Iowa Falls Public Library
  • Home
    • Staff
    • Board of Trustees >
      • Meeting Agendas and Minutes
    • Friends of the Library
    • Library Policies
    • Contact Us
  • How Do I?
    • Access the Online Catalog
    • Access My Account
    • Book-a-Bike
    • Get a Library Card
    • Get a PIN number
    • Ice Skates & Snowshoes
    • Renew & Reserve Items
    • Request a Purchase
    • Reserve a Meeting Room
    • Use BRIDGES
    • Use Interlibrary Loan
  • Calendar & Newsletter
  • Services
    • Adventure Pass
    • Community Sign
    • Computers & Usage
    • Curbside Pickup
    • DVD Policy & Titles
    • Fax & Copy Services
    • Fines and Overdues Information
    • Library of Things
    • Meeting Room Rental
    • Test Proctoring
  • Programs
    • Children
    • Youth
  • Resources & Research
    • Book Finders
    • Brainfuse
    • BRIDGES
    • Election & Voter Information
    • Genealogy
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Links
    • Local Links
    • Online Fun & Learning
    • People's Law Library
    • Resume Builder
    • Tax Forms & Information
    • Transparent Language Online

Genealogy Research

Where to Begin

Organize:

     1.   Start with Yourself:

             Start with yourself, the known, and work toward the unknown. Find out all the vital information you can about your parents and write it down. Then find out              about your grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.

     2.   Names, Dates, Places, Relationships:
             Gather all the names, event dates and places that you can. Use a lineage chart and family group sheets (use 1 sheet for each marriage) to help organize the               information. People can be identified in records by their names, the dates of events in their lives (birth, marriage, death), the places they lived, and by                         relationships to others either stated or inferred in the records.

     3.   Home Sources:
             The place to begin is at home. Here you can find much information in family Bibles, newspaper clippings, military certificates, birth and death certificates,              marriage licenses, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, backs of pictures, baby books, etc.

     4.   Relatives as Sources:
             Visit, call, or write those in your family who may have information, particularly older relatives. Often others before you have gathered data about the families              in which you are interested. Take along pictures or something else to share with them to jog their memory. Visit more than once. Memories will prompt other              recollections. You may also give a lonesome person pleasure by your interest.
Resources:

  • Castle Garden
             A free database of information on 11 million immigrants from 1820 - 1892, the year Ellis Island opened.

  • Chronicling America
             U.S newspaper database and select digitization of historic pages.

  • Cyndi's List
             A free genealogy research site meant to be a starting point.

  • Ellis Island
             Free access to 25 million immigrant arrival records in the Ellis Island Archives, 1892 - 1954.

  • Family Search
             The largest genealogy organization in the world for free.

  • Find A Grave
             Find the graves of your ancestors.

  • Hardin County Newspaper Archives (Only available in Hardin County Libraries)
             Search through digital archives of Hardin County Newspapers dating back to 1864.

  • IAGenWeb Project
             A free website that provides Internet websites for genealogical research in every county in the United States, including Hardin County.

  • Iowa Genealogical Society
             The Library includes an extensive collection of books, microfilms, and periodicals in addition to Iowa materials.  Available to the public for a fee.  Also,                           includes links to many different websites for genealogical help.

  • Midwest Genealogy Center
             Free resources for genealogy and family history. 

  • National Archives
             Access to census, military, immigration, naturalization, and land records.  Also provides online research tools and additional resources to start your
             genealogy research.

  • Newspaper Archives
             Access newspaperarchive.com for free through the State Historical Society of Iowa.

  • State Historical Society of Iowa
             The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions and projects while serving as an              advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future.  Access their digital resources here!

  • USGenWeb
             Free genealogy websites for research in every state.

  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
             Request help, records, or search immigration records dating back to the 1800's.

Family History Forms:

  • Ancestor Chart-Four Generation
  • Ancestor Chart-Six Generation
  • Family Group Chart
  • Genealogy Log of Documents Searched and/or Search Plan
  • Individual Worksheet
  • Life History Questions
  • Research Checklist
Additional assistance with local genealogy is available at the Barlow Memorial Library.
Contact Nancy Hoffman at nancyh@iowafalls.lib.ia.us or call 641-648-2872.


Information taken and adapted from the Iowa Genealogical Society
Robert W. Barlow Memorial Library
921 Washington Ave | Iowa Falls, IA 50126
641-648-2872 | reserve@iowafalls.lib.ia.us
Library Hours
​
​Monday                                              9AM-5:30PM
Tuesday                                                  9AM-8PM
Wednesday                                       9AM-5:30PM
Thursday                                                9AM-8PM
Friday                                                 9AM-5:30PM
Saturday                                                 9AM-3PM
Curbside Available 
M,W,F                                         
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday               9:00 am-7:30 pm
Saturday                                     9:00 am-2:30 pm
Access Account
Online Catalog
Copyright 2020 Barlow Memorial Library. All rights reserved.Website by HUB Creative Media
  • Home
    • Staff
    • Board of Trustees >
      • Meeting Agendas and Minutes
    • Friends of the Library
    • Library Policies
    • Contact Us
  • How Do I?
    • Access the Online Catalog
    • Access My Account
    • Book-a-Bike
    • Get a Library Card
    • Get a PIN number
    • Ice Skates & Snowshoes
    • Renew & Reserve Items
    • Request a Purchase
    • Reserve a Meeting Room
    • Use BRIDGES
    • Use Interlibrary Loan
  • Calendar & Newsletter
  • Services
    • Adventure Pass
    • Community Sign
    • Computers & Usage
    • Curbside Pickup
    • DVD Policy & Titles
    • Fax & Copy Services
    • Fines and Overdues Information
    • Library of Things
    • Meeting Room Rental
    • Test Proctoring
  • Programs
    • Children
    • Youth
  • Resources & Research
    • Book Finders
    • Brainfuse
    • BRIDGES
    • Election & Voter Information
    • Genealogy
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Links
    • Local Links
    • Online Fun & Learning
    • People's Law Library
    • Resume Builder
    • Tax Forms & Information
    • Transparent Language Online