Friday, October 29, 2010

Finding Ancestral Origins

Workshop at the National Archives at Chicago, November 13:

They Became American: Finding Ancestral Origins

Taught by renowned author and genealogist, Loretto Szucs, They Became American: Finding Ancestral Origins will discuss methods and resources to help you find more precise information on your ancestors' origins.

This workshop will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM at the facility near Ford City Mall and Midway Airport, 7358 S. Pulaski Rd, Chicago, approximately one block west of South Pulaski Rd on West 75th St.

Please note there is a $10 fee for this workshop. This can be paid at the door.

To register, send your name, e-mail address, phone number, and mailing address to Kris Maldre, Education Specialist at kristina.maldre@nara.gov or fax to 773-948-9050. If you have further questions, please call 773-948-9010.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

German Farm Names


November 16, 2010, 7:30 p.m.: He Took Her Name: Understanding German Farm Names.


Teresa Steinkamp McMillin will present the program of the Northwest Suburban Council of
Genealogists
to be held on November 16, 2010 at Forest View Educational Center, Room 100,
2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois. Program starts at 7:30 p.m.

In certain geographic areas of Germany, the custom of German farm names has been in
existence since about 1000 a.d. In this custom, a farm carried the surname and anyone who
inherited that farm assumed its name as his surname. Usually, this was a son of the farmer,
but if only a daughter existed, her husband would need to change his surname to hers. This
lecture explains some of the common pitfalls a researcher may encounter when researching in
one of these areas and how to overcome them.

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, is a professional genealogist who specializes in German and
Midwest American research, as well as in reading German script. She has been interested in
genealogy since she was a child and has been actively researching her own German ancestry for
the past nine years, as well as her husband's Chicago Irish ancestry. Teresa has attended the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and has taken college-level German courses. She was the 2007 recipient of the National Genealogical Society's Home Study Course, which she has completed. Teresa is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and many local genealogical societies. She is the webmaster for
the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.


Arrive at 7:00 PM, a half hour before the meeting, to join in an open discussion, or meet with members and share your research or experiences.


For more information, please visit our website at www.nwscg.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Genealogy Center Website

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) Genealogy Center now has its own website.

The ACPL serves not only the Indiana community, but also the genealogical community at large. They have one of the largest research collections available, incorporating records from around the world. Their staff specializes in genealogy and is always available to help.

This is an excellent place for beginning genealogists to get started. They offer databases, ways to order articles from PERSI, a newsletter, an online catalog, a blog, the WeRelate Wiki, and other services for family history researchers.

A video helps you plan a visit to The Genealogy Center.