ncigs 40 Year Timeline History
1971-1972
In the winter of 1971-72, Phil Walker offered a genealogy class for individuals living in the north central area of Iowa. An attendee to this class, Jo Ann Burgess, decided to look into establishing a local genealogical society. Since ten members were needed to start a chapter of the Iowa Genealogical Society, Jo Ann wrote to some area residents who belonged to the IGS. As a result, the North Central Iowa Genealogical Society was formed in the spring of 1972.
1973
Constitution and by-laws completed. A genealogical library was established with Edith Brown serving as the first Librarian. Marge Van Kluck served as the first editor of The GENIE BUG; first issue published in August.
1974
Society created and submitted to IGS information on the records held within the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse. Offered genealogy classes at John Adams School. Started the Surname Index.
1977
Cerro Gordo County listing of courthouse records was published in Hawkeye Heritage. Long-term work began on documenting county cemetery information. Established P.O. Box 237. Sponsored Everton workshop at Trinity Lutheran Church.
1978
Library moved from IOOF to Senior Citizens Center. Completed cemetery information for Cerro Gordo County.
1979
Genealogy Library moved to MCPL reference room. April meeting was style show featuring clothes from the past.
1980
Started the fundraiser NO BAKE SALE. Society funds purchased four reels of 1860 Federal Census microfilm. Started Census Microfilm Program: members purchased an Iowa census microfilm; NCIGS matched that donation with a reel of microfilm of the member’s choice.
1982
10th anniversary open house was held April 3, 1982. The two featured speakers were Margaret Foster, Librarian of the Iowa Genealogical Society, and Art Fischbeck, local historian. Workshops were held throughout the day. Displays of old photos and scrapbooks from surrounding counties were also featured, with Jim Latham of Latham Photography providing information on copying old photos. Had a booth in the McNider Museum Outdoor Event. Fundraiser at Willowbrook Flea Market. Compiled Clear Lake Marriages from 1895-1920. Established the pioneer and military files (ancestor residing in Cerro Gordo County by 1880; persons whose ancestor served in military before 1900 based on enlistment from the county, residence in the county before 1900 or buried here). Created the index to the 1860 Census for Cerro Gordo County.
1984
$2600 grant was awarded to the Mason City Public Library from the Kinney-Linstrom Foundation, Inc. The grant monies were to be used to purchase genealogical materials. The grant was awarded with the proviso that NCIGS raise matching funds. A variety of fundraising efforts were undertaken including a raffle for a quilt made by members. October 1984 was the kick off for the matching funds efforts. By December 1984 matching funds goal was not only met, but exceeded.
1985
NCIGS members, led by President Ruth Scott, made a second quilt as a fundraiser. Raffle tickets were $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. In September 1985 NCIGS hosted the Iowa Genealogical Society’s Region 6 Conference at Stillman Auditorium, Clear Lake, Iowa. Accepted the original Naturalizations of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa 1856-1943. A total of 31 books were included. Charles and Margaret Wellen completed indexing the Naturalization Records.
1986
Don Leake made the gavel presented to President Ruth Scott (February). May program was a member of the LDS church film team explaining their current project of filming Iowa county vital records.
1987
By July of 1987 the collection traveled from the first floor to the 2nd floor of the library. Purchased a new microfilm reader.
1988
NCIGS sponsored the IGS District meeting for Region 6. July meeting program was bringing family heirlooms and telling about them. At December 1988 meeting Paul Polansky was made a life-time member of the society. Discussion was held about revenue sharing with IGS; society would receive 40% of the profit.
1989
NCIGS sponsored Everton’s International Genealogical Society workshop.
1990
Society had a booth at the North Iowa Fair. Limit of four entries. Ribbons would be awarded. Members directed to bring old spectacles, pipes, family genealogy, old pictures, family tree charts, old wills and old letters, unique heirlooms, etc.
1991
Booth at the fair. Necrology File moved to genealogy room. Enough money was available to purchase a second microfilm reader. WW II Records moved to genealogy library. A copy machine from MCPL was moved into Genealogy Room. Speaker at November meeting was Kathleen Flaherty, an orphan train child.
1992
Booth at the fair. 20th Anniversary celebration featured two speakers: Art Fischbeck and Delores Benning. Held a photo reproduction and document encapsulation day at Willowbrook Mall. Microfilm cabinet purchased. Computer interest survey conducted. PAF-Ways Genealogy Computer Interest Group, a computerized spinoff of the NCIGS, was formed in June 1992. PAF-Ways was created for our local members who wanted to learn more about using computers and the Internet for genealogical research and information storage. PAF-Ways takes its name from Personal Ancestral File, a software package created by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.
1993
NCIGS potluck picnic held at East Park. Society now has a 9 digit zip code. Booth at the fair included the computer user group. Purchased two filing cabinets. At July meeting spent some time in the library basement due to tornado warning. Project to assemble the WW II records completed. Now in 29 volumes.
1994
PAF-Ways members establish a website and began the Web Obituary Project, one of the first such efforts in the United States. This project creates a permanent on-line archive of the obituaries for our region. Beth McBride became editor of THE GENIE BUG. Bill Bjerke became Treasurer. Indexing of obituaries begins. Had a photo reproduction and encapsulation booth at Willowbrook Mall.
1995
Booth at Willowbrook again. Continuing the obituary indexing. Kinney-Lindstrom approved another $3900 grant.
1996
August meeting was in Ruth Boyenga’s garden. A contest was held on the best decorated hat. Did not have a booth at the fair.
1997-2001
Muse-Norris grant, written by Jim Kuhlman, was for the purchase of a reader printer. Started Five Minutes of Glory at each monthly meeting. Newspaper pasting party was scheduled for January 1998. The clippings were from local area newspapers obtained when NIACC discarded them. Eight ladies from the society made a trip to Salt Lake; Rita Goranson donated a copier to the society.
1998
Dues increased to $10 and research charges increased to $10 per hour. NOW genealogy program offered at NIACC.
1999
Muse-Norris grant for $1500 for copier received. Mayflower Society offered program at the December meeting.
2000
Indexing for the 1880 Federal Census of bordering counties was completed. Rita Goranson presented a program on Sod Houses in Iowa. A $1,000 Farrer grant was received. The money was used to purchase the 1900 Every Name Soundex.
2001
Gerald Anderson presented a program on the trip he and his wife took to Norway. PAF-ways had a float in the Band Festival and the Clear Lake 4th of July parades.
2002
German Cultural Fest. Discussion was held about purchasing a computer. Completed more cemetery records. The 1930 census microfilm arrived in June. Members were reminded the 1930 census was filmed as the census was taken, so the entries would not be in numerical order. Dorothy Paul wrote a grant to Muse-Norris.
2003
September meeting was a trip to Des Moines to research in new IGS Library and the State Historical Society. Society voted to postpone work on probate records at the courthouse. Madonna Harms gave a talk on orphan trains. German Cultural Fest. Computer in place and ready to use.
2004
Over 100 people signed the register at the North Iowa Fair. Follow up was a letter and a copy of the latest BUG. A new reader was purchased.
2005
Sandra Turner became editor of the THE GENIE BUG. In December 2005 the obituary clipping project was discontinued since so many obituaries are now online.
2006
In February 2006 internet access wiring was completed to the genealogy room.
2007
In September, the Revenue Sharing Agreement was signed between IGS and NCIGS. Merger of PAF-Ways Genealogy Computer Interest Group with NCIGS implemented.
2008
In February 2006 internet access wiring was completed to the genealogy room.
2009
MCPL was officially closed on May l, 2009; limited library services will be offered in Mason City Room during the renovation. Temporary quarters for the Archives and Genealogy Library will be in classrooms at Madison Elementary School. Monthly meetings will be held at LDS church during renovations.
2010
Genealogy Library returned to MCPL; now on 1st floor. Library no longer has copier or microfilm reader equipment; will use MCPL equipment. Began the process of reviewing By-Laws. Grant Committee established.
2011
By-law review completed and implemented. GENIE BUG distribution goes on-line. Began RSVP system for monthly meetings. Farrer Endowment Foundation grant for $5,000 was approved; $2,000 for Research Committee computer equipment; $3,000 for library collection.
2012
40th Anniversary Celebration scheduled for June meeting. Major rebuild of website undertaken.