Events › 2026 Genealogy Day Open House and Resource Fair

Reconnect with your roots on Genealogy Day! The free daylong event offers something for everyone from beginners just starting their family tree to seasoned researchers refining their skills. A complete schedule will be available at www.jcgsks.org in early February.

Keynote Speaker Topics

9:30 a.m. – Discover your Family History – How to Get Started

11 a.m. – A Guide to Using FamilySearch.org

1 p.m. – A Guide to Using Ancestry.com

2:30 p.m. – Military Research Simplified

These hour-long presentations are for beginners and others who want to sharpen their research skills. 

Memory Lab Demonstrations 

Learn how to use the Johnson County Genealogical Society’s equipment to convert your family photos, slides, negatives, 8mm movies, VHS and documents to digital formats. Use of the equipment is free of charge. 

Oral History

Everyone has a story to tell. Learn how to interview and record family members to preserve their stories for future generations. This step-by-step class will cover interview questions to ask, equipment you will need and how to save and share the results. Presented by the Midwest Genealogy Center.

Workshops 

Check out RootsMagic, FamilyTreeMaker and Legacy Family Tree genealogy software from user group facilitators.

Exhibitors 

Visit with representatives from Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Midwest Genealogy Center and many more historical, cultural, genealogical and legacy organizations. Genealogy Society Special Interest Group members will be available for those who want to learn more about Irish genealogy, writing family histories, DNA and genetic testing and digital scrapbooking.

Displays

View charts and items based on a person’s genealogy research, including family history books, genealogy scrapbooks, collages, mementos handed down from ancestors, framed documents and heirlooms. 

Tours of the Library’s Genealogy Resources 

Learn about free resources in the Library’s genealogy area, including research assistance, computers with genealogy websites on them, reference books, periodicals, microfilm, microfiche, maps and much more that will help you with your research. As a bonus, have a 20-minute consultation with a genealogy researcher!

For inquiries about accessibility and accommodations, please contact us at ask@jocolibrary.org or 913-826-4600 at least two weeks before the event.