Deciphering French Records

SESSION: T250, DATE & TIME: Thursday, 9 May 2019, 2:30 p.m.

SPONSOR: History and Genealogy Department, St. Louis County Library

Larry Franke

Once you’ve located those 17^th– to 18^th century notarial and ecclesiastical records for your French North American ancestor, how do you read them? 

Come and learn how to decipher baptismal, marriage, and burial records, in addition to various civil records, such as wills, bills of sale, contracts and more, which were kept by notaries. Included will be a discussion of the French Republican (Revolutionary) Calendar, which was used for about twelve years, from 1793-1805 and other problems encountered in reading these old documents.

Researchers with French roots and those assisting researchers with French roots are encouraged to attend.  Larry will also present two additional sessions on French North American research.

• Using the Kaskaskia Manuscripts on Wednesday, 8 May at 11:00 a.m.
• French North American Research on 10 May at 8:00 a.m.

Whether you are interested in learning what resources are available for finding records on French North American ancestors, or your ancestor may have lived or passed through this area in the 18th or early 19th centuries, you are invited to attend these sessions.

Larry will also be at the St. Louis County Library table in the exhibit hall from time to time from Wednesday to Friday if you want to stop by to chat about these or other topics in genealogy.

BIO: Larry Franke is a Reference Librarian in the History and Genealogy Department at St. Louis County Library Headquarters.  Before working at St. Louis County Library, he taught English as a Second Language to refugees and immigrants for many years.