The Grand Army of the Republic was a Civil War veterans' organization that influenced the United States for over five decades. If you are researching Civil War veterans, you need to understand the G.A.R! The Grand Army of the Republic contributed mightily to the history of Kansas and its veterans, leaving a trail of records that may help you uncover ancestor details never known. This presentation will cover:

A Little G.A.R. History
Finding Records for Genealogy Research
Photo Tour of the G.A.R. in Kansas

Click Here to Register!

Susanna Madora Salter - 1st Female U.S. Mayor

Bonnie Johnson, a well known history presenter, will give us a first-person account of Suzanna Madora Salter.

Learn about Salter, the first woman in America to be elected as a town Mayor. She governed as Mayor for Argonia, Kansas during the unrest at a time of suffrage. In addition, with strong opposition to liquor she was supported by the WCTU voters.

WGS Announces a Great 2021 Lineup

Mark your calendar for our 2021 Monthly Webinars and Meetings. We have an interesting and informative schedule of programs for you. Beginning in January, we will continue with our virtual programs – presented via the Zoom application. As the year progresses, we hope to be back in front of you in the Wichita Public Library. Please watch for announcements about each meeting.

January 16	Today’s DAR and the Genealogical Treasures That It Holds, by Julie Crawford
February 20	Prisca Barnes presents Wichita's Dockum Drugstore Sit-In
March 20	DNA for Genealogy - Clutter or Clusters by Margaret Kline
April 17	The G.A.R. in Kansas: A Treasure Chest of Civil War Genealogy by Gary Clark
May 15	Quarterly, Bonnie Johnson Suzanna Midora Salter, 1st Woman US Mayor
June 19	Creating a Research Guide by Rosie Wiley
July 17	The Western History Collections by Jason Felihkatubbe
August 21	Quarterly, Orin Friesen History of Country Music in Wichita from the 1920s On
September 18	Native American Indian Genealogy by Jason Felihkatubbe
October 9	Annual Conference with Lisa Louise Cooke
November 20	Quarterly, Gary and Margaret Kraisinger, Texas Cattle Trails Across Kansas, 1850s to 1880s
December	No Meeting – Happy Holidays

Click Here for a printable calendar (PDF).

Genealogy Activities - Status

The following facilities and conferences have been impacted by the Covid-19. See the associated updates.

Wichita Library

The Wichita Libraries opened the library for "Grab and Go". This means you can visit the libraries, browse the shelves for your book and check it out. There are no meeting or study areas open, and no sitting. Also, the Research Pavilion in the Advanced Learning Library is open by appointment. Just call the main library number and ask for a time in the Research Pavilion where the genealogy material is. Visit https://wichitalibrary.org/covid-19 for details of the library opening.

Wichita Genealogical Society

We are conducting monthly webinars of genealogy related topics. December we are usually closed, hence no webinar is provided. A full program has been developed for 2021.

Genealogy Research Opportunities

Have free time on your hands? Now is a perfect time to look deeper into your interests. Here are a couple free opportunities.

Digital Public Library of America
Are you aware of the Digital Public Library of America (www.dp.la)? It is a non-profit organization with a wide collection and offerings for genealogists. This includes The Family Research Guide to DPLA - https://dp.la/guides/the-family-research-guide-to-dpla. The following statement from DPLA describes this guide:

DPLA is totally free to use and open to all – no library card, subscription, or sign-up required! Our collection, with items from many institutions, offers a unique research resource for family historians and genealogists.

Ancestry Library Version
The Wichita Public Library is temporarily providing access to the Library Edition of Ancestry from your home or other remote location. This is normally only available from a library PC in the ALL or a branch. You still need a library card number to login and access this great service. For those who already have a subscription to Ancestry, there is still added benefit to using the library edition. While it cannot access your trees, it does provide many records that are only available on the World Edition. Take a look.

With your internet browser connect to: https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/Polaris/Search/misc/esources.aspx, click on Ancestry Library Edition and follow login instructions. This link is also available from the libraries COVID-19 page: https://wichitalibrary.org/covid-19.

Note: This remote access could change when the library re-opens.

Monthly Activity Updates

Stay informed about Wichita Genealogical Society activities. Sign up for a monthly email of current and upcoming events.

Click on the green Sign Up button and a new page will come up. Complete the form then click on the blue Sign Up button to send.

But wait...for the confirmation email that will arrive in your mailbox. Confirm that you want the WGS email sent to you (it has to do with anti-spam laws) and you should be set. Thank you for subscribing.

May 15

Suzanna Midora Salter, 1st U.S. Mayor

Learn about Suzanna Madora (Dora) Salter, the first woman in America to be elected as a town Mayor. She governed as Mayor for Argonia, Kansas during the unrest at a time of strong opposition to liquor and supported by the WCTU voters. Learn more about this fascinating woman with a ...

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