Researching Chicago Ancestors from Afar with Nancy E. Loe
Did your native and immigrant ancestors settle in Chicago, but you live in another location? Metropolitan areas can present a different set of research challenges. Learn how to find both traditional and unusual resources, including free and low-cost alternatives for Cook County vital records, searching Chicago newspapers, essential print and online resources, and finding immigrant and ethnic ancestors in Cook County.
After a long professional career in academic archives and genealogy libraries, Nancy E. Loe, MA, MLS, is now a genealogy educator, researcher, and writer. She specializes in U.S. and European research, and provides expert guidance on information management and research skills.
Her website, sassyjanegenealogy.com offers a blog, free monthly newsletter, and e-books on genealogy research.
Nancy has appeared on PBS's American Experience, at NGS, RootsTech, and numerous genealogy conferences and webinars in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. All eight of her great-grandparents left Europe and migrated to Chicago between 1880-1912.
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 CGS members. Non-Members can register for the event for $10. No refunds.
Open Mic Meet-Up
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.
Picture from Library of Congress
In this webinar, attendees will cover key aspects of Polish beneficial and fraternal records in genealogical research. The presentation will cover basic topics such as who produced records and what kind of records were kept, repositories where they might be found, and overcoming language barriers. Additionally, the history of Polish beneficials, and beneficials in general, will be discussed. Challenges facing the Polish American community that spurred the founding of these societies will be covered, as well as the ideologies of major organizations and women’s struggle for equity within their ranks.
Claire Gene Esker, MSc, PLCGS, QG, began researching her Polish genealogy as a college student at Carthage College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Comparative Politics focus. She earned a Master of Science with merit from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland in Genealogical, Paleographic, and Heraldic Studies, and went on to receive a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies in American Records and Methodology from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in Ontario, Canada. She recently completed work with ProGen 56 and is currently the Secretary of the Board for the Polish Genealogical Society of America and led the St. Hedwig’s Orphanage 1920-1950 Census Transcription Project. Additionally, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, as well a member of the Polish National Alliance. She can be found online at www.pastforwardfamilyhistory.com.
Special Tech Tuesday Webinar
Your family treasures could be waiting to be found on popular online sales and auction sites like eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, and others. While many people use sites like these to find collectibles at a reasonable price, they can also be used to enhance your family history research. In this session, you will learn how to locate family heirlooms using effective search strategies, how to work with sellers, and how to make a purchase or participate in an auction. Additionally, you will learn how to use these sites as a family history research tool… without spending a dime!
Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal is a professional genealogist, writer, educator, and national genealogical speaker. Her specialties include methodology, technology, and online research resources.
Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and a Professional Clear Teaching Credential from the State of California. Her genealogical studies include the National Institute for Genealogical Research (now GenFed) in Washington, DC; the Forensic Genealogy Institute in Dallas, Texas; and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy in Salt Lake City, Utah. Elizabeth is the Education & Programs Director for the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, Director of the NGSQ Study Groups program, and a Genealogy Consultant for the Daughters of the American Revolution.
As a family history lecturer, Elizabeth has given presentations for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, RootsTech, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Utah Genealogical Association, and many others. Her professional memberships include the Association of Professional Genealogists, where she serves as president of the Southern California Chapter, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and she is an active member of the public speaking club Toastmasters International.
Since 1987, Elizabeth has made it her goal to research, share, and preserve her family stories. She is the author of the family history lifestyle website, Heart of the Family™ (https://www.thefamilyheart.com) where her mission is to help others make the past part of their present.
Did you know resources are available to genealogists outside the U.S. census population schedules? The U.S. Marshalls and enumerators had to follow instructions outlined in manuals which are excellent tools for genealogists. Jennifer will provide tips, tricks, and resources to extract more information and evidence than ever! Using examples, she will demonstrate what codes and tick marks represent and introduce resources and methods to advance your census research.
Jennifer Roodzant is a professional genealogist and speaker specializing in DNA and southern U.S. research. She volunteers as secretary for the Napa Valley Genealogical Society and is a certificate-holder in Genealogical Research from Boston University and ProGen Study Groups. Jennifer applies genealogy standards to resolve complex research objectives.
Open Mic Meet-Up - CGS Members Only Event
Over ten percent of the US population fought in the Civil War in the 1860s. Using (mostly) free resources, learn some tips on how to determine if your ancestor was in the war, and how to differentiate among those common named soldiers.
Brian Rhinehart is a professional genealogist and speaker and is the owner of CivilWarRecords.com. He is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate of Genealogy Research and his work has been featured in the PBS television show "Finding Your Roots." A direct descendant of six Civil War soldiers, Brian specializes in research and record retrieval for Civil War and War of 1812 soldiers at the National Archives in Washington DC and has retrieved military files for hundreds of clients there.
***This presentation will be recorded and only available to members for 30 days.
Chicago Genealogical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Address: PO Box 1160, Chicago, IL 60690-1160
