M’ville library branches off into family trees

When Sandy Kimmich of Schererville took a Genealogy class during her senior year in high school, she had no idea the information she received would become an important part of her life.

“That class piqued my interest,” she said of the required course, taken decades ago. “I decided to do more when it was over.”

In the years since, Kimmich ending up researching not only her own family, but also helped out friends and assisted school children on various projects.

She currently is helping a relative complete her family tree.

“I’m working with my cousin on her family line,” she said during a recent genealogy class at the Lake County Public Library. “There are so many ways to get information. I want to share my experiences.”

About a dozen library patrons joined Kimmich at the event as they learned about Social Security applications and research assistance.

Reference librarian Lynn Jackson welcomed the visitors.

“There are many avenues to researching genealogy, so we’ve broken it down to various sessions on specific topics,” Jackson said. “Social Security records can give us a lot of information, such as where the number was issued and/or the parents’ names.”

During the class, participants shared their individual experiences as they filled in their family’s branches.

One participant said older relatives can be a treasure trove of information, filling in gaps for times and places. She ran into a problem because 90-year-old aunt couldn’t hear very well, so interviewing her was a hassle. A fellow class member suggested that she send a questionnaire to this relative and if she couldn’t read it, she could have someone read it to her, with that person writing down the answers.

Others related that it’s never too early or too late to begin a search.

“Over the years, I’ve put aside bits and pieces of information about my relatives (in Texas). I never did much with it,” said Lisa Lakin of Schererville. “When I retired in September, I finally decided it was time. When I called the library, they mentioned one of the software resources they use – Ancestry Library Edition.”

The program, which must be purchased but is available to use for free at the library, includes a database of Social Security records.

“I followed the usual procedure many people use when searching for family,” said Pat Harrington of Merrillville. “I looked through high school yearbooks and old newspapers for birth and death announcements. But it became much easier when I starting going online. There’s even a few sites for newcomers to the genealogy search.”

Future genealogy class topics at the Merrillville branch of the Lake County Public Library include using naturalization records and a guide to genealogical and historical resources available in the library’s Genealogy and Indiana rooms.

More information about the genealogy classes is at 219-769-3451.