Washington library to hold genealogy program

WASHINGTON — Library guests will be treated to a crash course in family history research on March 18, led by Iowa native and state historian Linda McCann.

McCann is a former registered nurse who found a passion for genealogy when she took on a leadership role in Shell Rock’s historical society, established for the town’s 150th anniversary. Since then, she has written over a dozen books on lost towns in various Iowa counties, as well as regional histories of the state’s prisoners of war and prohibition era.

“As I’ve traveled and I’ve told people my story and stuff, people have asked how they could get started doing their genealogy and such,” McCann said. “I realized that was another thing I could speak on, offer my little bit of knowledge … so that’s what it will cover. Where you get started, where you begin.”

McCann’s method starts with a worksheet, and an assignment to fill in as many names as possible, gathered by asking family members for details.

She said it was an important and time-sensitive first step.

“Any time that I speak, I encourage people to talk to any relatives they have living,” McCann said. “There’s stories out there that we’ve got to get, and if we don’t get them now, we won’t get them.”

Otherwise, the talk will focus on research methods, fact-checking, and advice about which resources are helpful and which ones to avoid. McCann said some websites had careful verification measures, while others hesitate to make corrections, even when they come from people who entered data in the first place.

“(Someone,) a few years ago, was going around telling everyone he was descended from Charlemagne,” she said about an acquaintance who had not done their own research. “I think he found what he wanted to find, and, you know, ‘Don’t confuse me by the facts.’”

The event in Washington will not be McCann’s first presentation on the subject.

McCann said she noticed a mix of ages between audience participants, with the content catered to, “Anyone from middle school and up.” Overall, the field seems to be growing in popularity, at least based on attendance to events like McCann’s.

She said it was the kind of information seldom taught in typical education institutions. McCann grew up close to the site of a prisoner of war camp in Waverly during World War II. Despite the local historical significance, she said the story had not been passed down.

“As I did more research and talked to teachers, many of the teachers don’t know this happened,” McCann said. “I think that’s the big thing, people are wanting to find their genealogy and as they find it, there’s more stuff they might learn.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com