La Retama to teach people about genealogy, researching records

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Have you ever considered starting a family tree?
This Friday, La Retama Public Library is holding a Virtual Genealogy Lock-in from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a one hour dinner break.
People will have the chance to find relatives and learn about their genetic makeup.
It will help people learn about genealogy basics, creating a will, searching military records, understanding DNA testing and finding ancestors from Mexico.
"For some people it's very important," La Retama Managing Librarian Patricia Herrera said. "They want to know where they came from. They want to know about the past. It can be a challenge too. What can you find? How far back can you trace?"
The event is free to the public. They can accommodate up to 60 people. Registration is not required.
Last year, Kevin Kieschnick -- the nueces county tax assessor and collector -- was reunited with his birth mother.
He chalks it up to researching his genealogy.
"Oh it was amazing," Kieschnick said. "I was in shock just as much as she was. And she needed to find me as much as I needed to find her."
He said finding out your family's history and following your genealogy is important.
"Sometimes you find things you want to find," Kieschnick said. "Sometimes you find things you may not want to find."
He said knowing where you came from is interesting, but also life changing.
Not only did he find his birth mother, but he also found a historical connection to the Texas Independence.
"My fourth great-grandfather being one of the ones that caught General Santa Anna," Kieschnick said. "And these are the things I would have never known if we had not gone and researched these sort of things."
The lock-in will also help people learn how to date photographs using hairstyles and fashion.
The event is sponsored by the Genealogy Center of the Waco-McLennan County Library and the Central Texas Genealogical Society.