"NEW TOOLS FOR FINDING OLD STUFF"

JGSI 2012 Sunday MEETINGS

Sunday, November 18th:
JGSI monthly meeting at Temple Beth Israel
12:30: Library, genealogical questions and internet help.
2:00  Program: Expert genealogist Ginger Frere of the Newberry Library and ChicagoAncestors.org will speak on"New Tools for Finding Old Stuff."

( No meeting in December)

RESEARCHING YOUR CHICAGO ANCESTORS

Do you have Chicago ancestors?  This presentation by Steve Szabados reviews what sources are available and where they can be found.  Databases discussed will include vital records, church records, state records, federal records, employment records, histories of the neighborhoods, as well as websites, genealogy collections at major libraries and collections compiled by area genealogical societies.  http://steveszabados.com. Held at the Newberry Library at 60 w. Walton Chicago, February 2, 2013, at 1:30.

BALZEKAS MUSEUM OF LITHUANIAN CULTURE

The Balzekas Museum is the largest repository of Lithuanian cultural artifacts outside of Lithuania.  Tour the Museum with Karrile Viatkute, director of the Genealogy Department, and discover the genealogy collection and and resources at the museum.  Meet at 10 a.m. on Decembeer 1, 2012 at the museum at 6500 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago.  $5 admission.  http://www.balzekasmuseum.org.  After the tour, join Chicago Genealogical  Society members for lunch at Grand Dukes, a Lithuanian restaurant: http://www.granddukesrestaurant.com.

CAGGNI REVOLUTIONARY WAR PROGRAM

Upcoming event information:
Annual Business Meeting, Potluck & Revolutionary War Program
Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Hendrickson Room
Date: 17 Nov 2012 9:30 AM
Annual Business Meeting and Ethnic Food/Family Favorites Potluck
NOTE: Held at Arlington Heights Memorial Library - Early 9:30 am start time

 The Revolutionary WarEra, A Different Perspective

 DavidJahntz, will portray a ContinentalArmy surgeon and an 18th century civilian during the War forAmerican Independence. David willpresent the War for Independence from the surgeon’s viewpoint, and will alsodiscuss the principles involved and the reasons of the war which are thetwenty-seven charges listed by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration ofIndependence. Don’t miss thisinformative and entertaining presentation. David’s most prominent appearances have been onnational cable productions in "Frontier Doctors" on The HistoryChannel, on the five-hour mini-series "The American Revolution"originally broadcast by the A&E Network and on "Hunting The LostSymbol" on the Discovery Channel. In addition, David can be seen invisitor center films of the National Park Service at their historic militarysites.

 CAGGNI’sbusiness meeting and annual “family traditions” potluck will immediately precedeDavid Jahntz’s presentation

More information: Annual Business Meeting, Potluck & Revolutionary War Program

NEW DAR BOOK SERIES FOR AMERICAN REVOLUTION RESEARCH

The DAR Library has launched a new online pdf book series on researching ancestors in each of the original states during the period of the American Revolution. The first book is New York State, which is one of the most difficult states in which to do research for this period. South Carolina will be next.  At this point the Library is only selling online versions of the publication. Purchasers will receive a link to pdf of the book for downloading and use on a computer or laptop. They may print out a copy if they so desire, and libraries may do this as well. The New York book is 704 pages long.
The online store is at the following link:  http://members.dar.org/content/announcements/?ID=1634

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois Meeting October 2012

The first committee meeting for the JGSI one-day conference to be held Sunday, June 9th will take place
Thursday, November 1st at 7:00 P.M. in Morton Grove.

Contact Debbie Kroopkin, debbiekroopkin@gmail.com, if you can attend the meeting and/or wish to volunteer for conference planning committees.

JGSI 2012 Sunday MEETINGS:
- Sunday, November 4th
JGSI monthly meeting at Temple Beth Israel 12:30: Library, genealogical questions, and Internet help.
2:00 Program:
 Ellen Cassedy, author, translator, and playwright will speak about her newest book, "We are Here: Memories of the Lithuanian Holocaust." Cassedy, a former columnist for the "Philadelphia Daily News" and the author of two books for working women, has been exploring the world of the Lithuanian Holocaust for ten years. Her latest book began as a personal journey to connect with her Jewish forebears, but soon expanded into a larger quest, into how people in Lithuania -- Jews and non-Jews -- are engaging with theirNazi and Soviet pasts to move forward into the future.

Sunday, November 18th
JGSI monthly meeting at Temple Beth Israel, 12:30: Library, genealogical questions, and Internet help.
2:00 Program:
Expert genealogist Ginger Frere of the Newberry Library and ChicagoAncestors.org will speak on "New Tools for Finding Old Stuff."

- No December Meeting

Monthly Meetings are held at Temple Beth Israel (3601 W. Dempster Street in Skokie).

JGSI has recently added many wonderful new books and maps to the library.

More information about these programs and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois can be found at www.jewishgen.org/jgsi .

BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO USING TAX LISTS

The Beginner's Guide to Using Tax Lists
by Cornelius Carroll
929.1 CAR
1997

This book is available for you to check out from the Glenview Library, and here is a brief review from www.genealogical.com with background about it:

"This guidebook is Cornelius Carroll's primer for making the best genealogical use of tax lists. At the outset, the author differentiates between tax lists, quit rents, tithables, militia lists, censuses, and similar records and the laws that applied to them. Then, by focusing on the tax lists of Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee, he demonstrates how tax lists can be used for determining parentage, birth and death dates, indentured servitude, slavery, manumission, and racial status. Mr. Carroll provides a number of sample tax lists in order to introduce researchers to the legal and other factors affecting the ages and classes of people who were taxable at any given time."

Thank you to www.genealogical.com

...AND STILL MORE!!

What is a private equity firm, and what does it do?
Is Ancestry.com being SOLD for $1.6 billion, or VALUED AT $1.6 billion?
Would you like to see a list of other companies owned by Premira?
Food for thought...and more from The Ancestry Insider

MORE ABOUT ANCESTRY.COM

Here is more news about Ancestry.com, from Genealogyblog.

GLENVIEW CEMETERY LORE AND LEGEND

Don Long and Wayne Carle are two gentlemen with deep Glenview roots.  They will share tales and history with us about the origins of Northfield Oakwood and Immanuel Lutheran cemeteries, their Civil War connections,  and their effect on Glenview.

There are still openings in this interesting presentation.  A Glenview Library Card is not required for registration.

Refreshments will be served.

Please call (847) 729-7500 x7700 to register,

Ancestry.com To Be Sold to Investor Group Led By Permira For $1.6 Billion

Read the full article at Eastman's Online Genealogy Newwsletter

http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/10/ancestrycom-to-be-sold-to-investor-group-led-by-permira-for-16-billion.html

GENEALOGY 101: FROM SEED TO TREE

Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists

Jacquie Schattner will present "Genealogy 101: From Seed to Tree" at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists. The meeting will be held on Saturday, Nov 3, 2012 at 10:00 am at The Arlington Heights Senior Center 1801 W Central Rd Arlington Heights, IL 

 At 9:30 am, prior to the presentation, there will be casual discussion and exchange of information with others who enjoy genealogy. No prior registration needed. No fee required.

If you are interested in researching your family's history, but have no idea where to begin, then this is the meeting for you. Come learn the first steps in genealogy research. With Jacquie Schattner's helpful hints, you will soon be able to take the knowledge of your ancestors from a seed to a tree.
Jacquie Krieps Schattner has pursued her family's genealogy since 1979, travelling to Europe several times to find information. She volunteered at the Schaumburg Family History Center for 15 years, helping others find their roots. Currently she volunteers at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, specializing in French speaking countries and helping novices, including teaching a monthly Beginning Genealogy class. She also teaches an 8 week beginner’s course for District 214 Adult Education at Mt. Prospect High School. Jacquie and her husband Fred are 30 year residents of Palatine. They have three adult children and one grandson. Jacquie earned a BS degree in Business from the University of Illinois and works as a school secretary. She enjoys antiquing, sports, and helping others discover their family's past.

DANIEL BURNHAM'S CHICAGO

North Suburban Genealogical Society

Annual Luncheon 
Saturday, November 10th,  2012          11:30 am
Daniel Burnham’s Chicago by Terry Lynch
Glenview Park District Golf Club, 800 Shermer Road, Glenview, IL
See attached flyer for registration information.  Registrations due Oct 27.

Finding Grandma's European Ancestors

North Suburban Genealogical Society Meeting      

Saturday, October 13, 1:00 pm

Steve Szabados:

Finding Grandma’s European Ancestors

This popular speaker returns to tell about finding his grandmother’s birthplace in Poland.  The real focus will be on finding vital records in “the old country,” and tips for translating them.  This information will apply to most European backgrounds.  He will share resources that go beyond the traditional documents to enrich our understanding of our heritage.

Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook IL 60062

PLEASE NOTE:  NSGS meeting is held in the basement of the Historical Society Museum. Entrance is on the left side of the building near the handicap ramp.

SKELETONS IN OUR CLOSETS

Robin Seidenberg will present "Skeletons in Our Closets" at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists. The meeting will be held on Saturday, Oct 6, 2012 at 10:00 am at
The Arlington Heights Senior Center
1801 W Central Rd
Arlington Heights, IL
Join us at 9:30 am, prior to the presentation, for casual discussion or to exchange information with others who enjoy genealogy. No prior registration needed. No fee required.

Robin B. Seidenberg

reveals an intriguing tale of wealth, romance, betrayal, jealousy and murder. After investigating rumors of an old family scandal that occurred during the Roaring Twenties in Chicago, Robin uncovered a sensational story that made newspaper headlines across the entire nation. Discover the identity of the "Kissing Blonde" and learn how Robin researched historical newspapers to unravel this family mystery.
A member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists, Robin currently serves as executive vice president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, vice president of PCBUG, and president of Lake County Area Computer Enthusiasts. She has been studying her family history since 1997. Robin earned bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Chicago and completed most of her Ph.D. requirements at the University of Illinois. This former college French teacher has used her linguistic skills to translate family records from Polish and Old Cyrillic. Robin specializes in using historical newspapers to research family history.

FOLD3 at Wilmette FHC

The Wilmette Family History Center can make available some databases that you may not find at your public library.

Fold3 is one example.  You can try out this popular database that specilizes in military records at the Wilmette Family History Center.

GLENVIEW CEMETERY STORIES

Glenview Cemeteries: The Lore and the Legend
Wednesday, October 24, 7 PM

Celebrate Family History Month with Wayne Carle and Don Long of the Glenview Histtory Center.  With deep Glenview roots, Carle and Long have special connections to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery and Northfield Oakwood Cemetery.

Let your mind wander among the legends and lore during this week before Halloween.   Gather with neighbors and friends in the cozy library setting to hear the stories of two historic Glenview cemeteries and some of their eternal residents.

Location: Community Room

Register by telephone at 847-729-7500, ext. 7700, or at the Reference Services Desk.

GENEALOGICAL TREASURES AT WILMETTE FHC

The Wilmette Family History Center has an extensive collection of microfilms for Chicago and Cook County.  These include church records, city directories, vital records, and more.  If they do not have the film you need, you can order it.

Visit www.wilmettefhc.org for details.

HISTORICAL CITY DIRECTORIES ONLINE

The Online Historical Directories Website was created by Miriam J. Robbins.

Its purpose is to put links to all online city directories in one place, listed by location and in date order.  Some of the sites are free, and others require a fee.

Have a look at the resources for Cook County.

Miriam will continue adding to the Website.  Check her Blog for updates.

TIPS FOR BREAKING DOWN BRICK WALLS

The Ask A Genealogist blog has great tips and advice for your genealogical challenges.  Send your questions to professional genealogist Michele Simmons Lewis at Questions for Michele .

THE SECRET MESSAGE IN LINCOLN'S WATCH

The next meeting of the North Suburban Genealogical Society will take place on Saturday, September 8, 2012, at 1:00 pm.  Meetings are at the Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062

The topic will be The Secret Message In Lincoln's Watch.

Waukegan attorney Doug Stiles tells the dramatic story of his great great grandfather Jonathon Dillon's inscription inside Lincoln's pocket watch and how the inscription was recently discovered at the Smithsonian.

Refreshments will be served.   Please come and bring a friend.

GENEALOGY FIRST TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

There will be a Genealogy First Tuesday today, September 4, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Genealogy Room of the Glenview Public Library.

Bring your genealogical brick walls and conundrums, and we will work with you on solving them.

 Or, just come and find out what others are working on….hang out with like-minded individuals  who, like yourself,  also have the “genealogy gene.”  They would enjoy swapping stories with you!

 You can also use the resources in the genealogy room, especially if you are researching your Glenview Roots.

 Register by calling the Reference Desk, 847-720-7500 x7700 .  A Glenview Library Card is NOT required for registration.

WESTERN NEW YORK ANCESTORS?

Onondaga County Public Library Local History and Genealogy Databases is a wonderful resource for researching ancestors from west central New york state, near Syracuse.

It is possible to contact  the Library for help with your research.  lhg@onlib.org

A searchable Necrology goes back to the 1850s.  There are also obit clippings, WPA Files, and other unique rresources.  Additional databases must be used on site.

JGSI MEETING AUGUST 2012

Sunday August 26, at Beth Israel in Skokie:

12:30: genealogical questions and help desk.
2:00 Program: Third Annual "Kvell and Tell"
"Ask the Experts"
If you have something to "Tell", please e-mail Program-Vice
President Abby Schmelling at abbyschmelling@gmail.com .

GENEALOGY BOOK LINKS

At Genealogy Book Links, online family history books are listed alphabetically by surname.  In addition, on the home page are history books listed alphabetically by stste, county and town.

CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT 2012

CAGGNI MEETING AUGUST 2012

CAGGNI (Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois) is a group of amateur genealogists who are committed to using technology and the internet more effectively in support of their family history research activities.

CAGGNI meets at 10:30am on the third Saturday of every month except December usually at the Schaumburg Township District Library. Monthly meeting topics cover a broad range of subjects of interest in supporting genealogical activities including software, tools, techniques and methodologies. Additionally, monthly newsletters, support for both computer and genealogy issues and Internet surname exposure are among the benefits of membership.

Upcoming meeting topics include:
Saturday, August 11, 2012:  "The Master Genealogist - Special Interest Group," 10:30 AM - 12:30 p.m. at  Schaumburg Township District Library.  All level of users are welcome to join!
The Master Genealogist (TMG) software product is a very flexible and powerful package; many different techniques are possible when using this software. This interest group was formed to provide a forum in the Chicagoland area for TMG users to build their knowledge and share their experience with the product.

Saturday, August 18, 2012:  "Atlas of County Boundaries and HistoryGeo.com,"  by Sandra Trapp and Kathy Kult. Come and learn how the Atlas of County Boundaries and History-Geo.com can help you in your search for ancestors!


Saturday, September 15, 2012:  "The Genealogist's Electronic Toolbox," by John Stryker.  At the Schaumburg Twp. District Library.

NWSCG MEETING

Mike Karsen will present “Write Your Family History NOW” at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists. The meeting will be held on Saturday, Sept 8, 2012 at 10:00 am at
The Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL

At 9:30 am, prior to the presentation, there will be casual discussion and exchange of information with others who enjoy genealogy. No prior registration needed, and there is no fee.

The program will be in two parts. First Mike will explain how and why you should publish your family history and share it with your family. He will also explain how to organize your findings. In the second part members are asked to share their own written histories.

A professional speaker, Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), and is currently President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. He speaks on family legacy topics locally and nationally, presents conference programs and has presented at Newberry Library and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago. Mike is the author of the JewishGen website "Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland" and has published articles on genealogy. He holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics/computer science and a master's in operations research alongside 30 years in telecommunications management

NSGS MEETING

There will be a meeting of the North Suburban Genealogical Society on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at 1:00 PM.

Erik Swanson will present "Loyalist, Foreign Protestants, and Canadians: Tracking Your Once or Future Ancestors North of the Border"

Meetings are held at the Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois.

101 BEST GENEALOGY WEBSITES 2012

For 13 years, Family Tree Magazine has published an annual list of the best websites for Family History.  This year there are 13 categories. 

Here is the list for 2012.

1940 CENSUS INDEXING COMPLETE

Can it really be true?

The Ancestry Insider has published an announcement about the completion of 1940 Census indexing.

FamilySearch has also published an announcement of their own.

WEST VIRGINIA ARCHIVES AND HISTORY LIBRARY

Do you have West Virginia ancestors?

West Virginia Archives and History Library: Culture Center offers YouTube presentations on the first Tuesday and second Thursday of the month.

They record all speakers in the Library and post them on their YouTube channel.

Library patrons must register to use the Library, and can provide an e-mail address to receive notices announcing their speakers.

Their online newsletter, West Virginia Archives and History News, contains articles about upcoming lectures.  A schedule with several months programming is listed in each issue.  Not all speakers address topics limited to a West Virginia audience.

MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS

Our Genealogy Local History Room (847-729-7500 x2709)  is staffed by wonderful volunteers.

Come meet Jane, who is here today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Jane has interesting connections!

Tomorrow come and say "Bonjour" to Martine from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., who can help find your French ancestors.

Susan will be here on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., helping us grow the wonderful Glenview Obituary database.

And on Friday, Sarah can help you with your Jewish family history. She will be here from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

We are grateful to our talented genealogy volunteers for helping the GLH Room be open more hours!

GENEALOGY VIDEOS AND WEBINARS

“Genealogy Videos and Webinars—Free Family History Education from the Comfort of Your Home” will be the topic of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois meeting Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 2 p.m., in Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster St., Skokie.

Abby Schmelling, JGSI vice president-program, will be present several fun examples of how to learn more about genealogy research techniques.

Many genealogical organizations offer short videos and webinars to help family historians learn about different areas of genealogical research. From JewishGen to the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, family history researchers can find useful information and methods in their areas of interest.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth Israel will open at 12:30 p.m. to accommodate members/guests who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with genealogy websites on the Internet, or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins. For more information phone (312) 666-0100.

GENEALOGY GEMS CLASS

there is still room in Genealogy Gems, a hands-on workshop being taught in the Tech Lab on Thursday, July 19 at 2 pm.

The class will introduce an assortment of websites that are valuable for genealogical research but do not always get covered in our standard classes because they fall into no particular category.

You will have a chance to explore the websites and their features. Many websites are represented, so that whatever we don't cover will go into a future class called "More Genealogy Gems."

to register, call the Reference Desk, (847) 729-7500 x7700.

Coal Mining Database

Were your Illinois ancestors coal miners?

There is a new online database listing information about coal miners who were injured or killed in mining accidents within the First District of Illinois between 1882 and 1927. It also lists the names of men certified as hoisting engineers, mine managers, and mine supervisors in the First District for the same time period.

The data is from The Illinois Coal Reports, and  provides access to the names of thousands of miners who may or may not have lived in the area long enough to be recorded on census records.

The first coal discovered in North America was in Northern Illinois in the 1600’s by explorers Marquette and Joliet

The database is named Coal Reports of Illinois First District Index.

CAGGNI newsletter

The CAGGNI Newsletter for July is available for perusal in the Genealogy / Local History room.

highlights include:

July 21, 2012: Cyber Sleuthing Your Family Tree, a class taught by Tina Beaird. Learn what's new in the online genealogy community. This ses-sion will be packed with tips for finding information and search-ing subscription databases and free genealogy websites.

Coming July 14, 2012, 2nd Saturday Writer’s Workshop, Part I, Facilitator: Nancy R. Thomas...and coming August 18, Atlas of County Boundaries and HistoryGeo.com by Sandra Trapp and Kathy Kult.

Both classes taught at the Schaumburg Township District Library.

The newsletter also contains interesting articles about DNA genealogy, local histories and indexes, and one about the census day written by Bill Dollarhide.

The Genealogy / Local History room is usually open Mondays 9:30 to 12:30, Tuesdays 10 to 1, Wednesdays 10 to 1, Thursdays 10 to 2, and Fridays 9 to noon.  Since it is staffed by volunteers, please call to make sure it will be open on a particular day,  847-729-7500 x2709 or x7700.

NEW BOOK: TRUE MIRACLES WITH GENEALOGY

True Miracles With Genealogy, vol. 2 / compiled by Anne Bradshaw -- c2011.
929.1 TRU

This book contains 58 stories about the author's personal connection with her ancestors.  Each story describes ways in which a genealogical puzzle was solved through interactions with the ancestors themselves.  Each story is unique, and involves a different kind of mysterious experience.  Anne's accounts are enjoyable to read, and contain interesting genealogical background as well.

NSGS July 2012 Meeting

The next meeting of the North Suburban Genealogical Society is Saturday, July 21, at 1:00 pm at the Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, IL

Teresa McMillan will present HUNTING FOR HENRY: A Case Study Using Collaterals.

Are you dealing with an ancestor who seems to have been hatched? Who landed in the middle of the United States with no obvious way of getting here? If so, this is the program may help you unravel the mystery.

Refreshments. Bring a friend.

Genealogy Roots Blog

Genealogy Roots is a blog about vital records.

It is designed to help you  find online genealogy databases, records and resources. The focus is on vital records (birth, marriage, divorce & death records), obituaries, census records, naturalization records, military records and ship passenger lists.

July GFT

The "Genealogy First Tuesday" (GFT) for July will take place on Tuesday, July 3.

As July is an "odd month," the Genealogy Room will be open in the afternoon, between 2:00 and 4:30 pm.
If you want to use the resources in our Genealogy Room...or if you would like some guidance or new ideas for solving genealogical problems...or if you want to add your surnames to the Name Index...or if you have hit a genealogical "Brick wall"...or if you enjoy chatting with others who are working on their family trees...GFT is for you!
Registration is required but a Glenview Library Card is not.

To register, please call the Reference Desk at (847) 729-7500 x7700. If you have questions, or if there is a topic in genealogy you would like to know more about, or if there is a subject you would like to suggest for the GFT, please call Deena at (847) 729-7500 x2712.

NEW GENEALOGY VOLUNTEER

Please welcome our newest genealogy room volunteer, Sarah Golden!

Sarah attends Lawrence University, and is currently on summer break. She will staff the Genealogy Room on Fridays this summer from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Sarah has performed extensive research of her family's origins and history. She has discovered and contacted many relatives, several of whom are Holocause survivors.  Sarah has become very good at doing Jewish genealogy and family history research, and will be happy to help people in this area.

Please stop by the Genealogy Room and meet Sarah. You can also call at (847) 729-7500 x2709.

1940 CENSUS SEARCHABLE FOR SOME STATES!

As of june 1, The 1940 census was searchable by name for about 20 states, and the District of Columbia.
Here is what is available for each partner site:

--Ancestry:  Delaware, Maine, Nevada and Washington, DC. A chart on the 1940 census page lets you see indexing progress.


--FamilySearch:  You can search 14 states/territories by your ancestor's name: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming.


--Archives.com: same states as FamilySearch. To access the unindexed portion of the census, this site sends you to the National Archives' 1940 census site.


--FindMyPast.com:  same states as FamilySearch, along with Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi and Montana..  Alaska, a territory in 1940, is missing from the color-coded map on the home page.
 
--MyHeritage: there is a searchable name index for Rhode Island, and a partial name index for New York.

ILLINOIS STATE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY FALL CONFERENCE 2012

The Illinois State Genealogical Society conference is always a high-quality informative conference, with wonderful speakers. It is perfect for your Illinois research. Don't miss it!

ORDERING IRISH CERTIFICATES

ORDERING CIVIL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES

FOR NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Certificates for the whole of Ireland before 1922 are at the Republic of Ireland General Register Office.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
General Register Office
Government Offices
Convent Road Roscommon
Ireland (Eire)

to order by FAX using Visa or MasterCard,:
011-353-90-6632999


NORTHERN IRELAND (1922 to present)
General Register Office
Oxford House
49/55 Chichester Street
Belfast BT1 4HL
Northern Ireland

To order by telephone with Visa or MasterCard:
011-44-289-0252000
Phone: 011-353-90-6632900

http://www.groireland.ie/aboutus.htm has information and forms online/
To order online, or to print application for ordering by mail, go to:
http://www.groni.gov.uk/index.htm

(A photocopy of the register entry is less expensive than a full certificate.)

JUNE 24: JGSI SPECIAL PROGRAM

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI)
Sunday, June 24th 2012

1:30 Refreshments (There will be no help desk at this meeting.)

2:00 Program:
Special Showing of Prisoner of Her Past at Temple Beth Israel.  Howard Reich will join us with his personal commentary.

Prisoner of Her Past tracks Howard's journey across the United States and Eastern Europe to discover why his mother believes - to this day - that the world has conspired to try to execute her.

The documentary Prisoner of Her Past will be screened at the Jewish Genealogical Society meeting on Sunday, June 24, 2012, in Skokie. The film’s producer-writer-narrator, Howard Reich, the Chicago Tribune's jazz critic, will comment on the story of his mother, Sonia, a Jew from Poland, who survived the Holocaust as a child by running and hiding.

Decades later, believing that the world had conspired to execute her, Sonia Reich fled her house one night, suitcase in hand, insisting that someone was going to shoot her in the head. In the documentary film, Howard Reich explains how he returned to Dubno (now in Ukraine) to try to find answers to questions about his mother's past that ultimately led to her late-onset post-traumatic stress disorder.

The film ventures beyond Sonia Reich's story, to show what can be done to help traumatized children today. It looks in particular at young victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Howard Reich first wrote about his mother in a Chicago Tribune article in 2003 and then published a book about her and his research into her past, The First and Final Nightmare of Sonia Reich, in 2006. His documentary film came out in 2010.

New Book: THE CIRCLES

The Circles : Releigh, Baffin, Drake, Hudson, York; architectural heritage /  by John R. Hedrick and  Lauren C. Griffin, produced with the support of: The Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, at DePaul University. -- c2011, Scenic Illinois.

This compilation of homes captures architectural and landscape features of assorted noteworthy homes representing each of the streets which encompass The Circles.

An engineering map highlights primary geographic and historic aspects, and shows the overall layout of The Circles.

Includes are historic photos of downtown Glenview in the 1920s, along with historical background on the development of the subdivision. 

The "References" page includes assorted facts and resources relating to The Circles.

You can see The Circles in the Local History and Genealogy collection at call number RRA 720.97731 HED.  It can also be checked out in New Nonfiction at call number OVERSIZE 720.97731 HED.

THE ONLINE GENEALOGIST

The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) offers a free online service called the Online Genealogist.

They cover genealogy, research methodology, resources, social and cultural history, DNA, military history, immigration, and have many specialized resources to help you research New England Ancestors.

Sample questions and answers are on the Question of the Day page. Email questions to onlinegenealogist@nehgs.org or call (617)-226-1222.  

NEW GENEALOGY VOLUNTEER

Please welcome our newest genealogy volunteer, Donna Roginski.
Donna will staff the Genealogy and Local History Room at the Glenview Public Library on Mondays from 9:30 to 12:30.

You may know Donna from the Wilmette Family History Center, where she also volunteers.  She is very knowledgeable and experienced with genealogy, and we are happy and grateful to have her on board here at the Library.

Please stop by and meet Donna….or call the G and LH Room at (847) 729-7500 x2709 and say "Hello!".

40 TOP INTERNATIONAL GENEALOGY BLOGS

From Family Tree Magazine Genealogy Insider, newsletter@familytreecommunity.com :

Family Tree Magazine's 40 top international genealogy blogs are like having your own local guide to unfamiliar customs in a foreign country.

GLOBAL ADOPTEE GENEALOGY PROJECT

The Global Adoptee Genealogy Project (GAGP) will help adoptees learn about their own biological and cultural roots through  DNA testing partners and with the science, technology, and adoption communities.

Mixed Roots Foundation will recruit participants, and will help offset costs of DNA testing for adoptees in need of financial assistance.

To learn more about the GAGP, contact fillinginthegagp@mixedrootsfoundation.org

Two CAGGNI Presentations

2nd Saturday Workshop Series


on

"Creative Memories Digital Scrapbooks"  9 June 2012 at 10:30AM at the Schaumburg Township District Library.  Facilitator: Kate Thommes
This special workshop focuses specifically on the Creative Memories digital scrapbooking. Bring your laptop and follow along, or watch as Kate shows the tips and tricks that will make your family history scrapbook a smashing success.

"Deep Ancestry: Beyond the Paper Trail," presented by CAGGNI's President, Michelle Wilson on
Saturday, 16 June 2012 at 10:30 am at the Schauburg Township District Library.
While some genealogists claim kin back to Charlemagne, for all of us, the paper trail eventually peters out. Fortunately, genetics, linguistics, paeleontology, and other sciences are opening up new ways to discover our deep ancestry. Building on last year's "Genes for the Genealogist" program, Michelle will show how your ancestor's ancient migration routes can be traced and how to find where you fit in the tree of humanity. Don't miss this informative and engaging presentation. Part of CAGGNI's DNA Series

CAGGNI (Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois) is a group of amateur genealogists who are committed to using technology and the internet more effectively in support of their family history research activities.


CAGGNI meets at 10:30am on the third Saturday of every month except December usually at the Schaumburg Township District Library. Monthly meeting topics cover a broad range of subjects of interest in supporting genealogical activities including software, tools, techniques and methodologies. Additionally, monthly newsletters, support for both computer and genealogy issues and Internet surname exposure are among the benefits of membership.
For questions about the group, contact vicepresident@caggni.org.

NSGS Meeting: June 9

The North Suburban Genealogical Society (NSGS) meeting this Saturday, June 9, with Sarah Kirby on "Accessing Newspapers Online" takes place at 1:00 pm at the Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook.


Usually meetings are the second Saturday of the month, but because of an event in the Northbrook park next door, the July meeting is always on the third Saturday.

GENEALOGY WISE

I came across a genealogy social networking site called Genealogy Wise, which is sponsored by the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.    It is quite interactive, offering groups, forums, classes, certification, etc.  The groups have a specific genealogical focus involving ethnic, geographical, or cultural background, and are very informative.  The whole site is designed to be as educational as possible.

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN GENEALOGY

GenTeam is a website for Austro-Hungarian genealogy that includes free databases made by and for genealogists.  Registration is required. The collection currently contains 6,935,821 entries and is continually updated.

Examples of databases include: Gazetteer of Czech, Austrian and Slovenian Republics; 3500 Members of different lodges; Roman Catholic marriages of Vienna between 1542 and 1850/1860; Indices of Protestant and Jewish Records in Vienna; 18,000 Resignations from the Jewish Community in Vienna between 1868 and 1914; Foundling Baptisms in Vienna Between 1816 And 1868; etc.

For deciphering records in German, Google Translate is helpful.

SEX, MURDER, AND GENEALOGY

Sunday - May 20th: Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI) monthly meeting at Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 North Broadway, Chicago.

12:30: genealogical questions and help desk.

2:00 Program: JGSI President, Mike Karsen brings us a Chicago Story of Sex, Murder and Genealogy:Dora Feldman McDonald, the daughter of German Jewish immigrants, made the front page of Chicago newspapers in 1907 when she shot her lover. Dora, who was married to one of the most powerful political bosses in Chicago at the time, used murder to end this affair and her lover's blackmail. But what ever happened to her after her dramatic acquittal the following year? Genealogist Mike Karsen uses every trick in his tool bag to set the record straight and follow her trail.

BEGINNING GENEALOGY CLASS



Classes at Arlington Heights Library

Very Beginning Genealogy – From Scratch
Saturday, June 9
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Hendrickson Room
Beginning genealogists, start your family history now! Local History/Genealogy Librarian, Michael Mulholland will show you how.
Register by calling 847-392-011 or online at http://www.ahml.info/


Genealogy Research and Translation Help
Saturday, June 9
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Hendrickson Room
Need help with your ancestor hunting? Can’t read that old document? Genealogy volunteers and translators will be available to help with your research. Languages will include German, French, Russian, Polish, Swedish, and Ukrainian. Call 847-870-3643 for details.
Register by calling 847-392-011 or online at http://www.ahml.info/

Public County Land Documents

LandAccess.com allows searching of documents that are recorded in the County Recorder's, or Clerk's Office.

To search one of the counties, just click on the county name. Counties that are not underlined (linked) require you to be registered and logged in.  Register by clicking here.

The USA map shows counties in the database.  Click on a state for details about ordering records

New Book: GENEALOGY by George C. Morgan

The new 3rd edition of Genealogy by George C, Morgan is part of the How To Do Everything series, and incorporates the most current information, resources, and approaches in family history research.  This comprehensive book helps you begin your research, expand it,  and go on to more advanced methods and strategies.

Numerous kinds of records are introduced and explored. Important tips are highlighted, and there are many useful illustrations.

Genealogy is available for checkout at 929.1072 MOR.

MIDWESTERN ROOTS 2012

The Midwestern Roots Conference takes place in Indianapolis.  It includes more than 30 sessions with many focused on the technologies that are changing the way you research your family history, along with a Family History Market and Book Fair.

A wide range of nationally known speakers will help you continue on your journey to find your family story. These include Dick Eastman, Shamele Jordon, J. Mark Lowe, Thomas MacEntee, Daniel S. Poffenberger, Juliana Smith, Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, D. Joshua Taylor, Patricia Van Skaik, Curt B. Witcher and more.

Glenview History Center: Yard Sale Donations

Donating your antiques and historic items

will support

the Glenview History Center.

Donations accepted

on Tuesdays, 1:00 to 4:00

starting May 1

How's the Indexing Coming?

Has the state you want to research in the 1940 Census been indexed yet? 

And how much of it has been indexed?

Click this Family Search link to find out.

Heritage Quest Online class

Heritage Quest Online is available only through libraries, and can be accessed on your home computer.


It includes federal censuses from 1790 to 1930, PERSI index, over 28,000 family and local histories, Revolutionary War records, Freedman's Bank records, and U.S. Serial Set.

To register, please call the Reference Desk at 847-729-7500 x7700. A Glenview Library card is required for registration.

CAGGNI Meeting & Newsletter

The March 2012 issue of CAGGNI NEWSLETTER is available for your perusal in the Genealogy Room.

Some highlights include an April 21 presentation with 5 panelists on Setting Up Your Family History Website; a May 16 presentation about Mining the Census Records by Steve Szabados; and a June 16 presentation on Deep Ancestry: Beyond the Paper Trail, by Michelle Bray Wilson, which is part of CAGGNI's DNA Series.


CAGGNI (Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois) is a group of amateur genealogists who are committed to using technology and the internet more effectively in support of their family history research activities.

CAGGNI meets at 10:30am on the third Saturday of every month except December usually at the Schaumburg Township District Library. Monthly meeting topics cover a broad range of subjects of interest in supporting genealogical activities including software, tools, techniques and methodologies. Additionally, monthly newsletters, support for both computer and genealogy issues and Internet surname exposure are among the benefits of membership.

For questions about the group, contact vicepresident@caggni.org .

DATING FAMILY PHOTOS

Please join the North Suburban Genealogical Society (NSGS) for a program on Dating Family Photos by the Clothing Worn, with Ellie Carlson, museum curator and costume specialist.


Bring a photograph. Ellie will help you date when it was taken.

Meeting is Saturday, April 14, at 1:00 pm at the Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062.

Refreshments served. Bring a friend.

This program is a Road Scholar program sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council.

1940 Census; & Online Finding Aids

The 1940 Census

and

Online Finding Aids

Two lectures, presented by Joel Weintraub for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI).
Sunday, April 29th, Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street in Skokie.


The Temple will open at 12:30 and JGSI members will be available to help answer genealogical questions, help with Internet searches or for those interested in using their resources.
Registration at 1:00, Program at 1:30
(Non-members will be charged $10, which can be applied to JGSI membership until June 1, 2012)

Dr. Weintraub is an Emeritus Biology Professor at California State University, Fullerton and has won awards for his science teaching. He became interested in genealogy about 12 years ago, and volunteered for 9 years at the National Archives and Records Administration in southern California. Joel started transcribing streets within census districts in 2001 to help researchers search the 1930 U.S. Census (released in 2002). He was joined in the venture by David Kehs and Stephen Morse in 2002, and together, they have produced a number of online census searching utilities for both the federal and the New York State censuses on the Morse One Step Website. Joel has been working on finder aids for the 1940 census since 2005, and has given talks on that census starting in 2006.

April 3: GFT

April 3 is the first Tuesday of the month, and there will be a GFT from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Genealogy Room of the Glenview Public Library.

Are you stuck, and not sure where to search next?  

 do you enjoy chatting with others who might be researching the same people and places you are?

 have you hit a genealogical brick wall?

 are you wondering what's new in the world of genealogy?

would you like to use the resources in the Genealogy Room?

are you a beginner?

have you been doing genealogy for a long time?

These are all great reasons for attending the GFT!

Registration is encouraged but not required.  A Glenview library card is not necessary for registration.

Call the Reference Desk at (847) 729-7500 x7700 to register.

Deena Butta
Reference Librarian / Genealogy Specialist

Happy 1940!

The 1940 U.S. Federal Census was released this  morning , April 2nd, at 9:00 a.m.

Ancestry.com  already has several states loaded.  You can browse those images on their site or at Ancestry Library Edition.
 Archives.com also gives everyone free access.

Read a fun article by genealogist Megan Smolenyak about Who We're Searching For and Why in the 1940 Census.

Here are a few general links to 1940 Census resources.

JGSI March Meeting

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI) Sunday March 25 meeting at Temple Beth Israel (3601 W. Dempster Street in Skokie).  Scheduled program begins at 2:00:

Marty Fischer will present a genealogical research case study: "The Most Famous Man in America You Never Heard Of".Marty will discuss his research on a relative whose name regularly appeared in newspapers all over the United States.  Today, that person is unknown to the general public, but through his research hopes to breathe life into his relative's memory.

The Temple will open at 12:30 and JGSI members will be available to help answer genealogical questions, help with internet searches or for those interested in using the library resources. JGSI has recently added many wonderful new books and maps to the library.

Ordnance Survey Ireland

Here is information shared by Brian Mitchell of the Derry Genealogy Centre:

"View, free of charge, the historic 19th-century mapping archive of Ordnance Survey Ireland.

Simply pan across the map, select map series (such as Historic 6", Historic 6" B&W or Historic 25") and zoom in to view the townland in greater detail. Historic 6" refers to 6-inch mapping series, both color and greyscale, of 1837-1842, and Historic 25" to 25 inch mapping series, greyscale, of 1888-1913."

(Thank You to Genealogical Publishing Company)

Maps for Irish Research

A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland / by Brian Mitchell
R911.415 MIT GENEALOGY

This book maps, by county, Ireland's network of civil parishes (Church of Ireland parishes normally conform to the civil parish), Roman Catholic parishes and, for the nine northern counties of Ulster, its network of Presbyterian congregations.

(Thank You to Genealogical Publishing Co.)

Irish Place Names

To gain insight into the economic and social landscape of 19th-century Ireland you can consult A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, published in 1837, by Samuel Lewis.

Arranged in alphabetical order by place, this dictionary provides an overview of the geography and history of Ireland's villages, parishes and towns, as they existed at the time of publication (1837).

(Thank You to Genealogical Publishing Co.)

Townland Location for Irish Genealogy

General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland, Based on the Census of Ireland for the Year 1851 / by Alexander Thom, Dublin, 1861.
R929.3415 GEN GENEALOGY


This is an important tool for identifying Irish place names.


The Townland Index is a record of townland names, their size and location--by county, barony, civil parish, poor law union, and 1st edition Ordnance Survey map number--as recorded in the 1851 census and as they have been officially spelled and designated ever since.
The "Placenames" search option at www.irishtimes.com/ancestor  enables researchers to search the Townland Index, together with street listings from Dublin, Cork, and Belfast cities, to pinpoint county, civil parish, and poor law union locations for more than 65,000 place names.
(Thank You to Genealogical Publishing Co.)

Top Sites For Irish Genealogy

The website About.Com.Genealogy is featuring Top Web Sites For Researching Irish Ancestors.

Erin Go Bragh!

Upcoming Programs

THE PROGRAMS BELOW WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE ARLINGTON HEIGHTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY:

Adoption Searches Past and Present
Monday, March 26, 7 p.m. / Hendrickson Room
You've just discovered that an ancestor was adopted. What do you do now? Researching adoption records is very challenging. Matt Rutherford, curator of genealogy and local history at the Newberry Library, will discuss the history of adoption records, policies and research in the United States. Register

Setting Up Your Genealogy Website
Saturday, April 21 10 a.m. / Hendrickson Room
The Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois (CAGGN-I) will hold a panel discussion on how to create your own genealogy website. Register

Family Tree Maker – Special Interest Group
Saturday, April 21, noon / Hendrickson Room
Family Tree Maker (FTM) is one of the most popular genealogy softwares. If you already use it or are considering buying it, come to the FMT special interest group. They will answer all your questions. Register
Railroad Ties to Arlington Heights History (part of AH 125)
Saturday, April 21, 2 p.m. / Hendrickson Room
The railroad has been vital in the historical development of Arlington Heights. Joe Piersen, manager of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad archives, will discuss the history of that railroad, its impact on Arlington Heights, and how to access information on railroad employees. Register

1940 Census: 2 Lectures

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois proudly presents Dr. Joel Weintraub:

"The 1940 Census and Online Finding Aids," Two Lectures.

Save the date! Sunday, April 29, 2012 -- 1 p.m. (check-in)

Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster Street, Skokie, IL 60076.

rsvp@jgsi.org
www.jewishgen.org/jgsi

Dr. Weintraub is an emeritus biology professor at California State University, Fullerton, and has won awards for his science teaching. He became interested in genealogy about 12 years ago and volunteered for 9 years at the National Archives and Records Administration in southern California. Joel started transcribing streets within census districts in 2001 to help researchers search the 1930 U.S. Census (released in 2002). He was joined in the venture by David Kehs and Stephen Morse in 2002, and together, they have produced several online census searching utilities for both the federal and the New York State censuses on the Morse One Step website. Joel has been working on finder aids for the 1940 census since 2005, and has given talks on that census starting in 2006.

Lecture free to JGSI members Non-members $10 (will apply to JGSI membership when you join by June 1, 2012)

For more information and to reserve your seat, phone 312-666-0100 ore-mail

CAGGNI March Meetings

Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois (CAGGNI)

--2nd Saturday Workshop Series: Technology Basics for Genealogists. -- 10 Mar 2012 10:30 AM • Schaumburg Township District Library - Conf. Room.

--Memberahip program: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 10:30am: "What's New in Technology" by Ed Rosenthal, Schaumburg Township District Library

--AQ / PAF - Special Interest Group, 17 Mar 2012 12:45 PM • Conference Room, Schaumburg Township District Library

NSGS March Meeting

The North Suburban Genealogical Society is based at the Winnetka Library, 768 Oak Street, Winnetka, Illinois. It serves all the surrounding communities in the northeastern Chicago suburbs.  Monthly meetings are held at the Northbrook Historical Society, 1776 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois.
NEXT MEETING: Saturday, March 10, 2012, 1:00 PM:  "Using www.FamilySearch.org For Your Genealogy Research," presented by Maureen Brady.   This web site is constantly changing and Maureen will discuss new developments. She is an expert in LDS research.

NWSCG April Meeting

Jerry Allen will present “Searching for Great Grandpa-Find your Union Soldier” at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists (NWSCG). The meeting will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 10:00 am at The Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL

At 9:30 am, prior to the presentation, there will be casual discussion and exchange of information with others who enjoy genealogy.

Jerry’s presentation is about his search to find information about his great grandfather, Captain John K Allen of the 78th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Starting with very little information, his search took him to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., Chickamauga National Military Park, and other historical locations.

Jerry Allen grew up on a farm in LaCrosse County, Wisconsin with a predominantly Norwegian heritage. Although not a professional historian, Jerry has had a life-long interest in history with a special interest in the Civil War and American Indian Conflicts. He is a member of various Civil War Round Tables and a past president of the Civil War Round Table of Chicago and the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table. His projects include researching a Scandinavian Civil War Regiment, Minnesota’s Dakota Conflict of 1862, and a portrayal of Major General George H. Thomas.

March GFT

The "Genealogy First Tuesday" (GFT) for March will take place on Tuesday, March 6, between 2:00 and 4:30 in the Genealogy Room.

If you want to use the resources in our Genealogy Room...or if you would like some guidance or new ideas for solving genealogical problems...or if you enjoy chatting with others working on their family trees...GFT is for you!

Registration is encouraged but not required.  To register, please call the Reference Desk at (847) 729-7500 x7700.  If you have questions, or if there is a topic in genealogy you would like to know more about, call Deena at (847) 729-7500 x2712.

Tuesdays With Jane

Tuesday is the best day for using our Genealogy Room.


Jane Marmet is there every Tuesday from 10:00 to 3:00 to help you with our Lundberg books and magazines, the Local History Collection, or other materials that must be used in that room.


Jane can be reached at (847) 729-7500 x2709.

Get Ready For the 1940 Census

April 2, 2012 will be here soon!

Stephen Morse's website has some great finding aids for determining the enumeration district (ED)
number(s) you will need to know in order to find your people in the 1940 census, including ideas for finding addresses if you don't know them. Since there is no indexing, you MUST know the ED numbers.

In this video interview, Dr. Morse talks about the 1940 census, and emphasizes the importance of "doing your homework" in advance.  His Tutorial Quiz was developed to help you determine what you need to find out in order to access the 1940 US census when it becomes available on April 2.

Dr. Morse has also written a great article about searching without a name index.

Tracing Your Italian Immigrant Family

"Tracing Your Italian Immigrant Family:" Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m., at the Mount Prospect Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect IL  60056.

 Dan Niemiec, Italian genealogy correspondent for Fra Noi (Chicagoland's Italian American Voice) will share websites and techniques for unearthing information about your ancestors, either from Italy or other countries.

Please sign up on the internet at http://www.mppl.org/, at the Library, or by calling 847/ 253-5675  (TDD 847 / 590-3797.

Standard Finder

Family Search Labs Standard Finder is a standardized location database that provides access to standardized information for names, locations, and dates, and is designed to to help you determine exact spellings

Results will include place name variants, place type, place time period, standard text, culture, iso-code, geo-code (latitude and longitude) and an identification number for the place name.

Standard Finder can be of assistance in determining proper spellings of locations, checking if locations exist as well as determining alternate name spellings/variants to expand research.

It is fascinating to click on a result, and view the ancestral place on a map along with physical features and other nearby places.

Saving the SSDI

The SSDI has been removed from from Rootsweb due to sensitivities around the information in it, but is still accessible to search on Ancestry.com and Ancestry Library Edition.

Four bills pending in the US Congress would remove the SSDI Death Master File from public access on the premise that it facilitates identity fraud on tax returns. However, the public access to the SSDI
stems from a 1980 court ruling that it prevents identity fraud.

The core problem is that the IRS does not use this resource to screen fraudulent claims, as well as other processing errors within the SSA.

The Records Preservation and Access Committee has created a Call to Action Kit.

Please consider signing the petition to help stop identity fraud, and save public access to the SSDI.

This affects everyone not just genealogists.

Irish Genealogical Research Society

The Irish Genealogical Research Society has launched a monthly e-bulletin containing news about resources and developments in Irish genealogy.
Although the new e-bulletin is intended to be exclusive to the Society's membership, the first edition only is being made available on a limited wider scale until the end of February. Request a copy by sending an email to IGRSOC2011@hotmail.co.uk with 'IGRS Bulletin 1/12' in the subject line.

Member benefits include a newsletter, an annual scholarly journal, and free access to a large collection of Irish genealogy material.  The Society's website also offers a changing online programme of member-only access to a selection of manuscript materials.
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CAGG-NI Meetings

CAGG-NI (Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois) is a group of amateur genealogists who are committed to using technology and the internet more effectively in support of their family history research activities.
CAGG-NI meets at 10:30am on the third Saturday of every month except December usually at the Schaumburg Township District Library. Monthly meeting topics cover a broad range of subjects of interest in supporting genealogical activities including software, tools, techniques and methodologies. Additionally, monthly newsletters, support for both computer and genealogy issues and Internet surname exposure are among the benefits of membership.

March 17: "What's New In Technology" by Ed Rosenthal

April 21: at 10 a.m.: "Setting Up Your Family History Website"; at 12 noon: CAGG-NI's "Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group"; at 2:00 p.m.: Craig Pfannkushe on the Chicago and NW Railroad.

For questions about the group, contact president@caggni.org.

NWSCG: March Meeting

Walter Marzinke will present “A Brief History of Germany, Poland and Russia” at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists (NWSCG). The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 10:00 am at The Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W Central Rd., Arlington Heights, IL.

At 9:30 am, prior to the presentation, there will be casual discussion and exchange of information with others who enjoy genealogy.

Walter is going to provide a short background on German immigration to Poland and Russia starting with Catherine the Great. His presentation will focus on the last 150 years from about 1850 to the fall of Communism. He calls this "The 150 YEARS THAT EUROPE WENT CRAZY."Walter highlights his presentation with pictures of his travels and experiences as he attempted to connect his family genealogy by revisiting the places of his ancestors.

Walter Marzinke describes himself as an amateur European history buff. He is a naturalized American; born in Poland during World War II, to German parents who had been resettled from Russia. Today this area would be known as Ukraine. Walter’s family immigrated to Canada in 1950 and eventually Walter moved to the United States. He has made numerous trips to Germany, Ukraine, and Poland. Walter is a member of and active in numerous German, Russian and Polish Genealogy Groups. Besides English he is fluent in German since this was the language used in his parents’ home during his childhood years.

NWSCG P O Box 148, Mt Prospect, IL 60056