Coffey County Genealogy

04/30/2026

The Coffey County Museum is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library!

We’re excited to share some big news! 🎉

The Coffey County Museum is now an official FamilySearch Affiliate Library!

This means our patrons can now access millions of digital records and images that are not available to the public from home. These exclusive resources can only be viewed at an affiliate library or FamilySearch Center—making your local museum an even more powerful place for discovering your family history.

Here’s how to get started:
• Use the dedicated computer in our Genealogy Library
• Or bring your own laptop and connect to our free Wi-Fi
• Be sure to sign in to your own FREE FamilySearch account to access the records

Whether you’re just starting your family tree or breaking through a long-standing brick wall, these expanded resources can help you uncover new stories from the past.

Stop by and start exploring—we’re here to help! 🧬📜

04/26/2026

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Upcoming Program! Have you run into a brick wall that a guardianship record might knock down? Join with Cheri Hudson Passey on Friday, May 1st at 2:00pm CDT to learn more about these records and what important clues they might contain!

Register Here: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/114830/someone-watch-over-me-guardianship-records-zoom

04/24/2026

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10 Free Useful Websites for U.S. Genealogy Research
There are many free and useful genealogy websites available for U.S. researchers. We are listing here a few of our favorites that are broadly applicable to many people: https://ldsgenealogy.com/10-Free-Useful-Websites-for-US-Genealogy-Research.htm

04/22/2026

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On the docket in May 2026 for our hybrid/zoom classes at MGC! Attend online! OR attend in person at the Hybrid classes. All are free for anyone!
Register at: https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/programs

04/09/2026

Great News! The last batch of microfilm the Coffey County Genealogical Society sent off has now been digitized! The latest digitized newspapers include Coffey County Today (1/4/1988-9/4/1998), The Coffey County Republican (9/8/1998-12/31/1999), The Gridley Light (8/4/1922-8/28/1947), and The Waverly Gazette (12/1/1922-12/30/1976). You can view them for free here:

These historical newspapers and documents of Coffey County are a portal to the past. They give readers a first-hand account of the area and time at their fingertips. When all placed together in one searchable database, they give readers a fast and accurate account of the people, places, and events t...

04/08/2026

https://www.genealogyexplained.com/fb/blog/8-census-records-that-hide-extra-information-in-plain-sight/?fbclid=IwdGRjcARDOHdleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQAAAZXTMBerHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjXjXeMZR5buUDcnf59PPkSnk3TLHMzWHtUI18ZnTO2r91eEcMGmoJb3l9Q__aem_5wD9kk7zeh7dt0yEpa2Tsg&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=6972017827372&utm_content=6972019150372&utm_term=6972017828172&utm_campaign=6972017827372

Let me show you something most newbies completely miss.

02/19/2026

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Looking forward... to March 2026 and the upcoming hybrid/zoom classes at MGC. Attend online! OR attend in person at the Hybrid classes. All are free for anyone!
Register at: https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/programs

02/18/2026

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02/05/2026

Reminder this is next week on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Coffey County Museum. This is FREE and open to everyone!

Join us on February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Coffey County Historical Society & Museum and learn about FamilySearch. This is FREE and open to the public. Bring your phone, tablet or laptop for hands-on learning!

01/27/2026

Join us on February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Coffey County Historical Society & Museum and learn about FamilySearch. This is FREE and open to the public. Bring your phone, tablet or laptop for hands-on learning!

01/05/2026

The Coffey County Genealogical Society will meet this Thursday (January 8th) at 6:30 p.m.

12/18/2025

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When Were Statewide Death Registrations Required (Updated Quicksheet)

If you are looking for death certificates, you need to know the timing of each state’s requirements. Each state in the U.S. started requiring death registrations in different years. Usually, some types of records were created prior to the official state laws, either at the county, city, or town levels. But state records weren’t required until a law was passed. Furthermore, even though registrations and certificates were mandated, general compliance was not achieved by all entities for just a few years or even a few decades in some instances.

Get the Quicksheet PDF which specifies the dates for each state at https://theancestorhunt.com/blog/when-were-statewide-death-registrations-required/