Family History Month: Exploring and Preserving Your Heritage

October is Family History Month! Arapahoe Libraries is celebrating the month with a variety of fun displays and activities. Stop by your favorite library location to learn how you can celebrate, learn and preserve your family history.

Displays and programming by location

Castlewood Library

• October 1-31
  • Family History Month Display Come explore some useful genealogy resources!

Davies Library

• October 1-31
  • Inspiring Intergenerational Stories Display Come explore some useful genealogy resources

Eloise May Library

• October 1-31
  • Family History Month Display Learn how to explore and preserve your family history!
  • Where is Your Family From? Place a sticker where your family is from on the world map or Colorado map!
• Tuesday, October 21, 3-5 pm
  • Create Your Family Tree Print out family photos from your phone and decorate your family tree or make a family photo!

Kelver Library

• October 1-31
  • Family History Month Display with Take-Aways Use these helpful resources to spark an interest in and document your family history! 
• Thursday, October 23, 1-3 pm
  • Organize Your Family Photos Drop in and use our supplies or your own to label and put those loose family pictures in order.

Koelbel Library

• Wednesday, Oct 29, 10-11 am
  • Genealogy Resources Pop-up Come check out Ancestry Library Edition, MyHeritage, the ALD Genealogy podcast, and other library resources you can use to research your family history

Sheridan Library

• October 1-31
  • History Month Display Discover a vibrant collection of cookbooks that invite you to gather loved ones and create new traditions together through the joy of cooking together and shared moments around the table. 
  • Table of Traditions: Sharing Family Recipes Celebrate Family History Month by exploring Sheridan Library’s interactive family recipe display, where you're invited to share delectable family recipes and discover new favorites from the community.

Smoky Hill Library

• September 8-October 8
  • Share Your Family Stories Display Share where your family is from on the community board and explore family history resources!
• Wednesday, October 8, 10 am-12 pm
  • Family History Journaling Create and decorate a family history journal at the library! The library will provide the materials and some light refreshments.

Southglenn Library

• October 1-31
  • Family History Month Display Check out some intergenerational reads and mark your family’s journey on a collaborative map.  
  • Recipe Card and Potholder Write down your family’s shared recipes and make a potholder, while supplies last.

Explore your family history

• Genealogy and local history This page on the Arapahoe Libraries website features all of the various resources we offer including: blogs about genealogy, magazines and newspapers, useful genealogy websites, Colorado obituaries and more.
• Genealogy and local history databases Browse a list of genealogy databases offered through Arapahoe Libraries. Some require you to log in with a library card if you want to access them outside of the library.
• Curious about DNA, genetics and genealogy? This list offers useful nonfiction resources to help you learn about DNA, genetics, genealogy, privacy, forensics, health, personalized medicine and longevity.
• Multi-generational stories This collection of materials explores the ways familial stories are passed down, remembered and interpreted as part of larger interwoven tapestries that span generations.
• Colorado Genealogy, opens a new window FamilyTree has a webpage dedicated to useful Colorado genealogy research guides.
• Black Genealogy Search Group of Denver, opens a new window This group promotes research into African American families and offers resources and classes to help individuals with their research.
• Hispanic Family History Resources, opens a new window FamilySearch has a collection of digital records, databases and more for people with Hispanic Heritage. They also offer links on this webpage to other websites that offer Hispanic genealogy resources.
• Где искать наши корни This blog from Arapahoe Libraries features resources on genealogy for our Russian-speaking community. The blog itself is in Russian as well.
• Beginning Your Middle East Family Tree, opens a new window This article by FamilySearch offers a detailed guide on how to begin researching your ancestors from the Middle East.
• Arab American Genealogy Resources This post from Heritage Discovered offers some great basic resources for getting started on researching your Arab American heritage.

Preserve your family history 

• The Digital Media Stations at Arapahoe Libraries give you the chance to digitize and begin recording your family history. You can check out equipment to take home, use some of our in-library equipment at the Digital Media Station, watch useful tutorials on digitization or reach out to a Multimedia Librarian for help.
• National Genealogical Society, opens a new window has a webpage dedicated to Family History Month and offer a variety of resources for digitizing and preserving your family history.
• University of Colorado Boulder, opens a new window offers digitization services to anyone, even if you are not part of the university. You can reach out to them for help with your project
• Ancestry.com, opens a new window offers storage options for uploading photos while working on creating your family tree.
• FamilySearch, opens a new window has options for uploading photos and audio while creating your family tree.