Wichita Genealogical Society

11/20/2025

📣 DNA Test Deals Worth Sharing! 🧬✨
If you've been thinking about taking a DNA test—or gifting one—now is the perfect time!

Both MyHeritage DNA and AncestryDNA have amazing sales happening right now!

🟣 MyHeritage DNA – Only $29 (regularly $89!)
With results from 2,114 geographic regions, it’s a great choice for deep ethnicity breakdowns and finding new relatives.

🟢 AncestryDNA – Also $29 (regularly $99!)
Perfect if you want access to the world’s largest consumer DNA network.
You can even upgrade to AncestryDNA + Traits for just $39.

Whether you're researching your roots, confirming family lines, or giving someone the gift of discovery, these prices are hard to beat! 🌿📚

📦 Sharing this for anyone who’s been waiting for a deal—this is the best time of year to jump in!

11/19/2025

Have you heard the news? Apparently Ancestry is rolling out full text search to some users. I don't have it yet. Do you?
Check out this video by the Formidable Genealogist for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bdv9cdmK2/

11/17/2025

Genealogy is more than names on a chart. It's the story of your people. In this video, I'll break down what genealogy really is... and why discovering your roots is so powerful.

11/15/2025

I recently acquired two antique documents written in another language. I scanned them at the Memory Lab then uploaded them to chat gpt. Check out the results.

11/10/2025

11/08/2025

Learn how to preserve your family’s stories, scrapbooks, and bound materials using the CZUR ET24 Pro, a high-speed book and document scanner available in the Memory Lab at the Advanced Learning Library in Wichita, Kansas.

In this video, you’ll see how the CZUR uses smart curve-flattening technology and overhead scanning to capture crisp, glare-free images of books, photo albums, certificates, and more—without damaging delicate materials. You’ll also discover how to save and organize your scans into searchable PDFs for easy sharing and archiving.

The Memory Lab was made possible through donations from the Wichita Genealogical Society and its members, who are dedicated to helping the community safeguard personal and family history.

Learn how to preserve your family’s stories, scrapbooks, and bound materials using the CZUR ET24 Pro, a high-speed book and document scanner available in the...

11/08/2025

Discover how easy it is to digitize your cherished photos with the Epson FastFoto FF-680W, one of the key tools available at the Memory Lab inside the Research Pavilion at the Advanced Learning Library in Wichita, Kansas.

In this video, we’ll show you how the FastFoto quickly scans stacks of old photographs—saving both time and memories.

The Memory Lab was made possible through donations from the Wichita Genealogical Society and its members, helping our community preserve family history for generations to come.

Discover how easy it is to digitize your cherished photos with the Epson FastFoto FF-680W, one of the key tools available at the Memory Lab inside the Resear...

11/08/2025

Discover how easy it is to digitize your cherished photos with the Epson FastFoto FF-680W, one of the key tools available at the Memory Lab inside the Research Pavilion at the Advanced Learning Library in Wichita, Kansas.

In this video, we’ll show you how the FastFoto quickly scans stacks of old photographs—saving both time and memories.

The Memory Lab was made possible through donations from the Wichita Genealogical Society and its members, helping our community preserve family history for generations to come.

Discover how easy it is to digitize your cherished photos with the Epson FastFoto FF-680W, one of the key tools available at the Memory Lab inside the Resear...

11/08/2025

Discover the Memory Lab located inside the Edward & Elizabeth Burns Historical Research Pavilion at the Advanced Learning Library in Wichita, Kansas.
This space was made possible through the generosity of the Wichita Genealogical Society and its members. The equipment featured in this video helps preserve family history by converting photos, slides, books, and documents into digital formats. Visit the library to learn how you can start preserving your memories today!

10/11/2025

That’s a wrap!
What a wonderful day at our 13th Annual Wichita Genealogical Society Conference! Today was both informative and enjoyable—from the engaging sessions to the great conversations in between.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who joined us. You are the reason we continue to do what we do.

Peggy Clemens Lauritzen shared her vast knowledge in a way that was both easy to understand and personally relatable. We’re grateful for her insight and humor that kept us learning and laughing all day long.

We’re already looking ahead! Mark your calendars for October 10, 2026, and join us for our 14th Annual Conference!
Until then, keep discovering, connecting, and preserving those family stories.

03/07/2025

The Black Archives of Mid-America to host a free genealogy workshop tomorrow March 8 at Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S Lee's Summit Rd, Independence, MO 64055.
For more information, visit.

Discover your ancestry at a free genealogy workshop at the Black Archives of Mid-America on March 8. Learn expert research techniques & trace your roots.

01/05/2025

The BIRLS database indexes basic info on 18M+ deceased U.S. veterans who received benefits like healthcare, GI Bill, or VA loans. It includes veterans from all military branches (even historic ones like the WACs and Army Air Corps) and some non-U.S. nationals, like WWII-era Philippine veterans.
Thanks to a FOIA lawsuit by Reclaim The Records, the database is now freely searchable and downloadable online. Finding a name can lead to a FOIA request for the veteran's full VA claims file, revealing hundreds of pages of biographical and historical details. This resource, once inaccessible, is now a goldmine for genealogists, historians, and researchers!

Search the BIRLS Database - over 18 million records about deceased US veterans, from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, now online and FREE from Reclaim The Records