The Great Falls Genealogy Society was founded in 1975 as a non-profit educational and research organization. Our genealogy library was begun the following year.
The mission of the Great Falls Genealogy Society is to promote and encourage active interest in genealogy, encourage active interest in genealogy, compile accurate and complete genealogies, and collect and preserve genealogical records. Additionally, the Society will foster education and training in genealogy through courses and instruction in genealogy, lectures, forums, seminars, and special work.
Our genealogy library is located on the third floor of the Great Falls Public Library and is staffed entirely by volunteers. We are open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p,m. and everyone is welcome to use our library resources. The Society holds monthly meetings September through June which are free and open to the public. Workshops are held at various times throughout the year.
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The Great Falls Genealogical Society Library is staffed entirely by volunteers, six hours per day, six days a week. In addition to the onsite duties, there are many opportunities for volunteering that range from active involvement to participating a few times per year. Volunteering for GFGS also allows you to meet and network with others who share a passion for genealogy.
If you would like to be a GFGS volunteer, please check the list of opportunities below and complete an online Volunteer Interest Form to be returned to the address on the form. The GFGS Volunteer Coordinator will contact you shortly. For more information, please contact us at 406-727-3922 or send an e-mail to the coordinator at gfgs@mt.net, subject line, Volunteer Interest
Staffing the Montana Room and/or the GFGS Library
We have responsibility for the Great Falls Public Library’s Montana Room, in addition to the GFGS Library (they are side by side). Contact John Birkholz, coordinator of staffing opportunities and scheduling. All staffers must be willing to attend initial training and other trainings at intervals. Staffers ensure that patrons are greeted and that they sign in, keep track of materials so that collections remain secure, answer the telephone, and maintain a constant presence in their room assignment. Those working in the GFGS Library must be willing to assist visitors accessing the Library and databases. At least three volunteers per three-hour shift are required, and the schedule includes two shifts per day, six days a week (Monday-Saturday).
Information Technology
Volunteers are needed who are able to assist with computer software, maintenance, and network support.
Writing for the Newsletter and our Quarterly
We seek articles, reviews of books and websites, and transcriptions of Cascade County/north central Montana original records. Contact Linda Long and Janet Thomson for more information.
Data Entry
Volunteers who can enter data for current research projects (at the GFGS Library or at home on your home computer) are needed. Examples of data entry projects include: cemetery transcriptions, cemetery records verification, original Cascade County birth records, Cascade County Marriage records (1926 forward), and indexing vital records from the Great Falls Tribune. Original records, of course, must be transcribed at the Library.
Clipping, Pasting Up, and Copying Vital Records, Community Columns, People Stories from Newspapers in the North Central Region
This take-home project involves clipping articles of interest and/or pasting up these clippings. Pasted-up pages are copied and placed in the Community Binders by date, thus making it possible for us to maintain community news beyond that available in local history books. Currently, we clip from ten newspapers provided to us by the Great Falls Public Library. These include the Cascade Courier, Shelby Promoter, Lewistown Argus, Conrad, Big Sandy, Fort Benton River Press, Choteau’s Acantha, Great Falls Tribune, and Stanford.
Research Assistance
This involves helping the research staff with research requests. The research assistant will work under the direction of an experienced staff member, who will direct the efforts of each request. Contact John Birkholz and Julie Pepos for more information. There are also opportunities for teaching, which involve leading classes on genealogical subjects and web-based programs. GFGS teaches beginner classes annually and offers classes on such topics as censuses, land records, school records, and ethnic genealogy on demand. Contact Jan Thomson and Linda Long for more information.
Information Booth
GFGS provides information about the Society and its library at the summertime Farmer’s Market and at special events throughout the year. We need volunteers to help staff these occasional events. Contact Cheryl Lucas or Linda Long to volunteer.
Committee Work
The Accessions Committee meets monthly to consider requests for materials and to consider collection needs. The Library Committee works hand-in-hand with the Accessions Committee to assure that the library is organized and secure. Duties include shelf reading, collection weeding, organizing and running the annual inventory. Contact Julie Pepos for more information, or to sign up to help. You will be trained.