“GETTING THE MOST OUT OF NEWSPAPERS.COM”

Presented by Jennie Warner

Jenny will show you how to use Newspapers.com like a pro. You will learn new skills such as clipping digital articles, downloading different formats and how to use search.

Jennie Warner has been doing genealogy research for 42 years.  She holds offices in many local lineage groups and genealogical societies. She is the current President of the DuPage County Genealogical Society, Incoming Chapter Regent of John Butler Chapter, NSDU, Incoming Vice President of Chicago Colony of National Society of New England Women and Incoming Treasurer of the Genealogy Speakers Guild.

She loves sharing my knowledge of family history and also likes helping people learn about their heritage.

“Researching the Dairy State: Wisconsin Family History”

Presented by Maureen Brady

The families which came to Illinois and Wisconsin came from varied ethnic backgrounds and created a varied landscape of urban and rural environments.  The records which were created by, and about, them reflect that variety, both in type and availability.  This presentation will first examine the similarities between Illinois and

Wisconsin family history resources, and then look at the unique records of each state, including ethnic, religious and governmental archives and repositories.  The discussion will also include a brief review of the history of this part of the “Old Northwest”, and how that history has impacted the records which were created.

Maureen Brady is a former school librarian and computer educator. She has over 25 years’ experience with family history research, is a professional genealogist and owner of Bare Roots Genealogical Services. Maureen has made numerous presentations to Illinois and Wisconsin genealogical societies, libraries, conferences, and workshops, as well as presenting at the 2002 National Genealogical Society Conference.  She is a member of many genealogical and family history societies in the U.S. and Scotland.

“Adoption Searches – Past and Present”

Presented by Matt Rutherford

Having an adopted ancestor can often be one of the most frustrating and challenging aspects of genealogy research. In times past, records of adoptions weren’t as well kept as they are today, making searching for the link between birth parents and adoptees difficult. And, in modern times, adoption searches are often hindered by legal barriers. We’ll discuss techniques & tips for researching American adoptions in all time periods.

Matt Rutherford, MLIS, is Curator of Genealogy and Local History at the Newberry Library. In addition to managing the Newberry’s renowned genealogy collection, Matt has also answered thousands of questions on a wide range of genealogy topics. He has spoken at the Illinois State Genealogical Society and the Conference on Illinois History, as well as several local genealogy societies, including the North Suburban Genealogical Society, the Elgin Genealogical Society, Genealogical Forum of Elmhurst, and the Illinois St. Andrew Society. In addition, Matt teaches seminars on a variety of genealogy topics, including beginning genealogy, researching at the Newberry Library, using repositories and archives, researching pre-fire Chicago, adoption searches, non-population census schedules, and the history of the federal census. He is the co-author of “A Bibliography of African American History” at the Newberry Library (2005).

“Holy Cow, Where are my Chicago Catholics Now?”

Presented by Teresa Steinkamp McMillin 

The first Chicago Catholic church opened in 1833 and by 1900 there were about 140 Catholic churches in the city. Finding your Catholic ancestor’s sacramental records (baptism, confirmation, marriage and funeral) can be a  daunting task without a few key pieces of information. This lecture will explain how to find the data necessary to tap into these valuable resources. Once potential churches are identified, the process of finding the records for that church and timeframe will be explained.

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG^SM Owner, Genealogist Teresa Steinkamp McMillin is a Certified Genealogist^sm who specializes in German-American and Midwest research, as well as reading German script. She presents quality genealogy lectures for local and national organizations. Teresa was the 2007 recipient of the National Genealogical Society’s Home Study Course, which she has completed. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, as well as many local genealogical societies. She is the co-president for the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

“Explore Your Minnesota Roots”

Presented by Jennie Warner

 

Do you have ancestors from the State of 10, 000 Lakes?  Learn how and where to locate information on your ancestors.

 Jenny is a member of many Lineage Societies including Presidents and First Ladies, NSDAR, LGAR, DUVCW, NSDU, NSDOAF, National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, National Society of New England Women, and National Society of Dames of the Court of Honor. Also, a member of many Genealogical Societies on the local, state and national level. They include National Genealogical Society, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, and Illinois State Genealogical Society to name a few.

She holds offices in many local lineage groups and genealogical societies. Current President of the DuPage County Genealogical Society, Incoming Chapter Regent of John Butler Chapter, NSDU, Incoming Vice President of Chicago Colony of National Society of New England Women and Incoming Treasurer of the Genealogy Speakers Guild.

“Irish Family History Research”

Presented by Maureen Brady

Learn to be successful with your Irish family history research.  This presentation will discuss how Ireland’s history affects the records and their availability, help for deciphering the layers of Ireland’s land divisions and place names and the best websites for locating the records.

Maureen Brady is a former school librarian and computer educator. She has over 25 years’ experience with family history research, is a professional genealogist and owner of Bare Roots Genealogical Services.  Maureen has made numerous presentations to Illinois and Wisconsin genealogical societies, libraries, conferences, and workshops, as well as presenting at the 2002 National Genealogical Society Conference.  She is co-director of the Crystal Lake, IL Family History Center and is a member of many genealogical and family history societies in the U.S. and Scotland.

“From the Sources Mouth”

Presented by Dan Hubbard, Phd.

Once we’ve understood that identities can be tricky to reconstruct, how do we piece together the tidbits of information that we find into an actual ancestor? How do we avoid putting together a great-great Frankenfather from the spare parts we find in the documents we dig up? Do we trust what seems to be true, or do we look long and hard into the “source’s mouth.”

Dr. Daniel Hubbard lives in Libertyville and is past President of the Lake County Genealogical Society.  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. Dan@thepersonalpast.com.

“Using Timelines to Break Down Brick Walls”

Presented by Ginger Frere

Learn how to use timelines, simple and complex, to solve genealogical problems, analyze evidence, and determine avenues for future research.

Ginger Frere, MLIS, MBA, is a professional researcher who provides a variety of research services to authors, professional historians, film makers and individuals interested in genealogy. Her primary research interests include Chicago history and the creation of online tools for genealogists. She was one of the driving forces behind the development of ChicagoAncestors.org.

“Internet Sources for Czech Genealogy”

“The Latest News in Chicago Vital Records”

Presented by Dan Niemiec

Dan’s coming back again to tell us about some new tips in searching through Chicago Vital Records.

Dan Niemiec has given over a hundred presentations locally for nearly two decades and has spoken at several national conferences. He has written a monthly genealogy column for “Fra Noi” (pronounced Frah-Noy) for over 15 years. Over a period of nearly 30 years, he has traced his ancestor lines in Italy back to the mid1600s and Poland to the mid1700s. By tracing the descendants of his ancestors to the present day, he has found, so far, approximately 87,000 relatives.