Upcoming Event: Using the US Census for Family History Research

Are you just getting started in genealogy?  Imagine finding a source that would help you trace your family over time, find the names of their siblings, and much more.

Uncle Sam & U.S. Census

Discover how the U.S. Census can help your family history research in our upcoming 2-hour class. The class will explain what census enumerations are available, how to access them, and what questions they can answer about your ancestors.

The class will meet June 2 from 1-3 p.m. at Godfrey Memorial Library. The cost is $15 per person. Please pre-register by calling the Library at 860-346-4375.  Click here to see the flier. 

We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Event: Using Cemetery Records to Help Your Genealogy Research

Cemetery records can be a valuable resource for building your family tree.

gravestone

This gravestone, for example, includes not only the ancestor's information, but also whom she married.

So how do you locate gravestones, plot records, and other cemetery information?

Join us on June 4 at 9:30 a.m. for a Genealogy Club meeting on cemetery records. We'll discuss resources that can help you determine where your ancestor was buried and give hints about what other information, besides their gravestone, may exist.

Gene Gumbs, head of the Ed Laput CT Cemetery Project, will also speak about that project and how it can help your research.

Genealogy Club is free for Godfrey Premium Members or $10 per session for Guest Members.

Wesleyan University Donates Two Computers

Computer Stations at the Godfrey

Thank you to Wesleyan University for the donation of two computers for our patrons to use. Your gift is so appreciated!

Upcoming Event: Quebec Birth, Death, and Marriage Records

Wondering how to locate your Quebec ancestor's birth, death, or marriage record?

French Manuscript

Quebec used church records as substitutes for birth, death, and marriage records until the 20th century. Many have been digitized and are now online.

Library sign on Newfield Street

Join us for Internet Genealogy Group on May 16 from 6-8 pm at the Library. Discover how to locate these records on Ancestry's Library Edition, and learn how to understand their content – even if you don't speak French.

Please preregister by calling 860-346-4375. Free for Premium Members; otherwise $15.

Today is our 65th Anniversary!

Front Door to Library

That's right. Sixty-five years ago today, our founder, Fremont Rider, opened Godfrey Memorial Library to the pubic.

Click here to see the newspaper article from 1951 describing our founder and the library. 

To celebrate, we are offering 50% off the price of our sale books. Click here to view book listings and purchase books. If purchasing on eBay, simply bid 50% and we will accept it.

Upcoming Event: Genealogy Club on French-Canadian Research

If your family descends from French-Canadians and you've been struggling to locate records, you're in luck! On May 7, the Godfrey Genealogy Club will welcome Maryanne LeGrow, president of the French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut.

Maryanne will discuss the types of records available for French-Canadian research; how they differ from American records; what challenges you might face when doing research; and what records you can access at the Society's library in Tolland and at the Godfrey Library.

Maryanne LeGrow

If you've yet to attend a Genealogy Club session, it's time to check us out. The Genealogy Club meets on the first Saturday of the month, starting at 9:30 a.m. For Premium members, admission is included with your membership. For Basic members and Guests of the library, admission is $10 per session.

Genealogy Club attendees are welcome to use the library after the meeting. Staff will be available to answer questions.

Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Event: Using ResearchIT CT for Genealogy

We all loving hear the words "free genealogy resources!"

Did you know Connecticut residents have free access to a number of genealogy databases through the database ResearchIT CT (formerly IConn)? These include newspaper databases, genealogy specific websites, and more. 

To begin, go to www.researchitct.org

For genealogy specific databases, click on "Genealogy" on the left side of the page. 

Then click on the title, and if requested, enter your library bar code.


To get more help or to find out what else is available, join us for a session on using the ResearchIt CT website for genealogy on April 18, 2016 between 6-8 pm.

Please bring your laptop. The session is free to Godfrey Premium members and open to others at $15.

Pre-registration is required. Register by calling the library at 860-346-4375. Questions? Visit at www.godfrey.org