NARA Kansas City Workshops in January

Happy New Year, everyone! For our friends who live in the Kansas City area, the National Archives there has a special treat for you. Please accept our apologies, though, for telling you about it so late, but the holidays and the severe winter weather made it difficult to get the word out sooner.

Every Wednesday, starting on 8 January through 29 January, the National Archives in Kansas City will host a workshop in a series entitled, "Centuries of Service: Exploring Military Records for Genealogy." Attend all four classes to receive a certificate of completion. The workshops will be held from 10:00–11:30 a.m. at the National Archives at Kansas City, 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

Centuries of Service: Exploring Military Records for Genealogy
Workshop Descriptions:

Wednesday, 8 January from 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Fighting the Red Coats: Records from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812
The young republic spent eleven years battling the British in two wars between the years 1775–1815. During these conflicts and the tense period between the formal wars, young soldiers stepped up and answered the call to protect the new nation. Discover the variety of records documenting your ancestor’s military experience, and ways to access them.

Wednesday, 15 January from 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Growing Pains: Exploring Resources for Mid-19th Century American Conflicts
Following the War of 1812, the United States endured a period of rapid expansion and upheaval. Conflicts exploded first with Native American tribes in the southeast, then with Mexico, and finally as the nation split in two during the Civil War. This class examines military records created during the mid-19th century, from service records and pension files, to more detailed records on units in combat, as well as instructions on how to access these records.

Wednesday, 22 January from 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Turn of the Century Conflicts: Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, and World War I
At the end of the 19th and into the 20th century, the battlefields moved from the continental United States to international soil. Beginning with the Spanish American War, leading to the Philippine Insurrection, and culminating in World War I, our ancestors left the United States to serve American causes abroad. Learn about the records that tell these stories.

Wednesday, 29 January from 10:00–11:30 a.m.
A World Torn Apart: World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War
Though these wars were international in scope, the United States military created records during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War that provide insight into the units and individuals who served. This class explores how to order service records, identify online resources, and understand privacy restrictions.

To make a reservation for these free events, please call 816-268-8000 or e-mail <kansascity.archives@nara.gov>.  

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of fifteen facilities nationwide where the public can access federal archival records. It is home to historical records dating from the 1820s to the 1990s created or received by federal agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For more information, call 816-268-8000 or visit <www.archives.gov/kansas-city>.