A Guide to Overseas Genealogy

Presented by Jacquie Schattner 

Crossing the pond is easier than you think. We’ll review the history of immigrant travel into the U.S. and how to find genealogical records in most European countries. Includes a list of books and over 70 American and European websites for genealogical research. This presentation covers five areas of overseas genealogy – emigration, voyage details, immigration, naturalization and genealogical websites both American and European.

Jacquie has been actively researching her family’s ancestors since 1996.  She volunteered at the Family History Center in Schaumburg for 15 years, teaches genealogy for Districts 211 and 214, beginning genealogy at area libraries and is active in several genealogy societies, including NWSGS. Jacquie received her B.S. degree from the University of Illinois.  She is a retired school secretary, allowing her free time to pursue new information.

Quaker Family History Research

Presented by Maureen Brady

Members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) began immigrating from England, Wales and Germany in the late 1600s.  By 1700, the Society had gained considerable influence in most of the New England and Middle-Atlantic colonies.  During the 18^th century, many Quakers followed other frontier groups, migrating to the southern colonies.  Following the Revolution, many Quakers left the southern states and migrated primarily to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Canada.  This presentation will focus on the types of records kept by the Society of Friends and how to access those records online, through the Family History Centers and various other libraries and archives.

Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has more than thirty years’ experience with family history research.  She has traced her own Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century and beyond, and has also pursued Chicago area, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebec, Irish and Swedish research.  She is the trainer for the Crystal Lake (IL) Family History Center.

Maureen has made numerous presentations to Illinois and Wisconsin genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops, including presenting at the 2002 National Genealogical Society Conference in the States and the 2016 and 2017 Central Florida Family History Conference.  Her topics include Chicago and Cook County research, Scottish research, Internet sources, and using FamilySearch^® and Family History Centers.  She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists as well as a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society, the Chicago Genealogical Society, the Ohio Genealogy Society and the McHenry County (Illinois) Genealogical Society.

DNA A-B 

Simplified DNA by Dr. Dan Hubbard

Dr. Hubbard will explain DNA in a simplified, easy to understand, manner.  He will also answer questions which have previously been submitted by the audience.

Dr. Daniel Hubbard lives in Libertyville and is past President of the Lake County Genealogical Society.  He is a former particle physicist and now a full-time professional genealogist and writer as well as owner of Personal Past.  His research concentrates on American, Canadian and Swedish records. He a member of the Nordic Family Genealogy Advisory Board at the Swedish-American Museum in Chicago. Information about his presentations is at Products and Services on his website / blog, Personal Past Meditations. Librarians who have attended Dan’s presentations say he would be a very entertaining speaker, as well as thoroughly knowledgeable. He does an “Intro to Genealogy presentation.” Dan@thepersonalpast.com.

Dropsy, Quinsy or Consumption:  Exactly What Did My Ancestors Have?

Presented by Kimberly Nagy, MD., PLCGS

Have you ever wondered what some of the medical terms found on old documents really mean? What is the modern term for those diseases? Was it treatable? Was it Contagious? Was it epidemic? We will explore several commonly used terms for medical ailments. Information will be given on some of the early medical treatments for such ailments. Tracing ancestors through epidemics will also be discussed.

Kimberly Nagy, has been researching her ancestry for over forty years.  Much of her experience predates the internet and she loves the smell of old books in libraries, courthouses and archives. Now, retired from her career as a Trauma Surgeon, she can devote all of her time to her passion – Genealogy!  She has extensive experience with Lineage Society applications and loves to lecture – both of these are reflected in her work as a Professional Genealogist.

Genealogy Vacation – Myth or Reality

Presented by Jeffrey Bockman

“Genealogy” and “Vacation” are rarely used in the same sentence let alone together except possibly in a divorce proceeding. You cannot resolve five to twenty years’ worth of genealogy questions within a two-week research trip. Even if you could this type of a trip would not be considered a vacation. Learn to use the Internet, planning, humor, and common sense to plan your trip.

Jeffrey Bockman has been doing genealogical research since 1988 and has been active in societies, society management, classes, and lectures since 1994. He was the DuPage County IL Gen Web Project webmaster from 1996 to 2012.

Jeff was the Chairperson of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium and Local Arrangements Chair for NGS 2006. He served four years as the Vice President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society. He was the President of the DuPage County (IL) Genealogical Society for five years.  Many of his articles can be found on his website www.jeffbockman.com under the link Genealogy According to Jeff.

 

Ghosts in the Graveyard: Intuition or Devine Intervention?

Presented By Tina Beard

Ever have those unexplained moments while searching for your ancestors? Tina has certainly had her fair share of ‘unexplained’ phenomenon. This is a “share and tell” lecture where Tina will tell you some of her serendipitous experiences, if you promise to share some of yours!

Tina Beaird is the owner of Tamarack Genealogy and is a Genealogy & Local History Librarian at a mid-sized Chicagoland public library. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree with a specialization in Archives/Preservation from Dominican University. Tina has won multiple research and digitization grants to preserve and digitize historic documents and photographs. Tina lectures at the national, state and local level on topics including genealogical research, photo preservation and archival preservation. Tina has offered as assistance to researchers for over 12 years and occasionally still finds time to conduct her own family research, which she has been pursuing for over twenty years.

 

Where the Murderers Roam

Presented by Dan Hubbard, PhD

Where Murderers Roam which takes a family story and shows that it was far more important than it originally sounded and shows the importance of understanding how a law (in this case the homestead act) might motivate people’s actions.

Dr. Daniel Hubbard lives in Libertyville and is past President of the Lake County Genealogical Society.  He is a former particle physicist and now a full-time professional genealogist and writer as well as owner of Personal Past.  His research concentrates on American, Canadian and Swedish records. He a member of the Nordic Family Genealogy Advisory Board at the Swedish-American Museum in Chicago. Information about his presentations is at Products and Services on his website / blog, Personal Past Meditations. Librarians who have attended Dan’s presentations say he would be a very entertaining speaker, as well as thoroughly knowledgeable. He does an “Intro to Genealogy presentation.” Dan@thepersonalpast.com.

Digging Grandma’s Privy for Family History Data

Presented by Craig Pfannkuche

Where can data sometimes be found concerning individuals who are not well represented in the mass of available paper records? Grandma’s Privy! This presentation will show that not everything that went into privy holes, latrines, and outhouses was a mixture of … organic wastes. Into these holes went bones, bottles, toys, money, clothing, jewelry, dishware, cutlery, and watches among many other things; in fact, a wide variety of inorganic material which represents a full spectrum of the artifacts (articles of use) used by the people who made use of the privy.

“Hundreds and thousands of those privies, treasure troves of a variety of family artifacts, remain safely buried in both city and countryside. Using basic archaeological techniques, a minimally trained excavator can build from these artifacts both a picture of who deposited the materials, when they deposited those artifacts and how they lived. Information that cannot be found in paper records. Join us and learn.

Craig Pfannkuche is President of Memory Trail Research, Inc. since 1993, and is the Genealogical Archivist for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Historical Society since 1984. He is on the Board of Directors of the McHenry County, Illinois Genealogical Society & the Chicago Genealogical Society. He has presented numerous workshops in history, historical & genealogical research & archaeological techniques at both the local and national level.

 

25TH ANNUAL GENEALOGICAL WORKSHOP
NOVEMBER 11, 2017 

The Rank and File: Seeking Our Military Ancestors

Presenters: John Philip Colletta and Michell Bray-Wilson

8:00 a.m.

Registration and browsing. Coffee and doughnuts will be available for purchase.

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9:00 a.m.
Passenger Arrival Records, Colonial Times to Mid-20th Century
John Philip Colletta

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10:30 a.m.
2A – U.S. Military Pension and Bounty Land Records,
1776-ca. 1916
John Philip Colletta

2B – O Canada! A Model for Genealogists
Michelle Bray Wilson

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1:00 p.m.
3A – U.S. Military Service Records, 1775-ca. 1916
John Philip Colletta

3B – ‘C G A T’ – Four Little Letters: Understanding DNA
Michelle Bray Wilson

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2:30 p.m.
4A – Only a Few Bones: Case Studies in Assembling Sources to Reconstruct Real-Life Events

John Philip Colletta

4B After You Swab: Getting the Most From Your DNA Test
Michelle Bray Wilson

Baseball and the Civil War

Presented by Bruce S. Allardice

Baseball was labeled the “national pastime” even before Fort Sumter. Civil War soldiers spent more time playing baseball than they did fighting battles. Professor Allardice takes a sometimes serious, sometimes humorous look at the “National Pastime” and how it was played during the war. He’ll show that the war destroyed most existing baseball teams, but also helped to spread the game across the nation. Continue reading “Meeting, Tuesday, October 10, 2017” →