Beltrami County Historical Society Offers Free Genealogy Program March 19

The Beltrami County Historical Society is bringing together a county records director and a local historian for a free morning program on genealogical research and vital records access, set for 10 a.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Beltrami County Administration Building board room in Bemidji.

Leala Roth, director of the Beltrami County License Center, will open the program with an overview of vital records held by the county, then walk attendees through a live demonstration of the public portal used to access current and historical vital records recorded in Beltrami County. The demonstration offers a practical look at a tool many residents may not know exists.

Historian Lois Jenkins will follow with a discussion of how birth, death and marriage certificates function as primary sources in tracing family history, and how those documents help uncover personal and community narratives across generations. Together, the two presenters cover both the technical access side and the interpretive research side of working with official records.

Attendees who want to do more than observe can take advantage of on-site staff assistance: a staff member will be available during the event to help people look up their own vital records information. No registration is required to attend.

The program is free and open to the public. The Beltrami County Administration Building is located in Bemidji.