FREE Genealogy Day: Your Family Story Starts at La Retama Central Library

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — Ready to discover more about family history? Attend a full day of expert workshops focused on tracing and celebrating family heritage.

The Corpus Christi Public Libraries (CCPL) and the Genealogy Network of Texas invite history enthusiasts, curious beginners, and experienced researchers to the 24th annual Genealogy Lock-In. The event will take place on Friday, October 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. at the La Retama Central Library, located at 805 Comanche Street.

This free event aims to explore the personal stories and historical background that have shaped your family. Attendees will connect with expert genealogists and local historians to gain invaluable tips, tools, and techniques for tracing their family history.

Sessions will be available in-house, pre-recorded, and online, covering topics like family storytelling, court records, regional research, and new technologies like AI in genealogy.

“Genealogy connects us to the people and places from our past," said Shelby Gonzalez, Special Collections and Archives Librarian at La Retama Central Library. “It’s more than just finding names on a page – it’s about discovering the stories, traditions, and resilience that shape who we are today.”

Light refreshments will be provided; however, participants are welcome to bring their own food into the library. Registration is not required.

The schedule is as follows:

• 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. – From Names to Narratives: A Simple Guide to Writing
• 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. – Following a Civil Case Through Documents Filed in Court
• 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. – Jakten - Researching Your Scandinavian Ancestors
• 12:50 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. – The Stories of Our Lives: Beginning Your Family History 
• 2:25 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Research Road Trips: Productive for You, Fun for Family
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. – Resources for New Orleans Area Genealogical Research
• 4:35 p.m. to 5:25 p.m. – Family Tree Gets Smart: AI as Your Genealogy Assistant
• 5:40 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. – All in the Family: Using Collateral Research to Build Your Family Tree

For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual option will be available by contacting the library at 361-826-7000 in advance.

Reasonable accommodations are provided upon request and in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request accommodation, please call La Retama Central Library at 361-826-7000.

The Corpus Christi Public Library’s Hispanic Genealogy Collection is among Texas's most extensive collections on Hispanic genealogy. To learn more, visit https://www.cctexas.com/library.   

For more information, media representatives can contact Cassandra Hinojosa, Public Information Officer, at 361-826-2944 or cassandrah3@cctexas.com.