Free Irish Records on FindMyPast

FindMyPast is one of the best online resources for British and Irish records. You need a subscription to access its collections but they do make a few records available for free.

One free collection is Ireland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms. Create a free account with FindMyPast and you can search and view these Baptismal records without a subscription.

These records will tell you birth and baptism dates, parents' names, and information on the Parish and Diocese. Note that the records are written in Latin but FindMyPast gives you a handy guide Latin phrases.

This collection is made available from the National Library of Ireland. Most of the records date from the 1850s onward but you may find a few older records as well. 

For more free(ish) online Irish genealogy, try IrishGenealogy.ie, RootsIreland, and the National Archives of Ireland.

FamilySearch Class

Join us this Thursday at 2 PM to learn how to navigate FamilySearch.org. We'll cover the basics of how to search the database but we'll also dig into the extensive digital collections found in FamilySearch's catalog.


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

AncestryDNA

Join us Tuesday, February 19 at 2 PM to learn how to navigate AncestryDNA. Discover the basics of DNA testing and how to use your results to grow your family tree.

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

White Like Her

On Saturday, February 9, local author Gail Lukasik will be here to share her personal and genealogical journey to uncover her mother’s racial heritage.

After her appearance on PBS’ Genealogy Roadshow where her mother’s life changing secret was revealed, Gail was inspired to write White Like Her. The book is the story of her mother’s “passing” for white, her struggle with the shame of mother’s choice, and her subsequent journey of self-discovery and redemption. In the historical context of the Jim Crow South, Gail explores her mother’s decision to pass, how she hid her secret even from her husband, and the price she paid for choosing whiteness.

Haunted by her mother’s fear and shame, Gail embarked on a quest to uncover her racial lineage, tracing the Frederic family back to 18th century colonial Louisiana. In coming to terms with her decision to publicly “out” her mother, Gail changed how she looks at race, racial identity, and her black heritage.

Register online or call the Reference Desk at 847-729-7500. This program is presented in partnership with the North Suburban Genealogical Society.

American AncesTrees by NEHGS

The New England Historic Genealogical Society launched a new family tree making service called American AncesTREES.

Create your own family tree for free through the NEHGS website. Import a GEDCOM file or start
your tree from scratch.

The site also allows users to add media and import DNA data. One of the nicer features of the site is the ability to easily create research logs, to-do lists, and notes. There are also apps that clip info from website to add to your tree.

NEHGS provides "hints" for your ancestors from sources in FamilySearch, FindMyPast, American Ancestors, RootsPoint, Newspaper Archive, OpenArch.nl as well as from other online family tree sites. They also offer "warnings" if information in your tree looks contradictory or incorrect. 

To find out more about American AncesTREES, sign up for this free webinar!

Puerto Rican Genealogy

Here are a few tips to keep in mind while searching for Puerto Rican ancestors.

Puerto Rico became a US Territory in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War. US Armed Forces began inhabiting the island during this period and you can find these service members listed in the 1900 US census.

In 1910, all residents of Puerto Rico began appearing in the US Census and you can find these records in Ancestry, HeritageQuest or FamilySearch. Keep in mind that Puerto Rican census records will be in Spanish.

Puerto Ricans born on or after April 25, 1898 were granted US Citizenship in 1917. Puerto Ricans born before 1898 may have naturalized and those records would be available at NARA.

The Spanish government in some Puerto Rican municipalities kept civil registrations of births, marriages, and deaths. Civil registration for the entire territory began in 1885 and these records contain a lot of important genealogical information. You can find Puerto Rican civil registration collections on Ancestry and FamilySearch.

When researching vital records before 1885, use Catholic Church records. FamilySearch has a collection of Puerto Rican Catholic Church records dating back to 1645.

For more information on Puerto Rican genealogy, visit the FamilySearch Research Wiki or watch one of FamilySearch's free webinars.

New FamilySearch Collections

FamilySearch is constantly adding new records to their online collections. FamilySearch now provides genealogists free access to over 8 billion record images! In 2018, these are the locations that had the most new records added:

Countries:	US States:
Australia Brazil England France Germany Ireland Italy Mexico Netherlands Russia South Africa Sweden	Alabama California Georgia Illinois Kansas Kentucky Michigan New York Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Vermont Virginia West Virginia

To see what locations have new records added, from the Search page, click on "Browse all published collections."

Click on "Last Updated" under Historical Record Collections to arrange collections by date added/updated.

Genealogy Resolutions for 2019

What are your research goals for 2019? Here's a bit of inspiration to get you thinking about you may want to accomplish in the new year:

• Interview your relatives
• Share your research online
• Add some social history to your genealogy
• Double-check that you have cited all of your sources
• Organize everything
• Start writing your family's story
• Join a genealogy society

Happy searching in 2019!

New 2018 Genealogy Books

Check out some of the books we added this year to our circulating genealogy collection:

The Adoptee's Guide to DNA Testing
Includes recommendations on DNA tests and tools and how to analyze and use your results. The author also provides tips on how to reach out to potential relatives and discusses some excellent case studies.

Family Tree Factbook
A handy, well-designed guide that covers all of the basics of genealogy research.

Family Tree Historical Newspapers Guide
An in-depth look at how to find and use newspapers in your genealogy research. Includes helpful case studies and international resources too.

The Family Tree Scottish Genealogy Guide
Learn about the different types of Scottish records and how to access them. This book covers Scottish-specific research strategies and tips for breaking down your "brick walls."

Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com
Everything you need to know about Ancestry.com!

DIY Genealogy Gifts

Want to incorporate family history into your holiday gifts this year? Check out a few of these DIY ideas:

•  Family Tree Chalkboard
• Family Tree Shadowbox 
• "Roots" Map
• Family Recipe Tea Towels
• Family Photo Coasters
• Family Photo Card game

Search Pinterest for more great craft ideas!