Family History Research in Illinois & Wisconsin

Maureen Brady will present Family History Research in Illinois & Wisconsin at the next meeting the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists , Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest View Educational Center, Room 100, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

The families that came to Illinois and Wisconsin were from varied ethnic backgrounds and created a diverse landscape of urban and rural environments. The records 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.

A former school librarian and computer educator, Maureen Brady has over 25 years experience with family history research and is a professional genealogist and owner of Bare Roots Genealogical Services. She 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. Ms. Brady is co-director of the Crystal Lake (Illinois) Family History Center and is a member of many genealogical and family history societies in the U.S. and Scotland.

Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists
P.O. Box 148 ● Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056

Making Sense of the Census

The North Suburban Genealogical Society invites you to its September program featuring Jeffrey Bockman and his presentation on reading and understanding censuses.

Mr. Bockman will emphasize the 1930 census, and what to expect in the 1940 census. Most importantly, he will show how to read and understand the census for your genealogical research.

Mr. Bockman is a frequent lecturer on genealogy and is a writer of genealogical articles. He was VP of the Illinois State Genealogical Society and President of the DuPage County Genealogical Society.
Date: September 11, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Northbrook Historical Society 1776 Walter Ave. Northbrook, IL 60062
Subject: Making Sense of the Census by Jeffrey Bockman
Contact: Jim Boyle 847 401 2579 or NSGS at NSGenSoc@gmail.com

Open to anyone interested in genealogical research. Free Admission

Griffith's Valuation

The Primary Valuation was the first full-scale survey of property-occupiers and a valuation of property in Ireland. It was overseen by Sir Richard Griffith and published between 1847 and 1864. It is one of the most important surviving 19th century Irish genealogical sources because it records every landowner and lists almost every head of household for each county in Ireland in a period shortly after the famine.

The following information is given: The townland address and householders name; the name of the person from whom the property is leased; a description of the property; the acreage and the valuation. In cases where there are many identical names in an area, they are usually distinguished by name of father or color of hair being shown in parentheses.

See Griffith's Valuation on the Ask About Ireland website.

Family History Lesson Series

Several short lessons covering a variety of Family History topics are available for download on the Family History Lesson Series Page of FamilySearch.

The lessons may be used as self-study guides or as class supplements for Family History instructors.

Browse the FamilySearch Record Collections

Do you want to search within a single collection of records in FamilySearch?

Here is a list of record collections for 447 regions. Click on a specific collection to search within it.

For each collection, there is a brief description, and an About This Collection link that provides detailed background such as the time period of this record, its history, why it was created, its reliability, a description, record content, coverage table, how to use it, related websites and wiki articles, sources, and citations for an image or index published in FamilySearch Collections.

Millions of new records have been added. Keep checking back!

FamilySearch Wiki

Do you remember the printed handouts you used to get at the Family History Center that contained state research outlines?

The FamilySearch Wiki has replaced them with the United States Research Wiki Page.

It separates the information into topics for ease of use and printing. Web links make it quick and easy to move from topic to topic.

Scroll down to the map of the U.S. and click on a state you want to explore. Here is the page for Illinois.

More research topics are along the left.

CAGG-NI Meeting: August 21

The Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois (CAGGNI) meeting will take place at 10:30 Sat. Aug. 21, 2010, at the Schaumburg Township District Library, on the SW corner of Roselle and Schaumburg Roads, next to Dominick's.

Mike Karsen will present Liven Up your Family History with Images. While family histories contain phenomenal research with every event documented and sourced with precision, few persons are interested in reading them. Images are needed to bring grandparents and great grandparents to life. Mike's presentation shows how to liven up your family history with images of people, places, and events to keep readers turning pages.

For more information, contact Bill McGovern, Promotions Chair: bmcgovern3790@sbcglobal.net

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois

Upcoming events of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI)

Sunday, August 29, 2010, 2:00 p.m.*
Topic: Kvell with us on your genealogy breakthroughs.
This program will be an information sharing session where member researchers will have the opportunity to report on significant discoveries they have made in their family research and how they were able to achieve these successes, with input from our Ask the Experts panel as well. Bring a success story with you and briefly tell us about it.
Location: Temple Beth Israel
3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Sunday, October 17, 2009, 1:30 p.m.Topic: Beginner's Workshop
Presented by Judith R. Frazin
Location: Wilmette Public Library
1242 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette

Sunday, October 24, 2010, 2 p.m.*
Topic: To Tell or Not to Tell: Should the Family Skeleton Stay in the Closet?
How much should you reveal when publishing research on your family? This program is presented by Robin Seidenberg, Executive Vice President of JGSI
Location: Temple Beth Israel
3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie

Sunday, November 21, 2010, 2 p.m.*Topic: TBA
Location: Temple Beth Israel
3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie
*Note: For regular meetings at Temple Beth Israel, the facilities will be open at 12:30 p.m. to accommodate members who want to use our library materials, need help with genealogical Web sites on the Internet, or have genealogical related questions.

Korean Genealogy Online

The Paik Inje Memorial Library of Inje University has introduced a Digital Genealogy Library. The genealogical materials have been collected by the library since 2007 in an effort to preserve Korea’s ethnic history. In association with Family Search, the library has digitalized hundreds of records and created the Digital Genealogy Library to allow users to search for their genealogical records.

Currently about 500 genealogy e-books are available online, which include Gimhae Kim and Gimhae Heo clans, which are representative regional families in Korea.

(This announcement was in today's edition of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, where you can read more details.)

Civil War Military Records

The North Suburban Genealogical Society invites you to hear Jerry Allen speak on finding your Civil War Ancestor: what military records are available and where to find them.

Jerry Allen is a member of the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table. He will discuss his experiences at the National Archives and historic battlefields. Both Union and Confederate records will be discussed.

Date: August 14, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Northbrook Historical Society 1776 Walter Ave. Northbrook, IL 60062
Subject: Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors by Jerry Allen

Contact: Jim Boyle 847 401 2579 or NSGS at NSGenSoc@gmail.com
Open to anyone interested in genealogical research. Free Admission

Social Security Administration and Genealogy

You may be familiar with the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) available through Ancestry.com, Ancestry Library Edition, Rootsweb, and GenealogyBank.

These services can generate a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) form that you print and mail to the Social Security Administration (SSA) with a check for a copy of your ancestor's Social Security Number (SSN) application, with its valuable genealogical content.

But did you know you can also order these records online, using a credit card, and reciive them much more quickly?

The SSA can help you with various kinds of genealogical research. The form is still an option; but you do not have to use it. It is easier to make your request online using an eFOIA Request.