Urban Genealogy: How to research big-city relatives

Many of our U.S. immigrant relatives first lived in big cities where an abundance of records were generated and preserved. However, knowing what and where to look for those records can sometimes be a challenge. Moreover, the methods and systems of keeping and storing these records are not uniform.

Sunny McClellan Morton, author of several of Family Tree Magazine’s City Guides and editor of Ohio Genealogical News, will relate how to find and use the records in large urban centers at the Nov. 16 meeting of Cuyahoga West Chapter, OGS at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road. Records included in her presentation will be city directories, street maps, address locators, city versus county vital records, insurance atlases and more. Great tips and several examples will be shared. 

Program begins at 7 p.m. Social time, with refreshments, is from 6:30-7 p.m. The public is invited, at no cost. However, membership in Cuyahoga West Chapter is encouraged. Annual membership is $15, or $18 per couple, and includes a quarterly newsletter of genealogical tips and announcements of local and statewide genealogical seminars.