Beginning Genealogy Classes in Raleigh Starting April 14, 2025

Barbara McGeachy, President of Wake County Genealogical Society, is teaching a series of in-person classes in Raleigh. These classes are in partnership with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation. Classes will be held Mondays from 10:30 am to noon in the large meeting room in the Laurel Hills Community Center, 3808 Edwards Mill Road.

Each class is $16 whether you are a Raleigh resident or not. Sign up for each class independently, although the first class “Getting Started!” is a pre-requisite for most of the other classes.

Barbara will teach 7 classes in the spring and early summer. Class limit is 40 students. Please share this opportunity with friends and neighbors!

Class list :

Note that the first class on April 14 is a prerequisite to most of the others. If you are interested in the others, you should be sure to attend the April 14 class. 

Beginning Genealogy Classes taught by WCGS President, Barbara McGeachy

Date	Title
Monday,  April 14	Genealogy: Getting Started!
Learn how to research your family history. Start with yourself and work back in time. Start with records you already have. Find records on-line to fill in the gaps. Learn how to record names, dates, and locations. Learn how to keep track of what facts you find and where you found them.  **This class is a pre-requisite for many other genealogy classes Enroll in this class
Monday, April 21	Genealogy: Hatch ‘em, Match ‘em, Dispatch ‘em
Learn how to find vital records (birth, marriage, and death) which are essential to genealogy. Pre-requisite: Getting Started Enroll
Monday, April 28	Genealogy: Making Sense of the Census
The census records all Americans every 10 years, from 1790 to 1950. Learn what information is in the census and how to find your ancestors! Pre-requisite: Getting Started Enroll
Monday, May 5	Genealogy: Where There’s a Will
Learn about estate records, a rich source of genealogical information. Wills list heirs; inventory lists describe all the person’s worldly goods and their value. Learn where to find your ancestors’ wills and other estate records. Pre-requisite: Getting Started Enroll
Monday, May 12	Genealogy: Read all about your ancestors!
Local newspapers were the internet and TV of their day! Find wedding descriptions, obituaries, family reunions, arrest records, and lots more genealogical data. Learn where to find old newspapers online. Pre-requisite: Getting Started Enroll
Monday, June 2	Genealogy: Should I take a DNA test?
Why take a DNA test? Where can you take a test? How much does a DNA test cost? What are the pros & cons of testing?  No pre-req Enroll
Monday, June 9	Genealogy: Understanding DNA test results
Learn how to use the results of your DNA test. We’ll explain the ethnicity report and the match list. Any testing company has similar results. No pre-req Enroll

The classes listed above will be repeated starting September 8. Additional classes will also be taught in the fall. 

Please share this opportunity with friends and neighbors! Class limit is 40 students. 

Any questions? Email Barbara president@wakecogen.org 

Enroll online at 
https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html 
Or stop by any staffed parks & rec center.  

Online registration guide - click to enlarge. Search "genealogy"

Another way to find the classes online ( if you are on phone, tablet, or half screen on a PC)- From the link above, click the "Activities" tab. 

Find the green "funnel" at the top right corner of the search page and click it. 

Put "genealogy" in the keyword search and choose Laurel Hills in the location field. 

Scroll down and click the green search button in the lower right corner. 

Open the "Genealogy: Getting Started" tab. Enroll in each session individually.

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Journal | Wake Cemetery Survey Images | Society Surnames | Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Research Guides | Newsletter | Blog | Contact