On a random wall, in a large open room, this small sign hangs, easily unnoticed. And yet, one day, this picture exploded fireworks of inspiration in my mind. It depicts information on the internet as just the tip of the iceberg, above water. Dropping deep below the surface, it shows where most of the records are stored — in any kind of repository where good people save and protect history for us.
This story begins shortly after I moved to Kansas. I heard about the Midwest Genealogy Center nearby, and decided to go research my ancestors on a lazy, unscheduled day. I drove up to a modernistic building. The irony was not lost on me: I smiled at the contemporary structure housing the past. It seemed allegorical to watching Millennials developing an enthusiasm for their own personal family chronicle. It is stirring to witness that which is new and young bridge to that of a bygone era.
I began my research on one of their many computers that are loaded with websites which normally require a paid subscription. What a treat to get them all for free. Evenso, after a few hours the librarian noticed I was frowning, and came to my side…smiling. I looked up and she introduced herself as Twila. She asked me if I had stalled. I sure had. So, she said, “follow me”. She led me to that one random wall in that enormous open room, where that tiny sign quietly hangs. As I stood reading it, rapid flashes of a disjointed vision began to formulate in my mind. I turned to Twila hoping she could clarify my thoughts for me. Her smile again. She explained that so far only a minimal percentage of all information has been scanned, digitized and provided on line. So everyone will always dead end when doing internet research. The rest of the documents are out there…. somewhere…. waiting to be found. The pieces of the vision instantly conceptualized. I knew exactly what I wanted to do — help people find their ancestors, after their trails ceased online. The physical hunt seemed more alluring to me than sitting behind a computer. It felt like a real-life game of an investigative mystery — to find the genealogical puzzle pieces and link them together. The “win” is continuously discovering the people who make up you. Plus, there is no better way to experience history, than personally, through our ancestors.
Twila knew I was itching to start right then and there, so she toured me around their repository. I felt like I was in a treasure chest or a vault of protected valuables. I was awestruck by the endless rows of cabinets holding thousands of index cards and microfiche/microfilm.
Then came the rooms full of shelves lined with antiquated City Directories, long out-of-print books, donated family history journals, bound issues of newletters from genealogical societies around the country. There is even a special, locked room marked – Rare Book Collection!
In this simple blog, I cannot even begin to tell you how much they have here. Come visit. Bring your lunch. Bring lots of paper and notebooks and a thumb drive. The Midwest Genealogy Center is the largest, freestanding, public genealogical repository in the country. You will push through your brick walls here. And my singular advice is – talk to all the staff. Yes, all of them. Each one has a specialty of knowledge. So keep asking your questions to each of them. They are hyper-trained to help you and they love doing it. There is nothing Twila can’t help you with. Look for Kim, who is fun to work with because of her contagious passion. I am slowing getting to know the rest of the staff. They are all so good at what they do. They will astound you. And you will leave satisfied, and yet hungry for more…..