In the past eight years, CGS has offered its members two projects led by Marsha Peterson-Maass that focused on research in today's U.S. military resources --- with the goals of building a detailed bio for specific veterans, and also finding their portrait photos. Throughout the years, our researchers developed military research strategies (primarily based on finding WWI, WWII and Vietnam records) that Marsha is delighted to share. Topics will include: veteran's biography + timeline; first things first; working with resources online + on site; resources in genealogy databases; often overlooked resources like military histories + maps; newspapers; checking with veterans' groups; social media and more. Since National Purple Heart Day will occur two days later (on August 7th), Marsha will discuss general purple heart medal information + how to order a replacement if your family can't find your hero's original. And Marsha will conclude with a brief case study highlighting the records that built a Chicago WWII veteran's identity and biography.
Marsha Peterson-Maass is a genealogy researcher, educator and author. She has taught at Chicago's Newberry Library for over 20 years, at two local community colleges and has lectured in genealogy topics at many Chicagoland libraries and genealogy groups. Marsha published the Fundamentals of Genealogy® textbook series which she teaches from. For eight years, she led a research team for Purple Hearts Reunited that has returned hundreds of lost military Purple Heart medals to veterans or their families at no cost. Marsha is also a Board Member of the Chicago Genealogical Society.
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!
Did you know that you can research the history of your house from your very own laptop? Join for a step-by-step guide to internet-based building history research. We'll focus on what historic information you can expect to find digitally, such as Chicago building permits, architects, insurance maps and occupant history, and how to find it. And what to do if you need to go beyond digital resources.
Our speaker, Emily Wallrath Schmidt, is a Historic Preservation professional with a decade-long track record spanning hands-on restoration, archival research, and advocacy. She is currently a senior architectural historian at 106 Group. Emily is passionate about uncovering vernacular building history, and has never met a bungalow she didn't like.
The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the members only section.
Note: This webinar is FREE for CGS members. Non-Members can register for the event for $10. No refunds.
Join the Chicago Genealogical Society in-person as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the "Century of Progress" Chicago's World's Fair held at the shore of Lake Michigan from 12th Street to 37th Street from 1933 until 1934.
Rick Rann is our speaker and he will take us back to 1928 when the fair was organized (before the crash) until the opening 1933-1934 during the depression and let us know what our ancestors may have experienced while there.
In addition, he will exhibit some of his collection including oversized photos from the fair. Rick is the owner of The World's Fair Memorabilia Show that (since 1995) commemorates the 1933-34 Chicago Century of Progress World's Fair and the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition and he and his family reside in Oak Park, Illinois.
Bring your questions especially if you had any relatives that worked the show 90 years ago. There are a number of employee records available for your genealogy research.
The program is an in-person event at the Newberry, 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL (Rettinger Hall). No recording will be made. Registration is required via the Chicago Genealogical Society website under Events. Registration will close 2 hours prior to the event.
Note: This program is FREE for CGS members. Non-Members can register for the event for $10. No refunds.
Why should you pay attention to your ancestor's occupation? Are you merely filling in the details of a life or looking for an essential clue to break down a brick wall? Each of our ancestors is unique however figuring out what makes them unique can be challenging. Finding your ancestor's occupation may help distinguish your Ebenezer Smith from other Ebenezer Smiths, particularly if your ancestor's occupation was something other than farmer or laborer. This lecture helps you identify sources that reveal the occupation of your ancestor as well as helping you use that information to advance your family history research.
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist, is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors/NEHGS in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors, and Digitizing Your Family History. She is also the editor of the recently released 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include: immigration and naturalization, Late 19th and early 20th Century urban research, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research.
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
In this one-hour presentation, we will discuss the general process our immigrant ancestors took to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, the general exceptions granted during the process, the types of records that were generated during specific time periods, and where we might find those records online or offline.
Katherine R. Willson of Dexter, Michigan is an engaging and dynamic genealogy lecturer at regional and national events; a full-time researcher for clients; and a genealogy educator for 25+ years, including courses for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. She is the founder & past President of the Virtual Genealogical Association, past President of Michigan Genealogical Council, and past board member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Her website (SocialMediaGenealogy.com) contains valuable resources for genealogists, including links to family interviewing questions, a catalog of almost 17,000+ genealogy/history links on Facebook, a catalog of 190+ genealogy YouTube channels, and a catalog of 76 genealogy podcasts.
The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the members only section for 90 days.
Boost your genealogy research efficiency with essential PC tools and techniques. Learn practical skills like keyboard shortcuts, tab management, and text expanders to streamline your workflow. This session will equip you with time-saving strategies to enhance your family history quest, allowing you to focus more on discoveries and less on technical hurdles.
Peggy Jude is a speaker, educator and researcher who specializes and teaches multiple times each month in five areas of genealogical interest: DNA, Genealogical Technology, Preserving Family History and Family Heirlooms, Genealogical Methods and Records, and Swedish Genealogy.
She is co-course coordinator for the weeklong DNA Foundations course at the Institute for Genealogical and Historical research conducted each year in July. She leads both the DNA and Technology Special Interest Groups for the Manatee Genealogical Society (FL) where she is also VP and member of the board.
Peggy holds a BS in Zoology from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Following a successful career as a Global Human Resources Executive, she opened her genealogical business centered on the west coast of Florida. Peggy is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogist and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She is a graduate of ProGen, and an alumnus of multiple advanced genealogical institutes.
The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the members only section for 30 days.
After the Great Depression and the attack on Pearl Harbor, it was impossible to escape the impact of World War II. Residents of Chicago and the Suburbs sustained the effort to win the war enduring food and gas rationing while buying war bonds and planting Victory gardens. They produced much needed war equipment, fed military personnel, and even participated in secret war-related projects. Join Dennis Doyle, professor of history at Joliet Junior College for an examination of the efforts of the people of Chicago and the suburbs and the impact of the war on them.
Our speaker, Dennis Doyle, is a History Professor at Joliet Jr. College in Joliet, Illinois. He teaches History of World War II and History of Civil War courses. He has a BA History from Colorado State University, MA Sociology from DePaul University and MA Military History, American University. Currently, he is President of Chicago Civil War Round Table June, 2024-June, 2025. He has completed numerous public speaking assignments in the Chicago area and nationally.
The year was 1950. Harry Truman was President of the US. The average annual income in the US was just a little over $3,000 and the average cost of a new home was $8,450. The US Census that had been taken every 10 years starting in 1790 was conducted for the 17th time.
The 1950 Census is particularly important in helping provide context to families’ narratives because it was a time of many transitional events:
• It was the first US census following World War II.
• The growth in automobile use and the road system helped create modern suburbs and allowed more movement for employment.
• It was the initial stages of the baby boom.
Focusing on a large sample of Illinois 1950 census data, we will paint a picture of what life was like in the state during this transitional time. We will also look at how Chicago life differed from the mostly rural remainder of the state.
Scott Norrick’s passion is connecting people to their past. While providing a list of names, dates and places for ancestors is a start, Scott enjoys helping others discover the stories of triumphs and tribulations that defined our ancestors’ lives. He does this by assisting clients with breaking down their genealogical brick walls and by helping them document the rich stories of their family history.
His areas of expertise include research in the American Midwest along with the immigration to the Midwest from Britain, Ireland, and Germanic countries. He also does significant research into Civil War records.
He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University. With over 30 years of family history research experience, he is familiar with all the latest and time-tested genealogical tools. Through his company Ancestral Past, he welcomes the opportunity to assist others on their genealogy journey. He has presented to dozens of genealogical societies, history centers, and libraries. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
While most countries base citizenship on place of birth, parentage, and marriage, some countries also offer citizenship by descent—meaning if you have ancestors who were citizens of that country two, three, or even four generations back, you might qualify for dual citizenship! Two well-known examples are Italy and Ireland. In this webinar, we will go over the requirements involved for these two countries, gathering documentation, applying—and waiting—for dual citizenship.
Chicago Genealogical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Address: PO Box 1160, Chicago, IL 60690-1160
