Join Rob Bitunjac, president of the Clear-Ridge Historical Society and Branch Manager of the Clearing Library, as he discusses the history of the Chicago communities of Garfield Ridge and Clearing as well as some of the surrounding areas. Learn what resources the Clear-Ridge Historical Society and the Chicago Public Library have to offer as far as genealogical research. 

Our speaker, Rob Bitunjac, is a life-long resident of the Garfield Ridge community and can trace his family's roots back 100 years in Garfield Ridge. In 2011 he and a group of local historians founded the Clear-Ridge Historical Society to collect the history of the Chicago communities of Garfield Ridge and Clearing. The Society holds programs throughout the year, conducts tours, collects historical information and has authored 3 books on local history. Rob has also worked for the Chicago Public Library for the past 30 years in neighborhoods all across Chicago and is currently the branch manager of the Clearing Branch Library.

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.

*The picture is of the corner of 63^rd and Central Avenue in Clearing during the opening of the Clearing Library in 1942. Municipal Airport (soon to become Midway) can be seen in the background. The picture is courtesy of the Clear-Ridge Historical Society.