By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The new coordinator of the Rooks County Historical Society and Museum in Stockton, Sue McFarland, has some new ideas for getting people through the doors and learning the history of Rooks County.

The museum, at 921 S. Cedar, was dedicated in 1994. The original museum was located at the fairgrounds.

In addition to a large doll display donated by area residents and a collection of medical instruments used by the county’s first doctors, the museum also houses a lot of official Rooks County records, including those of land ownership, schools, obituaries, wedding licenses, newspapers and yearbooks.

“I’m switching the focus of the museum’s holdings from a ‘collection of old stuff’ to be more education-oriented, and my museum board is really enthusiastic about the change,” said McFarland.

Last month, McFarland started what she called “Genealogy Research 101″ classes.

Prior to February, the first two classes were to ‘teach the teachers'”, she laughed.

The classes are free and participants should bring a computer laptop if they have one.  The two instructors utilize the Family History Center program affiliated with the Mormon Church.

Sessions will be held every other Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.  This month’s sessions are March 14 and 28.  Class size is limited.

To sign up for a session, call the museum at (785) 425-7217.

“This is a great little museum,” declared McFarland.

“We have lots of resources for how to get started in genealogy and I’ve seen the thrill people get when they discover knowledge about their family history.

“I think this is going to be a booming success.”