Chicago Genealogical Society

News

  • 16 Jul 2019 3:05 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    So you learned the Chicago Catholic Church Records from 1833 – 1925 are online at Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1452409. Some of the collection has been indexed but many records are still only viewed by browsing the collection. There are over 295,000 images available. The records are listed by parish.

    These are great sources but what if you don’t know which parish your ancestors attended.  The Archdiocese of Chicago website under genealogy resources https://archives.archchicago.org/geneology-resources  provides a copy in pdf format of the book by Jack Bochar Locations of Chicago Roman Catholic Churches, 1850-1900. The book has detailed maps of parish locations in Chicago by date. To use this book, locate your ancestors first using city directories and then plot their address(es) on the map based on the time period. (Reminder - Chicago street numbering changes were in 1909 and 1911 and street name changes occured). It is recommended to trace their location over a period of time recording each address in case they moved around a lot. You will be able to see which parishes were in the neighborhood.  Then you can browse those parish records. If you don’t have luck with the closest parish, then expand your area and look at the next several parishes. Happy researching!


  • 1 Jul 2019 11:11 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    CGS Members - The Latest Chicago Genealogist is Here!

    See the online 2019 Summer Edition, Vol. 51, No. 4

    To access the electronic version, go to the Chicago Genealogical Society’s new website at www.chicagogenealogy.org.  Sign into the website and select Members Only Section button on the upper right side. Select The Chicago Genealogist tab. Scroll down to the newest version “Vol 51, No 4 2019.” Click on it and then you can read & enjoy the newest issue.

    Direct link for members: https://chicagogenealogy.org/CGS-Quarterly-Index-and-Copies

    Requested paper copies will be mailed once the printing is finished.


  • 24 Jun 2019 7:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Special Screening

    Sunday, July 14, 2019

    1-2:30 p.m. 

    York Theatre in Elmhurst, IL

    Eastland: Chicago's Deadliest Day Documentary is the dramatic story of how hundreds of immigrant factory workers and their families, setting out for leisurely summer cruise, died aboard a heavily loaded steamship that tipped over while still tied to the dock in downtown Chicago... and how the rich and powerful who were responsible got away with it.

    The Eastland Disaster Historical Society is graciously offering CGS Members an opportunity to attend this Special Screening by registering for FREE tickets before they are available to the general public. This will be your opportunity to see "Eastland" on the big screen in surround sound! Seating is very limited, with tickets available only to current CGS using the following link: http://www.eastlanddisaster.org/documentary then click on “Ticket information here.”

    Note – you do NOT have to obtain a membership to EDHS. The link will let you register for FREE.

    The tickets are available to the general public starting this Friday, June 28th, so reserve your tickets today!

    Thank you to the EDHS for this opportunity. Another great value and benefits for CGS membership!

     

     

     


  • 18 Jun 2019 9:23 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Our next Genealogical Oriented Bus Tour is coming up on August 24: Chicago’s Greatest Waterway - The I & M Canal.

    Using a luxury bus, the Chicago Genealogical Society will be hosting a genealogically oriented tour of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, August 24, 9:30am – 4:00pm (starting from and ending at the Ogilvie Transportation Center), which will included such stops as the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, the St. James of the Sag Cemetery, Lockport, Locks at Channahon, the Seneca Grain Elevator, and the Fox River Aqueduct in Ottawa among many other places in a beautiful summer setting. Chicago Historian and CGS board member, Craig Pfannkuche, will be our guide to learn about this fascinating time in Chicago’s history and how it changed our Chicago ancestor’s lives. See registration details and tour cost under events on our website https://chicagogenealogy.org/event-3369936 

    Suggested material on the topic –

    PASSAGE TO CHICAGO by Tim Wilcox

    PRAIRIE PASSAGE – photographs by Edward Ranney

    University of Illinois Press 1998

    HISTORICAL MAP AND GUIDE TO THE I&M NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

    National Heritage Corridor Commission – US Department of Interior, 1993

    Join us on August 24th!


  • 6 Jun 2019 3:05 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The National Archives at Chicago is looking for volunteers to assist patrons with family history research in our Public Access Computer Room. Primary responsibilities include introducing new genealogists and first time patrons to resources available through the National Archives at Chicago and answering genealogical questions. Using your own experience, teach patrons to navigate family history sources and help them work through “brick walls” in their research. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other genealogists and expand your own research.

    We are seeking individuals with the following traits: patience, research skills, and willingness to share information; basic internet and computer skills; and knowledge of Ancestry.com, Fold3.com, and FamilySearch.org. Training on National Archives specific resources will be provided, and we can arrange for a new volunteer to shadow a current volunteer for the first few weeks of volunteer service. 

    The National Archives at Chicago is located at 7358 S. Pulaski in Chicago and is open to the public Monday to Friday from 8AM to 4PM. Ideally, volunteers commit to helping on a weekly basis, but people willing to commit to as little as one day a month will be considered.

    Professional genealogists would not be able to work for pay while volunteering with the National Archives.

    Interested candidates should contact Sarah at 773-948-9001 or Chicago.archives@nara.gov.

     


  • 27 May 2019 7:25 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Join us this Saturday, June 1st for our next program at the Newberry Library at 1:30pm

    Adoption Searches Past and Present. Our speaker will be Matt Rutherford. Having an adopted ancestor can often be one of the most frustrating and challenging aspects of genealogy research. In times past, records of adoptions weren't as well kept as they are today, making searching for the link between birthparents and adoptees difficult.  And, in modern times, adoption searches are often hindered by legal barriers.  We'll discuss techniques & tips for researching American adoptions in all time periods.

    Matt Rutherford, MLIS, is Curator of Genealogy and Local History at the Newberry Library will be our speaker. 

    Note - we will start our program with our annual meeting and voting of the 2019-2020 officers. 


  • 21 May 2019 9:39 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Did you miss the opportunity to watch the The Eastland Disaster: An Unparalleded Tragedy webinar last Sunday? 

    You are in luck if you are a Chicago Genealogical Society member. The recording has been posted in the members only section for you to watch on your own schedule. Not a Chicago Genealogical Society member? Join today and view this great webinar. 

  • 13 May 2019 12:44 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Eastland Disaster Historical Society wants to make sure every CGS member has the opportunity to learn more about the Eastland Disaster. So, they have graciously offered to do a webinar to complement the in-person presentation that was done on May 4 for those members that were not able to attend. The webinar is scheduled for May 19, 2019, at 4:00pm CDT. Registration required using link below.

    Early on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 1915, a light rain fell yet the air was filled with anticipation and excitement. Thousands gathered along the Chicago River for Western Electric's fifth annual employee picnic. More than 7,000 tickets had been purchased for the daylong festivities. But the day quickly turned tragic, resulting in Chicago's greatest lossof-life tragedy. Find out what happened during a presentation given by the Eastland Disaster Historical Society.

    Come learn the answers to the following questions: Why was the picnic so highly anticipated? What happened? How did it happen? What was the impact? What was the response? Was it avoidable? Who was held accountable? What damages were awarded? What amount of relief funds were raised? Discover more about the Eastland Disaster Historical Society at http://www.eastlanddisaster.org/   

    Please register for CGS Webinar #4 The Eastland Disaster on May 19, 2019 4:00 PM CDT at:

    https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7231917182789123597

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

    Brought to you by GoToWebinar®

    Webinars Made Easy®

     


  • 25 Apr 2019 10:37 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Early on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 1915, a light rain fell yet the air was filled with anticipation and excitement. Thousands gathered along the Chicago River for Western Electric's fifth annual employee picnic. More than 7,000 tickets had been purchased for the day‐long festivities. But the day quickly turned tragic, resulting in Chicago's greatest loss‐of-life tragedy. Find out what happened during a presentation given by the Eastland Disaster Historical Society. This free program will be on May 4th, 1:30pm, at the Newberry Library. 

    Come learn the answers to the following questions: Why was the picnic so highly anticipated? What happened? How did it happen? What was the impact? What was the response? Was it avoidable? Who was held accountable? What damages were awarded? What amount of relief funds were raised? Discover more about the Eastland Disaster Historical Society at http://www.eastlanddisaster.org/  


  • 21 Mar 2019 11:51 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    We are excited to launch our new website. There has been a lot of planning, customizing, reviewing and hard work by the committee to make this happen. We have our features from the old website included with an updated look and several new features. Check out what is new:

    New Home Page with Current News and Upcoming Events

    You will find a list of upcoming events and current society news. There is also the current Facebook page post.

    Members Only Section

    The Chicago Genealogist – All volumnes full title index with volumnes 1-39 CARLI link and volumnes 40 to current on our website.

    Vital Records from Chicago Newspapers 1833 – 1848 index and members can look up the article by year.

    Past CGS Newsletters – 2006 to current

    CGS Cemetery Book Publications

    Chicago recorded webinars that members can watch as many times as they want.

    We have many more items to add to the members only section, so stay tuned.

    Member Profile

    As a current member, you will be receiving an email soon to set-up your member profile to be able to access the members only section. We will be loading up your membership information. You will be able to set-up your privacy settings and add your surname data to share with other members if you like.


Chicago Genealogical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  Address: PO Box 1160, Chicago, IL  60690-1160

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