Resources for new genealogists

Some years back, someone asked Henry Buck if he was related to a family with the same last name. At the time, Buck wasn't interested in learning more about his family history. He was satisfied with the few family members he knew.

Now, that's changed.

When Buck's father passed away two years ago, he started wondering about his grandfather, whom he had met only once, he says. His grandfather had been adopted, not involved in raising his father, and Buck knew very little about him.

"It became something of a question mark after my father died," says Buck, 57 of Ridge-ville, who recently attended a workshop for beginning genealogists, hosted by the Charleston Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society. "Who was my grandfather? I would like to find out more about the old guy."

Buck, who will attend the National Genealogical Society 2011 Family History Conference in Charleston May 11-14, is about to start researching his family's history, he says. Starting now will enable him to take advantage of the expertise that the conference will bring here.

He says before attending the local workshop, he wasn't sure how to start.

Buck is not the first to wonder where to begin.

Those who are interested in starting research of their family history can visit the Charleston County Public Library's South Carolina Room, says Mary Ann Cawley, its manager. Librarians there specialize in genealogical and historical research and help visitors make sense of those first steps and support them through the intermediate level.

Those planning to begin the research should have basic information such as names of their parents and grandparents, hometowns and the years they lived in those towns, says Dot Glover, a genealogist on staff there. Genealogy is hard work, but success is rewarding both for the family historian and the staff member.

The room's collections are helpful for genealogists who have Lowcountry ancestry, and to some extent, those with ancestry elsewhere in South Carolina and adjacent states, librarians there say.

They respond to anywhere from 50 to 200 inquiries a day about genealogy in person and via Internet and phone. Those account for at least 70 percent and as much as 90 percent of their work, depending on the time of year.

Among the things beginners learn in the library's South Carolina Room are how to find genealogical information in basic records and use online sources, including Ancestry Library (similar to ancestry.com but free at the library).

Another resource for beginning genealogists is The Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in West Ashley, says Tommie Provost, its director.

The center holds basic genealogy classes each month. Two upcoming classes are designed to help beginners learn how to use Internet genealogy sites.

"We show them how to use programs at the center and give them access to tools so they won't have to buy them," Provost says. It also provides one-on-one assistance with researching, organizing and storing information uncovered about families.

Beginners living in Berkeley and Dorchester counties can start their research at the main Charleston County Library. While Berkeley and Dorchester counties' resources are not as extensive, Berkeley has Ancestry Library, HeritageQuest Online, African American Heritage and ProQuest Civil War Era, which are available to patrons at the library.

Dorchester also has Ancestry Library. Check with each library on their microfilm and local history collections.

Getting started

When starting out in genealogy, beginners have three local resources.

South Carolina Room of the Charleston County Public Library

Where: 68 Calhoun St. downtown Charleston.

Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 2-5 p.m. Sundays.

Contact: 805-6956.

More: Its staff's strength is helping those with Lowcountry ancestry, but it can frequently assist those with ancestry in adjacent Southern states.

The Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Where: 1519 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.

Hours: Research assistance 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Beginner classes: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 12, researching footnote.com and heritagequest.com sites; Sept. 3, familysearch.org, a free and widely read genealogy research site. Both classes have limited seating and registration is required. The center also can assist genealogists who have ancestry throughout the United States and in other countries.

Contact: 766-6017.

South Carolina Genealogical Society's Charleston Chapter

Location: Charleston Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Road.

Time: 2:30 p.m. third Sundays (except August). The next meeting will be Sept. 19.

More: Members will provide advice to beginning and other genealogists at regular meetings.

Contact: 767-2133.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at wminis@postandcourier.com.