KrisAnn Sullivan
Frank House director, 308.865.8284 OR sullivankw@unk.edu
Members of Fort Kearny Genealogical Society will present “Intro to Genealogy” as the Saturday at the Frank House program this Saturday (Feb. 18).
Donna Richards and Gloria LeDroit, genealogical society president and vice president, respectively, will give the presentation.
The Frank House is located on the University of Nebraska at Kearney West Campus. The program, which will be presented at 1:30 p.m. at the mansion, is free and open to the public.
“Genealogy is a written record of your ancestry,” Richards said. “It is a study of your legacy, your family history, of your ancestors and members of your family tree. It is not just a collection of dates, places and facts. It is much more personal than that.” Richards, who has been a member of the Fort Kearny Genealogical Society since 1993, has been doing genealogy research since 1986.
“When I first started my search, I did a lot of letter writing and making phone calls, not to mention the many trips to courthouses, cemeteries and museums,” Richards said. “Then, once I learned how to use the computer, everything changed. Programs that were made just for the genealogist made research more convenient than running all over the country.”
“Over the years, we have given workshops, had guest speakers and programs that provide us with insight into our research,” she said.
“Our presentation (at the Frank House) will be explaining how we go about doing our research,” Richards said. “Where to search for records, either online or going to the courthouse, cemeteries, museums, churches, and historical or genealogical societies.”
The Fort Kearny Genealogical Society not only searches in Buffalo County, but with the online resources available, they can search the United States and World records as well.
“I’m looking forward to helping the community know more about our society and what we have to offer,” Richards said, “and to encourage more people to start research on their families. To help them understand life is like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and we are just one part of that big picture. The other pieces are our ancestors and forefathers.”
KrisAnn Sullivan, director of the Frank House, noted: “Donations helped refurbish the master bed chamber area and will be put to good use as we begin the other planned improvement projects in the Frank House. Saturday at the Frank House educational program volunteers help make the public aware of the needs of the house, and the public responds. Donations are always appreciated in support of the Frank House.”
Upcoming Saturday at the Frank House presentations include: Feb. 25, “Songs from the Recent Past”; March 3, “The Square (piano) for Kids”; March 10, “Loper Low Brass”; March 31, “19th Century Gardening for 21st Century Wildlife”; April 7, “Frank House Easter Egg Hunt”; April 14, “Titanic: 100 Year Anniversary Displays”; April 21, “Spring String Concert”; April 28 “Fencing Like the Franks”; and May 5, “Flutes at the Frank House.”
The Frank House is open 2-5 p.m. Monday – Friday and noon – 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Guided tours are available. The mansion will be
closed March 18-25 during spring break and May 26-28 for Memorial Day.
For more information on the Frank House or any of the events, go to: www.frankhouse.org.
