In lieu of scheduling a March "First Friday" training session, we suggest you register for the upcoming RootsTech 2026 family discovery event scheduled March 5-7, 2026. The online experience is completely free and you may watch videos on your own schedule.
Vista Drive In, 1911 Tuttle Creek Blvd., Manhattan, KS
Join us for an open ended discussion of all things related to family history.
Saturday, March 21
Online Swedish Genealogy Workshop (External)
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Online event
Digging Deeper in Your Swedish Research, a Virtual Genealogy Workshop with ArkivDigital.
Featured Speakers Kathy Meade (ArkivDigital), Geoffrey Morris, and Mike Swanson.
Topics include: The Power of Index Searching in ArkivDigital, What's New in ArkivDigital, Introduction to Tax Mantals, and Citing Sources.
Register at oldmillmuseum.org by March 20. Fee of $30 or $50 depending on whether you are a member of the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum.
Sunday, March 22
The Birth of the Revolutionary War American Soldier (Educational Program)
2:30 pm
Manhattan Public Library
Join us for a fascinating presentation by Dr. Robert Smith as he traces the dramatic transformation of the American Revolutionary War soldier—from the early days of improvised militia units to the emergence of a disciplined, highly trained Continental Army.
Dr. Smith earned his history degree from the University of Nebraska before completing his MA and Ph.D. at Kansas State University. His career includes distinguished service as Director of the Fort Riley Museum Complex, where he oversaw the full renovation of both the U.S. Cavalry Museum and the 1st Infantry Division Museum. He retired in 2024 after more than a decade of leadership in military history interpretation.
This RCGS program is free and open to all. We look forward to welcoming you.
Saturday, March 28
Genealogy Day Open House & Resource Fair (External)
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th, Overland Park, KS
Connect to your past and drop in for a day of discovery to begin your family research journey. Tour the genealogy area, learn about the Library and Society resources, pick up forms and information, and get one-on-one help from Society members. Attend sessions on Getting Started in Genealogy, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.com, and Military Research. Learn about software to keep your research organized. See the Memory Lab in action for digitizing pictures, documents, etc. Visit genealogy-themed group exhibits in between these wonderful sessions! Detailed Schedule is attached. Presented by Johnson County Genealogical Society and Johnson County Library. https://jcgks.org
Sunday, April 12
DNA and Digitizing: Finding and Sharing of a Family Story (Educational Program)
2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz, Manhattan, KS
by Lynda Bachelor and Cheryl Bachelor Boothe
Learn from mother and daughter how DNA results lead to new family connections and how they created their family journey using digital and audio storytelling.
Saturday, April 18
Branches & Bytes (External)
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence Missouri
Artificial intelligence is transforming family history - and you don't need a tech background to use it. Join Mark Thompson and Steve Little, co-hosts of The Family History AI Show, for a full-day seminar showing how tools like ChatGPT can help you research smarter and finally turn names and dates into meaningful stories your family will want to read.
Learn how to add historical context, improve your writing automatically, organize your research, and bring ancestors to life - even if you've never used AI before. Bring curiosity - leave ready to tell your family's store.
