Beyond the Family Tree: Using Social History to Tell Your Ancestors' Stories
Date: November 07, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Zoom Only

Beyond the Family Tree: Using Social History to Tell Your Ancestors' Stories

Names and dates tell you who your ancestors were — social history tells you what their lives were like. This introductory session shows how to move beyond vital records by researching the everyday world your ancestors lived in: their communities, occupations, and the historical events that shaped their lives. Learn where to find this context and how to weave it into richer, more compelling family stories.

About Your Instructor

Stacy Weaver has been researching family history for over 30 years, an interest that began with organizing and preserving family photographs and asking relatives to share the stories behind them. That early curiosity about the people and moments captured in old photos sparked a lifelong passion for uncovering the fuller stories behind genealogical records. For the past five years, Stacy has led the Publishing and Preserving Special Interest Group at the Iowa Genealogical Society, helping fellow researchers find meaningful ways to document and share their family histories. Stacy brings a storyteller's eye to genealogy, encouraging researchers to look beyond names and dates to discover the rich historical context that brings ancestors' lives into focus.

Location: Zoom Only

Cost: Members - $15 / Non-Members - $25

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