FREE webinar for everyone!
Join us for an exciting webinar where CGS Board Member Barry Love will present "Unlock Your Family’s Story: An Introduction to Genealogical and DNA Research." This engaging talk is designed to ignite your passion for genealogy and inspire you to delve into your family history.
Barry will explore the fascinating and rewarding journey of genealogical research, highlighting how it can be both challenging and fun. You'll discover how genealogy builds knowledge and skills across various domains, from research and critical thinking to creative problem-solving and persuasive writing. The presentation will also emphasize the supportive community of fellow genealogists who can help you along the way.
Expect surprises as Barry demonstrates some tricks and traps of genealogical research through intriguing stories, including the inspirational tale of an entrepreneurial single mother of six who came the U.S. in 1870. You'll also learn about the benefits and challenges of DNA testing in genealogy.
Whether you're a seasoned genealogist or just starting out, this webinar promises to provide valuable insights and practical tips to help you uncover your family's unique history. Walk away with a newfound appreciation for genealogy and the excitement to give it a try. Mark your calendars and join us for an engaging and informative session!
Barry Love serves on the board of the Chicago Genealogical Society. His passion for history and genealogy—and his desire to inspire others to explore this fascinating hobby—led him to begin giving presentations to various groups and organizations throughout Chicago before the pandemic. He also leads historical walking tours of Roscoe Village.
The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the members only section.
Registration is required via the Chicago Genealogical Society website under Events. Registration will close 1 hour prior to the event. The meet-up will take place virtually via ZOOM. All people registered will receive an email the morning of the event with log-in instructions and a link. This information is not to be shared.
Note: This webinar is FREE for everyone!
Have you researched a family business or investigated the industry or profession in which your ancestor worked? If you have hit a brick wall, looking into the "professional" side of life is an overlooked but promising avenue for research. This lecture covers how to use resources you may be familiar with but from a different perspective, as well as introducing some new ones to add to your genealogical toolbox.
Our speaker, Michelle L. Spencer, owner of RomaMaryGrace, specializes in family business research, material culture, pandemics, and historic preservation. Michelle has more than thirty years of speaking, research, and writing experience. She loves traveling, researching, and collecting old things. She has co-authored more than sixty nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and her genealogical clients included the television shows Who Do You Think You Are? and Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. She and her husband live in Millbrook, AL. You can find her on YouTube: @romamarygrace1909 or online at romamarygrace.com.
The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the members only section for six months.
Note: This webinar is FREE for CGS members. Non-Members can register for the event for $10. No refunds.
Our speaker, Allison Lawrentz Barnhart, demonstrates how three important tools in genealogy—DNA, physical items, and the stories and memories passed down—can work together in unexpected ways. Her own research uncovered a decades-old secret kept by her late grandmother, one that shocked the whole family and disrupted long-held assumptions of their ancestry.
Allison grew up in Ashland, Ohio, and graduated from Ashland University which included a year intensive at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Along with her career as a Creative Strategist at a marketing agency OneTable Strategy, she enjoys spending her free time with her family, friends, and church community. Genealogy research has been a passion since grade-school and loves not only exploring her own family’s story, but helping others find joy in discovering their own roots. Her first book, a memoir entitled The Record Keeper: The Unfolding of a Family Secret in the Age of Genetic Genealogy was published in July 2024 by Legacy Book Press and was featured on the Ohio Genealogical Society’s podcast Ohio Roots, and in the Mar/Apr 2025 issue of Family Tree Magazine. Allison is a member of the Ohio Genealogical Society as well as the Ashland County Chapter of the OGS, and resides in Ashland, Ohio with her husband and two children.
Open Mic Meet-Up - CGS Members Only Event
Join us to share your discovery or watch and listen to others share their successes. You have a research problem? Come and ask the group. Maybe someone will have a suggestion to further your research. A great opportunity to learn!
This meet-up will have a host to run the Zoom and to give the opportunity for everyone to share as time permits. If you plan to share a discovery or problem, please keep it to 5 minutes or less to allows others to also share.
**This Meet-Up is not recorded"
Picture from Library of Congress
Discover Your Family’s Story with a Solid Research Plan. Unlock the secrets of your ancestry with a well-crafted research plan! Just like planning a vacation, a genealogy research plan keeps you focused and on track, helping you avoid unnecessary detours and dead ends. Whether you're answering a simple question like "Where was Grandpa Joe born?" or tackling a complex mystery such as "Who was the father of Mark Roberts Johannes?", a structured plan empowers you to conduct an organized and efficient search. Avoid falling down the genealogy rabbit hole — and the dreaded 're-do' — by learning how to create a focused research plan and document your discoveries along the way. Join us and take the first step toward uncovering your family's story!
As a multifaceted professional genealogist, historian, researcher, and storyteller, our speaker, Sara Dawson, channels her passion into uncovering forgotten narratives connecting clients to their past. She began researching her family over thirty years ago and was fascinated by the similarities and coincidences in both branches of her family tree. In 2017, Sara left her career with the federal government and started Descent Detective, LLC, to help others find their lost history. She spends her time researching for clients and coaching others to conduct independent research.
The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the members only section for 90 days.
Chicago Genealogical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Address: PO Box 1160, Chicago, IL 60690-1160
