Midwestern Roots Lite: From Roots to Roofs 

Presented by OneAmerica 

Midwestern Roots Lite: From Roots to Roofs Workbook

Are you anxiously waiting for Midwestern Roots 2022? We know we are! That is why we are launching a mini virtual conference this summer, just for you. 

The places our ancestors lived help us to tell their stories. Join us for a series of workshops to learn how to rebuild the worlds where your families lived. From urban neighborhoods to rural farms, we will help you to dive into the places and spaces where your family came from to tell a fuller story.  

Register for all four for a $10 discount and four chances to win a Midwestern Roots 2022 full conference registration. That’s a $200 value! 

Edited recordings of the August 11, 18, and 25 events will be accessible for registrants 1 week after each live event through October 1. The August 28 is a pre-recorded event that will be accessible to registrants August 28 through October 1.

Reconstructing Rural Communities | Wednesday, August 11 | 6 – 8 p.m. EST | $15; $10 IHS Member 

LaDonna Garner |Professional Genealogist | Leafseeker Consulting 

Let’s jump right into “Roots to Roofs” with the open roads and open spaces that enticed people for generations. Researching rural areas and towns does not need to be difficult due to their remoteness from big city life. Explore documents, maps, and alternative resources to navigate the rebuilding of a farmhood. 

With support from the Center for Black Literature and Culture, Indianapolis Public Library.

Leaving the Farm: Town and City Living | Wednesday, August 18 | 6 – 8 p.m. EST | $15; $10 IHS Member 

Amy Vedra | Director, Reference Services | Indiana Historical Society 

Dive into tips on building the town of your family. With expert advice on really understanding how to use city directories, employee newsletters, and newspapers we’ll guide you into rebuilding community. With examples of 20th century Eastern European immigrants and African American families from the Great Migration, walk away with understanding how to research, write, and build a community identity around your ancestors. 

Stories Buildings Tell | Wednesday, August 25 | 6 – 7 p.m. EST | $10; $5 IHS Member 

Suzanne Stanis | Director of Heritage Education & Information | Indiana Landmarks  

Have you ever heard the saying, “If these walls could talk”?  If you know how to look at a building, it will tell you many fascinating stories from long ago.  Join Suzanne Stanis, Indiana Landmarks director of heritage education, as she leads the audience on a virtual tour of historic architecture and landscapes.  Learn to see details in our built environment that give clues to the past and the people who occupied them.  We guarantee you’ll never look at your community the same way again. 

Building Memories | 2 hour On Demand workshop available starting Saturday, August 28| $15; 10 IHS Member | $15 building kit with special instructions 

Lauren Peightel | Manager, Engagement (genealogist and miniature craftsman) | Indiana Historical Society 

Looking back on the previous workshops, let’s put it all together and learn about building these communities and houses together. With a focus on oral histories, family photos and videos, and historic research, we’ll explore the value of model making your family or community story in a way that supports intergenerational learning and play. 

Midwestern Roots 2021 Postponed

As a historical society, we often dive into the past to understand our present. Now, we are tasked with being predictors of the future. It is impossible to know what July 2021 will bring in terms of the Covid-19 crisis, and while we have been tracking the epidemic carefully since March, we have also had to have difficult conversations regarding the status of the Midwestern Roots 2021 Conference. After careful consideration, the Indiana Historical Society has made the decision to postpone the 2021 Conference until July 2022.

Please check here for more updates.

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