Family History Discovery Day
The first genealogy fair in Auburn open to any member of the public still searching their roots, or stuck on a clue—or without a clue as to how to begin, took place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building on Bell Road.
This free event captured the interest of experts, and newcomers alike, who attended workshops of all levels taught by five genealogists. Rotating classes throughout the day allowed participants to attend multiple offerings such as: Beginning Genealogy and DNA; How to Use AI in Family Search; Understanding the Big Three: Ancestry, FamilySearch, and My Heritage; and Beginning German Research.
How Beginners Begin
Some key actions for beginners included: signing up for a free FamilySearch account, or finding answers to some of their family history questions, and getting introduced to the many resources available for free connecting information about ancestors. Understanding the importance of birth records, searching old newspapers, and census data will uncover a goldmine of answers. Plus, there are regular hours at FamilySearch libraries during the week when genealogists can help guide you in your search.
ABC’s in Spanish
Ancestry Bilingual Classes were offered. Spanish-speaking missionaries were able to connect anyone new to searching their roots with an instructor who could answer translated questions, or technology to point them in the right direction.
In Partnership with Local History and Genealogical Societies
The richest part of presenting a fair of this magnitude is having partners collaborate with their teaching expertise, or loan ornate displays that capture Auburn’s history. There were 250 people in attendance to explore Area Booths offering private tutorials, Photo Booths where you could dress in period clothing and take photos on your phone then upload them to your FamilySearch Memories page, and gorgeous historical quilts on display. The California Living Family History group was there dressed in pioneer attire, sharing their heritage information and leading youth activities of making pioneer dolls, or rope from scratch.
These incredible partners included: Placer County Genealogy Society, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Daughters of the American Revolution, Nevada County Genealogical Society, Colfax Heritage Museum, and Root Cellar.
Continued Enthusiasm
From the morning donuts, to the deli sandwiches, and the popcorn popping throughout the day, the energy was high. This event was so well-received by members, and the general public, that planning is underway for the second year of Family History Discovery Day to take place in Spring of 2026. Stay tuned to social media in February for a Save-the-Date.