Genealogy Meetings

Genealogy First Tuesdays is not meeting this month but if you're looking for other genealogy-related events to go to in September, check out one of these genealogy societies:

Northwest Suburban Genealogy Society

September 6 at 10 am

Arlington Heights Senior Center

1801 W. Central Rd., Arlington Heights

"Truth or Fiction: Unraveling a Family Yarn" with Teresa Steinkamp McMillan

Hear the story of a 19th century Irish immigrant in Chicago. Learn how Ms. McMillan discovered the truth behind the family lore of this immigrant ancestor.

North Suburban Genealogical Society

September 13 at 1 pm

Northbrook History Museum

1776 Walters Ave., Northbrook

"Write Your Family History Now!" with Mike Karsen

Learn how to organize, write, and publish your genealogy research.

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

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.

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

Cook County Property Records

Jeanne Bloom CG(SM) will present Polished Gems: Property Records of Cook County at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, November 5, at 10:00 AM at The Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL

*****PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A NEW DAY, TIME AND ADDRESS*****

Plan to arrive at 9:30 AM, prior to the presentation, for casual discussion or to exchange information with others who enjoy genealogy.

Unlike most of the counties in Illinois, Cook County property records are organized by legal descriptions. To obtain a legal description, a researcher must know the current address of the property. Real estate documents recorded after 1871 are first recorded in tract books. Document numbers are then recorded in paging books. Jeanne will explain where to go and what steps to take to locate your property records.

Jeanne Bloom CG(SM) is a full-time professional researcher specializing in Chicago and Cook County research, problem solving and multi-generational family histories. She conducts research projects for government agencies, attorneys, authors, newspapers, heir-search firms, professional genealogists, and family researchers. Jeanne searches and identifies family members of unaccounted servicemen from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Jeanne writes articles for scholarly journals and society publications and is a frequent lecturer at conferences, workshops, and institutes. She has served as the editor of a book and a newsletter.

Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists

P.O. Box 148 ● Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056.

Women and WWII

Kathryn Barrett will present Women and World War II at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, October 1, 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.

Much has been written about the men who served in WWII - but what about the women? The impact of this war affected all aspects of a woman’s life - not just those who came to be characterized as “Rosie the Riveter”. The history of the women in military and civilian service will be explored as well as day-to-day life adjustments made to accommodate a dramatic change in American culture.

Kathryn Barrett is a genealogy researcher, teacher and lecturer at the local, regional and national level using her 35 years of genealogy experience. Kathryn has been a volunteer at the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA)-Great Lakes Regional Center for more than 15 years. Kathryn is a professional member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Society (FGS) and the Wisconsin State Historical Society. Kathryn’s presentations have been made to various genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and other special interest groups.

Who Sank Grandpa's Boat?

Dan Niemiec will present Who Sank Grandpa’s Boat at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL
9:30 AM, prior to the presentation, there will be casual discussion and information exchange with others who enjoy genealogy.

Looking for that elusive ancestor that came to America by boat, but hitting a brick wall? Dan will explain helpful techniques for finding those passenger manifests.

Dan Niemiec is the Italian genealogy correspondent of Fra-Noi. He is co-founder, co-chair and webmaster of the Italian genealogy group called POINTers In Person, Chicago-North chapter. He has given presentations to local and national genealogy conferences and societies. His Italian ancestral lines go back to the mid-late 1600’s and his Polish lines go back to the mid 1700’s. By tracing descendant lines, he has found over 62,000 relatives, the result of 17 years of original research.

Publicity1@nwscg.com Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists

P.O. Box 148 ● Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056

Hunting Henry: A Case Study Using Collaterals

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin will present "Hunting Henry: A Case Study Using Collaterals" at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

Are you researching an ancestor who seems to have been hatched? Who landed in the middle of the United States with no obvious way of getting here? Expanding your research beyond the person, to associates and neighbors, can lead to the resolution of your problem.

Teresa is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, as well as many local genealogical societies. She has been interested in genealogy since she was a child and has been actively researching her German ancestry and her husband’s "Chicago Irish" for the past decade.

Join us at 7:00p.m., prior to the presentation, for casual discussion or to exchange information with others who enjoy genealogy.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest View Educational Center Room 100 2121 S. Goebbert Road Arlington Heights, Illinois.

For more information, contact us at Publicity1@nwscg.com

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

Military Service Records

Kathryn Barrett will give a presentation on "Military Service Records" at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest View Educational Center Room 100 2121 S. Goebbert Road Arlington Heights, Illinois

Kathryn Barrett is a genealogy researcher, teacher and lecturer at the local, regional and national level. Kathryn has been a volunteer at the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) at the Great Lakes Regional Center for more than 15 years. She recently organized a local homeowner association genealogical group and makes monthly presentations on a wide variety of genealogical topics, including Naturalization, Evolution of the Federal Census and The Orphan Train. Kathryn is a professional member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Society (FGS), and the Wisconsin State Historical Society with 35+ years of genealogy experience

Contact: Publicity1@nwscg.com
Northwest Suburban Council of GenealogistsP.O. Box 148 ● Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056

Marriage Records

Ginger Frere will present Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places: Searching for Marriage Records at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest View Educational Center Room 100 2121 S. Goebbert Road Arlington Heights, Illinois

Arrive at 7:00 p.m., prior to the presentation, for casual discussion or to exchange information with others who enjoy genealogy.

Youve looked through civil records and church records. What else should you do if you cant find your ancestors marriage records? In the United States, requirements for a valid marriage have changed over time and varied from state to state. Today, couples in a hurry might rush off to Las Vegas. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, numerous towns across the nation were known as Marriage Mills or Gretna Greens. Learn about some of these locations and find out why you might be looking for marriage records in the wrong place.

A life-long Chicagoan, Ginger Frere has been involved in family history for more than 15 years. She is the principal of Information Diggers, providing a variety of research services. In addition, Ginger works in the Genealogy and Local History section at the Newberry Library of Chicago, which is noted for its genealogical holdings and services.

Meeting sponsored by Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists, P.O. Box 148, Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056

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

Cemetery Research

Craig Pfannkuche will present Dates From The Stones: Cemetery Research at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists to be held on October 19, 2010 at Forest View Educational Center, Room 100, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Craig will share with you that cemeteries are outstanding places to find good family history information. After doing a bit of homework prior to a trip, one should not stop only to visit the cemetery office. Wandering out among the stones can bring valuable family information not contained on the office “plot card.” The art on stones can tell us a lot; there may even be family photographs on the stones.

Craig Pfannkuche is president of Memory Trail Research, Inc. and is the genealogical archivist of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Historical Society. He serves on the Boards of the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society and the Chicago Genealogical Society, and is listed as a railroad resource person in the book, The Source. Craig is a former American History instructor. He holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Northern Illinois University

He is a lively and popular speaker at workshops and conferences and has published many articles. A recent article “Amboy’s (Illinois) Railroad Baron” appears in the Amboy Depot Museum Journal, Winter 2009.

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

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

News From the Northwest

The May-June issue of the News From the Northwest genealogy newsletter is now available from the NWSCG for you to read in the Reference room.

News From the Northwest

The March–April 2010 issue of News From the Northwest, the newsletter of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists (NWSCG), is available for you to peruse in the Reference Room. Look for it on the genealogy magazine and newsletter display.

Upcoming NWSCG meetings will feature the following topics and speakers:
March 16, 2010: Craig Pfannkuche: The Non-Federal Civil War Sources
April 20, 2010: Kathryn Barrett: Naturalization: Its History & Records

Meeting Location : Forest View Educational Center
2121 South Goebbert Road (Turn south at Golf and Goebbert)
Room 100, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
Meetings start at 7:30 pm

NWSCG Meeting, March 16

Craig Pfannkuche will present “Non-Federal Civil War Sources for Family History Research” at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists to be held on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest View Educational Center, Room 100, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

For the most part, the armies that fought in the Civil War were composed of regiments raised by state governments and led by officers from the home states of those regiments. While most researchers know about Federal military records, many states kept detailed recruiting and enlistment records. These records, along with other local records, provide a great deal of family history information beyond what can be found in Federal records.

Craig is on the Board of Directors for the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society and the Chicago Genealogical Society. He is the Genealogical Archivist for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Historical Society. He is also mentioned as a railroad resource person in the book “The Source.” Craig not only has given workshops and conference presentations, he has published many articles. The most recent was “Death on the Oregon Trail” in TRACER magazine for the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society.

For more information, call 847-818-9159

Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists

The current issue of News From the Northwest, published by the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists, is on display in the genealogy corner of the Reference Room.

Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists: Newsletter

Located in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs, the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists was initially formed in 1977. Their focus is the history and genealogy of Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights and surrounding suburbs.

They promote the study of genealogy and history; conduct programs and workshops; encourage preservations of private and public records; and assist members in the study of family history

Their monthly meetings feature quality speakers.

Members receive am informative, bi-monthly newsletter, access to people with similar interests, and the potential to meet new cousins!

The November/December issue of the newsletter, News From the Northwest, is now available. It includes an outstanding article about German genealogy, and is on display in the genealogy section of the Reference Room on the newsletter stand.

Researching German Towns

Meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of GenealogistsP.O. Box 148 ● Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin will present So, You’ve Found Your German Town of Origin . . . Now What? at the next meeting of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists to be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest View Educational Center, Room 100, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

This lecture will focus on how to access records for the German town that you are researching, the basics on how to correspond with Archives and how to get the most out of the Family History Library’s holdings.

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin is a professional genealogist who specializes in German and Midwest American research, as well as reading German script. She has been interested in genealogy since she was a child and has been actively researching her German ancestry for the past nine years, as well as her husband's Chicago Irish. She 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, as well as many local genealogical societies. She is the web master for the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists.

For more information, visit their web site at www.nwscg.com

Or contact them at 847-818-9159