largest collections of genealogy periodicals in the country. ACPL created and maintains PERSI (Periodical Source Index), a subject index of every article from over 6500 genealogy and local history publications according to locality and family surname.
New England Historical & Genealogical Society Boston, MA
This trip is offered in the fall of every even year. NEHGS is one of the country’s leading resources for family history research. Located in downtown Boston, the library houses more than 200,000 books, 100,000 microforms, and more than 2 million manuscripts and family papers. The NEHGS collection of New England records is unmatched anywhere and their collection of New York records has been expanded in recent years. You can access the NEHGS catalog at AmericanAncestors.org. Participants will have the option of visiting the MassState Archives, Suffolk or Middlesex county court houses, the Mass Historical Society, NARA, or Boston Public Library(BPL). The BPL has an excellent micro-text department with a wonderful newspaper collection. You can access their catalog at bpl.org.