New Weekend Hours!

Drop by the Genealogy & Local History Room this Sunday to use our print collections or to get research help. Our volunteer, Jonathan, will be here from 1:30-5:00 PM.

The Genealogy & Local History Room will be open at least one weekend per month. Check our schedule for details.

Online Resources for Mexico

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!

FamilySearch recently uploaded a new free webinar on Online Resources for Mexico. The webinar includes tips for finding online church directories and gazetteers as well as some great databases and online archives.

FamilySearch offers lots of webinars for Mexico, Latin America, and general Hispanic genealogy.

The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy

The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood is a classic genealogy text. First published in 1973, you'll still find The Researcher's Guide being used as a textbook in many genealogy courses.

Published in 2000, the third edition can feel old-fashioned. The sections on correspondence and computers are especially outdated. But chapters on evidence and standards of proof provide excellent introductions to these topics for the casual researcher. Greenwood also offers timeless information on genealogy subjects such as records, in-person research, terminology, and organization.

An essential text for the genealogist wishing to become a more serious researcher.

How I Use DNA in My Genealogy Research

The Glenview Public Library is hosting a program with the North Suburban Genealogical Society this Saturday at 1 PM.

How I Use DNA in My Genealogy Research with Caron Primas Brennan
Genealogist Caron Primas Brennan will talk about the “why” and “how” of DNA testing in genealogy research. Using case studies and examples, she explains how she incorporated DNA testing into her research.

Register for the program online or call the Reference Desk at 847-729-7500.

Researching Your Ancestors' Occupation

Knowing your ancestors' occupation gives context to their life stories and can tell you a little bit

about how they lived. Fortunately, there are plenty of records to help you identify how your ancestors made a living.

Census Records
In 1850, the US Census began recording occupations. More recent censuses ask more detailed questions about a person's employer. Also, check the non-population schedules. Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Industry schedules give more details about a person's occupation. The Agriculture schedules for instance ask about acreage, livestock and crops grown on a farm. You'll see exactly what your ancestor farmed and how it compared to other farms in the neighborhood.

City Directories
City and county directories list residents with their addresses and occupations. You may discover their work address here too and possibly find an advertisement for their business.

Newspapers
News stories, obituaries, and even wedding announcements may include information on a person's occupation. Farmers' auctions and business news can give you further details about your ancestor's living. Search the local advertisement sections for business ads.

Tax Assessments Lists
IRS Assessment lists include information about occupation and income. They also list other luxuries your ancestor may have owned.

Military Records
Draft registrations asked for a person's employer. Pension records include information about a serviceman's military career and, occasionally, their post-military work and income.

Immigration Records
Passenger lists, emigration records, and passport applications may also note a person's occupation.

For Labor Day, Ancestry's occupation records are free to search through Monday!