Illinois State Genealogical Society Blog

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:08:00 +0000

Guest Author, Dennis Suttles

One of Springfield’s best kept secrets for genealogical research is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library (ALPL). The Illinois General Assembly created this library in 1889 as the Illinois State Historical Library charged with the collection of the history of Illinois and its people. In October 2004 the library’s name changed to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and moved from the basement of the Old State Capitol to its present location at the corner of Jefferson and Sixth Streets, just south of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

The ALPL houses published, manuscript, audio-visual, newspapers on microfilm, and Lincoln collections documenting all aspects of Illinois history. Its collection strengths include Lincoln, the Civil War, 19^th-century Illinois history, genealogy, biography, and geography.

The reference desk in the Steve Neal Reading Room on the first floor of the library services the books and maps housed in both the general and Lincoln published collections. Published works of interest to genealogists include county histories, city directories, historical atlases, plat books, indexes to federal census records, published family histories, military indexes, immigrant and passenger lists, and genealogical information from states and former colonies east of the Mississippi River. The reading room also contains many indexes of cemetery inscriptions, birth, death, probate, land, marriage, and other miscellaneous records. Patrons have unlimited access to Internet, Ancestry Library Edition, and Heritage Quest databases while using the reading room for research purposes. These databases give our patrons access to both federal and state census records as well as other genealogical information. For more information about the map and published collections, please call the reference desk at 217-524-6358.

The Manuscripts Reading Room on the second floor contains over 6,000 collections dealing with various aspects of Illinois history. Many of these collections can be used to research family history. Types of papers and records found in the Manuscripts Department include: letters, diaries, journals, business records, farm diaries and account books, church records, banker records, land company records, justice of the peace documents, school records, funeral home records, and applications for parole to name a few. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 217-785-7942.

The Audio-Visual Department contains pictures of Illinois sites and individuals, including a large number of Civil War soldiers. There is an online Civil War Database of soldiers that is searchable by name, date, and regiment. For more information about the Audio-Visual Department and its holdings or to make an appointment to use its collections, please call 217-785-7955. Be sure to view the Boys in Blue Exhibit on the first and second floor of the library atrium. Many of these pictures are from the ALPL Audio-Visual Department.

The ALPL has the largest collection of Illinois newspapers on microfilm in the world. Many date to the early nineteenth century. Newspapers are especially useful for locating obituaries or information about local events. A listing of the ALPL newspaper holdings is located on the Newspapers/Microfilm Collection link from the ALPL website. Newspaper microfilm is available through interlibrary loan through your local participating library. For more information about the Newspaper/Microfilm Collection, please call 217-785-7941.

The Lincoln Department is a research division of the ALPL. Use of the Lincoln Collections is by appointment only. However, patrons with an interest in Lincoln or in tracing their family lineage to the 16^th President are welcome to visit the ALPL Reading Room where works on the Lincoln, Todd, and Hanks genealogies may be consulted.

When you come to Abraham Lincoln’s hometown to tour the Lincoln sites, don’t forget to pack your family genealogy worksheets and files for a working holiday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. You will be glad you did.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library located at 112 North Sixth Street, Springfield, Illinois, and is open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday (closed Saturday, Sunday, and state holidays). When preparing for a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, be sure to check out the website for additional information about the collections.

February 2012 Webinar - Cool Tools for Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:54:00 +0000

Presenter: Lisa Alzo

Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A. is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Slovak/Eastern European genealogical research, writing your family history, and using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors. She is the author of nine books, including the award-winning Three Slovak Women, and hundreds of magazine articles, and writes the blog "The Accidental Genealogist."

Description: Now that you've written your family’s story, what do you do with it? Thanks to technology and the Internet, it’s easier than ever to document and share your genealogical discoveries. Those attending this FREE webinar will learn about some of the popular online tools and methods available for writing and publishing a cutting edge family history.

Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/223286734

Recordings and Syllabus Also Available

For those who can't attend on February 14th, a recording of the webinar, along with the syllabus, will be made available in the Members Section of the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org. If you're not already a member of ISGS, visit Join ISGS! for more information.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

ISGS Office Closed Monday, February 13, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000

The ISGS Office will be closed on Monday, February 13, 2012, in observance of Lincoln's Birthday.

The office will be open from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.

Note: the ISGS Office will also be closed on Monday, February 20, 2012, for President's Day. The office will be open from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

Regular hours will resume on Monday, February 27, 2012.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Illinois State Archives

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Guest Author, Julie Tarr

One of the best places to conduct genealogy research in Illinois is at the State Archives in Springfield. This massive repository is home to many government records, some of which are of interest to genealogists. The Archives is located at the Margaret Cross Norton Building, Capitol Complex, near 2^nd & Edwards. You can contact the Archives at 217-782-4682 or visit their website.

Death Certificates 1916-1947

I would imagine this is the most-used resources among genealogists doing research at the Archives. All of the death certificates in the state from 1916 to 1947 can be found on microfilm. To obtain the records, you will first need to visit the index. Once you locate the decedent, record all of the information contained in the line item, as you will need this to determine which film the record is on. At the Archives, refer to the binders in the reading room to locate the film number based on the information obtained from the index. Retrieve the film and locate the record.

Military Records

The Archives collection of military-related records is probably another highly-used resource for genealogists with Illinois roots. You can expect to find the following records related to Illinois veterans:

Service records

War of 1812 (1812-1814)
Winnebago War (1827)
Black Hawk War (1831-1832)
Mexican War (1846-1848)
Civil War (1861-1865)
Spanish-American War (1898-1899)

Veterans' Homes

Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 1887-1967
Illinois Soldiers' Widows' Home, 1896-1960
National Home in Danville, 1898-1934

The Archives also holds the World War I draft cards for Illinois registrants. In addition, the Archives has all 898 rolls of the Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 from the National Archives. Also from NARA, the Archives has the War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index.

There are various indexes available on the Archives' website, which can be accessed here. For additional record holdings and more information about military records, visit Genealogical Research Series #3 – Military Records.

Federal & State Censuses

Federal population schedules for Illinois, including its territorial period, are available for 1807 through 1930. The Archives also holds the special schedules of agricultural, industrial, and mortality for 1850-1880. For more information about the federal census records, and to learn whether they are indexed, refer to Genealogical Research Series #4 – Federal Census Records.

While there are state census returns held in the Archives, you will need to refer to Genealogical Research Series #5 – State Census Records to learn what counties are available for a particular census year.

There you have it—a crash course on what you will find among the many resources held at the Illinois State Archives. For additional information and guides for genealogical research at the Archives, refer to Genealogy in the Illinois State Archives. For a complete listing of all the records housed at the Archives, refer to the Descriptive Inventory of the Archives of the State of Illinois, Second Edition (link will open a PDF).

If you ever need help with any of the records, just ask. The Archives staff is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

Illinois State Library

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:03:00 +0000

Guest Author, Dax Dixon

One of Springfield’s most often overlooked genealogical resources is the Illinois State Library. The building is located at 300 S. Second Street, Springfield, Illinois, directly east of the Illinois State Capitol Building and is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

The Illinois State Library houses a large number of collections that pertain to the history of the state of Illinois. One of the more prominent collections is the map collection. This is the second largest collection of Illinois maps housed in the state, the largest being the University of Illinois map collection. The maps stored here cover all the counties in the state and a variety of cities and individual towns throughout the state. Also included in this collection are landowner maps, topographical maps, some cemetery maps, and a variety of maps from other countries throughout the world. County plat books and atlases are also included in this collection.

When visiting the library in person, one will also have access to microfilm collections including but not limited to: Illinois census microfilm, the Draper Manuscript collection, city directories, Chicago newspapers, Springfield newspapers, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, printed county histories, and a variety of books and periodicals covering various topics.

The library’s website includes additional resources for the avid genealogical researcher to peruse such as the Illinois Digital Archives. This archive of digitally scanned documents includes such things as the Oak Ridge Cemetery internment records, the Cherry Mine Disaster files, and a listing of early Illinois license plate registrations, among other historical documents and photographs. Check out the Illinois Digital Archives website for these digital collections.

Be sure to apply for a library card (in person or online) if you live in the state of Illinois and belong to any library in the state.

For more information, visit the Illinois State Library website.

ISGS Newsletter Now Available - January/February 2012

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

The January/February 2012 issue of the ISGS Newsletter is now available to both ISGS members and non-members.

Visit the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org and click ISGS Newsletter to download the current issue (in PDF) and to view past issues going back to January/February 2008.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Elgin Area Repositories

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:31:00 +0000

Guest Author, Becky Higgins

If you have ancestors from the Elgin, Illinois area, here are a couple of places you’ll really want to check out.

The Gail Borden Public Library (www.gailborden.info) is a treasure not to be missed. Their holdings include how-to guides, name indexes, family and county histories, cemetery indexes, census records, death records, and over one hundred thirty-five years of local newspapers on microfilm. The microfilmed Elgin death records contain wonderful information that may not be found anywhere else.

The Elgin Genealogical Society has been gleaning vital record information from the microfilmed local newspapers found at Gail Borden for many years. Gail Borden personnel and volunteers have and continue to include these findings in the online Local Newspaper Index. With the information found in the index, the researcher may go to the newspaper and find the actual announcement/obituary.

Also, at Gail Borden in the Genealogy Section is a card file of information found in the Watch Word—the newsletter published by the old Elgin Watch Factory. If you have ancestors who worked for the Watch Factory, be sure to check that file.

The Elgin Area Historical Museum is a genealogical gem for those with Elgin roots. There you will find original probate and divorce records for Elgin Township (Kane County), some Elgin mortuary records, a vertical file of surnames researched by the Elgin Genealogical Society, Elgin histories, business directories, phone books, memoirs, and more. The museum is also strong in Elgin Watch holdings and general Elgin history. For more detailed information about location, hours of operation, and contact data, check them out at www.elginhistory.org.

Elgin has a very interesting history and delightful historic section. Just driving past those historic places brings to mind a slower, quieter time.

ISGS Office Closed Thursday, January 26, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:45:00 +0000

The ISGS Office will be closed on Thursday, January 26, 2012.

The office will be open from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. Regular hours will resume on Monday, January 30, 2012.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Renew Your ISGS Membership - Improved Online Form

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:54:00 +0000

With the majority of our members having their memberships expire at the end of 2011, now is the time to renew your Illinois State Genealogical Society membership. Take a minute right now and renew online at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=10 to ensure that you'll continue to receive the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly and all the other benefits of membership.

We realize that some browsers would not play nice with our online form so we've simplified the form and made it easier to use! In addition, if you want to mail in a check, please click the printable form here.

ISGS has lots in store for 2012 including more webinars and more web content - don't miss out . . . renew your membership today!

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD)

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Guest Author, Janice Fritsch

Among my favorite research facilities in Illinois are the Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD). The Illinois State Archives administers a system of depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments. Each IRAD covers specific counties. The seven IRAD offices, each with a research area, are typically located within a State University Campus and are named for the University they reside in. The type and amount of records are varied depending on the records transferred from the local government. They can include records from cities, counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts.

Some of the record types included are:

Circuit Court/Circuit Clerk
Coroner
County Board of Supervisors/Board of County Commissioners
County Court
County Home/County Farm/Almshouse
County Mine Inspector
County Treasurer
Justice of the Peace
Probate Court
Recorder
Sheriff
Superintendent of an Educational Service Region

Why would you want to visit an IRAD instead of a city, county, or township office?

One stop for a variety of counties.
The cost of a copy is the photocopying fee (varies at each IRAD but typically $0.50).
No clerks questioning or challenging your right to view records.
Planning ahead is possible because a listing of the available records can be viewed online.
The original records may be at the depository.
If you are unable to visit a depository you can request a record lookup and there is no research fee (some do charge a copy fee). The record will be mailed to you.

Tips and information from my experience:

Almost everything you need to know can be found at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/iradholdings.html
The website is very user friendly but be sure to check out each button and remember to hover for additional links to other sections of the site. Do not make a recent mistake I made when I planned to visit the SIU IRAD in Carbondale. The location is listed as the Morris Library – Special Collections. I thought this was all I needed to know but when I arrived at the Morris Library and asked for directions I was told it is housed in the Morris Library Storage Facility located on the west edge of the campus, which is not close to the Library. If I had clicked on the “Map and Directions” I would have known this and saved myself time and a tour of the campus.
Call ahead. Some IRADS are closed during the lunch hour and have reduced hours during the summer or during school closings.
IRADs are closed on Saturdays.

Specifics at various IRAD I have visited:

NIU IRAD (Dekalb, IL)

Office is closed 12-1.
Office is within an office in the Library.
Has one microfilm reader/printer.
Closest Parking Lot is adjacent and west of the Library and cost $5 with an attendant on duty.
Food is available at the student center which is in easy walking distance.
You will be asked to leave your “brief cases” at the coat rack.

NEIU IRAD (Chicago, IL)

Located in the lower level of the Ronald Williams Library.
Metered parking lot is adjacent; accepts cash or credit card.
Has three microfilm/printers. I have had to wait.
The interns are overly helpful. Be sure to look at the listing of available records and insist on viewing the specific records you request. I have been told on more than one occasion that the document I am looking for is not there when indeed it is.
Food is available at the student union, which is an easy walking distance.

SIU IRAD (Carbondale, IL)

Parking lot adjacent, no fee.
To avoid driving through campus look at a map.

ISU IRAD (Normal, IL)

Depository is three miles from the campus.
Parking is free.

UIS IRAD (Springfield)

Located in the lower level of the Norris L. Brookens Library (it is listed as the first level but I have always taken an elevator down).
Parking is free; use Lot B.
Once inside the library ask for directions. Depending on the door in which you enter the library the room can be very easy to find or you can go through a maze, which is usually my path.

EIU IRAD (Charleston, IL)

Located in the University Archives in the Booth Library, use south entrance.
Closed 12-1.
Metered parking lots. A guest-parking permit can be acquired.

List of depositories and locations:

Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
Booth Library
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920

Counties: Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby, Wabash, Wayne

Illinois State University (ISU)
Illinois State University
2016 Warehouse Road
Campus Box 1520
Normal, IL 61790-1520

Counties: Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, McLean, Piatt, Tazewell, Vermilion, Woodford

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)
Ronald Williams Library
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-4699

Counties: Cook and City of Chicago

Northern Illinois University (NIU)
Founders Memorial Library
c/o Regional History Center, Room 400
Normal Road
DeKalb, IL 60115

Counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, DuPage, JoDaviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago

Southern Illinois University (SIU)
Morris Library – 6632
Carbondale, IL 62901-6632

Counties: Alexander, Clinton, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Saline, Union, Washington, White, Williamson

University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS)
LIB 144
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield IL 62703-5407

Counties: Bond, Cass, Christian, Fayette, Greene, Jersey, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

Western Illinois University (WIU)
University Library
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455

Counties: Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Fulton Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Pike Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Warren

ISGS Webinar - Cool Tools for Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:29:00 +0000

Join the Illinois State Genealogical Society on Valentine's Day for a "dinner and a webinar" date!

Upcoming Webinar: Cool Tools for Publishing

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 8:00 pm Central

Presenter: Lisa Alzo

Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A. is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Slovak/Eastern European genealogical research, writing your family history, and using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors. She is the author of nine books, including the award-winning Three Slovak Women, and hundreds of magazine articles, and writes the blog "The Accidental Genealogist."

Description: Now that you've written your family’s story, what do you do with it? Thanks to technology and the Internet, it’s easier than ever to document and share your genealogical discoveries. Those attending this FREE webinar will learn about some of the popular online tools and methods available for writing and publishing a cutting edge family history.

Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/223286734

Recordings and Syllabus Also Available

For those who can't attend on February 14th, a recording of the webinar, along with the syllabus, will be made available in the Members Section of the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org. If you're not already a member of ISGS, visit Join ISGS! for more information.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

ISGS Office Closed Monday, January 16, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:38:00 +0000

The ISGS Office will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The office will be open from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Regular hours will resume on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Nominees Needed for National Genealogical Society Hall of Fame Award

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:42:00 +0000

Editor's note: we just received the following information from ISGS member and well-known genealogist Lou Szucs

Do you or your group know of a deceased genealogist who you believe would be eligible for the National Genealogical Society Hall of Fame Award? There are many worthy candidates, often they are best known to the regional societies but overlooked when it is time to file papers for this prestigious award. Our committee would be grateful if you would bring this to the attention of your group so that papers could be prepared and submitted by January 31, 2012.

A nominee must have been actively engaged in genealogy in the United States for at least ten years, must have been deceased for at least five years at the time of nomination, and must have made contributions to the field of genealogy judged to be of lasting significance in ways that were unique, pioneering, or exemplary.

The National Genealogy Hall of Fame is an educational project in which the entire genealogical community is invited to participate. Affiliation with the National Genealogical Society is not required.

The National Genealogy Hall of Fame Committee elects one person to the Hall of Fame annually. Those elected are permanently commemorated in the Hall of Fame at Society headquarters, Arlington, Virginia.

Nominations for election to the Hall of Fame are due by 31 January each year. Official nomination forms are available from our website, www.ngsgenealogy.org, Awards & Competitions, or by contacting the National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22204‐4304; phone 1‐800‐473‐0060.

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

ISGS Webinar Recordings Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0000

Last night, Tuesday, January 10, 2012, we had a very successful premiere of the ISGS Webinar program with over 200 attendees from as far as way as El Salvador and Australia!

If you didn't get a chance to catch 10 Ways To Jumpstart Your Genealogy, you can now access the recorded webinar and the handouts in the Members Section of the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org. If you aren't a member of ISGS, please click here for more information on all the member benefits and how to join!

© 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

NEW - ISGS Webinar Series

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:21:00 +0000

The Illinois State Genealogical Society is pleased to announce a brand new service for its members as well as the genealogical community: WEBINARS! You can attend these webinars online over the Internet using your computer - that's right! Education delivered to you at your convenience.

ISGS now features a series of monthly webinars on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. We'll not only be featuring topics relevant to Illinois and Midwest genealogy but also other related topics including vital records, research strategies and more. And the ISGS Webinar Series will also feature some of the best-known speakers in the field of genelaogy today.

10 Ways To Jump Start Your Genealogy In 2012

The first offering in the ISGS webinar series is entitled 10 Ways To Jump Start Your Genealogy In 2012 presented by nationally-known genealogist, educator and author Thomas MacEntee on Tuesday evening, January 10, 2012 at 8:00 pm Central time.

Whether stuck in a rut with genealogy research for the past year or just wanting to expand the ways in which family history can be pursued, the genealogy community is encouraged to join ISGS for this fun and informative FREE webinar. Those attending will learn how to energize their genealogy research and will be ready to hit the ground running in 2012.

This webinar is FREE to the public and those wanting to attend are encouraged to register at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/889377446 since space is limited.

Recordings and Syllabus Also Available

For those who can't attend on January 10th, a recording of the webinar, along with the syllabus, will be made available in the Members Section of the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org. If you're not already a member of ISGS, visit Join ISGS! for more information.

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Donate to ISGS Today

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Please remember the Illinois State Genealogical Society in your end of 2011 donations - we have a variety of ways in which you can support the many programs at ISGS:

Angel Project: Through the Angel Project, ISGS purchases microfilmed county records for the Illinois State Archives and for the Illinois Regional Archive Depositories (IRAD) throughout the represented regions in Illinois. These records are available for your use in researching your families when you visit the Illinois State Archives or one of the IRAD facilities.

Use the button below to donate to the Angel Project:

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Book Project: The ALPL Book Project helps increase the ALPL collection of genealogy and family history materials to include each publication produced by one of the state's many genealogical and historical societies. ISGS also encourages its members who publish genealogical works to donate a copy to ALPL.

Use the button below to donate to the ALPL Book Project:

ISGS Digitization Fund: The Digitization Fund serves to implement the digitization of ISGS publications, record collections, and databases for placement on the Internet. This process will provide more genealogists with access to valuable articles and studies of whose existence they might not otherwise be aware.

Use the button below to donate to the ISGS Digitization Fund:

ISGS General Fund: Gifts to the General Fund are used by ISGS to expand both its outreach to genealogists across the state of Illinois and its level of excellence in helping to improve research and educational opportunities to family historians everywhere.

Use the button below to donate to the ISGS General Fund:

ISGS Memorial/Honorarium: Individuals have the opportunity to honor another person by providing a gift to ISGS in that person’s name. These gifts are used in a variety of ways to promote the work of genealogists in the state of Illinois.

Use the button below to donate as an ISGS Memorial/Honorarium:

You can also click here to print out a donation form and mail it in to the ISGS office.

ISGS is a non-profit, nonsectarian, educational organization. All contributions are tax deductible

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Give the Gift of an ISGS Membership This Holiday Season

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:34:00 +0000

Don't forget that while you are scrambling to finish up your Christmas shopping or making sure everyone on your list gets a holiday gift, you can always give the gift of ISGS this season!

Click here for more information on the various types of membership at ISGS. You can use this printable form (opens in PDF) and send it in with your payment or join online!

Your gift recipient will have access to the following benefits by becoming a member of ISGS:

access to the Members Section with numerous Illinois-related genealogy databases and indices and the new Member Forums;

4 issues of the 64-page Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly which is mailed in March, June, September and December;

6 issues of the Illinois State Genealogical Society Newsletter;

20% discount on publications;

ability to submit your surname information to the Surname Research database;

reduced death certificate lookup and conference fees;

and a genealogist to help with problems.

Vermillion County Cemeteries and More

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:19:00 +0000

The VermillionCounty.Info site is:

". . . dedicated to cemeteries in Vermilion County Illinois & surrounding counties. It will hopefully help people in their genealogy research, along with a site to help protect cemetery & cemetery headstones in digital pictures. Since many older stones will crumble to a point that they can't be read, having digital copies now will hopefully allow people to know what is on these stone long after they are unreadable (either by time, weather, vandals, etc...)."

FamilySearch Learning Center Midwest Series

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:28:00 +0000

From our friends at FamilySearch:

Have an ancestor from the Midwest or just want to learn more about using census and vital records? The U.S. Midwest Beginning Research Series is a new online learning series available at the FamilySearch.org Learning Center. The series can help people start their family history research in the Midwest states. Check out all three lessons in the series today.

SHOW-N-SHARE with GENEALOGY EXPERTS

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:48:00 +0000

“Show-N-Share with Genealogy Experts” will be the theme of the Saturday, January 21, 2012 meeting of the British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL) from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon at the Community Church, 5714 Broadway, Richmond, IL.

In informal roundtable discussion groups, members and guests may ask the genealogy experts questions regarding British Isles genealogical research. Attendees may move between the various groups to address questions to the other experts. Beginners in genealogy may want to attend the “Beginners” group.

The topics and experts are:

England - Ann Wells
Ireland - Dan Kane
Scotland - Karen Morrison
Beginners - Margaret Zook
Publications/Publishing - Judy Knoblock/Roger Higgs

Members are encouraged to bring items they have published for the “Publications” table.

BIGWILL, a genealogical special interest group for those who wish to research family history and ancestry in the British Isles, meets at 10:00 am on the third Saturday of January, March, May, July, September and November at the Community Church, 5714 Broadway (2 blocks west of Hwy 12) in Richmond, IL. Please check our website for more information at www.bigwill.org

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Educational Opportunities Abound

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

The Education Committee has been hard at work these last few months looking for ways to provide educational opportunities to ISGS members and the genealogical community as a whole. Here are a few things we are working on implementing in the very near future:

Webinars

Each month ISGS will offer an educational webinar with topics focusing on Illinois research, methodology, and beginning research. The webinars will be open to the public when they are presented live. After that, an archived copy of the webinar will be available to ISGS members at any time through our members-only website.

More information will be available soon, as we hope to kick-off our first webinar in January. If you have ideas for topics or are a speaker who would like to discuss opportunities, please email the Education Committee Chair, Julie Tarr, at isgseducation@ilgensoc.org.

Blog Content

Starting very soon, we will begin to post more articles to this blog that are educational in nature, such as how to use/find a particular record type, researching at Illinois repositories, and research stories that can help and inspire others. We are seeking guest authors to submit these articles since everyone has something to share and we are a community that enjoys helping others. If you would like to submit an article idea for consideration, please email the Education Committee Chair, Julie Tarr, at isgseducation@ilgensoc.org.

Another feature, which we have already started, is the Ask A Genealogist column. This is your opportunity to ask our Genealogy Committee a question about Illinois resources, records, or research strategies. Send your question to the ISGS Genealogy Committee at isgsgenealogist@ilgensoc.org.

And finally, each month, we plan to highlight an Illinois society. These articles will contain general information about the society, as well as any projects they are working on, what their library or archives collections hold, and some tips for researching in that particular geographic location or ethnic group.

In The Works

There are a few more things that the Education Committee is working on that pertain to the other goal of this committee, which is to educate the general public about genealogy and get our youth involved in genealogy. The details of these projects are still being worked out, but following is some brief information:

Workshop Toolkit – The Education Committee is working jointly with the Publications Committee to produce a toolkit to provide guidance to libraries and genealogical/historical societies on how to host a genealogy workshop.
Youth Workshop – The Education Committee is working with the Conference Committee on developing a youth workshop to be held in conjunction with the annual fall conference. We would like to make the workshop an annual fall conference activity.
Youth Contest – The Education Committee is looking to institute a “creative” contest (writing, photography, artwork) for youth to participate in each year.

If you would like to be involved in this committee, please fill out the Volunteer Form and check “Education Development” under the Areas of Interest section. If there is something specific you would like to work on, please note it in the field marked Additional special talents or interests.

Illinois History Symposium 2012 - April 26-28, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:12:00 +0000

The Illinois State Historical Society will hold its 32nd annual Illinois History Symposium at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria April 26-28, 2012. The theme for the symposium is "Contested Lands: 1763-1840."

The Symposium will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, with a focus on the years leading up to and immediately after the War of 1812 as played out in the old Northwest Territory.

Interested vendors, exhibitors, presenters, and potential sponsors should call the Society office at 217-525-2781, for more information

Scholarly papers, panels, PowerPoint presentations, educational workshops for teachers, and multi-media programs will be presented, as well as non-traditional presentations will be given.

Check back often for more details regarding the program, lodging, and registration information.

http://www.historyillinois.org/files/Meetings_Events/meetings_symposium_2012.htm

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

November-December 2011 Issue of ISGS Newsletter Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:06:00 +0000

The November/December 2011 issue of the ISGS Newsletter is now available to both ISGS members and non-members.

Visit the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org and click ISGS Newsletter to download the current issue (in PDF) and to view past issues going back to January/February 2008.

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Arcola High School Yearbooks Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (ISGS Publicity) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:52:00 +0000

Yearbooks from Arcola Township High School in Arcola, Illinois are now available for free on the Ancestry.com website. ISGS 1st Vice President Larry Pepper helped scan the yearbook pages, uploaded them to the Ancestry site and indexed them as well!

Currently, ISGS has fully-indexed the yearbooks for 1921 and 1922. Yearbooks for 1926 and 1927 are available in image only format and the indexing will be completed very soon.

To view the ISGS Collection at Ancestry.com, click http://bit.ly/ISGSAncestryContentPublisher or visit the Free Databases section of the ISGS website at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=66.

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

5 Soldiers Added to the Military Certificates Database

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Cahill Tarr) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:34:00 +0000

ISGS has a Military Certificates database online that lists the certificates issued as part of the Military Certificate project that honors Illinois soldiers. The database lists the soldier’s name along with their unit, county, and the ISGS Military Certificate number. This searchable database is available to anyone under the Free Databases section of the ISGS Website.

Civil War Soldiers Added Since August 2011

Willis Jones
William Malone
Simon Rentz

World War I Soldiers Added Since August 2011

Michael Milasky

World War II Soldiers Added Since August 2011

Robert Milasky