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.

Time for the StLGS Annual Family History Conference: "A Genealogical Journey Through Missouri History"

March and April have been filled with exciting StLGS genealogy events. After three very busy weekends of Open House, our monthly meeting, and our fabulous, exciting Trivia Night, we can't wait to welcome you to our next powerhouse event, our annual Family History Conference, Saturday, 18 April 2026. This all-day seminar, planned in celebration of America's 250th birthday, features archivist for the state of Missouri, John Dougan, and reference services director for the Missouri State Archives, Christina Miller, along with three local speakers: Andrew Hahn, Ilene Murray, and Carol Whitton. Registration is open now. Here's what you need to know.

New Naturalization Indices Added to the StLGS Website!

Almost all of us had immigrant ancestors, although not all of them chose to become American citizens. Necessary for voting and to attain some legal status, citizenship was not a priority for those who didn't expect to buy land, weren't welcomed by the often-crowded communities in which they found themselves, or didn't especially care about electing local or national officials. Prior to September 1906, naturalization was a function of individual states and could take place in any court in the country. The number of years one had to be a resident fluctuated over time, and there were no restrictions about where you had to complete the process once you started it. And it was a process. First, an immigrant had to file a declaration of intention to become a citizen; these were often called first papers. The next step, after a certain number of years had passed, was a petition for citizenship, or final papers.

Orphans in the Family?

Sometimes, because we are so used to the way we do things, we forget it wasn’t always that way. We assume that if an ancestor changed their name, they went to court to do so because that’s what most people do now. We also assume that if a child was adopted, some well-defined legal pathways were followed––again, because that’s what is expected today. However, the reality is that names were changed all the time without anyone taking any legal steps, and children were handed over to friends, clergy, family members, and other willing takers, quite often with no paper trail. Orphanages held thousands of children who still had one or more living parent, and children struggling to survive in poverty were often literally snatched off the streets and placed in institutions, sometimes without parental consent.

February 2021 Upcoming StLGS Meetings and In Memoriam for Three Long-time Volunteers

As we enter the heart of winter, we hope that wherever you are located, whether it's snowing, raining, or mild and sunshiny, you can brighten up your February by attending some of the upcoming StLGS meetings we have scheduled. In addition, we hope those of you who are society members will take advantage of our free classes for members coming up in March and April.