We Relate

WeRelate.org is a free public-service Wiki for genealogy sponsored by the Foundation for On-Line Genealogy, Inc. in partnership with the Allen County Public Library.

WeRelate.org is the world's largest genealogy Wiki with pages for over 2,000,000 people and families and growing.

WeRelate lets you create Wiki pages for your ancestors, upload GEDCOM files, upload and annotate scanned documents and photos, include family stories and biographies, view maps of your ancestors' life events, view multi-generation pedigree and descendancy charts on the left side of the screen while displaying detailed person or family information on the right, and research over 400,000 place wiki pages.

WeRelate.org is about social networking, sharing research, and collaboration. Their goal is to be the #1 community website for genealogy. They have no copyright interest in posted material and their license guarantees that information freely shared remains free.

Volunteers and staff of the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library assist with administration of the website. See the Allen County Public Library Homepage for more information about the library.

U.S. Genweb Archives

Have you visited the U.S. Genweb Archives lately?

They have a new search engine, a dailyuploads mailing list, and state specific mailing lists.

If you are only researching one or two states, you might want to sub to those state lists. If you want to see the big picture, subscribe to the dailyuploads list.

Be sure to visit the Illinois U.S. Genweb Archive.

Wilmette Family History Center: New Hours

Beginning June 3, 2009, and continuing for an indefinite period of time, the Wilmette Family History Center will no longer be open on Wednesdays during the day.

Their new hours are as follows:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Wednesday: 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

If you are driving a long distance to the Center, call ahead to make sure they will be open. They may, occasionally, have to close for an unexpected reason.

2727 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois (corner of Lake and Locust)
entrance is on the southwest side of the building

Contact information:
Telephone: 847-251-9818 during open hours or email il_wilmette@ldsmail.net

Gene Tree

GeneTree is mapping the world's DNA using genetic genealogy. The free Web site allows easy connection to genetic cousins, collaboration on family trees, and sharing of personal profiles, videos, documents, and photos.

GeneTree also helps participants to integrate their DNA profiles into their family history research through one of the world's most respected DNA laboratories, for a scientific window into their ancestry and to find living relatives for whom no paper records exist. GeneTree users are linked to the world's most extensive correlated genetic genealogy database.

GeneTree includes a fascinating DNA Navigator that tells where other matches to your DNA profile have been found, and to track them through time.

You can order a DNA test kit from GeneTree, or from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit research organization that has created the world's largest repository of correlated genetic and genealogical information. The free, publicly available SMGF database currently contains information about more than seven million ancestors through linked DNA samples and pedigree charts from more than 170 countries, or approximately 90 percent of the nations of the world. The foundation's purpose is to foster a greater sense of identity, connection and belonging among all people by showing how closely we are connected as members of a single human family.

Beginner's Genealogical Workshop in Skokie

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI)

MAY MEETING

Beginners' Genealogical Workshop

Sunday, May 31st, 1:00 p.m.
at the Skokie Library, 5215 Oakton Street

Judith Frazin, an experienced researcher and past JGSI President, will present a practical workshop on the kinds of records, books and website available to help you with your family research. A comprehensive handout will be available.

Ms. Frazin is the author of two editions of A Translation Guide to 19th-Century Polish Language Documents (Birth, Marriage, and Death Records) and has developed two unique forms for recording genealogical information. A genealogist for 26 years, in addition to having been president of the JGS of Illinois, was program chairperson for the 1984 national seminar on Jewish Genealogy, and wrote a genealogical column for the newspaper The Jewish Post and Opinion.
Save the date
June 14th
JGSI will host Beau Sharbrough, a national lecturer and Author

For more information on future JGSI meetings, information on the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) 2009 Philadelphia Conference and other website connections, visit the JGSI E-News Page.

Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs

New genealogy book at the Glenview Public Library:

Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs / with researcher's guide and translations of the introduction, instruction for the use of the gazeteer, and abbreviations by Raymond S. Wright III.

This book is indispensible if you are doing German genealogy.

Originally published in Leipzig, Germany in 1912, this three-volume set describes the geographical and political setting for approximately 210,000 cities, towns, hamlets, and dwelling places in the German Empire prior to World War I. It assists in the identification of public services, governmental agencies, educational and religious institutions, and transportation and business facilities in each community, thus helping genealogists and other researchers to discover the agencies that created records about people who lived in Germany. The introduction is in English, but the body of the text is German, in a Gothic text font. Additional information and charts in the Appendix include statistical surveys of the German Empire, charts of electoral districts, the location of military garrisons, a summary of the constitution of the Empire, and descriptions of postal and rail systems, among others. There are several fold-out maps.

Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army

New genealogy book at the Glenview Public Library:

Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 by Francis B. Heitman.

This 2-volume set contains names of presidents, vice-presidents, secretaries of war, showing their date and place of birth and death, and period of service. General officers and volunteers are arranged by grade and rank, with period of service. There is a chrtonological roster of chiefs, names of officers who have received awards, and tables showing promotions. There are also detailed listings for officers showinig awards, dates, etc., including those who joined the army of the CSA. Other lists cover statistics about various wars; alphabetical and chronological lists of wars and engagements; lists of places such as cemeteries, forts, reservations, camps, etc.;' and tables showing changes in strength and organization.

Illinois Veterans History Project

The purpose of the Illinois Veterans' History Project is to create a permanent record of the names and stories of Illinois war veterans and civilians who served our state and country during war, so that their contributions will not be forgotten.

To participate in the Illinois Veterans' History Project, veterans or their family members can complete the Illinois Patriots Information Form.



You can view the 3569 forms that have been collected, telling the remarkable stories of some of our brave men and women, at the Illinois Veterans History Project section of the Illinois Digital Archives .


Don't miss the interesting material that accompanies many of the forms. When you click on the veteran's name, you will see a page that shows what there is about that veteran. In the border at the left, you might see only the word Form...but you might alse see Form Page 2 or Newspaper Article or something else. Click on each term to learn more about that particular veteran.


Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

American Memory and Genealogy

You can find genealogy information in The American Memory Collection of the Library of Congress.

To see if information about your ancestors is included anywhere in American Memory, enter your family name in the search box at the top of each American Memory page. Serious genealogical researchers will also want to consult the bibliographies, research guides, and Web links available online from the Library's Local History and Genealogy Reading Room.

To find American Memory collections specifically devoted to city, state, or regional subjects, you can browse the collections in a variety of ways. To find information about a specific place, enter the name in the search box at the top of any American Memory page. Also check the home pages of each of the books and other printed texts, American Memory collections of books and other printed texts, so that wherever possible you can search the full text of their documents.

For example, you will find 48 items about Glenview in the American Memory collection.

Genealogy Blog Finder

The Genealogy Blog Finder is produced by The Genealogue ("genealogy news you can't possibly use") which is an entertaining yet thought-provoking web site.

The Genealogy Blog Finder is for people who love and appreciate genealogy blogs.

I will help you find the most current discussions of issues and events in the world of genealogy. You can find out which blogs were most recently updated; the most recently added new blogs; and who is blogging where.

The blogs are classified into a huge number of categories, such as news, locations, technology, queries, obituaries, single surnames, and many more...so you can find a blog on any topic in genealogy.

Sirius Genealogy 2.0

Sirius Genealogy 2.0 is an online community for professional and amateur genealogists who want to learn more about using technology in the genealogy effort.

This is not a site where you can build your family tree, nor perform in depth research on your family, although they do have a few tools that can be used for that purpose.

Sirius Genealogy 2.0 is a place to learn, collaborate and teach fellow enthusiasts all about using technology in your genealogical quest.

They provide a newsletter for which you can sign up. and a way to consult an expert.

Useful tools conveniently gathered in one place include a calendar of events, cousin calculator, time capsule, google gadgets for genealogists. people finder, reviews, tips and tricks, and more.

The home page displays featured genealogical info that iseducational and informative.

You can also set up an account, and add your group or organization to the directory.

Online Newspaper Resources

On Saturday, May 16, Ralph Beaudoin will tell you how to "Find That Obituary!" in a presentation about online newspaper resources.

The meeting will take place at the Schaumburg Township District Library.

This announcment, along with other local genealogy news and informative articles, is in the May 2009 issue of the CAGG-NI Newsletter. Look for it in the Genealogy Reference section of the Glenview Public Library.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The USCIS Genealogy Program is a fee-for-service program providing family historians and other researchers with timely access to historical immigration and naturalization records.

The Program offers two services:

1--Index Search: Using biographical information provided by the researcher, USCIS searches its historical immigration and naturalization record indices for citations related to a specific immigrant. Search results (record citations) are returned to the researcher, along with instructions on how to request the file(s) from USCIS or the National Archives. Fee: $20.00.

2--Record Copy Request: Researchers with valid record citations (USCIS file numbers), gained through a USCIS Genealogy Program index search or through independent research, may request copies of historical immigration and naturalization records. Fee: $20.00/$35.00

(depending on the record type). Records can include Naturalization Certificate Files, Alien Registration Forms, Visa files, Registry Files, and Alien Files.

Due to the tremendous number of requests received when this program became available, they are currently still answering requests received in mid-February 2009 or earlier.

Along the right column of the web page you will find importqant links to detailed information, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions about this service, and how to make a genealogy request.

Portals to the World

Portals to the World is a collection of the best electronic resources on the nations of the world selected by Library of Congress subject experts

This site provides one-stop shopping for your international information needs. Along with links to embassies, travel tips, background on world events, culture, and directories, there are also links to the best genealogical information.

Footnote + Facebook = I Remember

At Footnote, original historical documents are combined with social networking.

Footnote has launched the I Remember application on Facebook to help people remember people who are important to them.

On January 10, 2007, the National Archives and Footnote launched a project to digitize historic documents that were previously available on microfilm..

Contributions using I Remember on Facebook will also be accessible on Footnote.

Members can upload their own pictures, stories, etc. to Footnote, and link them to entries in the Social Security Death Index andthe U.S. Census.

The digitized materials will also be available at no charge in National Archives research rooms in Washington D.C. and regional facilities across the country. In five years, all images digitized through this agreement will be available at no charge through the National Archives web site.

You need to subscribe to Footnote in order to vire the images, but not for limited access to text.

NSGS Meeting, May 9

The North Suburban Genealogical Society will meet at the Glenview Public Library, 1930 Glenview Rd., Glenview IL, on Saturday, May 9.

Jane Lahey will conduct a problem solving session at 1 PM.

There will be a business meeting at 1:50 PM.

Craig Pfannkuche will do a presentation about cemetery records at 2 PM.

May 9 Class at Great Lakes Regional Archive

The Great Lakes Regional Archive lists classes on its Public Programs Calendar.

Coming up on May 9: Using Court Records to Find Local and Family History.

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Place: National Archives - Great Lakes Region

Fees: $10.00

Archivists from the Great Lakes Region and the Circuit Court of Cook County Archives will give an overview of how court records can be used to uncover a wealth of information about people's lives as well as the social, legal and economic issues that brought them to court.

Advance registration is encouraged to guarantee a seat will be available for you. Groups and classes can be accommodated by special arrangement.

Register in-person or by contacting them:
chicago.archives@nara.gov
Telephone: (773) 948-9001

Time and Dates in Genealogy

Day of the Week Calculator offers a quick and easy way to verify the day of week indicated by a certain date. Enter the date to calculate the day of the week for an historic or future year.

You can also calculate the time elapsed between dates by using the Duration Calculator. Among other things, it can be used find how many days old your ancestor was when a certain event took place, and the weekday they were born