Chickasaw County Iowa
Genealogical Society



The "CCGS" welcomes you to The Chickasaw County Iowa Genealogical Society's Website.  We hope that you will find your visit to our site interesting and informative, and an enhancement of your family history research.

The "hunt" for our ancestors is fascinating.  There are many, many sources to investigate, many tools can be employed.  The more experience you acquire, the more you recognize how much is "out there". Our website represents one resource among many.

The focus and purpose of our web site is to promote and support the goals and mission statement of CCGS.

The Chickasaw County Genealogical Society provides four significant ways that we can assist you in your research:
  • This web site and all the material available to you here
  • Our publications, which are available for purchase, representing hundreds of hours of volunteer work researching, compiling and writing
  • Written Research Requests (by mail) for searches in Chickasaw County and the many resources in our CCGS Library
  • Our CCGS Library resources, available for your use to pursue research in person
Our Mission Statement
  • Create and foster an interest in genealogy.
  • Aid individuals in their genealogical research.
  • Gather and preserve genealogical and historical data from many resources, such as newspapers, courthouse records and family histories.
  • Maintain and expand our genealogical library.
  • Promote communication with members and other genealogical organizations via publication of a quarterly newsletter.
  • Work to improve access to public records.

Background
Just before the 1976 Bicentennial, an eager group of historians began work to record and organize Chickasaw County historical & genealogical statistics.  A short time later, the group officially organized and named themselves "The Chickasaw County Genealogical Society" (CCGS).  Then, in 1979, the CCGS chartered with the Iowa Genealogical Society in Des Moines, IA.

The original charter members of CCGS laid the ground work and established the foundation for the successful Society that continues to this day.  Their initial work in recording and preserving historical and genealogical records in the county provided the nucleus of today’s CCGS library.  A number of books have been published and are available for sale.   These publications are the end result of several of our project categories. Many volunteers have donated their time, talents and financial resources to nurture and "grow" our library, projects, services and numerous other resources of the Society. You may browse our list of publications by clicking on the "Publications Project" link below.


The CCGS Library and Research
The CCGS Library is located in New Hampton at the beautiful Public Library facility. It is an excellent repository of genealogical and historical data pertaining to Chickasaw County as well as neighboring Counties. Marriage, death, cemetery, census, atlases & maps, land records, church records, newspapers on microfilm and many other materials and books comprise the collection. A microfilm reader/printer is also available to the researcher. Newsletters from other genealogical societies are also on file. Researchers are encouraged to come to New Hampton and conduct your research personally.  If that is not feasible, CCGS volunteers can do limited researches for you.  The following guidance is provided to help you conduct your research:

CCGS Research Guidelines and Information
A CCGS volunteer will perform limited searches of our library holdings for members at a fee of $10.00 per hour + copy costs and postage.

CCGS volunteers will also perform limited searches of our library holdings for non-members at a fee of $15.00 per hour + copy costs and postage, (enclose a minimum of $15 for the first hour of research with your request).

Note: Due to the fact that we have had several disappointing experiences with people who have failed to send the requested research fee, for research performed and data mailed to them in advance of payment, we feel compelled to implement a policy requiring research fees to be paid in advance from now on.

For assistance in composing an effective research request, click on the link below.
(To get back to this page, use the BACK Button on your Browser.)

"Write a Research Request to CCGS"


This sample letter serves several purposes:
1. The listed items indicate many of the resources in the CCGS library that are available for searches. Use item (16. Other) if you don't see a resource listed that you are interested in.
2. Using this letter as a template will streamline writing of your research request.
3. The examples provided should give you ideas on how to concisely state your objectives, as well as, how to convey to the volunteer what you already know, so that your research money (ie. time) can be applied effectively.

You may print this letter out on your local printer and then use it as a template to create your own letter, OR save this letter (file) to your computer and convert to a word processor document.  Then modify it appropriately with your specific information. (The letter is in HTML on the web, but can be saved and then converted to MSWord or other word processor document once you have it on your computer.)

CCGS volunteers are not able to undertake extensive research for either members or non-members due to the significant number of requests that we routinely receive. If you need extensive research done in Chickasaw County it would be great if you could plan a research trip of your own to Chickasaw County and spend a few days doing your own hands-on work. Ideally, that is always the most rewarding experience for the family genealogist. Keep Chickasaw County in mind for your next vacation and do a little ancestor hunting!  Contact CCGS in advance for guidance on planning and tips on how to make the most of your time for a successful and rewarding research trip.


Chickasaw County Genealogical Society Officers

President Jannette Hendricks
Vice President Carol Bottin
Secretary Jeanette Kottke
Treasurer Thelma Allen
Librarian Thelma Allen
Newsletter Editor Jeanette Kottke
CCGS Webmaster Jannette Hendricks

Our Members
We hope that we will be able to help you, in your quest, via this Web Site. We also invite you to join us, as a member of the Chickasaw County Genealogical Society. For most of you that will mean "Long Distance" membership. The CCGS membership list contains over 50% "Long Distance" members, with people from all over the United States and several foreign countries as well.

Anyone with an interest in genealogical or historical research, and above all, anyone pursuing their ancestors in Chickasaw County Iowa may become a member and enjoy the benefits of CCGS Membership. Our membership year parallels the calendar year, January 1 thru December 31 with dues of only $10.00 per year. All members receive a newsletter four times per year. The second quarter newsletter contains the current membership list which includes the name and contact information for the member along with the surnames they are researching. CCGS newsletters are intended to convey news and information of interest to the Society membership, and contains at least one or more topics of genealogical data, which are often found only in local CCGS resources or our library.

If you would like to support CCGS by becoming a member, simply send an application (patterned after the example below) along with your dues payment to: The Chickasaw County Genealogical Society, PO Box 434, New Hampton, Iowa 50659.

Membership Application

Name ________________________________________

Street ________________________________ City ________________________ State _______ Zip ________

E-mail ______________________________________ Dues Enclosed ____________

I am researching the following surnames in Chickasaw County: (you may submit up to 20 names) ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________

 












Thanks to Chris for the generous use of her graphics


Thanks to Glori for the generous use of her web backgrounds