Secrets of the Census, Part 6: 1900

Our last post in this series was in January when we reminded our readers of what happened to the 1890 census and why we don't have digital copies of it for most of our ancestors. (Did you miss that post? You can read it here.) We now come to the start of a new century and a world that was in the throes of major changes. It was the year The Wizard of Oz was published, work began on the subway system in New York City, and those new-fangled automobiles scaring horses and humans were labeled "devil wagons." Hawaii became a U.S. territory, McKinley was president, and a new baseball club, the American League, was formed in Chicago. The census takers for the 1900 federal census began their jobs on 1 June and were given just thirty days to complete their tasks, no small feat for a U.S. population that exceeded 76,000.000! This first twentieth-century census gives us new and important information on our ancestors.

The Perfect Genealogy Vacation: A Week in Salt Lake City!

Each year in the fall, St. Louis Genealogical Society sponsors a week-long immersive research trip to the world's largest genealogy repository—the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. This year's adventure, our thirty-third trip, runs from Sunday, 11 October through Sunday, 18 October 2026, and registration is now open. For one full week, you can enjoy non-stop research time in this huge genealogy playground! Read on for all the details.

May Genealogy Events

Thanks to everyone who made our Family History Conference such a great success. If you missed the in-person event, you can still register to watch the recordings. The May monthly meeting should be of interest to those who have Native American heritage, early Missouri ancestors, or just enjoy learning about history. We have a new class coming up very soon, and registration is open for our annual research trip to Salt Lake City. Read on for more! 

FHC 2026 a Big Success Thanks to Our Wonderful Supporters!

Our in-person 2026 Family History Conference, "A Genealogical Journey Through Missouri History," is now a beautiful memory! Although it started as a cold, windy day, the hundred or so people who joined us at the Maryland Heights Community Center were happy and excited to be spending the day enjoying their favorite hobby. And, good news! It really isn't over, since registration for the conference includes a copy of our electronic syllabus and access to all six of the digital recordings. That means if you didn't register at all, you can still do so and watch all of the lectures. All the information you need is below the photos.

The StLGS Online Store Has Expanded!

With the introduction of our newly rebuilt online store, we can now offer some extra perks for our friends and members online! We frequently have people asking to purchase gift certificates for StLGS membership, products, and events. Until recently, we've only been able to provide those in-person or via mail. But that is now changing! In addition, we have greatly expanded our selection of books for sale by adding the gently used history and genealogy books in our Trading Post to our online store. We are excited to share the details with you!

Did our Ancestors Have Chocolate for the Spring Holidays?

This past weekend saw the overlapping of the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter, and most of us celebrated by sharing special holiday meals and treats with our friends and families. Our ancestors likely did the same, but they may have approached their indulging in chocolates in different ways. One of the traditions you probably enjoyed with the children in your family was filling an Easter basket with chocolates or munching on specially prepared chocolate chip coconut macaroons after a Passover meal. Chocolate has always been special and for many reasons, which we will take a look at this week.

April Genealogy Events and a Look Back at Trivia Night

The month of March has gone by in a busy blur, and we now look forward to an Irish SIG meeting and a new class for you to attend, either in-person or via Zoom, coming up soon. Registration is open for our annual Family History Conference featuring John Dougan and Christina Miller from the Missouri State Archives. Remember that early registration ends on Saturday, 4 April! By registering before that date, you save some money and help us plan more efficiently. In addition, one of the events we look forward to most each year is our annual research trip to Salt Lake City, and registration is now open for that. Read on for more!