Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium Hosts NGS Chicago 2006

NGS Wrap-up

2006-08-10T20:07:00.000-05:00

The conference is over and it was a great event.

Thanks to those who helped in any way: the volunteers, presentors, staff, and attendees.

Click here for final attendance numbers

Total attendees: 1138

Thanks for visiting!

Help Wanted

2006-06-04T23:56:00.000-05:00

That's right, these conferences don't just happen, they take hours of time and effort. You probably already knew that, having attended them before. We ask that you please read on...
See How You Can Help!

A couple of hours (or minutes) of your time will help make this conference a success. There are a few holes in our scheduling. Will you take a look and see if you can help us out? Perhaps you are already signed up for a luncheon that doesn't yet have a ticket taker. A few minutes taking tickets and you will have contributed to the conference. Maybe there is a session you plan to attend where a door monitor is needed. You will still get to hear the lecture. Your task will be to guide folks to their seats if need be, and let them know they are in the right room. Take a peek at what the CGC has left, and see if you can help us out.

Wednesday Needs
Registration Desk: Noon-3pm
Volunteer Room: 11am-3pm
Ticket Taker at the ICAPGEN Luncheon
Volunteers are needed in the following sessions:
11am- W105, W107, W109
12:15pm- W112
2:30pm- W114, W117, W119
4pm- W123, W126, W129, W121

Thursday Needs
Registration: 7:15am- Noon (2), Noon - 3pm (2)
Hospitality: 11-2 and 2-5
Ask Me: Many openings
BCG Luncheon T226, Ticket takers
Sessions:
8am T208, T209
9:30am T214, T209
11am T220, T222
12:15pm T226, T228
2:30pm T235, T237
4pm T239, T243, T244, T245, T237

Friday Needs
Registration: 10:45- Noon , Noon-1:30, 1:30-3pm
Volunteer Room: 7:30-9:45am
Hospitality: 7:45am-11am, 11am-2pm, 2pm-5pm
Ask Me: all areas
APG Luncheon F325- Ticket taker
FHL/GSU Luncheon F326- Ticket taker
Sessions:
8am F302, F306, F308, F309
9:30am F310, F311, F306, F309
11am F318
12:15pm F325, F327
2:30pm F329, F311, F332
4pm F337, F338, F332, F341

Saturday Needs
Registration: 7:15am-9am
Ask Me: All areas
Exhibit Support: 11am-2pm, 2pm-4:30pm
Volunteer Room: 2:15-4:15
Sessions:
8am S401, S403, S404, S408, S409
9:30am S410, S411, S412, S413, S414, S415, S409
11am S424, S425
2:30pm S431, S432
4pm S437, S438, S440, S441, S442, S443

To volunteer for one or more of the available slots contact Peg Gleich at the conference or on her cell phone at 608-289-1180. The CGC thanks you! We will be busy Monday arriving at the hotel and making preparations for the conference... the countdown begins.

See you in Chicago!

Hospitality and Volunteers

2006-06-03T22:55:00.000-05:00

The Hospitality Committee of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium (CGC), the local host organization, looks forward to welcoming attendees to the NGS 2006 conference and the Chicago area. Hospitality members can be recognized by their neon green, yellow, pink and orange hats.
Keep Reading!

The Hospitality Committee will have an information desk set up near the Exhibitor Hall. Make this your first stop with questions about the conference, local research facilities, restaurants and tourist attractions. These volunteers will have plenty of resources on hand to help answer your questions. The Hyatt’s concierge desk is also ready to help with directions, provide tourist brochures, etc.

In addition to the Hospitality desk, other volunteers will be stationed at key locations throughout the conference area of the hotel to answer questions. If you need help finding the Exhibitor Hall, a luncheon location, the computer labs, or have other questions, look for the volunteers wearing “Ask Me!” buttons.

A message board will be set up near the Exhibitor Hall. Attendees can leave messages about carpooling, arranging outings, buying or selling meal tickets, finding missing friends, or seeking long lost cousins. There will also be a message board in the Volunteer Office.

There are still volunteer opportunities available. Your help would be appreciated no matter what your level of experience at conferences or with volunteering. As an added incentive, volunteers will be entered in daily drawings for cash awards and other prizes.

To volunteer call Peggy Gleich, 608-289-1180 (cell) or contact her at the conference.

The members of the CGC and the many volunteers are eagerly awaiting your arrival. We are sure it will be a great conference!

Chicago Museums Update

2006-06-03T17:31:00.000-05:00

Two of Chicago’s favorite destinations are having free admission days the week of NGS 2006, and a third is offering free evenings!
Read About the Museums

Shedd Aquarium - Discount Week: June 4th - 9th
Shedd Aquarium, located on the shores of Lake Michigan at Chicago’s Museum Campus is the world's largest indoor aquarium. During this discount week, general admission is free, and admission to both the Oceanarium and Wild Reef is available for an additional fee. Favorite exhibits at Shedd Aquarium include:

The Oceanarium - Follow the call of the whales through a spruce and cedar rain forest to the water’s edge. Dolphins leap and splash in the harbor while playful otters tumble in a nearby cove. Colorful sea stars cling to rocks in tidal pools. And the beluga whales chirp a welcome.

Lizards and the Komodo King - In this exhibit, guests can explore the world of lizards and learn through several interactive features, including a texture-rubbing station. They can even listen to recordings of geckos barking. This visual exhibit will connect you to more than 25 lizard species, including the crocodile monitor – the world’s longest lizard – the bearded dragon, green tree monitor, caiman lizards, shield-tail agamas and much more. The highlight of Lizards and the Komodo King is certainly Faust, the Komodo dragon. Shedd guests will come face to face with all 8 feet and 120 pounds of him. With his forked tongue, unbelievable size, and ability to take down water buffalo, Faust will show guests why the Komodo is a ferocious predator. The highly visual exhibit will be a feast for the eyes, with larger-than-life images, spectacular video of lizard behavior, and dozens of lizards on display!

For more information, please call 312-939-2438 or visit http://www.sheddaquarium.org. Advance tickets are recommended and are on sale through Ticketmaster at 312-559-0200 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Museum of Science and Industry - Discount Week: June 4th - 9th
General admission will be free on these days. Visitor favorites include a coal mine exhibit, Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle and a real U-505 submarine. Current exhibits include Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius, and opening June 9, Frogs: A Chorus of Color. Some exhibits require the purchase of special tickets, in addition to the general admission. For details, contact the museum's call center at (773) 684-1414 or see the museum’s website: http://www.msichicago.org/index.html.

Art Institute – Free Evenings
The Art Institute of Chicago has announced new summer and free hours. As of June 3, the galleries will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays until 5:00 p.m. Admission is free on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., featuring live music and museum tours at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. Current Exhibitions include: Honoring Heroes in History: Illustrations from the Coretta Scott King Award Books, 2001-2005, Great American Drawings, The Concerned Photographer, Casas Grandes and the Ceramic Art of the Ancient Southwest. For further information, phone 312-443-3600 or see: http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php

Field Museum - No summer discount days.
The Field Museum is located on Chicago’s Museum Campus. It was founded to house the biological and anthropological collections assembled for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. These objects form the core of the Museum's collections which have grown to more than twenty million specimens.

General Admission entitles you to entry into the Museum, which includes SUE (the biggest T. rex skeleton ever found,) Evolving Planet (which requires a separate timed-entry ticket) and Inside Ancient Egypt as well as exhibitions on many different cultures, mammals, birds, gems, minerals, and plants! Temporary exhibits currently open include:

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, which includes more than 130 priceless artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of the celebrated “boy king” Tutankhamun. All the artifacts in the exhibition are 3,300 to 3,500 years old.

From Fins to Feet. This exhibit features a 375 million year old fossil fish known as Tiktaalik, a “missing link” in the story of how fishes evolved into land-living animals.

The Auschwitz Album: The Story of a Transport. This is an exhibit of black-and-white photographs taken by Nazi S.S. officers of the arrival and imprisonment of Hungarian Jews in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

Some exhibits may be in high demand and/or require the purchase of tickets in addition to the price of general admission. For information, see http://www.fieldmuseum.org/ or call 312-922-9410.

Adler Planetarium – No summer discount days.
The Adler Planetarium, located at Chicago’s Museum Campus, is home to more than 35,000 square feet of exhibits, including scale models of the Solar System, ancient astronomical instruments, and interactive adventures. Currently running shows include:

Stars of the Pharaohs, a unique look into the grandeur of ancient Egypt on a giant 360-degree dome screen that is 55-wide and three stories tall.

TimeSpace...Time Travel Only at the Adler, a new show that turns the Adler's StarRider theater into a time machine! See and experience the Big Bang, the Doom of the Dinosaurs, the sudden appearance of Halley's Comet in the Yucatán Sky, Apollo 11's moonlanding and man's first steps on the moon, and a leap into the future to 3001.

Egyptian Nights: Secrets of the Sky Gods. Journey back more than 5000 years to see the sky as the ancient Egyptians did from the banks of the Nile River. Learn about how ancient Egyptians incorporated the sky into their daily lives, civic culture, and spiritual belief system.

For admission prices, show times and other information, phone 312-922-STAR or see http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/.

Speaker Spotlight: Cecile Wendt Jensen

2006-06-02T23:33:00.000-05:00

Cecile (Ceil) Wendt Jensen was given a family history writing assignment in grade school. She interviewed her father Frank J. Wendt. He took a brown canvas pouch imprinted with F. Missler from the top dresser drawer and removed three small pieces of paper written in German. They were the birth certificates that her great grandfather Franz Wendt and his sons Franz and Adolph used for their passage to America. She was hooked!
Read More About Ceil Wendt Jensen

Her father's untimely death several months later cloaked her family history in a mystique that lingers today. She was determined to continue her research and find out where the documents came from. At that time she was perplexed that the certificates were in German yet the family was Polish. Ceil is now a Certified Genealogist who has documented her ancestry back to the 1600s. She has done on-site research in Poland and now understands how a Polish family once carried documentation written in German.

Arcadia recently published Ceil's book Detroit's Polonia. She is working on two more publications: Detroit's Mt. Elliott Cemetery and Detroit's Mt. Olivet Cemetery. She has a forthcoming book for the Polish Genealogical Society of America, Sot Lat - A Modern Guide to Polish Genealogy. Ceil presents practical examples and suggestions on how to use records, databases and archives to start or advance your genealogical research while dispeling the myth that records were destroyed during the World Wars and that language barriers make European research difficult. She delights in helping researchers find their ancestral villages.

Her NGS lectures include Researching Your Polish Heritage Online and Polish Archives: Behind the Scenes, complete with digital video.

Ceil taught in public schools for 30 years in traditional and electronic art, art history, and social studies. She transitioned to professional genealogy in 1999. Her studio now develops websites, video, CDs, DVDs and databases for genealogists of all ages. For additional information see: http://www.mipolonia.net/.

APG Roundtable

2006-06-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

The APG Roundtable is an informal discussion meeting that is open to APG members only. It is a great place to network, learn, and share ideas. The topic of this Roundtable is Vive la Difference! What makes the difference? A special look at Ethnic Research. Beverly Rice will moderate. For more information see http://www.apgen.org/conferences/roundtable.html

The APG Roundtable will be on Tuesday in the Ozark AB room at the hotel. The meeting starts at 7pm. See you there!

RTA Trip Planner Makes Visiting Chicago A Breeze

2006-06-01T23:19:00.000-05:00

This is a repeat but the info will be very helpful for those who want to travel in the city.

Looking for a way to get around Chicago? Try the online RTA Trip Planner.
Read More About the RTA Trip Planner

Just plug in a starting and ending address, cross street, or an already named destination (see the drop down box for the pre-selected locations). If you are staying at the event hotel, use the Rosemont Convention Center choice as your start and/or end point. The Rosemont Convention Center is right across the road from our event hotel. Add approximate times that you would like to travel and the trip planner will give you specific directions to the subway, bus, or train. They also tell the time of the stop and how much it will cost to ride.

The trip planner will take some of the stress out of visiting a new city, and be helpful to you if you want to explore some of Chicago's destinations.

Vendors- Societies of the Eastern United States

2006-05-31T15:59:00.000-05:00

Not all of the geographic-based societies represented at the NGS conference this year are from the Midwest. We’d like to give a warm welcome to these out-of-town visitors. We hope you’ll pay them a visit while attending NGS.
Learn More About Societies

The Virginia Genealogical Society (VGS)
The Virginia Genealogical Society was organized in 1960 to foster interest in genealogical, biographical, historical and heraldic research; to publish information pertaining to genealogy; and to share genealogical methods, techniques and knowledge among the members of the society. The society publishes a quarterly, the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, and a bi-monthly newsletter. VGS sponsors an annual conference in Richmond and a biannual genealogical institute. In 2007, the Virginia Genealogical Society will co-host the NGS Conference in the States, "Rediscover Virginia: 400 Years of Family History" on May 16-19. To learn more, stop by Booth 304 or visit their website: http://www.vgs.org/

The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (G&B)
For nearly 400 years, New York has been known for the diversity of its people. Whether your ancestors were among the first Europeans or Africans who came to New Netherland, or the Native Americans who were already living here, or whether they were among the long stream of immigrants from all over the world who came in the subsequent years, the G&B can help you learn more about those ancestors and the world in which they lived.

The G&B is a membership organization, and new members are always welcome. Benefits of membership include access to all of the Library's collections (published materials, manuscripts, and microforms); subscriptions to the Society’s two quarterly publications, the Record and the Researcher, and discounts on other publications; unlimited queries on the NYG&B Bulletin Board, four free queries per year, published in the Researcher and on the G&B website; access to the Member's Area, and reduced fees for educational programs and the library's record search service. For details, visit Booth 201 or see the G&B website: http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/

The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)
The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is the oldest genealogical society in the country. For over 150 years, NEHGS has helped new and experienced researchers trace their heritage in New England and around the world. Today the Society has over 20,000 members worldwide and a professional staff which includes leading genealogists and experts in American, English, Irish, Scottish, and Canadian research. Members have online access to over 110 million names; on-site use of the research library, including special collections and manuscripts; subscriptions to New England Ancestors and The Register; and discounts on goods and services. Members can also take advantage of the Society’s circulating library, with over 23,000 books loaned in the year 2000.

While at NGS, be sure to stop by Booths 509 and 511 to learn more about NEHGS. And on your next visit to Boston, be sure to include a trip to NEHGS to see the vast collection of books, manuscripts, microfilms, and electronic resources, and experience first-hand the expertise of their staff of professional genealogists. See http://www.NewEnglandAncestors.org for further information.

Be sure to drop by these booths while at NGS and let them help you plan your next trip “Back East.”

Chicago Area Libraries

2006-05-30T20:16:00.000-05:00

Libraries are great places and are often full of genealogy and local history resources. Some of the best local libraries in the Chicago area include:
Read About Chicago Area Libraries

The Gail Borden Library
The Gail Borden Library, located in Elgin, Illinois, is known for its genealogical resources. Its collection of over 3,900 books is concentrated on Elgin and Kane County, Illinois. There is also information for 25 other states, mostly east of the Mississippi River, and five European countries. The library has hundreds of reels of microfilm and access to on-line research sites. There is a 125-year newspaper index for vital statistics in the area. Good local history resources include newspapers on microfilm going back to the 1800s and “Views of Old Elgin,” a collection of photographs. The Elgin Genealogical Society meets at the library. The Kane County Genealogical Society also covers this area. The library phone number is 847-742-2411, and its website is http://www.elgin.lib.il.us/services/genealogy.html

Arlington Heights Library
This library, with an exceptional collection of genealogical information, is located in downtown Arlington Heights. There is ample parking and restaurants are nearby. Included in their over 8,000 reference books are Chicago city directories from 1838-1928 (on microfilm and microfiche) as well as other city and county directories and histories. There is a DAR member present on Saturdays to help patrons. The library staff is extremely helpful. The library subscribes to several databases, including America's Obituaries and Death Notices, the largest collection of newspaper obituaries and death notices in the U.S., searchable by individual record, date range, or text contained in the obituary or death notices. For information, phone 847-392-0100 or see the library’s website: http://www.ahml.info/find_information/genealogy.asp?Topic=Genealogy%20and%20Biography

Wheaton Public Library
The Wheaton Public Library, located near downtown Wheaton, is currently undergoing renovations and an addition. However, it is open and ready for out of town visitors. There is information here for all 50 states with emphasis on Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. The library has a vital records index to Wheaton papers beginning 1885 and, also something not found everywhere, Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970. The local genealogical group is the DuPage County Genealogical Society. For more information, phone 668-1374 ext. 510 or see the library’s website: http://www.wheaton.lib.il.us/library/wplgen.html

South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society Library
Although a little farther removed from the conference site than others, this is a gem. The Genealogical and Historical Society was gifted with a large number of research books. From 1975 to present the library has grown to more than 11,000 books, microfilms and periodicals as well as CDs, maps, and directories. The material pertains to south Cook and east Will counties, Illinois including Chicago's Roseland/Pullman neighborhoods. If you are researching these areas, this is the place for you. Located in the Hazel Crest, Illinois Municipal building, the phone number is (708) 335-3340. See the Society’s website for details: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ssghs/

Barrington Area Library
The Barrington Area Library has a collection of genealogical resources and local history. Of special interest are the family trees, cemetery listings, and town history by Arnett C. Lines, who left his papers to the library upon his death in 1970. Much of this information is available on the "Barrington Area History" section of the library's home page. The library has copies of the Barrington Courier-Review newspaper from February 1890 to the present on microfilm. Library staff and volunteers produce the Barrington Courier-Review Index, which is updated on a regular basis. Indexes for births, deaths and marriages exist from 1890–present. News stories are indexed from 1970–present. For more information call 847-382-1300 or see the library website at: http://www.barringtonarealibrary.org/services/genealogy.htm

Schaumburg Township District Library
The Schaumburg Township District Library (STDL) owns a wide selection of materials for individuals interested in genealogy including books, cassettes, videos, handbooks and government documents for the beginning genealogist as well as for the advanced researcher. The collection includes general information on such topics as how to start a search to more specialized materials such as obtaining vital records, county records and land and property research. STDL employs a Genealogy Coordinator who is available to help genealogy researchers with finding materials or providing direction in doing in-depth research. Also available is the Local History Digital Archive. Begun in 2001, it is designed to be a historical collection of digitized photographs, documents, maps, and videos related to the Schaumburg Township area. For information phone 847-985-4000 or see the website: http://www.stdl.org/

Fremont Public Library
Fremont Public Library in north suburban Mundelein is home to the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society’s research facility. The collection includes numerous family histories, cemetery books, and reference materials. There is an extensive obituary collection, and a probate index, newspapers and censuses on microfilm. Fremont Library itself has a good collection of local history books, newspapers on microfilm, and a map of township landowners in the 1830s. For details, call: 847-566-8702 or see the website: http://www.fremontlibrary.org/genealogy.htm

Cook Memorial Library
Cook Memorial Library is located in downtown Libertyville. The library has a collection of genealogical reference materials, including several journals, DAR books and newspapers on microfilm. The library also has an obituary index, and several subscription databases of interest. The Ansel B. Cook Victorian Museum is on the grounds; it contains furnishings and items of historical interest. For information, call 847-362-2330 or see the library’s website: http://www.cooklib.org/Research/Genealogy.htm

Winnetka Library
The Winnetka Library's Katharine Greeley Genealogical Collection has over 6,000 volumes that include manuscripts, magazines, microfilm, microfiche, CD-ROMs and computer databases. The collection contains information primarily about states from the Atlantic to the west bank of the Mississippi River, but also contains information from other areas. The Obituary Index covers obituaries published in The Winnetka Talk from 1917-present. The collection is also strong in military history, New England resources, local and family history and heraldry. The library has access to several genealogical databases and subscriptions to major genealogical periodicals. For details call 847-446-7220 or see the library’s website at: http://www.wpld.alibrary.com/genealogy.asp

For links to other Chicago-area libraries with genealogical collections, see these websites:

A Library Database - by the members of CAGG-NI
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcaggni/librarys/

Barrington Area Library Local Information: Web Pages of Local Libraries
http://www.barringtonarealibrary.org/local_information/locallibraries.htm

If your ancestors came from the Chicago area, why not check out the local library while attending NGS? You never know what you might discover.

Adding Meal Events

2006-05-30T19:40:00.000-05:00

Did you forget to add a meal event to your registration or have trouble deciding which luncheon talk you wanted to hear? While it is too late to add to your registration using the NGS website, it is not too late to add a meal event (or three!) while at the conference. Just see the NGS registration person by mid-morning of the day your desired event will take place. Let them know that you want to get in on the fun. Once you pay for the event you will be good to eat, chat, and listen to a wonderful lecture!

Trolley Tours of Chicago

2006-05-27T17:11:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Company offers Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Tours on trolleys and double decker buses. They provide a two hour entertaining and informative tour of the city as well as serving as convenient, low-cost transportation to the city's most popular attractions. The fully narrated tour covers 13 magnificent miles of Chicago's downtown and the Loop. You can Hop Off and explore the city and Hop On when you are ready to continue your tour.
Read About Chicago's Trolleys

Stops on the tour include Sears Tower, Millennium Park, the Theatre District, the Art Institute, the Museum Campus, Navy Pier and North Michigan Avenue. Additional routes include the South Museum Route with stops at the Museum of Science and Industry and the DuSable Museum, and the Ethnic Chicago Route with stops in Chinatown, Greektown and Little Italy. The tours run 7 days a week from 9:00am to 6:30pm.

Fares:
Adult All Day (price reflects 10% web discount) - $22.50
All Day 2-Day (price reflects 10% web discount) - $31.50
Senior All Day (ages 65 and over, price reflects 10% web discount) - $18.00

For details, phone 773-648-5000 or see the website: http://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/

Chicago's Free Trolleys
Chicago's Free Trolleys are a great way to see some of Chicago's most popular destinations. The Free Trolleys run on three routes: the Museum route, the Navy Pier route and the Shopping route. The trolleys serve many popular visitor, cultural and shopping destinations such as Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, Michigan Avenue and Lincoln Park Zoo - with dozens of stops in between. No tickets or reservations are required to ride the free trolleys. To catch one, just look for the free trolley signs at any specially marked stop. The Free Trolley service runs 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend (May 27) to Labor Day weekend (September 4).

The Free Trolleys are operated by the city of Chicago’s Department of Transportation. For details, google Chicago Free Trolleys or follow this link.

For public transit information, call (312) 836-7000. Visitor information may also be obtained 24 hours a day by calling toll-free 1-877-CHICAGO (1-877-244-2246) / TTY (312)/ 866-710-0294 or by visiting the tourism website at www.877chicago.com.

Welcome to Chicago!

Comedy in Chicago

2006-05-26T01:09:00.000-05:00

When it comes to comedy, Chicago is second to none! Here are just a few of the opportunities to have a good laugh while in town.
Read About Comedy!

Second City
Since 1959, The Second City has established itself as a Chicago landmark and a national treasure. The theatre that launched the careers of such comic greats as John Belushi, Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and more offers nightly comedy shows, as well as a variety of other programs. The theatre has two resident stages: The Second City Mainstage, which seats 290 and The Second City e.t.c., which seats 180. Each theatre has a resident troupe that writes and performs an original comedy revue. The shows are smart, funny, and highly original.

The Second City is located on the north side of Chicago, at 1616 N. Wells St. The Second City e.t.c. and Donny's Skybox Studio Theatre are located at 1608 N. Wells St. (Piper's Alley.) Parking is available for a fee across Wells street in the Treasure Island parking lot, or 1/2 block west on North Avenue at the Piper's Alley self park garage. Fees range from $6 to $15. For more information, call the box office at 312-337-3992, or see the website: http://www.secondcity.com/?id=theatres/chicago

Zanies
If you prefer stand-up comedy to improv, then you’ll want to go to Zanies, which brings national headliners to its night club style settings. See the Zanies website for their current schedule at: http://www.zanies.com/

The three Chicagoland locations are:
Zanies Chicago, 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago. Phone: 312-337-4027
Zanies St. Charles, at the Pheasant Run Resort & Spa in St. Charles, Illinois. Phone: 630-584-6342
Zanies Vernon Hills, 230 Hawthorn Village Commons (Hawthorn Village Commons Plaza), Vernon Hills, Illinois. Phone: 847-549-6030

ComedySportz
The ComedySportz show offers improvisational comedy that is appropriate for all ages. The Red and Blue teams battle it out in front of a referee in games that the audience selects, and points are awarded based on how quickly and effectively the performers complete the games. The eternal battle of Red vs. Blue is improvised 5 times weekly, and the show is never the same twice!

ComedySportz is located on the north side of Chicago at 3220 N. Lincoln Ave. To purchase tickets by phone, or for more information, call (773) 549-8080 or see their website at: http://www.comedysportzchicago.com/site/epage/3328_245.htm

Chicago Comedy Company
This multimedia interactive improvisational comedy theater, describes itself as "the first 100% improvised, 100% audience interactive improv comedy theater dedicated to clean comedy, with no alcohol served or allowed in and no smoking." Live video feed of latecomers provide comedic fodder for those waiting inside to start the show, and a computer internet kiosk allows the audience to search for comedy ideas before and during the show. There's even an interactive iPod station where the audience can play music to create a scene.

The Chicago Comedy Company is located at the Streets of Woodfield Mall, 601 N. Martingale Road, Suite 171, Schaumburg. For information, call 847-240-0380 or see their website: www.chicagocomedyco.com

Blue Man Group
If you prefer your comedy in the form of performance art, try the Blue Man Group. The Blue Man Group is a performance troupe that produces edgy and unique work. The silent but oddly endearing blue trio explore in their humorous and bizarre fashion such questions as what makes art worthy, and how many marshmallows can be fit in someone's mouth.

Blue Man Group performs at Chicago’s historic Briar Street Theatre at 3133 N. Halsted For details call 773-348-4000 or visit the website: http://www.blueman.com/ticketinfo/chicago/index.shtml
For other possibilities, see the following guides, and have some fun while you’re in town:

Chicago Sun-Times Calendar at: http://www.suntimes.com/calendar/comedy.html

Centerstage at: http://centerstage.net/theatre/theatres/styles/comedy.html

Dining in Rosemont

2006-05-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

Are you wondering where you can get a good meal while attending the NGS conference? There are plenty of restaurants, with a wide range of cuisines and prices.
Read More About Restaurants!

First are the luncheons, banquets, and local host event offered in conjunction with the conference itself. These offer great opportunities to meet fellow genealogists. The luncheons enable you to hear top speakers and learn more about the sponsoring organizations. The banquets are a chance to celebrate another year of success with the organizations sponsoring them. The local host event, Sweets Home Chicago, gives you a chance to relax and listen to great jazz music while indulging your sweet tooth at the dessert buffet. How can you resist? We hope you will have the opportunity to attend at least one or two of these special events during the conference.

Those seeking other options may want to consider the following suggestions.

At the Hyatt

Garden Terrace
This open-air restaurant is located on the Atrium Level and serves American cuisine for breakfast and lunch. The sandwiches are highly recommended.

Knuckles Sports Bar
The perfect place to get together after a long day, or to catch the big game on one of the 38 televisions. Knuckles offers a large selection of imports and microbrews, with 72 varieties available. There are two pool tables, video games and a juke box. Hours: Sunday - Friday: 11:00 am - 1:00 am; Saturday: 11:00 am - 2:00 am.

Sarah's Pantry
Located in the Main Lobby next to the front entrance, this gourmet coffee house serves Starbucks coffee, cappuccino, espresso and flavored coffees along with a variety of fresh baked goods, fruit, gourmet sandwiches and snacks. Open 24 hours a day to fulfill those midnight coffee cravings.

The Other Place Steak House
Experience the ambiance and charm of a Chicago-style steak house. Located on the Atrium Level, next to Knuckles Sports Bar and Restaurant. Open for dinner, 5:30pm to 10:00pm.

Near the Hyatt

The Great Expoteria
This cafeteria-style eatery is directly across the street from the hotel’s Grand Ballroom entrance. Hot and cold food is available from 7:00am to 4:00pm. Breakfast choices include omelettes and french toast. Lunch offerings include soup, hot or cold sandwiches, a salad bar, and daily hot entrees. Beer and wine are available.

McDonald’s
The McDonald’s closest to the Hyatt is at the corner of River Road and Higgins Road, about ¾ mile north of the hotel. The restaurant has a drive through.

Morton’s
People magazine claims that Morton’s serves the best steak in America. The restaurant features a truly memorable dining experience, with service beyond compare and an elegant, clublike setting. Morton's signature menu features perfectly grilled USDA prime aged beef, fresh fish and seafood. Morton’s is located at 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, in the Columbia Centre III building, less than .1 mile from the Hyatt.

Giordano’s
This restaurant offers the quintessential stuffed pizza, with fresh, high quality ingredients nestled between two layers of golden crust. NBC-TV called it "the Best Pizza in America." Also on the menu are thin-crust pizza, sandwiches, salads and pastas. Try the stuffed spinach pizza, a Chicago favorite. Giordano’s is located at 9415 W. Higgins Road, at the corner of River Road and Higgins Road, less than a mile from the Hyatt.

Carlucci
Carlucci offers a unique country Italian dining experience reminiscent of the traditional home cooking of Tuscany, with an open kitchen, woodburning oven and simple earthy ingredients. Carlucci is located at 6111 N. River Road, about ½ mile from the Hyatt.

Chez Collette
Chez Collette boasts classic French dining. The Le Bar lobby lounge offers a light menu, live music and special cocktails menu. Chez Collette is located at the Hotel Sofitel. Chez Collette is open 6:30 am to 11:30 pm. Le Bar is open 11:00 am to 12:30 am.

Dominick’s Finer Foods
If you prefer to buy some groceries or need to fill a prescription this well stocked grocery store can accommodate you. It is located two miles from the Hyatt at 1900 S. Cumberland.

For additional possibilities, see the hotel concierge or the Rosemont website: http://www.rosemont.com/restaurants/index_restaurants.php

Vendor Spotlight: Keepsake Family Trees by Olsongraphics

2006-05-24T10:24:00.000-05:00

Keepsake Family Trees are custom designed based on genealogical information provided by customers. Uniquely designed family trees are ready for framing or display in sizes up to 3.5 ft x 25 ft. The many styles include Ancestral Family Trees, Descendant Family Trees, Lineage Society Charts, Wedding Trees and Family Reunion Wall Sized Charts. Archival quality paper and inks are used in these treasures.
Read More About Keepsake Family Trees

A special Keepsake Family Tree of the Frank Sinatra Family has been created especially for this event. Sinatra made the song My Kind of Town famous. Chicago became home to immigrants from everywhere in the world - Frank Sinatra's ancestors immigrated to the United States from Italy. Enjoy viewing the Sinatra Tree and other sample trees at the Keepsake Family Trees booth #905.

Further information on Keepsake Family Trees can be found at KeepsakeFamilyTree.com or by calling 888-759-4228.

Things to do: Chicago Boat Tours

2006-05-22T22:53:00.000-05:00

June is a great time to see Chicago from onboard a boat. Several options are available. Glide along in water taxis, commuter boats, and for architectural boat tours on the Chicago River, or have a real adventure with a luxury dinner cruise on the lake.
Learn More About Chicago's Boat Tours!

Wendella Boats
Wendella is a third generation family run business which has become Chicago's most comprehensive boat tour company. The experienced and knowledgeable docents and tour guides provide educational and insightful narration about Chicago's rich history and magnificent architecture.

Tours are offered seven days a week, April through November. All depart from the 400 North Michigan Avenue dock, at the northwest corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Possibilities include the Chicago River Architecture Tour, the Combined Lake and River Tour or Chicago At Sunset. In addition to tours, Wendella operates the RiverBus Passenger Ferry, Chicago's original water transportation system.

For further information, contact Wendella by phone at 312-337-1446 or see their website: http://www.wendellaboats.com/

Shoreline Sightseeing Boat Tours
These tours leave from Navy Pier and the Shedd Aquarium/Museum Campus. The 30 minute Lake Michigan tours are reasonably priced. An architectural tour on the Chicago River is available. Shoreline also offers a 90 minute Chicago River and Lake Michigan tour. Shoreline runs water taxis on the river and the lake between some of Chicago’s major attractions.

For details, call 312-222-9328 or see the website: http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/

Chicago Architecture Foundation
Marvel at Chicago’s soaring towers while enjoying a 90-minute, narrated river cruise. This tour spotlights more than 50 architecturally significant sites where you will discover the city from a new perspective. Come aboard either of the well-appointed vessels, Chicago's First Lady or Chicago's Little Lady. Both open-air and climate-controlled indoor seating are available to make your journey comfortable. Snacks and beverages are available for purchase on board each vessel.

To purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster at 312.902.1500 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/. Ticketmaster fees will apply.

The Foundation offers walking and bus tours as well. For details, call 312.922.3432 ext. 240 or see their website: http://www.architecture.org/

Odyssey Cruises
The Odyssey II cruises on Lake Michigan year-round. These cruises leave from Navy Pier. Brunch, lunch, dinner and moonlight cruises are available. Live music is included.

The cruise route begins going south along the lake shore, past the Adler Planetarium, turns and heads north to Montrose Harbor, then returns south to Navy Pier. Enjoy the beautiful views of Chicago’s world-famous skyline, from the John Hancock, to Sears Tower, the Museum campus, and more. The ship typically remains within one mile of shore.

To learn more, call 888-957-2322 or check their website at: http://www.odysseycruises.com/chicago/index.cfm
Whether you are looking for a luxury late-night cruise on the lake or just want to get from Navy Pier to the museums quickly, Chicago’s boat tour operators have something that will suit you.

Vendors – Lineage Societies

2006-05-20T22:15:00.000-05:00

The Exhibitor Hall at the NGS conference will include representatives from two of the top lineage societies in the country.
Read About Lineage Societies

The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. DAR members volunteer more than 55,000 hours annually to veteran patients, award over $150,000 in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and support schools for the underprivileged with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.

The DAR boasts 168,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership.

The DAR Library, one of the largest genealogical centers in the United States, is an essential destination when researching your family history in the Washington, D.C. area. Since its founding in 1896, the library has grown into a specialized collection of American genealogical and historical manuscripts and publications. The library is open to the public.

For more details, visit the DAR at Booth 203 at NGS or see their website at: http://www.dar.org/

National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was organized on April 30, l889 -- the l00th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington. The SAR was conceived as a fraternal and civic society composed of lineal descendants of the men who supported the cause of American independence. The SAR is a historical, educational, and patriotic non-profit society that seeks to maintain and extend an appreciation for true patriotism and a respect for our national symbols.

Today the SAR consists of 26,000 members in over 500 chapters in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Almost l65,000 descendants of the men and women patriots of the American Revolution have been admitted since the SAR was founded. To learn more, visit Booth 512 or the SAR website: http://www.sar.org/

Computers and Genealogy – The right tool for the job

2006-05-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

Genealogy and computers go together like a hand and glove. Managing, storing and retrieving large amounts of data are what a computer does best. What is genealogy but a large collection of facts, pictures, videos, and possibly sounds?
Read More About Computers and Genealogy

Computers and the internet have revolutionized the research process. It is now possible to contact a researcher or relative across the country and exchange digital photos of headstones or scanned documents in moments rather than days or weeks. Indexes have been developed and posted online that never existed before. Source documents have been digitized and made available to researchers, some free and others for a fee.

A computer cannot think (yet), but it can follow directions. If we learn how to give it better instructions it can be our perfect genealogy partner. The key word is “learn”. Nobody was born with an instinctive knowledge of computers. Don’t be ashamed of that and don’t be intimidated by a collection of circuits and wires. The computer is a tool and like any tool, you need to practice a bit before you can claim proficiency.

Once held as a separate conference, GenTech is now incorporated into the NGS curricula. Let’s take a quick spin through the brochure.

Two tracks are identified as GenTech. Wednesday’s topics cover how to choose and use a digital camera, devising effective electronic queries, finding your immigrant in cyberspace, the NGS book loan collection, the Illinois Digital Archives, and combining traditional and internet research techniques.

Thursday you can learn about computer housekeeping. Clooz™, online surname search strategies, advanced census techniques, New England resources online, documents and books online, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), searchable newspapers online, Family Maps, and Document & Data Protection and Recovery for when disasters happen.

Friday features talks about advanced Ellis Island search techniques, Irish Historic Maps, analyzing and selecting the various genealogy software programs, search engines, effective use of the Family History Library Catalog, spreadsheet tricks, Sanborn Maps, Polish Heritage online research, use of scanners beyond photos, and another take on traditional vs. computer based research techniques and how to incorporate the best of both.

Saturday features a look at what’s new at Ancestry.com, real research on the internet, Rootsweb.com, Ancestry.com search and share, cutting edge technologies, Chicago and Cook County research on the internet, using PDAs, Ancestry.co.uk and international expansion, and two presentations by Stephen Morse. Stephen Morse has gained fame by creating better ways to search the Ellis Island database. He went on to create tools to enhance searhes on other websites. He’s going to show us how to get more out of existing search applications and how to create one-step search tools of our own.

In addition to the GenTech tracks there is a computer workshop track. These are two hour hands-on computer labs with limited participation and added lab fees.

The first lab is Pamela Boyer Porter teaching genealogical applications for the word processor. This lab filled before the end of April. Bob Velke of The Master Genealogist (TMG) is teaching three labs: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced TMG techniques. Rhonda McClure is teaching a lab on Using Scanners. Steve Broyles will be teaching the basic skills needed for a mapping project using Deedmapper software. Bruce Buzbee will give a one hour an overview of RootsMagic software.

There are thirty programs designated as GenTech and seven computer workshops, but don’t be fooled. Nearly every program will have at least some reference to an internet source or technology.

Speaker Spotlight: Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens

2006-05-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens will be near her childhood stomping grounds when she comes to Chicago. She was born in Evanston, raised in Glenview, and attended high school in Des Plaines. This Illinois native has a lot to share with conference attendees.
Read More About Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens

Ms. Kerstens is a Certified Genealogist and a Certified Genealogical Lecturer, the author of numerous articles, a frequent speaker at local and national conferences, and editor of Genealogical Computing and the NGS News Magazine. Liz co-authored GeneWeaver, software for tracking your family health history.

Clooz™, the software she developed to electronically organize genealogical research, will be the subject of the first of her four presentations.

Having grown up near the largest city on the Great Lakes, it is only fitting that she present They Went Down With the Ship, But Do Their Records Survive? This topic discusses the many shipwrecks that have occurred on the lakes over the last 300 years. If your ancestor was in a shipwreck, Elizabeth can tell you where you might find records about them.

A current resident of Michigan, Liz is well qualified to present In Search of Michigan Ancestors.

Finally, she will present Finding A Needle in the Haystack of Territorial Papers. Tips will be given for wading through the voluminous collection of territorial papers housed by the National Archives to successfully find your ancestor.

Be sure to check out Clooz™ at Booth 300, sold by Ancestor Detective, LLC. Finally, if you do see Ms. Kerstens in the hall, please congratulate her. On May 1st she received the “Most Outstanding Volunteer” award for her work at the Plymouth Historical Museum in Michigan.

Vendors - Professional Societies

2006-05-15T00:38:00.000-05:00

Several groups of interest to current and future professional genealogists will have booths in the NGS Exhibit Hall. Of particular interest are the following:
Read About Professional Societies

Association of Professional Genealogists
The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) was formed in 1979 and has grown from 19 to more than 1,300 members worldwide. APG is a professional association for all genealogists who support high standards in the field of genealogy. Objectives of APG include promoting professional standards in genealogical research, writing and speaking, and promoting international awareness of, and interest in professional genealogical services. Membership is open to any person or institution that supports APG’s objectives and the APG Code of Ethics. If you are a practicing genealogist, wish to become one, or are interested in the profession of genealogy, consider visiting the APG booth and their website at: http://www.apgen.org/

Board for Certification of Genealogists
The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) is an independent organization not part of or affiliated with any other group. It is a certifying body, not a membership society. BCG’s mission is to foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners, and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard.

The BCG booth provides materials of interest to those who are considering certification. Portfolios submitted by successful applicants are available for public viewing. For additional information, see their website: http://www.BCGcertification.org

Genealogical Speakers Guild
The Genealogical Speakers Guild was founded in 1991 to facilitate better communication between speakers and societies. It maintains an on-line members’ directory to help connect available speakers to interested societies. Society program planners may search the Directory of Members alphabetically by speaker or by location of residence or check the Speakers' Calendar page to determine when speakers may be appearing in their area. The Guild also maintains a Call for Papers page to publicize speaking opportunities. Visit the Guild’s booth or their website at: http://www.genspeakguild.org/

International Society of Family History Writers and Editors
The primary goal of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) is to encourage excellence in writing and editorial standards in genealogical publishing. The society embraces all media, including newspapers, magazines, newsletters, professional journals, books (including compiled family histories), online columns, society and personal websites, web logs (blogs), and broadcast journalism of all sorts.

ISFHWE (originally the Council of Genealogy Columnists) was founded in May 1987 at a meeting held in conjunction with the NGS annual conference. Membership is open to present and potential columnists, writers, and editors, as well as publishers, broadcasters, and webmasters for genealogical and historical societies. Members receive the quarterly newsletter Columns, access to the Members-Only website, and have an opportunity to actively participate in one or more of ISFHWE's activities: the Annual Excellence-in-Writing Competition, the Member Publication Promotion Project, the mailing list, discounts on ISFHWE publications, listings on the public website, and special promotions for ISFHWE members offered by partner vendors. For more information about ISFHWE, including their annual writing competition, stop by their booth or visit their website at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~cgc/

While you are visiting the Exhibit Hall, take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the profession of genealogy and meet others working in this field.

See you there!

The Polish Museum of America

2006-05-14T11:24:00.000-05:00

The Polish Museum of America and its library are located in the Polish Roman Catholic Union building at 984 North Milwaukee Avenue, just north of the Chicago Loop. It is about a half hour drive down the Kennedy Expressway from the Hyatt Regency Hotel, or a relaxing ride on the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line to Division Street, with a short walk south on Milwaukee Avenue to Augusta Boulevard. Train fare is $2.00 one way. Exact fare only, no change returned.
Read More About the Polish Museum of America

If you are searching Polish roots, this is a ‘must’ stop while you are in Chicago. The Polish Museum of America was started in 1935 and has grown to be one of the largest ethnic museums in the United States. The main room of the museum is located on the 3rd floor and it has displays of Pope John Paul II, actress Helena Modrzejewska, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Kazimierz Pulaski, a military collection, folk costumes, and a Polish ethnic collection. There is also space for special exhibits. On the 2nd floor is a room devoted to pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

The gift shop has many items imported from Poland including dolls, amber jewelry, crystal, designs from wood shavings and hand-carved wooden items. They carry a 2-CD set of Paderewski in recitals originally recorded between 1919 and 1936. There is also a wide selection of books for sale on searching Polish roots, the history of Poland, language, statesmen and military leaders, and Polish cookbooks.

The Polish Museum of America Library is housed on the 1st floor of the PRCUA building. This library, founded in 1912, has the status of being both a reference and museum library with over 41,000 catalogued books. About 60% of the books are in the Polish language. Of special interest to genealogists is the library’s vast collection of Polish newspapers published in America. The newspaper Dziennik Chicagoski is available on microfilm, and obituaries from 1890 through 1971 are indexed by surname. The library has excellent ‘cheat sheets’ to assist researchers in translating the Polish language to English. There is usually a staff member or volunteer who can help with difficult translations.

The Polish Museum of America is open daily from 11:00am to 4pm, and is closed on Thursdays. Admission prices are: adults, $5.00; seniors (65 yrs. and older) and students, $4.00; children (under 12 yrs.), $3.00. The telephone number is 1-773-384-3352.

The Polish Museum of America Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am - 4pm, Wednesday 1pm – 7pm and closed on Thursday and Sunday.

Photocopies are 25 cents for 8 ½ x11 and 30 cents for 8 ½ x14. Microfilm reader printer copies are 50 cents each.

Parking is free. Handicap access is from the parking lot entrance door. Ring the doorbell for entrance. Wheelchairs are available. Please call ahead.

For more information visit their website http://pma.prcua.org/.

Baseball Chicago Style

2006-05-09T22:43:00.000-05:00

One of the most important pieces of Chicago's heritage is baseball, even if it is usually of the poorly played variety. And as the only city to continously hold two teams since the inception of the American League in 1901, there is double the opportunity to take in a game.
More Baseball!

Unfortunately, there will only be one team in town during the week of the conference, the White Sox. But for baseball fans, there might not be a better team to see than the defending World Series champions. The White Sox will play host to the Rangers, Tigers, and Indians during the week of the conference. Here is a link for tickets: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=cws&m=6&y=2006

Though the Sox are defending their first title since 1917, there should still be some tickets available for many of these games. The Pale Hose play on the city's South Side at U.S. Cellular Field (nee Comiskey Park). The park can be accessed from the Red Line, and there is ample parking if you drive.

Those hoping to go to the North Side to see historic Wrigley Field won't be out of luck even though the Cubs are out of town. The Cubs offer tours of the world-famous ballpark during road trips. There will be a tour on June 10. Tour tickets are $20, and should be purchased in advance. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/ballpark/wrigley_field_tours.jsp

For those interested in doing genealogical research on old baseball players, the following site is an excellent resource: http://www.thedeadballera.com/
Among other features, it gives a listing of the final resting places of several deceased stars of baseball's past.

Thanks to Alex Hickey of Freeport's The Journal-Standard for this baseball piece.

Fireworks!

2006-05-07T00:14:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for an amazing photo opportunity while in Chicago, or a romantic view of the city? Head to Navy Pier to watch fireworks over Lake Michigan on Wednesday night (after the Local Host Event, of course) and Saturday night! Wednesday's display begins at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday's will be at 10:25p.m. Wednesday will feature music of the 70s, and Saturday hosts Chicago tunes. This blogger has seen the Navy Pier fireworks and there is no good way to describe their beauty over the water, with the city lights in the background. For more information visit www.navypier.com.

Vendor Hall – Societies

2006-05-05T00:27:00.000-05:00

Attending the NGS conference provides an opportunity to learn about the resources of genealogical and historical societies from other areas. Take a mini-tour of the United States when you visit the Exhibit Hall. Among the places to visit, let’s start with the Midwest:
Read On!

Indiana Genealogical Society
The purposes of the Indiana Genealogical Society (InGS) include: fostering an interest in all peoples who contributed to the establishment and perpetuation of the state of Indiana, preserving and safeguarding manuscripts, books, cemeteries, and memorabilia relating to the early settlers of Indiana and aiding in the publication and dissemination of materials pertaining to Indiana, including biography and family and local history. The society sponsors an annual conference and publishes a quarterly journal and bi-monthly newsletter. For details, visit the InGS booth at the NGS conference, or visit their website: http://www.indgensoc.org/

Indiana Historical Society
If you are looking for genealogical resources for the Old Northwest, you’ll want to check out the Indiana Historical Society (IHS). The IHS is a non-profit, statewide organization founded in 1830. The IHS collects and preserves rare books and manuscripts, conducts programs and publishes books that help make history accessible to everyone.

Indiana Historical Society programs include genealogy workshops and conservation programs for documents and textiles. IHS publications include books such as state, local, and group histories, how-to guides, source material, map guides, and more. Among the popular quarterly publications of the IHS are: the Hoosier Genealogist, an illustrated family history journal; Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, a popular history magazine; the Indiana Magazine of History, Indiana University’s scholarly journal; and Black History News ‘n Notes, an African-American Hoosier history newsletter.

The IHS and the William Henry Smith Memorial Library preserve and make accessible one of the largest archival repositories of material on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest. Located in Indianapolis, the library is open to the public. For more information, visit the Indiana Historical Society’s booth at the NGS conference, or visit their web site: http://www.indianahistory.org

Iowa Genealogical Society
The Iowa Genealogical Society (IaGS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and foster an interest in genealogy and to aid others in researching their family history. IaGS was founded in 1965 by a small group of dedicated genealogists who met in members' houses and carried the original genealogy collection in an orange crate. Today the society has 3,000+ members worldwide and the book collection alone spans the length of over five football fields. IaGS has a state-of-the-art research facility that integrates technology with traditional research. The facility provides a wireless network, high speed Internet access, a bank of computers, and a reader-printer that scans microfilm images direct to CR-ROM. There are 20,000 volumes and 15,000 microforms, including: vital records, histories, federal and state census records, military records and more. The facility is open 6 days a week. The Iowa Genealogical Society offers genealogy classes, annual conferences and sponsors special interest groups. For more information, visit the IaGS booth at the NGS conference, or visit their website: http://www.iowagenealogy.org/

Ohio Genealogical Society
The Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) is the largest state genealogical society in the United States. Its mission is to meet the educational needs of its members and the general public through the acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of genealogical and historical information. The award-winning OGS Genealogy News, the Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly, a 2500 volume lending library, publication discounts, and a 30,000 volume reference library are among the resources available to members. The OGS also hosts an annual genealogy conference each spring with nationally known speakers. Check out the details at: http://www.ogs.org

Winnebagoland Genealogical Society
The Winnebagoland Genealogical Society serves Winnebago County, including Oshkosh and the surrounding area of Wisconsin. Oshkosh is 86 miles northwest of Milwaukee, in central Wisconsin. The society has compiled and published indexes for birth, death, and marriage records of the county. A research guide and one divorce index are also available. The Winnebagoland Genealogical Society meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Oshkosh Public Library. For further information, visit the Winnebagoland Genealogical Society’s booth at the NGS conference, or visit the Oshkosh Public Library’s website: http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org

Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) is both a state agency and a private membership organization. Founded in 1846, two years before statehood, and chartered in 1853, it is the oldest American historical society to receive continuous public funding. The WHS Library Archives possesses one of the largest genealogical collections in the country. The Library attempts to collect all available historical and genealogical materials relating to any part of the U.S. and Canada. The Society has put more than 250,000 pages from its collections on their website and created databases that contain more than 2 million names. Society staff will be available at the Exhibit Hall during the NGS conference for consultations and to help you make the most of their outstanding website. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Historical Society’s booth at the NGS conference, or visit their website: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org

If you have roots in the Midwest, be sure to visit society booths to find out how they can help you with your research.

The Newberry Library

2006-05-04T23:51:00.000-05:00

The Newberry Library has created a page on their website just for NGS conference attendees! The page includes valuable information about the library. Check it out at http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/NGS2006.html and be sure to visit the Newberry Library when you are in town!

Conference Attendance Tips

2006-05-02T00:41:00.000-05:00

Here are some tips for those of you planning to attend this or any national or local conference.
Read Conference Tips

1. Dress in layers. Conference centers can be too hot or too cold, and often both at the same time, depending on whom you talk to. So bring a sweater or light jacket. That way your comfort level won’t be dependent on the hotel’s engineering staff.

2. Wear comfortable shoes. You may sit a lot of the time listening to presentations, but you may also walk a bit of a distance to get to sessions, meals, and the exhibit hall.

3. Bring a water bottle or other liquid refreshment. Staying hydrated can help you keep going and stay alert through full days of listening and learning. You might also want to bring candy or a granola bar. Avoid those with noisy wrappers if you plan to sneak it during a session.

4. Arrive early. Give yourself extra time to find a parking space, walk from the train station, or wait for a shuttle or elevator. Plan to get to the room a few minutes early for each session, in order to have a better selection of seats - whether you prefer to be up front so you can read the screen or near an exit for a quick escape.

5. Come prepared. Bring paper and pen in order to take notes, exchange contact information, or draw a quick sketch of your family tree.

6. Look over the syllabus. Each conference attendee receives a copy of the syllabus which contains the handouts for every session. Make final decisions about how to spend your time. Once you’ve looked at the handouts for a particular session, you may decide that the talk isn’t what you were expecting based on the title. You may see that a talk is at too low or high a level to meet your needs. Perhaps you can gain all of the information that you want from the syllabus material itself, and would rather attend a different lecture. The syllabus material is a great resource to refer to during and after the conference.

7. Network. Talk to people. Nowhere else can you find such a large group of people who share your love of genealogy. You can talk about your ancestors, compare brick walls, and share your latest research success. You may meet people with surnames you are researching or people from the area where your ancestors lived. The person sitting next to you at lunch may volunteer at a research facility that you’ve been meaning to contact. Bring business cards with your name, contact information, and surnames of interest. This makes it easy to exchange information with other researchers. Go ahead and wear that t-shirt with your family tree printed on it. You never know when you might find someone with a common ancestor!

8. Visit the exhibit hall. This is your chance to look at and even try out products before deciding to purchase them. Some vendors offer discounts, hold drawings or raffles, and give free samples. Vendors in the exhibit hall are able to answer questions, provide demonstrations, and even give one-on-one training. Conference vendors have a huge amount of books available for purchase. This allows you to browse through a book before you buy.

9. Volunteer at the conference. It is a great way to give back to the genealogy community and to meet other conference attendees.

10. Most important, have fun! Enjoy yourself, meet new people and return home energized!

"Work" Your Way to a Free Registration

2006-04-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

Would you like an opportunity to attend the NGS conference free of charge AND do a good deed at the same time? Read on!
Read More!

NGS is seeking up to two people to attend the conference and take notes for hearing impaired attendees. The note takers would be required to attend the sessions that the hearing impaired visitors are interested in attending. There are so many wonderful sessions it is likely that the note takers will attend many lectures of interest!

NGS will offer the note taker/s a free registration and one free luncheon each.

If you have been considering attending the conference but were not sure that you could afford it, this is your opportunity! This offer is valued between $239-$274, so sharpen your pencils or charge your laptop battery and get ready for a great conference. Contact Jeanne Lund at lund@ngsgenealogy.org for details.

Tips For Vendors

2006-04-26T16:31:00.000-05:00

If you are vending at the NGS conference, the following tax link might be helpful.
Read Vendor Tax Information

Illinois Department of Revenue - Sales Tax Rules for Out of State Vendors

See their website for details on: Out of State Vendors at Events & Fairs in Illinois:
http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Individuals/SalesandRelated/fairs.htm
ROSEMONT is in Cook County - Tax Location ID: 016-0147-4 Sales Tax is 9%

- Note the tax rate is subject to change - verify on their website -

CGC Bathing Beauty Contest

2006-04-25T19:36:00.000-05:00

Just kidding! But now that I have your attention, I want to let you know that contrary to early rumor, the indoor swimming pool at the conference hotel will be intact and available to those who want to take a dip between sessions. Bring your suit!

Area Jaunts: Guide to Lake County, Illinois

2006-04-25T19:15:00.000-05:00

Lake County, Illinois is due north of the conference hotel. It is the northeasternmost county in Illinois. Lake County is bordered by Wisconsin on the north, Lake Michigan on the east, McHenry County on the west, and Cook County on the south. A nice blend of forest preserves, parks, cities, villages, and farm fields make Lake County a bit less intimidating than a large city. Home to many recreation destinations, it is worth a visit if you have the time.
Read More About Lake County

Museums

The Lake County Discovery Museum
The Lake County Discovery Museum is one of the ten most popular destination spots in Lake County. This nationally accredited, award-winning museum provides a fun, well-rounded experience. View the world's largest collection of picture postcards, take a stroll through the Mall of History, or take a ride through time in the Vortex Roller Coaster Theater. Hands-on interactive exhibits introduce the history of Lake County in a fun learning environment. The Museum also displays the nation’s largest permanent exhibition on the history and significance of postcards.

In addition to the museum, the Curt Teich Postcard Archives and the Lake County History Archives are located here. These archives are great sources of historical images and Gallery hours are Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $2.50 for youth ages four to 17, and free for children three years and under. On Discount Tuesdays, admission is $3 for adults, free for ages 17 and under. Parking is free.

The Museum is located at 27277 Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda, IL 60084

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to Illinois Route 176. Take Route 176 west. The museum is located at Lakewood Forest Preserve, on Route 176 near Fairfield Road. Distance from O'Hare Airport: 30 miles.

Two special exhibits will be running during the NGS conference:

Native American Art: Designs for Life
View over 100 pieces from the permanent Native American collection of the Lake County Discovery Museum. This is the first time these objects have been on public display together. This collection contains exquisite examples of the skill and artistry used by Native Americans as they produced objects that were designed for everyday life. Exhibit runs through August 20.

Tied to the Past IV: The Art of Dennis Downes
This exhibition of work by internationally-celebrated Lake County artist Dennis M. Downes includes research paintings depicting bead patterns and symbols used by Great Lakes Native Americans. Also featured are landscape paintings created while on location in the northern and western United States and abroad. Exhibit runs through June 29.

Cuneo Museum and Gardens
The Cuneo Museum & Gardens is an historic mansion dating from 1914, nestled on 75 acres of vistas and formal gardens. The Italianate architecture is the work of architect Benjamin Marshall, who was commissioned by Samuel Insull to create a summer villa. Owned by the Cuneo family from 1937-1990, the museum is now open for public tours by the Cuneo Foundation. Theatre productions, art fairs and other special events are held here as well.

The Cuneo Museum is located at 1350 North Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, IL 60061.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to Illinois Route 60 (Townline Road). Go west on Route 60 to Milwaukee Avenue. Turn right (north). Museum is on the left. Distance from O'Hare Airport: 24 miles

The Volo Auto Museum and Antique Malls
The Volo Auto Museum and Antique Malls is a 30-acre site which contains five showrooms with over 300 collectible and Hollywood cars; four large antique malls with 350 dealers displaying their unique finds; and the Mercantile Mall housing a broad array of gifts and the largest selection of die-cast automobiles in the Midwest.
The Volo Auto Museum is located at 27582 West Volo Village Road, Volo, IL 60073.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to Illinois Route 120. Go 13 miles west to Volo.

Family Entertainment

Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a world-class family entertainment destination featuring thrilling rides, spectacular shows and exciting attractions. In all, the park has 13 roller coasters with nearly seven miles of thrilling roller coaster track! In addition to the park's thrill rides are many family attractions including the Columbia Carousel, Great America Raceway and Looney Tunes National Park. Adjoining Six Flags amusement park is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Water Park, the Midwest’s newest themed outdoor water park. Hurricane Harbor is a Caribbean paradise boasting hundreds of water activities and hours of fun for all ages.

Six Flags Great America is located at Grand Avenue and the Tri-State Tollway in Gurnee, Illinois.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north. Exit at Grand Ave. (Rt. 132) East. Six Flags is located immediately on the right.

CityPark
CityPark is Lincolnshire's place for dining, shopping and entertainment. Enjoy unique boutiques, the 20-theatre Regal Cinema & IMax, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf, ceramic painting, outdoor summer concerts and a variety of restaurants.

CityPark is located at 250 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to Deerfield Road. Take Deerfield Road west to Milwaukee Avenue. Go right (north) on Milwaukee Avenue. CityPark is located on the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Aptakisic Road, one half mile south of Route 22 and one half mile north of Deerfield Road. Distance from O'Hare Airport: 13 miles

Lambs Farm
Located in Libertyville, Illinois, Lambs Farm is a place that, most importantly, empowers more than 250 people with developmental disabilities to lead personally fulfilling lives. Lambs Farm is also a place where people gather to enjoy the many shops, attractions, and entertainment events. Lambs Farm businesses include the Farmyard, Pet Shop, Country Inn Restaurant, Thrift Shop, and Country Store & Bakery, which benefit programs for people with developmental disabilities.

Lambs Farm is located at 14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to Route 176. Lambs Farm’s entrance is directly across from the exit ramp. Distance from O'Hare Airport: 24 miles.

Theater

Marriott Theatre
The award-winning Marriott Theatre has built a national reputation for its musical productions, including classics, seldom done, new works and premiere productions. Performances are Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The musical State Fair is running through June 25.

The Marriott Theatre is located at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to Illinois Route 22 (Half Day Road). Go west on Route 22 to Milwaukee Avenue. Turn left onto Milwaukee Avenue, and then left onto Marriott Drive. The theatre is part of Marriott's Lincolnshire Resort. Distance from O'Hare Airport: 25 miles.

The Genesee Theatre
The Genesee Theatre is Lake County's newest venue for live entertainment. This lovingly restored theatre once hosted Jack Benny (in his home town) and vaudeville shows. The Genesee boasts Broadway shows, musical acts, comedians and more. For more information please visit our website call our Box Office at 847-263-6300 for show times and availability. Box Office open 12:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The Genesee Theatre is located at 203 N. Genesee Street, Waukegan, IL 60085.

Directions from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare: Take I-294/94 north to the Belvidere Road East Exit. Continue East on Belvidere towards downtown Waukegan. Turn Left on Genesee Street, and continue north to 203 N. Genesee Street. Distance from O'Hare Airport: 34 miles

Enjoy your visit to Lake County!

Area Research Facility: Wilmette Family History Center

2006-04-22T15:34:00.000-05:00

Nestled in a northern suburb of Chicago is a vital records treasure trove. The Family History Center (FHC) in Wilmette is located a short distance from the Edens expressway (I-94) at 2727 Lake Avenue near the intersection with Locust. The parking lot lies to the west of the building and is easy to miss at night. Don’t worry! Just turn right at Locust, right again at Orchard Lane, and a third right into their parking lot. This puts you right near the entrance of the FHC which is in the southwest corner of the building. Buzz the doorbell for entry.
Read More About the Wilmette FHC

Why make the trip? Cook County Vital records and lots of them. This is the oldest and largest of the Chicagoland Family History Centers. They’ve been actively collecting and holding Cook County films and fiche in their indefinite loan collection. Here’s a sampling:

DEATHS

Chicago Death Certificates 1878-1915. Nearly all of the 655 microfilm reels are on hand. The missing films are all between 1908 and 1915.

Chicago Death Certificates 1916-1945 and Chicago Death Certificates 1946-1947. 100% of films are on hand.

Coroner’s Death Records 1879-1904. All 27 reels are on hand.

County Death Certificates 1878-1909, 1914, 1906-1922 (outside Chicago). Nearly complete set.

Out of Town Deaths 1909-1915. They have 6 of the 11 total reels.

The two main indexes of death certificates are available online at the Illinois States Archives website. Visit http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases.html and move down the page for the Illinois Statewide Death Index Pre-1916. This is an ongoing project so not all counties are covered for all years. A look at the county coverage page shows that Cook County is indexed from 1871-1915, which makes it as complete as it can be.

The second index is the Illinois Statewide Death Index 1916-1950. The FHC has the Chicago certificates up to 1947 on microfilm. Certificates from 1948-1950 have to be ordered from the Cook County Vital Records office.

This FHC has another index of death records of interest. The WPA created an index of deaths from 1871-1933. The source of the death information is widely believed to have been burial permits as there are many stillbirths (SB) and out-of-town deaths (OT) listed. This index includes the address of the place of death, so it’s a great way to find people with common names.

MARRIAGES

Marriage Licenses 1871-1920 with indexes up to 1916. They have nearly all the films covering 1871-1916 and some of the films 1916-1920. Be forewarned: many people never returned the certificate to the county after the wedding!

A partial index to marriage licenses is also online at the Illinois State Archives (above) as a part of the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900. Cook County is complete from 1833-February 1899. Please keep in mind that most pre-1871 records were burned in the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871.

BIRTHS

The FHC has the microfiche Birth Index from 1871-1916. They also have a Delayed Birth Index on microfilm. Be sure to note whether the place is listed as Chicago or Cook County as the certificates are filmed separately for these two areas – though there has been some intermingling.

They have all 54 reels covering the Chicago Birth Registers 1871-1915 and all reels for the County Birth Registers 1878-1894. They have all films for births at Northwestern Memorial Hospital between 1896 and 1933.

Chicago Birth Certificates 1878-1922. They have nearly half of the 906 total reels with most of the missing reels in the unindexed period from 1916-1922.

Cook County Birth Certificates 1878-1894. They have 13 of the 31 total reels.

Cook County Birth Certificates 1916-1922. They have 5 of the 34 reels.

There are other films and sources extracting records from newspapers or reconstructing pre-fire records as well. The collection is growing every day.

In addition, the Chicago Catholic Church records have been microfilmed. The Wilmette FHC has a complete set of Polish Catholic Church films thanks to the efforts of the Polish Genealogical Society of America. The FHC is are working to amass the rest of the Catholic films.

The microfilm cabinets are labeled as either “circulating” or “indefinite loan”. When someone orders a film pertaining to Cook County vital records or Cook County Church records, they are keeping the film – paying for the renewals until it is theirs to keep. Sometimes the individual will pay to keep it here. Others are paid for by generous donations and local professional researchers. These films will eventually move from the circulating drawers to the indefinite loan section. If you are visiting the library, be sure to look in both places for the films of interest.

The FHC is staffed by volunteers who are not necessarily genealogists. They are there to help visitors use the facilities and order films. They will not be able to look at films for you or make copies for you by mail. If there are only one or two films of interest to you, you may call the FHC during normal hours to inquire whether they have them on hand, but please understand that they won’t have time for lengthy conversations.

The Wilmette FHC is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Phone (847) 251-9818. If you go to Google and click on local, then type “family history center near Wilmette IL” without the quotes you will get a very good map. A click on “Hybrid” shows the satellite images with the streets labeled. The FHC is in the part of the building with the dark roof.

The Earlybird Deadline is Here!

2006-04-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

Today, April 21st, is the final day for earlybird registration pricing! If you want to save $35 on your registration fee, have your registration postmarked today! When you register don't forget to sign up for Sweets Home Chicago, our local host event, and other luncheons and banquets you wish to attend. See you in six weeks!

Topic Focus: Italian Research (and Beyond!)

2006-04-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

If your ancestors hailed from Italy, this year’s Conference in the States has something just for you. On Saturday, June 11, an ethnic track will focus on Italian Research.
Keep Reading About Italian Research

June C. DeLalio, CG will present Extracting Details from Italian Civil Records at 8am. June will discuss how to access these resources. Explanations of how Italian records differ, based on geographical area, time period, and the laws of the time will be provided. Italian State Archives: When & Why You Need Them will immediately follow. DeLalio will teach about determining what an archive has to offer and how to research at an archive. Richard Camaur, JD, CG will continue the day’s track with Researching Italian Church Records. Catholic Church records date back to 1565 in Italy. Learning how to find and evaluate these records will give your ancestral research a big boost. Finish up the day by attending the Italian Roundtable, led by Ms. DeLalio. This is a forum for researchers to learn from one another and to present their research problems.

If you know you have Italian roots, but haven’t determined what town your ancestors are from, you might find Thomas W. Jones’, PhD, CG, CGL presentation on Wednesday, June 7 at 4pm helpful. Five Proven Techniques for Finding Your European Ancestors will summarize “the challenges in learning the origins of European ancestors.” He will present techniques for proving that a person in a European record is your North American ancestor.

Additionally, you might want to attend the Central European track on Thursday, June 8th. Although not solely dedicated to Italy, this track does cover Italy to some extent. Starting at 8am, Richard Camaur will present four back-to-back presentations, starting with Beginning Your Research in Central Europe. This first lecture will cover how to access the records and locate important archives. Catholic Church Records: Precursor to Central European Civil Registration will follow at 9:30am. The discussion will revolve around using and accessing parish registers. Learn how to track down your ancestor’s military records at 11am by attending A Vital Key to Central European Research: Austrian Military Records. Finally, at 2:30pm, Camaur will facilitate a Central European Roundtable to allow attendees to share information and learn from one another on this topic.

This year’s conference is sure to give you some helpful clues to break down your Italian brick wall, or enhance your knowledge of your Italian kin. Happy hunting!

Volunteer Opportunities Are Still Available!

2006-04-19T09:41:00.000-05:00

The 2006 National Genealogical Society conference is less than six weeks away! This is your chance to help make this conference the best ever. Volunteer opportunities that match every conference attendee’s interests and background exist. Volunteer times will be worked around your conference schedule. Here is a rundown on some of the volunteer opportunities.
Read More!

Registration: If you like meeting and greeting people this volunteer job is for you! Welcome conference registrants and hand out goody bags and meal tickets. You are the first stop in an exciting conference week, and your enthusiasm will be contagious.

Session monitors: Here is a chance to listen to the speakers and volunteer at the same time! This job is simple. Stand at the meeting room door, greet attendees, and answer the proverbial question: “Is this where I’m supposed to be?”

Peggy Gleich, president of Bigwill (British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois) is the Volunteer Coordinator for the conference. If you’d like to volunteer or want more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Peggy at P.O. Box 8003, Janesville, WI 53547-8003 or pgleich@sbcglobal.net.

Visit the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium website and download a volunteer sign-up form, at http://users.anet.com/~jeffb/jabco/cgc/index.html

Don’t miss this opportunity to take an active role in a national conference. Won’t you please give us a hand? We look forward to seeing you there!

Vendor Spotlight: The National Institute for Genealogical Studies

2006-04-18T20:44:00.000-05:00

The Exhibitor Hall is the place to meet book sellers, software vendors and genealogy society representatives. Newcomers to national conferences will be pleased to learn that the Exhibitor Hall also spotlights the many educational opportunities available in the field of genealogy. One such exhibitor is the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (NIGS).
Keep Reading About NIGS

NIGS, in partnership with the University of Toronto, offers the world’s oldest comprehensive web-based certificate program in genealogical studies. According to Louise St. Denis, Managing Director of the Institute, the program is extremely popular. “To date, we have received over 30,000 course registrations. We believe the success is due in large part to the flexibility of the program.”

The Certificate in Genealogical Studies program is delivered entirely over the Internet. Each Monday morning, a message introduces the topic for the week. Students complete and submit their assignments to the Institute’s WebBoard for sharing with the instructor and other students. Optional online chat sessions are available. Individuals can sign up for the full certificate program or take single courses.

Online learning enables people from remote locations to participate in genealogy courses. Students presently registered range from the Yukon to Texas, from Newfoundland to California, and from as far away as Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

NIGS is an international organization providing educational opportunities for all those interested in professionalism in genealogy, from family historians to professional genealogists.

For a limited time, tuition for the course Methodology-Part 1: Getting Started will be offered at half the normal fee. For $40.00 registrants can take this complete course and experience the ease of study that online education provides. This offer expires June 15th, 2006.

See the Institute’s website at: www.genealogicalstudies.com for a list of courses, description of the course content and dates they are offered. Call 1-800-580-0165 for more information or to take advantage of the ‘half-fee’ methodology course.

Be sure to visit NIGS at Booth 219 in the Exhibitor Hall at NGS Chicago!

Earlybird Deadline This Week!

2006-04-17T21:30:00.000-05:00

If you want to save money on your registration, be sure to have your registration postmarked on or before Friday, April 21st. The conference promises to be a success and you don't want to miss it!

Chicago Area Shopper’s Guide

2006-04-17T21:00:00.000-05:00

The Chicago area is a shopper’s paradise. Possibilities include power shopping at outlet malls, strolling through quaint villages or cruising along on the Magnificent Mile. A few of the best picks are:
Read More About Shopping!

The City

Michigan Avenue
The Magnificent Mile! North Michigan Avenue has become a prime shopping destination within the city. The Magnificent Mile runs from the Chicago River north to Oak Street. Here you’ll find department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom, home furnishing retailers such as Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, jewelers such as Tiffany, big name apparel retailers such as Gap, Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren, plus a host of boutiques and specialty shops. The Magnificent Mile also features indoor shopping malls, such as Water Tower Place and 900 North Michigan Shops. For an interactive map of this upscale shopping district, follow the link below:
Map

To get to the Magnificent Mile from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, walk ½ mile to the CTA Rosemont Station and take the Blue Line subway to Washington Street. Walk 1 block east and catch the #146 bus. Or, continue walking east to Michigan Avenue, and then turn north.

For information about these and other shopping destinations in the Chicago area, check the Chicago Traveler website’s shopping guide at:
http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago_shopping.htm

State Street
State Street is Chicago's main street, located in the very heart of the city. For 165 years, it's been a major retail hub of the Midwest. The 1922 hit song Chicago gave the street its famous nickname: "That Great Street,” where they do things they don't do on Broadway! There are a lot of great stores to visit including Old Navy, Filene’s Basement, TJ Maxx and Sears.

State Street is not only a shopping, dining and entertainment attraction, but also an historical walking tour. The historic anchors, Marshall Field’s and Carson Pirie Scott, are architectural gems as well as retail giants. Architecturally, the Marshall Field's store is without peer. The Tiffany ceiling is the largest glass mosaic of its kind and the first ceiling ever built in favrile iridescent glass. The Great Clock at the corner of State and Washington has been keeping time for over a century and has been celebrated by American artist Norman Rockwell. Field’s State Street store was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1979 for both its beauty and historical significance.

The Carson’s building is also a National Historic Landmark. Carson Pirie Scott was built in 1899. The building was designed by Louis Sullivan, and is known for the intricate metalwork which decorates the façade. Louis Sullivan is highly regarded by historians and architects as a pioneer in American commercial architecture. The Carson, Pirie, Scott Building is an exemplary model of his work, showcasing his philosophy of form following function.

Other points of interest include the Chicago Theater, the Reliance Building, the Harold Washington Public Library and more.

Dining in the greater State Street area has as much history as its architecture. The Walnut Room at Marshall Field's, a local favorite, was the first department store tea room. Trader Vic's in the Palmer House Hilton and the Billy Goat Tavern, known for its cheeseburgers (and the basis for a famous Saturday Night Live sketch), are also well-known destinations.

From Rosemont, take the CTA Blue Line to Washington. Then, walk 1 block east to State Street.

For additional details, see: http://www.dreamtown.com/chicago-guide/shopping/statest.html

The Suburbs

Woodfield
The shopping center nearest to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare is Woodfield Mall. Located in northwest suburban Schaumburg, it has one of the finest collections of department stores and specialty shops in the Midwest. Here you'll find Nordstrom, Marshall Field's, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, Sears and nearly 300 stores and restaurants.

With its distinctive collection of shopping, dining and entertainment, it has been voted the favorite suburban attraction of Chicago's visitors.

Dining options are numerous. There are a great many fast food restaurants and specialty food establishments, as well as a number of full service restaurants, such as RainForest Cafe, Vie de France, Cheesecake Factory and Todai Seafood Buffet.

In addition to the many stores in the mall, the surrounding area includes the huge, unique IKEA home furnishings store, a Borders Books and Music, Carson Pirie Scott and Costco. For the convenience of shoppers, a free trolley is available to take you between 7 stops in the shopping district. For additional information, call the Trolley Hotline at 847-923-3880. The suburban Pace bus route #606 runs from the Rosemont CTA terminal to Woodfield Mall.

For further information, see: http://www.gowoodfieldmall.com/

Gurnee Mills
Gurnee Mills is the Midwest's largest value-retail and entertainment mall with over 200 manufacturer and retail outlet stores including Abercrombie & Fitch, Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World, OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Fossil, Gap Outlet, JCPenney Outlet, Levi's Outlet by Designs, Nautica Outlet Store, Polo Jeans Outlet, Kohls and VF Factory Outlet.

Two food courts offer shoppers nearly 30 eateries. Full service restaurants include Rainforest Cafe, Ruby Tuesday and the Corner Bakery. Family fun and entertainment venues include Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, which includes a 30,000 gallon fresh water aquarium, fishing demonstrations and a full line of Tracker boats on display inside the store. Other entertainment includes Serpent Safari's indoor reptile exhibit, Rink Side Sports Family Entertainment Center and a 20 screen movie complex.

Gurnee Mills is 33 miles from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Take I-90 to I-294/I-94 towards Milwaukee. Exit at Grand Avenue and go west. You'll find Six Flags Great America right across the street.

For additional details, see the Gurnee Mills website: http://www.gurneemills.com/

Long Grove
For those who prefer to shop on a smaller scale, Long Grove is a refreshing possibility. This village was first settled in the early 1800's by German farmers. Now their business district is home to over 80 shops and restaurants that cater to the needs of the modern shopper. However, the early charm is still here. Some of the shops include the Irish Boutique, the Little Viking, the Apple Haus, the Long Grove Confectionery, and the Pine Cone Christmas Shop. There are a number of restaurants to choose from, including the Seasons of Long Grove and the Village Tavern. Long Grove’s shopping district is located at the intersection of Old McHenry Road and Robert Parker Coffin Road. Shopping hours are generally Monday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

To get there from Rosemont, take I-90 to I-294/I-94 towards Milwaukee. Exit at Route 22 (Half Day Road) and go west to Route 83. Turn south on Route 83 and west on Robert Parker Coffin Road.

For further information, see: http://www.longgroveonline.com/

Hawthorn Shopping Center
Hawthorn Shopping Center is located north of Chicago in Vernon Hills, at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and Town Line Road (Route 60.) This indoor mall features anchors Marshall Field’s, Carson Pirie Scott, JCPenney, and Sears, plus 140 specialty stores featuring apparel, gifts, electronics, home furnishings, jewelry, toys and much more. Dining options include a food court and full service restaurants - John's Garage and Ruby Tuesday. Other stores and restaurants are also located nearby on Routes 60 and 21.

Just north of the shopping mall, you'll find the Cuneo Museum and Gardens, which features a 1914 mansion with 75-acres of lakes, fountains, formal gardens, a conservatory of exotic plants and a 9-hole golf course.

Hawthorn Shopping Center is located 25 miles from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Take I-90 to I-294/I-94 towards Milwaukee. Exit at Townline Road (Route 60) and go west to Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21.)

For details about Hawthorn Shopping Center, see the website: http://westfield.com/hawthorn/

Now, go out and shop ‘til you drop!

The Arts in Chicago: Theater and Music

2006-04-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

Chicago and the arts...where do I begin? An article on the arts in Chicago could easily become a book. Let’s take a peek at some of theater and music possibilities for conference week.
Read More About the Arts

Theater
There is an area downtown Chicago appropriately known as the Theatre District. Several theatres are within blocks of one another. Some are very lavishly decorated, with all of the gilt and finery one might imagine and expect in a high-end performing arts palace.

Cadillac Palace
151 W. Randolph
This theatre at the corner of Randolph and LaSalle one opened in 1926. Originally a popular vaudeville spot, it was later used as a movie house. It spent a period of time as a banquet facility, and then a rock concert hall. A restoration was completed and the Cadillac opened its doors to pre-Broadway shows in 1999. Tours are available on Saturdays. Monty Python’s Spamalot will be playing there until June 4th.

The Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
The Goodman was first started in 1925 at a location near the Art Institute. The building was notoriously poor, and when Chicago created its Theatre District, the Goodman moved locations. During conference week, the Goodman will offer Crumbs from the Table of Joy.

The Ford Centre for Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre
24 W. Randolph Street
The interior of this building will take your breath away. This theatre opened in 1926. Décor was inspired by the Far East and was beautifully restored after years of disrepair, reopening in 1998. Back in the early days the theatre hosted movies and stage shows. A number of pre-Broadway shows are hosted here. Tours are available on Saturdays. Wicked will be playing at the Oriental through July. Purchase tickets by April 30th.

The LaSalle Bank Theatre, formerly the Shubert
This venue opened in 1906. Back then it was the tallest building in Chicago. It was a hot spot for vaudeville shows, and later entertaining acts such as Harry Houdini. The building was remodeled in 1945. It has recently hosted popular musicals including Monty Python’s Spamalot. Valerie Harper in Golda’s Balcony will be playing there May 30th- June 11th.

The Chicago Theatre
175 N. State Street
This beauty first opened in 1921. They offer plays, concerts, and other events. There is currently nothing scheduled during conference week, but if you get a chance to take a tour it is a beauty.

A bit further away are a few others worthy of mention.

Theater
Drury Lane
Water Tower Place
175 E. Chestnut
This fairly new theatre will be hosting The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee during conference week.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater
600 E. Grand Avenue (Navy Pier)
This theatre is located at Navy Pier. During conference week they will host Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. This show will move on to the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon next. Be prepared for a full evening- the show runs 5.5 hours. If that is not long enough for you, check out Hecuba, which is also playing.

The Apollo Theatre
2540 N. Lincoln
Not in the Loop, this theatre is in the popular Lincoln Park area. The Jungle Book will run through June 4th.

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
This beauty first opened in 1889. It appears they will be between productions during conference week.

The Arie Crown Theatre
McCormick Place
The Arie Crown was built in 1960. It is 2.5 miles south of downtown Chicago. In June there will be private graduation ceremonies held here, so there are currently no public events during conference week.

Music
Orchestra Hall
220 S. Michigan Avenue
Home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available. During conference week there will be performances on June 4 and June 8-11. Performances will include chamber music, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a jazz performance, and a piano recital.

Ravinia
Ravinia is located in Ravinia/Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois. Popular for outdoor concerts and dance events, they also feature an open-air covered pavilion and a couple of indoor venues. Most Ravinia regulars bring a blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy their evening under the stars. Some of the picnic spreads get elaborate, from wine and cheese to full meals.
There is a train that goes right to the park. http://www.ravinia.org/GettingToRav/ByTrain.aspx

For conference week Ravinia will be offering a variety of musical experiences. On Monday, June 5th, jazz vocalist Jan Monheit will perform. Thursday, June 8th and Friday, June 9th, Ravinia will host South African Spectacular: uShaka by Opera Africa. The BoDeans will perform on Saturday, June 10th. Elvis Costello and the Imposters round off the week on Sunday, June 11th. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. Popular events often sell out, so an early online purchase is a wise decision.
www.ravinia.org

Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 N. Wacker Drive
The Lyric Opera of Chicago performs at the Civic Opera House, which opened in 1929.
There are no performances scheduled for June.

For more information in theatre in Chicago see:
http://www.chicagotraveler.com/maps/chicago-downtown-theaters-map.htm for a theatre locations map
http://www.theatreinchicago.com for general theatre information.

Break a leg!

Topic Focus: Central European, German and Polish Research

2006-04-10T12:58:00.000-05:00

If you’ve already found your ancestors in the states and now you need to cross the ocean to find out more, this year’s conference has several lectures available to you. Five Proven Techniques for Finding Your European Ancestors presented by Thomas W. Jones, PhD., CG, CGL on Wednesday, June 7 at 4pm summarizes “the challenges in learning the origins of European ancestors.” He will present techniques for proving that a person in a European record is your North American ancestor.
Read More!

If your ancestors were from Central Europe (defined for the purposes of this article as Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, parts of Poland and Italy), then you’ll want to be sure to check out the Ethnic Track on Thursday, June 8. Starting at 8am, Richard Camaur, JD., CG will present four back-to-back presentations, starting with Beginning Your Research in Central Europe. This first lecture will cover how to access the records and locate important archives. Catholic Church Records: Precursor to Central European Civil Registration will follow at 9:30am. The discussion will revolve around using and accessing parish registers in this area. Learn how to track down your ancestor’s military records at 11am by attending A Vital Key to Central European Research: Austrian Military Records. Finally, at 2:30pm, Camaur will facilitate a Central European Roundtable to allow attendees to share information and learn from one another on this topic.

German ancestor hunters will be interested in the Ethnic Track on Friday, June 9. Chuck Knuthson will start the day with Beginning German Research. The basics of German research on both sides of “the pond” will be discussed. At 9:30am, the same lecturer will teach German Migrations to America. This topic will cover the reasons for emigration, the paths they took and the journey that they experienced. John T. Humphrey will pick up at 11am with German Ahnentafels by the Thousands as he describes the records created as a result of Germany’s racial policies in the 1930s and 1940s. Information in these records often go back to the early 1700s. To wrap up the day’s learning, Chuck Knuthson will host a German Roundtable at 4pm to provide a forum for people to share their research problems and experiences.

Finally, if Poland is your country of interest, there are three lectures that specifically cover this area. Cecile Jensen, CG will offer Researching Your Polish Heritage Online at 2:30pm on Friday. She describes online sources available to the researcher who has identified their ancestral village. At 4pm that same day, Paul Valasek, DDS, will present his lecture entitled Polish-American Research: Using Resources in the U.S. Finally, on Saturday, Cecile Jensen returns to discuss Polish Archives: Behind the Scenes. This lecture covers the holdings of Poznan, Gdansk, Mlawa, Bialystok and the concentration camp at Stutthof.

If you have other European countries that you are researching, the conference does offer more than presented here. In an effort to keep this brief, only lectures about a very narrowly defined “Central Europe” were discussed. Stay tuned for more!

Speaker Spotlight: Maureen Taylor

2006-04-09T11:38:00.000-05:00

Maureen Taylor, a nationally known expert on history, genealogy, and photography, is the Photo Detective. Maureen investigates photographs the way private eyes investigate cases. She discovers the stories behind her client’s family pictures by following the clues such as a hat, the shape of a woman’s sleeve or a sign in the background. Through her website, PhotoDetective.com, Maureen also offers practical and low cost advice to clients on how to save and organize their pictures.
Read More About Maureen Taylor

Maureen knows photographs. As a photo curator, a photo editor, and now as a freelance writer and consultant, her focus is photography from the little details that date a nineteenth century picture to dealing with digital overload. She is the author of Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs, Scrapbooking Your Family History, and Preserving Your Family Photographs.

As a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine and as a member of the editorial board of Legacy Magazine, she writes about the topics she loves—family history, photography from pictures to pixels, and preserving heirlooms. She’s the Photo Detective columnist for Family Tree Magazine and writes "Saving Your Family Treasures" for Ancestry. Her articles appear in American Spirit, Ancestry and Ancestry’s Daily News, Comair Navigator, Consumer’s Research, The Daguerreian Annual, Family Chronicle, Family Tree Magazine, Genealogy.com, Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style, Heritage Quest, New England Ancestors, Legacy, Memory Makers, Publishing Success, Reunions, and Writers Digest.

As a parent, Maureen loves teaching children about genealogy. She is the author of a guide to family history for kids, Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors. VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocacy) named Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors to its best non-fiction list for 1999 and it was mentioned in Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart Living.

Her passion for genealogy resulted in Maureen researching Meredith Viera’s family tree for a segment of The View. In addition, her numerous television, radio, and print media interviews include Martha Stewart Living, MSNBC, DIY:Scrapbooking, PBS Ancestors, Dear Myrtle, Life Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and The Boston Globe. She also shares her tips and techniques in energetic lectures on family history and photography that encourage participants to ask questions about a wide range of concerns from finding their roots to caring for great-grandmother’s scrapbook.

At the NGS conference, Maureen will present On the Newsstand: Writing for Magazines on Friday, June 9th. This lecture, sponsored by the Association of Professional Genealogists, will explain the business side of writing. Topics include networking for contacts, pitching a project and meeting editorial needs.

Maureen Taylor holds a M.A. in History. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, two children, and a tank full of fish.

Speaker Spotlight: Barbara Vines Little

2006-04-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

While still a young woman, Barbara Vines Little enquired of her grandfather's ancestors...only to be told that her grandfather wouldn't talk about them. Not one readily deterred by familiar averrance, Barbara then began a years-long search for solutions to these and other unanswered queries.
Read More About Barbara Vines Little

After finding and identifying colonial and Revolutionary ancestors in Virginia and North Carolina, she turned to professional research, speaking and volunteering in the genealogical community, first as editor of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society’s newsletter Der Kurier, then as editor of the Virginia Genealogical Society's newsletter. Barbara is currently beginning her eleventh year as editor of the quarterly Magazine of Virginia Genealogy.

Additionally, Barbara served as president of the Virginia Genealogical Society and as host society chair of the 1994 FGS conference in Richmond. She later assumed the same role for the 1999 NGS Conference in the States at Richmond.

Her love of manuscript records and the variety of information that they can provide led her to develop her presentation Books and Documents on the Web, which focuses upon the wide variety of original material and published books currently available to researchers through the Internet. The talk tours collections of the Library of Congress, and heads to the website of an individual who discovered Civil War-era letters in the attic of a his new home, with a number of fascinating and eye-opening sites along the way.

The Latest Frontier in Research: Searchable Newspapers Online explores the new world of accessible newspapers. In the past genealogists have laboriously abstracted vital statistics from local newspapers. Today researchers can access the social columns, legal advertisements involving deeds of trust, tax sales, and chancery suits, as well as news of local disasters, memorials of honored citizens, and even the sporting events, graduations, enlistments, engagements, awards and other notices that featured an ancestor.

Putting Your Military Records to Work and Why Should I Have Every Census Record? focus on methodology. Both lectures encourage going beyond the usual in research. They look at the variety of sources and information that can be found, and through case studies show how exploring the depth and breadth of these records can help us solve brick wall problems, especially those involving migrating ancestors.

The Virginia Genealogical Society is sponsoring two lectures on Virginia research. Born in Virginia, How Do I Find Him? focuses on what the researcher needs to know about an ancestor in order to successfully track him or her back to Virginia. Preparing for a Virginia Research Trip: In Person or Virtually takes the researcher on a tour of Virginia resources detailing information that can be obtained online as well as that which can only be accessed in person. Both major research centers and small specialized collections will be discussed.

Currently serving as president of the National Genealogical Society, Barbara is looking forward to the Chicago conference, where she plans to steal a little time to do some research in the Durrett Collection at the University of Chicago.

Join Barbara Vines Little and the other presenters and vendors in Chicago for NGS's 2006 Conference in the States.

Early-Bird Deadline This Month

2006-04-03T16:04:00.000-05:00

Don't miss the early-bird deadline for a reduced fee to the NGS conference. To receive the reduced fee be sure to register soon. All early registrations must be postmarked by 21 April 2006.

With the $35 that you save you can sign up for the Local Host Event, Sweets Home Chicago, and still have some money left for the vendor's hall!

Area Research Facilities: The Arlington Heights Memorial Library

2006-04-02T18:54:00.000-05:00

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML) is just a short drive from the conference site. Why might you make the trip?
Read About the AHML

AHML’s genealogy collection is housed in the second floor's “Kathrine Shackley Room” and features over 8,000 books. Its focus is on Illinois and the surrounding states, and the states that people left or passed through on their way to this area.

In addition to great materials for Arlington Heights, including obituary indexes for the Daily Herald newspaper, high school year books, telephone books and criss-cross directories, they also have an excellent collection of immigration materials. Highlights of this collection include the Germans to America, Italians to America, Russians to America, Famine Immigrants (Irish), and Filby’s multi-volume Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. Once you find someone of interest in these books, you can go into the microfilm room and look at the microfilms of the ships’ lists from the bulk of the 19th century for most of the major ports. See their genealogy page for details.

The microfilm room holds the full set of Chicago city directories, many county histories, the Chicago Tribune from 1861 and the Daily Herald from 1901 to present. Under any given county in the print collection you might find farm directories, cemetery readings, funeral home records, probate and naturalization indexes, and more. Most of these books were published by that county’s genealogical society or local genealogists. Additionally, they have over 125 genealogical periodicals and newsletters.

Near the room’s entrance there is a map case housing a growing map collection. Unique to this library is an index created by staff and volunteers of maps found within the various books in the collection. Are you looking for a historical map of a region in Germany? This card index might hold the key. All new acquisitions are examined for maps and cataloged in this card file before shelving.

Itching to get online? The first floor has many computers available to the public. Check your email or search some of the databases to which the AHML subscribes. Of particular interest to the genealogist are Ancestry, Heritage Quest, America’s Obituaries and Death Notices, Biography & Genealogy Master Index, Biography Resource Center, Chicago Tribune Historical Archives 1849-1984, and Proquest Historical Chicago Tribune 1849-1984. Of the last two, Proquest is the more complete and links you to images of the newspaper pages.

If you are bringing your laptop, you can connect through their wireless network. Go to http://www.ahml.info/find_information/db_ws.asp?Topic=All to view a list of their databases, and if you’re connected through their wireless network you can connect to any of these databases just as though you were sitting at one of the library’s own computers.

The AHML has a "staff" of part-time genealogical volunteers with different specialties. For example, on Thursday mornings from 10 until noon they have a volunteer who translates Finnish and Swedish. Check with the library for more on volunteers with specialties.

The AHML is number 5 on the Newberry’s Genealogy Research Locations map http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/maps/research.html.

Speaker Spotlight: Patricia O’Brien Shawker

2006-03-29T20:25:00.000-06:00

Patricia O’Brien Shawker's primary genealogical interests are in Maryland records and federal records at the National Archives. Patty was born in Washington, D.C. and has been able to spend much time developing her expertise in federal records. She is a member of the APG, BCG, NEHGS, NGS, the Maryland Genealogical Society, and the NSDAR. She serves as Treasurer of the National Genealogical Society and the Assistant Director of the National Institute on Genealogical Research. Patty will be giving three presentations at the NGS Conference in Chicago.
Continue Reading About Patricia Shawker

Thursday, 8 June 2006 – Birth of a Nation: Papers of the Continental and U.S. Congress
This lecture will address the congressional records from 1774-1837. Created early in our nation’s history, these records are a rich resource for genealogists.

Thursday, 8 June 2006 – Passport Applications
Passport applications can be an excellent source of genealogical information, especially for immigrant ancestors and those ancestors who were known to either work or travel outside the United States. NARA has the passport applications that were issued from October 1795 through 31 March 1925.

Saturday, 10 June 2006 – The National Archives: A Case Study Using Federal Records
Using a broad range of federal records, more information can be found about our ancestor’s migrations and other information about their family and friends. Some of the records groups covered are lesser-known but as will be demonstrated, can still yield genealogical information.

These lectures are sure to enlighten attendees on a number of federal records invaluable to genealogical research.

Exploring the Area: Family Adventures

2006-03-28T17:36:00.000-06:00

A number of conference-goers might be bringing along family members who will want to find other things to do with their time. Here are a few suggestions in nearby DuPage County.
Read More About Family Adventures!

DuPage County has a number of places of interest to children. Santa's Village Amusement Park is located in the beautiful Fox River Valley at East Dundee. It is affordable and has free parking and picnic areas. Divided into three parts, Old MacDonald’s Farm, Santa’s World and Coney Island, the park has 30 rides, live shows and other attractions. Located at the same site is a water park with kid’s pools, tubing and water slides. Nearby you will find Grand Prix Go-Karts and Bumper Boats.

The DuPage Children’s Museum is located in Naperville. The museum, on Washington Street just south of Ogden Avenue (Rte 34), is hard to miss with its brightly painted exterior. The hands-on museum lets kids experience the worlds of art, math, and science. There is a family resource center and library.

Cosley Zoo in Wheaton is another place small people might enjoy. It’s not a big city zoo, but a nice place to go on a summer afternoon. Goats, llamas, horses, and deer are among the inhabitants. An historic train station is also located in the park along with a caboose. There are picnic areas, a gift shop and a concession stand. The zoo is located at 1356 North Gary Avenue.

Outside of West Chicago, in the heart of Illinois farm land, is a pleasant site for visitors of all ages. The Kline Creek Farm is located on County Farm Road, just north-east of town. A real 1800’s farm, the barn, house and out-buildings are original. The charming house is furnished just as it was when the family lived there. There are guided tours regularly. It is a good way to remind ourselves of “the way things were” not too long ago and to show our children the good (and maybe some of the bad) of the “good old days.”

Cantigny is a great spot for everyone. The estate was built as a home for Robert J. McCormick who lived there until his death in 1955. The mansion, maintained by the Cantigny Foundation as an historic building, has 35 rooms, 12 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms and four staircases. The foundation is in the process of restoring it to its original condition. The First Division Museum at Cantigny is dedicated to the memory of the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. In 1993 an enlarged museum was opened holding state of the art interactive and experimental exhibits.

The grounds and greenhouses of the estate are a joy to visit. There are a greenhouse, outdoor nursery, and a formal garden. There are so many beautiful flowers and plants to see you can spend all day. All flowers and plants are grown on the estate. In addition there are a golf course, clubhouse, and picnic areas on the property. This estate is located on Roosevelt Road (Rte 38) just west of Wheaton.

All of these sites are easily reached from the conference site by way of Illinois Toll Roads.

Speaker Spotlight: Gary Mokotoff

2006-03-27T13:38:00.000-06:00

Gary Mokotoff is an author, lecturer and leader of Jewish-American genealogy. He will be giving two lectures at the conference of interest to persons with Jewish ancestry: Beginning Jewish Genealogy and How to Document Victims and Locate Survivors of the Holocaust.
Keep Reading About Gary Mokotoff

Gary’ credentials are extensive. He is the first person to receive the ALifetime Achievement Award@ of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). He is the author of a number of books including the award-winning Where Once We Walked, a gazetteer which provides information about 23,000 towns in central and eastern Europe where Jews lived before the Holocaust, How to Document Victims and Locate Survivors of the Holocaust, and Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy.

Mokotoff is also known for his application of computers to genealogy. Among his accomplishments is co-authorship of the Daitch-Mokotoff soundex system; the JewishGen Family Finder, a database of ancestral towns and surnames being researched by some 50,000 Jewish genealogists throughout the world and the Consolidated Jewish Surname Index. He is publisher of Avotaynu, the magazine of Jewish genealogy and past president of IAJGS. He is/was on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, Association of Professional Genealogists, International Institute of Jewish Genealogy, JewishGen, Association of Jewish Book Publishers and Jewish Book Council.

Special Needs Request

2006-03-27T13:26:00.000-06:00

A hearing impaired person will be attending the NGS conference. They want to find someone willing to type for them in the lectures they want to attend. If anyone is willing to help with this, please contact Jeanne Lund at Lund@ngsgenealogy.org for details.

Some Thoughts from the Blog Master

2006-03-25T17:14:00.000-06:00

Thank you for making the CGC NGS Chicago Blog a great success to date. We had our 2000th site visit today, with our visitors viewing over 5400 pages on the blog since we launched in January. Our visitors have been from all over the world, but mainly hail from the U.S. and Canada.
Please Read On!

I would like to take the time to thank our many contributors. With just over 10 weeks to go before the conference is held we certainly are not finished blogging! We will probably come up with at least 40-50 more articles to post in the coming 10 weeks. Blog articles come from members of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium publicity committee, host society members, speakers, vendors, and friends in genealogy.

I am not the only writer contributing to the blog. I want to thank all of the speakers, vendors, and CGC members who have supplied material for the blog to date. A special thanks to Kathy Brady-Blake, Teresa McMillin, David McDonald CG, Eric Basir, and Nancy Houston. Each of them deserves an extra effort award.

Keep in mind that you will not see all of the articles posted to date when you scroll down the blog's main page. Some have been archived. If you click each month's archive on the left side of the page, you will see links to all of the articles. We might revisit some of them as the conference approaches. I know that the public transportation trip planner piece will come in handy for many as we near the conference.

We will be adding local restaurant information, more spotlights on speakers, lectures, and vendors, and just plain good information. We want you to have a great conference experience and hope that these pages are helping you to plan your days at the conference.

As a final note, remember when registering that the CGC welcomes you to attend the CGC 's Local Host Event, Sweets Home Chicago. It will be a wonderful night filled with sweets, sounds, and friendship.

To future articles! Keep that information coming in!

Thanks to all,
Debbie Mieszala, CG
CGC Registration Chair
Blog Master

Vendor Spotlight: Heritage Books & Willow Bend Books

2006-03-24T10:15:00.000-06:00

Heritage Books and Willow Bend Books will be exhibiting at the NGS Conference in Chicago. If you've ever roamed through an exhibit hall where Willow Bend Books is a vendor, you'll know that crowds of book browsers tend to congregate around its tables, which are filled to overflowing with helpful titles for genealogists and historians alike. The vendor encourages browsing and the knowledgeable staff can often point you to exactly the right title to help you with your research. Whether it be newspaper abstracts, census records, deed indexes, reprints of classic reference works, or What Did They Mean by That?, the vast selection of books is sure to include something you've been eager to get your hands on.
Read More About Heritage Books and Willow Bend Books

The vendor invites you to wander by their square of booths at the conference (#117, 119, 216, 218) and stay to browse or buy. Make up a wish list in advance by checking out the vendor's websites at www.HeritageBooks.com and www.WillowBendBooks.com. You can also stay up-to-date on new titles and specials by subscribing to the Heritage Books eNews, a twice-monthly email newsletter. The subscription page and archived issues are at http://www.heritagebooks.com/HB_enews.html, or simply visit either site's homepage for the link.

Hot Dogs! Get Yer Hot Dogs!!

2006-03-23T22:13:00.000-06:00

So, now that you know what Chicago Style Pizza is, the next logical question is: What is a Chicago Style Hot Dog? The uniqueness of a hot dog from the Windy City is not so much in the dog itself, as it is in the goodies packed with it on the bun.
More About Chicago Style Hotdogs!

The true Chicago Style dog is a steamed, all-beef frank. The frank is nestled into a poppy seed bun, lined with mustard. Next come the onions, sweet pickle relish, tomatoes (half slices or wedges), a dill pickle spear, hot peppers and a sprinkle of celery salt. Don’t try to eat this while driving! Wait—did I mention ketchup? No! That’s a trick question! There’s no ketchup on a Chicago Style Hot Dog. If they serve ketchup, it’s for the fries that you must order on the side. Or maybe you prefer onion rings…

Fluky’s is given credit for inventing the “Depression Sandwich” as it was known during that era. Fluky’s first opened its doors at the corner of Maxwell and Halsted in 1929. Fluky’s is alive and well today, as are many of their competitors. They can be easily found anywhere in the city and no matter where you go, they’re great! So get out there and enjoy!

Topic Focus: Illinois and Chicago Lectures

2006-03-22T12:59:00.002-06:00

If you have ancestors with connections to Chicago or Illinois, the NGS conference will provide many opportunities to develop new research strategies.
Read About Chicago and Illinois Lectures

On Wednesday, an entire track will be devoted to Illinois research. First, learn about Chicago Genealogy 101 from Grace Dumelle, author of Finding Your Chicago Ancestors. Grace will address some of the challenges of Chicago research, and also provide details about some of Chicago’s more unique resources. Alternately, in the Records Track, Peter W. Bunce of the National Archives will speak about Prairies to Skyscrapers: A Genealogical & Historical Perspective of Illinois Through Federal Records. Learn about the federal sources from the Director of the NARA Great Lakes Region. After lunch, another expert on Chicago research, Tony Burroughs, will present Don’t Get Burned: Getting Around the Chicago Fire of 1871. Hear Tony’s advice on how to get around this potential brick wall. At the same time, the GENTECH Track will feature The Illinois Digital Archives by Andrew Bullen. Learn about the primary source material and historic publications available on this website. Later, in the afternoon, Jack Simpson of the Newberry Library will speak about The History of Genealogy at the Newberry Library. Learn about the library’s history, and its significant genealogical collection.

On Thursday, there will be several talks of interest to those with Midwestern ancestors. Among these is Michael John Neill’s presentation, Outside of Cook: Illinois Courthouses. Michael, an expert on Illinois research, will discuss the wealth of information that can be found in court records.

On Friday, Jeanne Larzalere Bloom and Debbie Mieszala will present An Option in Post-Adoption in Illinois. This talk will explain the options available for searches by adopted persons, adoptive parents, birth parents, and surrendered persons under current Illinois law.

There will be talks of interest to Chicago researchers on Saturday, too. In the morning, Grace Dumelle will discuss Tips & Tricks for Cook County Vital Records. Learn how to be successful in this vital area of research. Later in the day, Loretto Dennis Szucs, author of Chicago & Cook County: A Guide to Research, will present Chicago and Cook County Research on the Internet. Learn about the newest online sources for Chicago area research. Finally, Tony Burroughs’ talk, Researching Pullman Porters: Railroad Records for African Americans will explain how to use records found in Chicago to research Pullman employees throughout the United States.

Whether your ancestors stayed in Chicago for several generations, or only passed through, this conference will provide you with new tools and strategies for researching their lives.

Speaker Spotlight: Jeanne Larzalere Bloom, CG and Debra Mieszala, CG

2006-03-21T12:55:00.000-06:00

What do Jeanne Larzalere Bloom and Debra Mieszala have in common? As children, they both loved hearing stories about their families. That interest eventually evolved into a life-long passion for genealogy. This pair will be presenting the lecture An Option in Post-Adoption in Illinois on Friday, June 10, at the NGS Conference.
Read More About Jeanne and Debbie

This duo brings much experience to the subject of adoption. Both have earned the credentials of Certified Genealogist and Confidential Intermediary [Illinois]. As certified genealogists, Debbie and Jeanne have the proven skills to be successful in their latter role. Only instead of researching the past, they research the present. A Confidential Intermediary is involved with doing searches for birth family members of petitioners under court order.

Debbie Mieszala grew up in Lake County, Illinois. While she was interested in the family stories her mother told her, she wasn’t especially interested in history. Then in high school, her history teacher burdened her with a family research project. She submitted an old dusty, fan-shaped family tree that a great aunt had put together. The teacher threw away all of the students’ projects after they had been displayed. Debbie was compelled to recreate that family tree using years of her own research time. From that exercise grew her love of genealogy. By the way, that family tree that she had to rebuild from scratch is now larger and more accurate than the one that was destroyed!

Jeanne’s early years were spent in Hays, Kansas. Her hometown was filled with colorful history that involved the likes of General Custer, Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok. She majored in history because of all the “cool” classes that she could take. But it wasn’t until the 1990’s, that she became passionate in her pursuit of genealogy and family history. It all began when her father asked “Why did your great-great-grandfather enlist in an Ohio Civil War regiment when his family was from eastern Pennsylvania and how did he end up in Kansas?” It is obvious where that question has taken her in life! In addition to Jeanne’s credentials mentioned above, she is the editor of the Chicago Genealogical Society’s newsletter.

If your research takes you into the realm of adoptions, be sure not to miss this lecture. Debbie and Jeanne will be able to give you some great insights to further your knowledge.

Speaker Spotlight: Ruth Ann (Abels) Hager, CG, CGL

2006-03-19T19:15:00.000-06:00

Ruth Ann has been researching for 31 years and is a reference specialist and web designer in the Special Collections Department of St. Louis County Library in St. Louis, Missouri. She has a bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Arts degree in teaching in the area of educational technology. Hager is the author of The Hager Family and The Schieber Family History, and is the editor of Jefferson Township Cemeteries, Nodaway County, Missouri and A Schieber Research Journal. She will be giving five presentations at the NGS Conference in Chicago.
More About Ruth Ann (Abels) Hager

Tuesday, 6 June – Ins & Outs of Expanding a Library’s Genealogical Web Site (NGS Special Pre-Conference Meeting for Librarians) Hager has been her department’s web designer since the launch of its first set of five pages eight years ago. Her department now has over 1,000 pages and has gone through a complete revision in 2005 and the site is still in transition. She will offer suggestions of how to formulate a game plan for your library’s genealogical Web site, and how to carry it out.

Wednesday, 7 June – National Genealogical Society Book Loan Collection
This collection of approximately 25,000 books, 8,000 of which are family histories, is housed in St. Louis County Library’s Special Collections Department. This collection circulates through interlibrary loan, so these books are available to researchers whose home library offers this service.

Thursday, 8 June – World War I Draft Registration Cards
In 1917 and 1918, men aged 18 through 45 who were not already in the military had to register for the World War I draft. In doing so, these men, born between 11 Sept 1872 and 12 Sept 1900, gave a range of information—such as date and, sometimes, place of birth—that is helpful to genealogists. Now indexed on Ancestry.com and Ancestry Library Edition, these records are easier to locate than ever before.

Friday, 9 June – Why Are Those Land Descriptions Important? (BCG Skillbuilding Lecture)
Many researchers work with land records, yet do not obtain maximum benefit from those records because they have not worked with the land description portion of the records. If you have deeds and other land records in your files, and have not worked with the land description in each, you may have the clues you need in your possession—and not know it!

Saturday, 10 June – Spottswood Rice, USCT Soldier: A Case Study
Spottswood Rice was a slave in Missouri until September 1864 when he enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops. Able to read and write, he wrote two letters that earned him a place in American History and are preserved in the National Archives. The story of Spottswood, his children, and grandchildren, span over 100 years of American history.

Registration Reminder

2006-03-18T10:33:00.000-06:00

The deadline for the reduced early-bird registration fee is just over a month away!

NGS member registrations postmarked on or before 21 April 2006 are just $175. After that date the NGS member registration fee is $210.

Non-member registrations postmarked on or before 21 April 2006 are $210, and after that date they will be $245.

Register early and use the money you save for goodies at the vendor's hall!

Speaker Spotlight: Thomas W. Jones, CG, CGL

2006-03-17T11:25:00.000-06:00

Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, is the NGS Quarterly editor, Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) trustee and past president, and a former Association of Professional Genealogists trustee. Tom’s interest in genealogy began in 1964. Since that time, his personal and professional research has taken him to records of all states east of the Mississippi, plus Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas. He can frequently be seen doing on-site research in courthouses, libraries, and archives across the country, including the Family History Library and other major genealogical repositories. Tom has also conducted research in records of France, Germany, and Ireland, and done on-site research in Ireland.
Keep Reading About Thomas Jones

A Certified Genealogist since 1994, Tom Jones is a genealogical educator who speaks and writes frequently on genealogical evidence, proof, and problem solving. He lectures at national conferences and institutes and has written several articles for the NGS Quarterly on analyzing difficult genealogical problems and developing sound conclusions. Tom is also a professor of education at Gallaudet University in Washington. D.C.

Tom Jones will be a featured speaker in the BCG track at the NGS 2006 conference. His two talks, Genealogical Skill Building: The What, Why & How and Problem Solving with Probate will provide attendees with valuable information about the skills and methods necessary to do quality genealogical research. In addition, he will be a participant, along with Connie Lenzen, CG, and Ellisa Scalise Powell, CG in the BCG Certification Workshop. Those with questions about the certification process and requirements are encouraged to attend this session.

Tourist Attractions: Oak Park

2006-03-15T21:20:00.000-06:00

If you love the thought of exploring a village filled with historic homes, beautiful tree-lined streets, sprawling parks and unique shopping experiences, then you might want to consider a visit to Oak Park, Illinois. Oak Park is nestled on the west side of Chicago, just north of I-290 at Harlem Ave. It shelters homes of various significant architectures ranging from Victorian Painted Ladies to Prairie Style to Art Deco.
Read About Oak Park

Oak Park was settled in 1839 when Joseph Kettlestrings, originally from England, built his home there. The settlement grew slowly, but after the Chicago fire in 1871, many people escaped from Chicago city life to this quieter area. It wasn’t until 1902 that Oak Park officially became a village. Since its settlement, this area has been marked by notable people and significant architectural styles.

Frank Lloyd Wright, known for developing Prairie Style architecture, spent the early years of his career in Oak Park, from 1899-1909. His home and studio still stand, along with 25 other buildings designed by this architectural great. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 in a small Victorian home on Oak Park Avenue. The streets of this village are dotted with many painted Victorian ladies, reminiscent of days gone by. Interspersed with the Victorian beauties are several Prairie Style homes designed by Wright and his contemporaries. Examples of the 1950’s Art Deco style of architecture may also be found there.

Visitors to Oak Park have many options for whiling away an afternoon. The downtown area provides an array of shopping and eating opportunities. Parking is ample and the village offers a free shuttle service to transport people between popular sites within its boundaries. The Oak Park Visitors Center has a PDA driven, self-guided tour of the exterior of 15 Painted Ladies. People can also visit the Unity Temple, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright or discover Wright’s home and studio. Bookworms might wish to explore Hemingway’s Birthplace and Museum. The Historic Society of Oak Park/River Forest gives tours of their facility, as well. These are just a few of the possibilities available.

Come enjoy a few hours or a full day in Oak Park and discover why this is “The Place They Called Home.”

Speaker Spotlight: John W. Konvalinka, CG

2006-03-13T22:42:00.000-06:00

John Konvalinka was born and raised near New York City. He remembers being interested in history from an early age, but wishes he’d listened more closely when his great aunts (daughters of the Konvalinka immigrant ancestor) told him stories about the old days with their Bohemian father and Irish mother, whom he met and married within a year of arriving in the U.S. As well as filling in some of the gaps by finding other Konvalinkas and researching old newspapers, with the help of the Czech archives he was able to locate his great grandfather’s birthplace and trace the family back to the 18th century.
Read More About John Konvalinka

He’s been even more fortunate with two other lines: tracing his Sanders and Rose ancestors back to the 13th century in England and Scotland. Fortunately, both families owned property (which remained in the family for many centuries) and left good records!

But this and his other genealogical activities had to wait a good number of years. His four years as a Navy pilot, plus almost 35 years working with the Accenture (the management consulting firm) and Comcast (the cable television network) – to say nothing of raising three children – really got in the way of his genealogical research.

Nevertheless, when freed from the shackles of having a day job (at least temporarily) he became deeply involved in genealogical research in this country and in the U.K. – which also provides a nice reason to visit his daughter and brand new British granddaughter. He qualified as a Certified Genealogical Records Specialist (sm) and a Certified Genealogical Lecturer (sm).

He has lectured at a number of national, international and regional genealogical conferences, and taught genealogical courses at Rutgers University and the Princeton (NJ) Adult School. At NGS he will be presenting Super Sleuthing the Census: Beyond Population Schedules & the Federal Census, The Other Side of the Courthouse- Adding Law Libraries and Legislative Records to Your Research Plan (with Sandra Hewlett), Traditional Computer Based Genealogical Research: Not "Either/Or" but Both, Your Immigrant Ancestor: Find Them in Cyberspace, Making Your Case Using the Genealogical Proof Standard and co-chairing (with Sheila Benedict) the Britain and Ireland Roundtable.

He maintains a website with his family history and other information at www.konvalinka.com.

The Irish American Heritage Center

2006-03-10T23:15:00.000-06:00

If you enjoy Irish culture, then you may want to plan a visit to the Irish American Heritage Center (IAHC). The IAHC is on the northwest side of Chicago, less than 8 miles from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.
Keep Reading About the IAHC

The heritage center has a library which is open to the public. The hours are Monday-Thursday 4-8:00 p.m., Friday 1-4:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Sunday 1-4:00 p.m. The holdings include items of genealogical and historical interest, Irish literature, Irish-American newspapers and periodicals as well as a facsimile edition of the Book of Kells, the world’s most famous illuminated manuscript, which has been called “the work of angels.”

The IAHC has many ongoing programs, including concerts, a theatre group, art exhibits and music lessons. The IAHC museum is open by appointment only.

Looking for a fun way to spend Saturday night after the NGS conference? How about visiting the IAHC’s The Fifth Province pub? It is open 5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. and pub food is served from 6-10:00 p.m. Live Irish music begins at 9:00 p.m. There is no cover charge and plenty of free parking.

For additional information, see their website at http://irishamhc.com/ or call the IAHC at 773-282-7035.

On the Side: Chicago Tourism Websites

2006-03-09T23:44:00.000-06:00

While planning your trip to the NGS conference, be sure to check out some of the following websites for things to do when visiting Chicagoland.
Check Out the Tourism Websites!

The Chicago Traveler website has a lot of useful information and links for travelers on everything from museums and shopping to event calendars and interactive maps. http://www.chicagotraveler.com/

The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau has a very extensive calendar of events on their website. There is also an online form for requesting travel brochures. http://www.choosechicago.com/default.html

Chicago City Tourist.com has lists of attractions and links to a number of sites. http://www.chicagocitytourist.com/index.html

The Chicago & Illinois Tourist Office site has brief descriptions and links to places of interest in and around Chicago, such as museums, nightlife and neighborhoods. The site has sample itineraries for shopping, art and architecture and other areas of interest. http://www.gochicago.com/

The state of Illinois’ tourism website has a wealth of information for travelers, including guides for those interested in state parks, Abraham Lincoln, antiquing or theatre. http://www.enjoyillinois.com/index.aspx

And, of course, there is always Google to help you find the information you need to make your trip a success. Whatever your interests, you’re sure to find things to see and do in Chicago.

Genealogy Jaunts: Wisconsin Historical Society

2006-03-08T12:13:00.000-06:00

Visitors to the NGS Conference in Chicago may want to set aside some extra research time at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It was at this society that Lyman Copeland Draper served as corresponding secretary from 1854 until his retirement in 1886.

Yes, that Draper.

Yes, those manuscripts.

Yes, this library!
Read More About the Wisconsin Historical Society

In addition to the Draper materials, the building also houses the Wisconsin state archives which plays host to the original records of the Mineral Point land office. If your ancestors were among the so-called “badgers” of the lead mining region, a visit to the archives will be well worth the effort.

Along with the state archives, the collections of the historical society library include an astounding array of historic journals, newspapers and published local histories and family genealogies. The scope, while obviously strongest for Wisconsin, is exceptional for its coverage of the New England states and New York, as well. Federal census schedules through 1930 and Canadian census holdings from colonial times (1666) through 1901 are available for use.

In addition to explicitly “genealogical” materials, the library houses a wide-ranging array of journals of historical interest: labor newsletters, city directories, church directories and yearbooks and statistical analysis of all sorts. The library is also an official depository library for the United States government, including maps and other assorted materials worth considering.

Getting to the state library will be a simple task for attendees at Rosemont. A round-trip shuttle bus from O’Hare to downtown Madison runs throughout the day and into the night. Madison-bound customers are literally dropped at the library’s door! The terminal stop is at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Memorial Student Union at 800 Langdon Street. The historical society’s library sits between Langdon and State Street, just across from the Union, at 816 State Street.

The Van Galder/Coach USA bus departs from O’Hare for Madison as early as 6:00 a.m., reaching Madison at 9:35 a.m. The last return bus from Madison to O’Hare makes its departure at 6:00 p.m., reaching O’Hare at 9:10 p.m. Round-trip adult fares are $48.00.

Van Galder Bus: www.coachusa.com/vangalder/
State Historical Society of Wisconsin: www.wisconsinhistory.org.

Speaker Spotlight: Chuck Knuthson

2006-03-07T16:20:00.000-06:00

Chuck Knuthson has only been to Chicago once and is really looking forward to the conference! He will make the most of his trip, with plans to stop in Fort Wayne and Cleveland for personal research.
Read More About Chuck Knuthson

Chuck, who hails from California, says, "My paternal g-g-grandparents (Jacob Knuth/Knuthson and Regina Meier) emigrated from Germany, Jacob from Holstein in northern Germany in May 1852, and Regina from Bavaria in southern Germany in October 1853. They lived in New York City for several years, where they met. They married in early 1855 and had two children before they left in the summer of 1859, sailing to Panama and crossing the Isthmus and then sailing to San Francisco. They traveled about two hundred miles north to Downieville, Sierra County, California where my great-grandfather was born a few months after their arrival. They lived the rest of their lives in Sierra County and the family has been in California ever since."

Chuck's German heritage makes him well-suited to present several lecures on the topic. Beginning German Research (F303) will cover the basics of how to research German immigrant ancestors in both U.S. and foreign records. A brief explanation of the importance of U.S. research will be followed by an explanation of the kinds of records likely available in Germany as well as issues that must be addressed in doing foreign research, such as identifying our ancestor in the foreign records, dealing with foreign language(s), unfamiliar handwriting, changing European place names and jurisdictions, etc.

German Migrations to America (F312) will chronicle emigration from Germany to America over the last four hundred years, including a brief examination of the various periods of German immigration, possible reasons for emigration, ports or departure and arrival, the journey and several other factors.

Chuck will lead the NGS German Special Interest Group Roundtable (F330). This roundtable will allow members and others interested in German research an opportunity to share research experiences and strategies, discuss repositories and research resources, ask questions, discuss what should be available online at the German SIG site, etc. You do not need to be a member of the German SIG or even a member of NGS to attend this informative session. If you have an interest in German research, you are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion. All are welcome.

Chuck has been studying and conducting genealogical research for thirty years. For the past twelve years he has instructed beginning genealogy classes at two Sacramento-area community colleges. He lectures locally, regionally, and nationally, and is the volunteer coordinator for the Sierra County GenWeb website of the California GenWeb Project, and a volunteer librarian at the Sacramento LDS Family History Center.

Chuck has completed seminars at Brigham Young University, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the National Institute on Genealogical Research, and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. He has attended numerous local, state, and national seminars, institutes, and conferences. Chuck serves as Treasurer for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, is President of the 1,300-member Sacramento German Genealogy Society, and is a member of numerous other genealogical and professional organizations. He is working toward certification as a professional genealogist. A retired police captain, Chuck served for thirty-two years with the Roseville California Police Department.

Chuck has a busy schedule, with the Utah Genealogical Association seminar in March, NGS in June, and FGS in Boston. We are fortunate to have him visit us in Chicago and wish him well on his genealogy jaunts in the Midwest!

CGC Member Spotlight: The Elgin Genealogical Society

2006-03-06T00:08:00.000-06:00

The Elgin Genealogical Society (EGS) is one of the older societies in the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium. The society began in 1972 and originally met in the homes of members. As the society grew they formed a partnership with Elgin’s Gail Borden Public Library (GBPL), and meetings are held at the library. When the library opened its new facilities in 2003, the society moved across the street with them and continue a wonderful relationship with this fantastic facility.
Read More About The Elgin Genealogical Society

Although EGS no longer has a day-long conference as many societies do, members and friends enjoy 23 meetings and programs each year. EGS meets the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. and the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The programs are different and many members attend both meetings. The annual meeting is held in December. There is no evening meeting that month.

Since 1972 EGS has worked to bring together persons who are researching family history; to inform people of the value of and the need for preserving family and local history; to provide information, methods, and practices of family research; to foster idea sharing; to seek, preserve and make available material concerning past and present families; and to encourage officials to preserve public records and genealogical collections and make them accessible to interested persons.

In memory of Pat Lose, the society's first president and a founding member, $1,500 was donated to the GBPL, which they used to start a genealogical collection. From that beginning, the collection has grown to over 3,000 books, according to Bill Blohm, the society's liaison with the library and the librarian who specializes in genealogy. Many of these books have been added through the EGS 50/50 program with the library. Members contribute on an individual basis toward the purchase of genealogy books and other materials chosen by the society. After half of the book’s cost is raised by EGS, matching funds from the GBPL complete the purchase. These books and materials, covering many genealogical subjects and geographic areas of North America and Europe, become a part of the library's genealogy collection.

The society’s quarterly publication comes out in March, June, September and December and is mailed to all members. Free queries may be submitted to the newsletter editor and will appear as space permits.

As part of the EGS Newspaper Indexing project, the Vital Records Surname search provides a way to find obituaries, birth notices, and marriage announcements listed in Elgin newspapers from July 1, 2002 to date. In addition, records for newspapers that were published as early as the 1850’s up to 1915 are being entered as time permits. This project is housed on the GBPL Website under Community Links.

Based on the Kane County Pioneer Certificate Program, Kane County, Illinois Early Families 1833-1885 is a fully-indexed book including over 4,100 names. Written in narrative style, the book chronicles 102 early county residents tracing down to the present generation. A few copies of this book, which received an Elgin Mayor’s Award, are still available for purchase from the society.

The society has completed many other indexing projects including some that were done in conjunction with the Elgin Historical Society and with Kane County Genealogical Society. For a listing of these projects, please see the EGS website at www.elginarea.org/egs/.

The Elgin Genealogical Society is very excited to have the opportunity to work as part of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium to host NGS Chicago 2006. In response to the cost of the NGS conference, EGS member and conference speaker Becky Higgins said, “It is not a question of whether you can afford to go to the conference, it is a question that you can’t afford to miss a conference of this magnitude.” It is not often that a national conference comes to us and we have to make the most of this opportunity.

If you are in the area and have nothing to do the Tuesday before the National Genealogical Society Conference in the States begins, EGS is having a program on June 6. They invite you to come out and see them.

Announcement: Taping of Conference Sessions

2006-03-05T16:40:00.000-06:00

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) will not be using a taping company to tape sessions at this year's Chicago conference (June 7-10, 2006). As most of you know, they have done this in previous years and the tapes were offered for sale to attendees at the show and also to the public to purchase after the event.

NGS has made this decision due to lack of demand for conference tapes and cost considerations.

Conference attendees will NOT be allowed to personally tape a particular session without the speaker's permission. The permission, if granted, is only for that particular session.

Speakers may record their own sessions.

Speaker Spotlight: Elizabeth Shown Mills

2006-02-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

A family tale about an Indian princess and a horse trader sparked Elizabeth Shown Mills’s interest in ancestry as a child. Decades of exhaustive research failed to prove the story. Newly available genetic tests have decidedly disproved it. On Wednesday, Elizabeth will use this and other real, ethnic traditions---some of them fact and some of them fancy---to explore the role that oral history plays in ancestral research and the standards that good genealogists apply.

Elizabeth well knows the subject. Her last book, the historical novel Isle of Canes www.isleofcanes is based on a skillful weaving of Creole tradition and documentary research from Canada to Cuba to Paris and Seville. After reading it, Historical Novels Review proclaims, “You’ll never look at American history the same way again.” Join the audience at 2:30 on Wednesday for Oral History, Documentary Evidence, and Core Truths, to learn ways to find the “core truths” in your own family stories.

Speaker Spotlight: Michael John Neill

2006-02-24T16:31:00.000-06:00

Michael John Neill grew up on a farm in rural Illinois in the county where many of his ancestral families have lived for five generations. His maternal ancestors all hail from Ostfriesland, an ethnic region in modern-day Germany. His paternal lines are mainly from Germany and the British Isles--his children's lines are from just about every country in Western Europe. One of his favorite activites in genealogy is to determine the location of his ancestor's farm.
Keep Reading About Michael J. Neill

He has researched his own families for over twenty years and is currently a math instructor at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. Michael has lectured at genealogy workshops across the country over the past ten years and is currently on the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

In his spare time, he works on locating rich and famous people in United States federal census records, 1930 and before. One can learn a great deal about history by seeing people before they were well-known.

Michael will present two lectures in Chicago, both on Thursday. Bridging Buckeye Borders: Ohio Research, will provide an overview of Ohio's state and local records. He will teach how to locate and access those records. Michael's second lecture, Outside of Cook: Illinois Courthouses, will help the audience to learn what treasures are available in Illinois courthouses, and research strategies for those courthouses.

He also maintains a website at http://www.rootdig.com

Michael is a popular speaker and you won't want to miss him at NGS!

CGC Member Spotlight: Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago (AAGHSC)

2006-02-23T10:11:00.000-06:00

The AAGHSC was organized in 1979 to forward and guide African American researchers in their search for family roots. There are currently 160 members, who research in every state, but primarily in the South. The period of slavery presents special challenges which many of our members have become experts in overcoming.
Read About the AAGHSC

The Society meets monthly on the second Sunday at 1:15 pm at the Atlas Senior Center, 1769 E. 79th Street. Each Meeting hosts speakers that will assist members learn about genealogy research.

Membership includes quarterly newsletter, monthly programs, state study groups, reduced bees at conference, research trips, and much more.

The Study Groups are organized by members to support each other in researching particular states. Currently there are Study Groups for Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.

The AAGHSC annual family history conference will be October 7, 2006. All are welcome!

Contact information:
312-458-0837
http://hometown.aol.com/aaghsc/index.html

Speaker Spotlight: Tim Pinnick

2006-02-21T18:04:00.000-06:00

Few people are more thrilled than Tim Pinnick about the upcoming NGS Conference in the States, but the event is not without its drawbacks. “This is my first time presenting at NGS, which is very cool, but at the end of my second presentation at 5:00 on Saturday, I immediately jump into my car and head for Birmingham, Alabama where I need to check in on Sunday afternoon for IGHR!” [Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.]
Read More About Tim Pinnick

But Tim is usually on the run, often in the pursuit of African American coal miners both online and off, which is what led him to the Slavery Era Insurance Registry, a portion of which can be accessed online through the California Department of Insurance: http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0300-public-programs/0200-slavery-era-insur/slaveholder-names.cfm. After over half a dozen trips to California to conduct extensive research into all the documents collected from insurance companies by the department, he has put together a very popular presentation on his discoveries, entitled Slave Ancestry Research: The Slavery Era Insurance Registry and Its Supporting Documents, which he will give at 11:00 on Saturday.

Tim’s fascination with coal miners is personal. A native of Lockport in the far southwestern suburbs of Chicago, he was shocked to find that three of his four great-grandfathers mined coal about 20 miles south of there in Braidwood, Illinois. “So as a result, I have been conducting research in coal mining records for about the past 15 years” he claims, “and you can amass quite a bit of knowledge in that period of time.”

It is from this accumulation of wisdom and material that he has prepared his second NGS lecture, Coal Dust in Your Veins: Tips, Strategies, and Resources to Bring Your Coal Mining Ancestors to the Surface. “I am very excited about this presentation because of its impact on present and future researchers,” he says. “Coal mining was huge in Illinois, and thousands upon thousands of our ancestors, of practically every race and creed worked these mines. So, this presentation, once given, will be out there when others uncover, like I did, that coal miner in their past.”

In the wake of the recent coal mining accidents and the associated media attention, we will look forward to Tim’s last lecture so we can perhaps gain a better understanding of the present through the past.

To learn more about his research on African American coal miners, check him out in this month’s issue of Family Tree Magazine.

A Nature Lovers Guide to the Chicago Area

2006-02-19T14:22:00.000-06:00

The Chicago area has many beautiful locations for the nature lover to visit. Here are a few of the best:
Keep Reading the Nature Lover's Guide

1. The Lake. Chicago sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. Take a relaxing walk along the beach, a boat cruise, or just drive up Lake Shore Drive and enjoy the view. The city includes 33 public beaches and 9 harbors. http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/

2. Millennium Park combines nature, and spectacular art and architecture. The 24.5 acre park in downtown Chicago has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. http://www.millenniumpark.org/

3. The Chicago Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to visit. It contains 385 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, including 100 acres of woods and 15 acres of prairie. The 26 gardens include 3 native habitat areas, an English Walled Garden, a Japanese Garden and a Rose Garden. http://www.chicagobotanic.org/

4. The Morton Arboretum is a beautiful spot that will please every gardener and nature lover. Its 1700 acres are more than an arboretum. In addition to 3400 kinds of trees and plants from around the world, it includes a wetland and a collection of native plants. You can view several types of gardens, such as display, herb and perennial. There are miles of hiking trails, paved roads for auto access and an open air tram. A coffee shop is on site and there are many seasonal events. Check for the schedule if you plan to visit. http://www.mortonarb.org/

5. Brookfield Zoo. This spacious suburban zoo contains over 200 acres of exhibits and greenery. Favorites include the Seven Seas Dolphin Presentation, the Hamill Family Play Zoo and the Living Coast. http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/

6. The Lincoln Park Zoo, founded in 1868, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, but also one of the most modern. It is open 365 days a year and admission is free. The state-of-the-art Regenstein Center for African Apes features three spacious habitats for chimpanzees and gorillas. The Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat contains seven outdoor habitats for spectacled bears, sun bears and polar bears. A zoo favorite for more than 110 years, polar bears continue to enjoy their 266,000-gallon pool—one of the largest polar bear zoo exhibits in the world. The Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo offers children the chance to learn about animals’ lives and homes through play and discovery. http://www.lpzoo.com/info/intro.html

7. County Forest Preserves. The Hyatt Regency O’Hare is located in Cook County, near the borders of DuPage and Lake Counties. The 3 counties have a number of natural areas, managed by their respective forest preserve districts. See the following websites for details.
Forest Preserve District of Cook County: http://www.fpdcc.com/
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: http://www.dupageforest.com/
Lake County Forest Preserve District: http://www.lcfpd.org/

8. Illinois State Parks. The following state parks in northern Illinois are worth a visit.

Starved Rock State Park. This park has 13 miles of hiking trails and 18 canyons. The park is located along the south side of the Illinois River. Visitors will appreciate the beauty of Starved Rock by hiking the trails and enjoying the park's many activities, which include boating, fishing, camping, horseback riding, and picnicking. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/east/starve/park.htm

Illinois Beach State Park. The 4,160-acre park, consisting of two separate areas, offers ample opportunities for swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping and just appreciating nature. Stretching for over 6 miles along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan, Illinois Beach State Park encompasses the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/ILBEACH.HTM

Volo Bog. If you're looking for a unique outdoor setting, visit the Volo Bog State Natural Area. Just 45 miles northwest of Chicago in Lake County, this natural area contains Volo Bog, the only quaking bog in Illinois with an open water center. There are 2 marked trails. A half-mile interpretive loop leads visitors through each stage of bog succession. It is constructed of wooden dock sections, boardwalks and a woodchip path. The Tamarack View Trail is a 2.75-mile trail through woods, wetlands, field and prairie. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/VOLOBOG.HTM

So, come and enjoy the NGS conference and, if you have time, a little bit of nature too.

Speaker Spotlight: Paul S. Valasek, D.D.S.

2006-02-18T17:49:00.000-06:00

Chicago native Paul Valasek has been interested in his roots as far back as he can remember. As a child he played with his grandfather’s WWI Polish military medals from his service in Haller’s Army. As an adult, Paul learned that there was not a complete listing of members of Haller’s Army, and decided to compile one. It is befitting that same curious boy is now the man who found a way to honor all those who served with his grandfather.
Read More About Paul Valasek

Founder of the Czech and Slovak American Genealogical Society of Illinois (CSAGSI), Paul has been researching his family over 30 years, and also researches his wife’s family. He has traced his roots back to the early 1600's in both Poland and the Czech Republic, and been to Europe 13 times for research.

Paul has lectured throughout the U.S. and Canada. The three-time graduate of Loyola is not only a popular genealogist and speaker, but a D.D.S. as well. Past President of the Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA), Paul is well-qualified to lecture on Polish research.

Paul will present Polish-American Research: Using Resources in the U.S. His knowledge of resources both in the U.S. and Poland will definitely help anyone working on Polish research.

A busy and giving member of the genealogical community, Paul willingly shares his knowledge. He is the co-founder of Polish research website www.PolishRoots.org, and has served on the board of the Polish Museum of America. His ongoing work to create a database and publish a history of the Polish Army in France 1917-1920 [aka Haller's Army, aka the Blue Army], will help many genealogists and historians for years to come.

Area Resource: Interactive Genealogy Research Locations Map!

2006-02-17T12:41:00.000-06:00

The Newberry Library has created an interactive map of popular genealogy research destinations in the Chicago area. If you plan to do genealogical research in the Chicago area when you come to the conference, this map will give you a great frame of reference, and also probably give you ideas for a few extra research stops too!

You can view the map at http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/maps/research.html. The Newberry has announced the map on their weblog http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/news/default.asp?id=186&action=single, which is worth browsing on a regular basis. Thanks to Jack Simpson of the Newberry Library for sharing the map with us.

Chicago Chow: Vegetarian Fare

2006-02-15T10:28:00.000-06:00

Eric C. M. Basir of Photo Grafix submitted this piece that he wrote on local vegetarian fare.

Almost every genealogy conferences has vegetarian attendees. I'm one of them. Like most other vegetarians, I find myself compromising by eating at places such as Taco Bell, or a Mexican or Italian restaurant (hoping that they didn't cook my beans or pasta in bacon grease). Sometimes a buffet style establishment is okay. However, don't compromise while you're in Chicago.
Read About Vegetarian Fare

Chicago has some of the best vegetarian restaurants in the country. There are also countless South Asian or Indian vegetarian restaurants as well. While you're in town consider getting a meat-free meal at some of my personal favorites. Use the links for driving/public transit directions from the Hyatt Regency O'Hare (Rosemont Convention Center) for each location. Double-check them for yourself the day you're ready to go.
-----
Chicago Diner (Northern end of Chicago, closer to downtown)
http://www.veggiediner.com/
3411 N. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6696

Although I haven't been to this one for over a decade, their reputation for good meatless cuisine is untouchable. It can get a little crowded in there. Check out the website and you'll see what I mean!

Public Transit: Less than an hour from the conference site.
Car: 30-40 minutes (or slightly longer, depending on rush hour).
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Soul Vegetarian East (South side of Chicago, near I-94 south)
203 E. 75th St.
Chicago, IL 60619
773-224-0104

This one is my favorite. Do you want "soul" food that doesn't clog your arteries and is still 100% vegan? This is it. Founded by a community of African-Americans who re-claimed their lost Hebrew ancestry and formed a community in Israel, not only will you enjoy the wide variety of vegan dishes, but your eye will be treated to beautiful artwork, photos, and the clothing worn by the staff (many are fluent in Hebrew too)!

My favorites are the vegan gyro sandwich and the freshly-made juices. My favorite, and most lethal, is the one made with everything, including garlic! They also make and sell awesome dairy-free ice cream. Visit the deli next door to buy food to take back with you to the hotel.

Public transit: 1.5 hours
By car: 30 minutes (or slightly longer during rush hour)
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Blind Faith Café (Evanston, a suburb on the north end of Chicago)
525 Dempster Street
Evanston IL 60201
847-328-6875
http://www.blindfaithcafe.com/

I've been eating out at this place since the early 1990's. Nice atmosphere, lot's of food, excellent baked goods, and plenty of vegan desserts! I personally like the blueberry pancakes. However, everything I've eaten there has been excellent. Parking isn't always easy. You may need to park a block or two away.

Public transit: 1.5 hours
By car: 30 minutes (or slightly longer during rush hour)
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Slice of Life (In Skokie, almost a straight shot by car from the event hotel)
4120 West Dempster Street
Skokie, IL 60076
847-674-2021

Public transit: 1 hour
By car: 30 minutes

Do you need certified Kosher and/or vegetarian? Then this is the place. Their slogan is "a unique natural vegetarian café." Indeed it is! Although they offer fish, everything else is purely vegetarian. My wife and I had our wedding day dinner at this restaurant, and we recently had our 10th anniversary dinner there as well.

My favorites are their salads and chili. Appetizers, pastas and Mexican-style dishes abound. Parking is abundant. They are closed during the Saturday shabbat (sabbath), but they are open from after dark until 12:30 Saturday night!

More restaurants can be found here http://www.chicagoreader.com/

See http://www.yourcta.com for the public transportation trip planner.
See http://www.randmcnally.com for driving directions.

Thanks Eric!

Practical Guide: Cook County Circuit Court Archives

2006-02-14T12:06:00.000-06:00

The Circuit Court Archives has a wealth of sources for genealogists. If your ancestor divorced, died, or became a citizen in Cook County, Illinois, you will want to look for them in the records of the Circuit Court Archives. Among the treasures that can be found are testimony regarding heirs in probate cases, details of divorce proceedings and legal name changes. (Hint: Search indexes under “In re.”) Clues can often be found that lead to death records, cemetery records and ship passenger lists.
Read More About the Cook County Circuit Court Archives

The Archives’ holdings date back to the Chicago Fire of 1871. Visitors to the Archives may search indexes to a variety of cases, including probate, divorce, naturalization, and other civil and criminal cases. One such index is the National Archives Soundex Naturalization Index 1840-1950, which covers Northern Illinois and parts of Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. The naturalization records from several Cook County courts are maintained at the Archives office. Most other county court records are kept in off-site storage due to the volume of files in such a heavily populated jurisdiction. These records can be requested from storage and are delivered to the Archives for viewing within 2-10 working days. Once court files are delivered, they can be held for viewing for up to one month. It is recommended that you call ahead to be sure the requested files have arrived before traveling to the Archives.

For a fee, requests can be made by mail or phone for a search of the indexes and copies of case files. However, if possible, it is best (and more fun) to search the indexes in person, and view the case files yourself. This saves you the cost of the search fee and allows you to search alternate spellings for your surnames of interest. Also, looking at a case file yourself means that you can hold the 100 year old documents in your hands and decide which ones you’d like to copy. Photocopying is on a self-service basis. Copies can be paid for by cash or check.

The Archives is located in downtown Chicago at the Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1113. Look for the Picasso sculpture in front of the building. Public transportation and parking are both located nearby. The office is open Monday through Friday, excluding court holidays, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The staff is helpful and very knowledgeable about their holdings. For questions, contact them at 312-603-6601.

The Archives website includes a brief description of the files they possess, printable forms, contact information and current fees. There are also examples of typical court documents taken from some of Chicago’s famous cases. The website is found at:
http://198.173.15.34/?section=RecArchivePage&RecArchivePage=6000

Chicago Historical Society Update

2006-02-14T12:02:00.000-06:00

The Chicago Historical Society announced that they have changed their name to The Chicago History Museum. They feel that this will be a more inviting name to the general public. In other news, renovations are still underway and are not expected to be completed until the fall.

Special Event: BCG Education Fund Workshop

2006-02-11T10:39:00.000-06:00

Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, reminds us of this very special event. Putting Skills to Work: Planning and Reporting Research is the title of the BCG Education Fund Workshop. Attendance is limited and early registration is highly recommended. Kay writes:
Learn More About the Workshop

Plan to attend the first-ever all-day Board for Certification of Genealogists® Education Fund Workshop as part of your conference experience. Scheduled as a special event for Tuesday, 6 June, the workshop will offer hands-on practice in two important genealogical skills: planning and reporting research. It is patterned after the highly successful BCG Education Fund sessions on abstracting held at previous conferences.

All attendees will participate in sessions about both topics. Each session will include lecture time to review the pertinent standards, hands-on practice time, a review of the practice sessions, and a final wrap-up. Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, and Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, will lead the portion on planning research. Marty Hiatt, CG, and Barbara Mathews, CG, will conduct the reporting session and will address both compilations and research reports for yourself or others.

An additional registration fee of $90 is required to attend (see registration form). The fee includes lunch and a syllabus. You do NOT have to register for the conference to attend this event. Be sure to register early as attendance is limited to 60.

Practical Guide: Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD), Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)

2006-02-10T10:49:00.000-06:00

Are you researching an ancestor from Cook County, Illinois? While you’re in town for the NGS Conference, you might consider checking out the holdings of the Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) IRAD. IRAD is short for “Illinois Regional Archives Depository.” It is the system used by Illinois to archive their local governmental holdings. There are seven regional archives in Illinois, each located on a state university campus. They hold items such as vital records, city council meeting minutes, probate records, wills, naturalization records, circuit court records and much, much more. To view the holdings of an IRAD in your area of interest, see the following website: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/GenealogyMWeb/iradsrch.html.
Read More About IRAD

Archived records for the County of Cook are housed at NEIU located on the first floor of the Ronald Williams Library. This depository is reopening on 14 February 2006 after suffering damage from a fire. Fortunately, all of the records survived. Unique to NEIU are over 35,000 records from the City of Chicago which predate the Chicago Fire that took place in 1871. Included are Sanborn maps, atlases, plats, city council proceedings covering 1833-1942; election registers from 1888, 1890 and 1892; to name a few.

The Ronald Williams Library is open Monday – Friday, except state holidays, from 9am – 4pm. This facility is staffed by graduate students and interns who have varying class schedules. For this reason, be sure to call 773-442-4506 to verify their hours. To access this facility from Rosemont, take I-90 East to the Austin Exit. Go East on Foster Ave. to Pulaski Ave. Turn left and follow Pulaski to Bryn Mawr and turn right. Follow Bryn Mawr to the parking entrance. Be sure to obtain a guest parking permit (for a fee) from the Public Safety Office next to the parking lot. Those without a permit will be ticketed.

Happy hunting!

CGC Member Spotlight: Computer-Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois

2006-02-09T10:28:00.000-06:00

The Computer-Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois (CAGGNI) was quick to accept the invitation from the developing Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium to support this national convention in our own back yard. We strongly encourage educational opportunities and, as such, a National Genealogical Society conference so close to home is an experience that cannot be missed.
Learn More About CAGGNI

CAGGNI occupies a unique niche — helping members learn how to apply new technologies to genealogy. These technologies might include computers, genealogy software, digital cameras, scanners, the Internet, digital video editing, GPS, DNA, and even non-genealogical software packages like word processors and email. These are all things that any genealogist might find useful regardless of regional or ethnic interests. The approach is three pronged: meetings, newsletters, and web site. Each part is worth the membership on its own, but sum of the whole is unbeatable. Another hallmark of CAGGNI is the drive to create new and original content at our meetings, in our newsletter, and on our web site. Our strength derives from our membership. While many local society computer-interest groups have intermittent interest, CAGGNI continues to grow.

CAGGNI meets the third Saturday of the first eleven months of the year and holds a planning meeting on the first Saturday of December. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m. and refreshments are served. After meetings, many members gather locally for lunch and for an informal exchange of ideas and camaraderie. The Master Genealogist (TMG) Special Interest Group meets the second Saturday monthly at the same time and location as the main group.

Programs rely upon the talent and depth of knowledge of its active membership, with occasional guest speakers. CAGGNI usually features live demonstrations using laptops, computer projectors and internet connections. The programs tend to be unique to CAGGNI for this reason, though many of our members have been well received when they brought their presentations to other local societies.

We strive to make everyone feel welcome, beginner to advanced, whatever your software or computer system of choice. CAGGNI is "A Technology Group for Amateur Genealogists". Meetings are purposefully casual to encourage a friendly environment and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

CAGGNI is grateful for the use of the facilities of the Schaumburg Township District Library as its meeting location.* This premiere library, known as THE business resource library in the area, also provides for patrons' hobbies and interests. The Genealogy Coordinating Librarian, Tony Kierna, runs a separate genealogy group for the library and has created a large collection of genealogical periodicals, audio-visual materials, and books.

The monthly CAGGNI Newsletter has articles relevant to the effective use of computers to enhance research efforts. Articles highlight techniques, methods and resources which further research. Many how-to articles are accompanied by "screen shots" to assist the reader in learning new computer skills and tools. A sample newsletter and older issues are available on our web site. More recent newsletters are available online in our “members only” area. The paper version of the newsletter (seven pages) can be found in many local libraries. The electronic version is made available to members only and contains added content.

Recognizing that genealogists do not live by technology alone, we strongly encourage our members to join their local genealogical society to partake of more traditional topics. To that end, we feature a listing of what other groups in our area are doing at their meetings, conferences and workshops. This calendar appears both in our monthly newsletter and on our web site.

CAGGNI's web site, http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcaggni contains many helpful tools for both local and remote researchers. One project featured is our online database of local library holdings containing contact information, links to card catalogs and genealogy information, collection highlights, and even driving directions. Important items found on genealogy blogs and RSS feeds are featured on the left side of our home page. Members' research focuses are highlighted on the Surname pages; which provide members with a link to the Internet world without exposing personal e-mail accounts to the e-mail harvesting robots employed by spammers.

CAGGNI’s web site is a good starting point for other links as well. All major genealogical software packages with links to their web sites are provided on the home page. Links to other genealogy societies are featured under “Useful Links” on the right-hand sidebar. Under “Research Resources”, in addition to the library and surname databases mentioned above, you will find links to Research Data Forms and an Online Reference Set which includes links to many useful encyclopedic web sites.

Miss a meeting? Visit the Meeting Archives (found at the bottom right) for a review of the presentation. Many reviews are highly detailed and some even include the handout. There are so many helpful resources on the site it may take some time to discover them all!

* A scheduling conflict in February has CAGGNI meeting at the Schaumburg FHC on February 18th. Please see our web site for details and directions.

Speaker Spotlight: Jack Simpson

2006-02-08T17:55:00.000-06:00

Jack Simpson is the Curator of Local and Family History at the Newberry Library. In his lecture, History of Genealogy at the Newberry Library, he will look at the history of genealogy in the United States by focusing on the Newberry Library. The Newberry, established in 1887, has one of the oldest genealogy collections in the U.S., and it has changed along with the genealogical field over the last 119 years. For those who find this topic dull, Jack promises to cover the following subjects in his talk:
Keep Reading About Jack Simpson

* Transporting a body in a barrel of rum
* The suicide of a frustrated inventor
* The closest thing to Ancestry.com, circa 1915
* John F. Kennedy’s “secret first marriage”

He will also answer questions about using the collections at the Newberry, and Chicago research in general. Jack is the co-author (with Matt Rutherford) of A Bibliography of African-American Family History at the Newberry Library (available for purchase here: http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/Biborderform.html). He also contributed several chapters to Grace Dumelle’s Finding Your Chicago Ancestors. To keep up with events at the Newberry, read the Newberry’s genealogy weblog: http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/news/.

CGC Member Spotlight: The Scottish Genealogy Group of the Illinois St. Andrew Society

2006-02-07T16:25:00.000-06:00

The Scottish Genealogy Group of the Illinois St. Andrew Society is one of the eight societies that have joined together to form the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium. SGG President Jacqueline Torrance believes that attendance at the conference is a wonderful way to gain research ideas, to mix with genealogists from other locations, and to revitalize enthusiasm. There are very few places you can go to discuss your brick walls and have others around you nodding with understanding.
Read More About the Scottish Genealogy Group

The Scottish Genealogy Group, located at the Scottish Home in North Riverside, Illinois, has as its focus Scottish and Scots-Irish genealogical and historical research. To that end a searchable database of the applications to the Illinois St. Andrew Society between the years 1906 and 1967 are available on the ISAS web site at www.chicago-scots.org. Applicants had to indicate where they were born in Scotland or who their Scottish ancestors were and where the ancestors were born. There is additional information on the web site. In the near future an index of the residents of the Scottish Old Peoples Home will be available as well.

Members are located for the most part in the Chicagoland area although some members reside out-of-state.

The Scottish Genealogy Group has a research and lending library available to its members after each meeting and by appointment. Meetings are held on the second Saturday in January, April, July, and October in Heritage Hall at the Scottish Home. The group has four programs a year and publishes a quarterly newsletter.

The members of the Scottish Genealogy Group welcome you to the NGS Conference!

Vendor Spotlight: GenSmarts

2006-02-06T16:19:00.000-06:00

What happens when you cross a professional software developer with an avid genealogist? You get R. Aaron Underwood, the creator of GenSmarts! GenSmarts software, a product of Underwood Innovations, is the latest in genealogy add-on tools. And it’s all the rage. It uses artificial intelligence to analyze your genealogy file and produce research suggestions. It directly integrates with most popular genealogy software packages (FTM, PAF, TMG, RootsMagic, Legacy and several others). GenSmarts helps you generate and track to do lists, print worksheets to record your search results, and plan research trips to libraries, court houses, etc. To link you to online research, it also features direct integration with FamilySearch.org and several other popular research web sites.
Learn More About GenSmarts

Aaron first got interested in genealogy when he was in high school, as a way of overcoming boredom when visiting his grandmother. Not only was he able to relieve the monotony, he soon discovered a passion for his family’s history. As time went on his father Joe joined him on the hunt and this hobby became a favorite father-son activity.

After many years of doing commercial software products for the corporate world, Aaron branched off with his own company. Underwood Innovation’s mission is to create highly innovative products for everyday people. Genealogy was a good fit - one of the world's most popular hobbies made even better with modern technology. The first product, GenSmarts, is inspired by the "to do" lists Aaron created for his father's research trips.

Currently, Mr. Underwood lives in the northwest Chicago suburb of Long Grove with his wife, Angie, and their 3 children: Amanda (17); Alex (15); and Andrew (12). They also maintain a second residence in Tucson, which they enjoy visiting as often as possible.

Be sure to drop by Booth 601 and get a glimpse of how GenSmarts can make you a more productive genealogist! Visit the GenSmarts website at www.GenSmarts.com.

Getting There: Indiana Bus Trip

2006-02-06T13:53:00.000-06:00

The Indiana Genealogical Society is hosting a bus trip to NGS Chicago 2006. Details can be found on the Indiana Genealogical Society website http://www.indgensoc.org/ or http://www.indgensoc.org/bustrip.html.

The bus will make a number of stops along the way to Chicago. Get your reservations in, and we will see you in Chicago!

Check it out!

Speaker Spotlight: Grace DuMelle

2006-02-05T10:58:00.000-06:00

Of her connection to Chicago, Grace DuMelle says “I grew up in the port-of-entry neighborhood of Pilsen, described so well by writer Stuart Dybek. I now live just south of there in Bridgeport, the Brooklyn of Chicago, populated with no-nonsense immigrants new and old.”
Keep Reading About Grace DuMelle

In the introduction to Grace’s book, Finding Your Chicago Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide to Family History in the City and Cook County, she writes that “…most Americans have some kind of link to the City of Big Shoulders.” Your ancestors could have come from New York State, the Deep South, Mexico, or Europe.

Grace will present two lectures at NGS Chicago. Chicago Genealogy 101 talks about basics for researching, such as the street renumbering that took place in 1909. “If you don't know that and you're trying to drive by grandma's house, you could be miles away,” Grace says. “I want to save people from being frustrated when they begin their research.”

Tips & Tricks for Cook County Vital Records gives attendees the benefit of over a decade that DuMelle spent ferreting out facts for clients. For instance, graduation lists published by the Chicago Board of Education give birth dates from c. 1916 to c. 1958. “Don't let the bureaucrats get you down, find out other ways to skin a cat,” Grace advises.

Grace adds “I feel privileged to live in one of the most vibrant cities on the planet. I call Chicago the Capitol of Real: real people doing things that really matter.”

We look forward to having Grace give us real advice that will make a difference in our very real research!

Chicago Chow: Pizzahhh! Chicago Style

2006-02-03T10:08:00.000-06:00

So…what’s all the hype about this Chicago-style pizza? Isn’t pizza just pizza? If you’ve had one, you’ve had ‘em all, right? Not in the Windy City! This Midwest town has had a love affair with pizza since the early 1940’s. It started with the deep dish pizza and three decades later was followed by the stuffed variety. Even the thin crust has its own distinctive style in Chicago. So, just sit back, close your eyes and take a trip down Mouth Watering Lane…
Read More About Pizza!

A deep round pan is lined with a thick crust, which runs up the sides, creating a haven for the meats and veggies of your choice. The filling is topped with a generous helping of mozzarella cheese. Pizza sauce (not too sweet, but wonderfully spicy and flavorful) is ladled over the top and baked to perfection. The crust comes out crispy and the cheese on top is soft and gooey. Chicago is the birthplace of this deep dish style concoction which was originated by Uno’s in 1943.

The stuffed pizza is another Chicago favorite and there’s nothing like it. These beauties are more like cheesecakes in terms of shape and size. This creation begins with a thin crust, which lines the bottom and sides of a deep pan. Add the toppings of your choice (Italian sausage is a Chicago staple), followed by mounds of mozzarella. But wait, that’s not all! A second thin crust is now added over the cheese and securely attached to the sides of the bottom crust. Finally, the delicious sauce is ladled over the top and baked. This pie can be 2 inches thick and is no finger food! Giordano’s and Nancy’s both arrived in the City That Works in the early 1970’s, bringing with them this “meal in a pan.”

Are you hungry, yet? Now that you know what it is, where do you get it? There are many Chicago-style Pizza places in the city and suburbs of Chicago. It would be impossible to list them all, but here are some of the more well-known ones. You can’t go wrong with any of these…

 Uno’s introduced the Chicago-style deep dish pizza in 1943. Their unique buttery crust has been duplicated by none. There are many locations in the city. Closest to the conference is probably the one in Schaumburg, by Woodfield Mall, a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

 Pizzeria Due’s is owned by the same parent company that runs Uno’s. Located at 619 N. Wabash in Chicago, they are just a block away from the original Pizzeria Uno.

 Connie’s brought another version of deep dish pizza when they opened their doors in 1963. There are several locations in the city and suburbs, but none that are particularly close to the conference. If you venture into the city, consider looking one up. Connie’s also has their own trucks that drive around and sell hot pizzas to hungry passersby.

 Gino’s East arrived on the Chicago scene in 1966, touting its deep dish and thin crust pizzas. Several locations exist, but the closest is on 9751 W. Higgins in Rosemont.

 Lou Malnati started his business in 1971, presenting yet another deep dish to Chicagoans. If you go there, be sure to save room for dessert. Their chocolate chip pizza is cookie dough baked in a small deep-dish pan, brought to your table fresh from the oven and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. The most convenient Lou Malnati’s is at 1050 Higgins Road in Elk Grove Village, just 10 minutes from the Hyatt.

 Giordano’s opened its doors in 1974 and introduced the stuffed pizza. The closest Giordano’s is at 9415 W. Higgins in Rosemont, IL.

 Nancy’s started selling stuffed pizza in the early 1970’s. The nearest Nancy’s is on 3560 River Road in Franklin Park, a short cab ride from the hotel.

 Edwardo’s opened in 1978, featuring stuffed pizza. Their signature menu item is stuffed spinach pizza to die for! The easiest way to sample their delights is by visiting their restaurant at Dundee & Milwaukee Avenues in Wheeling, about a 25 minute drive from Rosemont.

Once you’ve had your first bite of Chicago-style pizza, we hope you’ll agree…it’s amore! Don’t leave town without it!

Practical Guide: The Harold Washington Library

2006-02-02T12:02:00.000-06:00

If you’re the kind of person who appreciates a great library, the Harold Washington Library Center (HWLC) is a prime destination. Named in honor of Chicago’s first African American mayor, the HWLC was the world’s largest public library building when it opened in 1991. It is the main branch of the Chicago Public Library system.
Learn More About the Harold Washington Library Center

Several HWLC departments are of particular interest to genealogists. The Newspapers and General Publications Center’s holdings include nearly 300 newspapers from every state in the union, as well as English language newspapers from 24 foreign countries. The Center has many Chicago newspapers on microfilm, dating back to 1833. (Clearly, everything wasn’t destroyed by the Chicago Fire in 1871.) The newspaper collection contains complete runs of the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times and the Times of London.

Another department of note is the Government Publications Department, which receives materials from the governments of the United States, Illinois, Cook County and Chicago. The collection totals about 2,000,000 items. The library has been a U.S. depository since 1876. Nearly all federal publications have been collected, including a complete run of the Congressional Record and its predecessors. An extensive collection of U.S. topographical maps and several other map series are found here. The library’s State of Illinois collection dates back to the 1800s. The Municipal Reference Collection is also quite extensive. It includes most published Chicago government documents since the mid-1800s, city ordinances, a clipping file dating from 1956, and a large collection of Chicago-related maps.

The Chicago Public Library website contains many links of interest to genealogists. The website, at http://www.chipublib.org/cpl.html includes links to the Chicago Timeline http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chihist.html and the Harold Washington Library Center http://www.chipublib.org/001hwlc/001hwlc.html.

The Harold Washington Library Center is located at 400 South State Street, in Chicago’s South Loop. The library is open 7 days a week. It is convenient to both public transportation and abundant parking. See the HWLC website for specific information.

A trip on public transportation to the Harold Washington Library Center from the NGS Conference hotel couldn't be simpler. Walk .3 miles north of the hotel to the Rosemont CTA station. Take the CTA Blue Line to the Jackson/Dearborn CTA station and walk .2 miles SE to the Harold Washington Library. See the RTA Trip Planner at http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/ for details.

Speaker Spotlight: Tony Burroughs

2006-01-31T19:54:00.000-06:00

If you are ever stranded anywhere with Tony Burroughs prepare to laugh so hard your sides will hurt. I found this out in an airport. Who other than Tony could make a delayed flight a form of entertainment? Tony’s quick wit is one thing that endears him to genealogists all over. A third generation Chicagoan and professional genealogist, Tony has taught genealogy at Chicago State University for fifteen years. His first solo book, Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree, was number one on Essence magazine's best seller list and is in its third printing.
Read More About Tony Burroughs

At the NGS conference Tony will present Don’t Get Burned: Getting Around the Chicago Fire of 1871, a look at records that survived the Chicago Fire; Six Phases of African American Genealogy Research, an overview of the building blocks and complexities of African American genealogical research; and Researching Pullman Porters: Railroad Records for African Americans, a review of repositories and records of the Pullman Company, the largest private employer of African Americans at the turn of the century.

Tony will appear on national television this week and next. He says, "PBS television is doing a four part series on African American genealogy for Black History Month. It is called African American Lives and is hosted by Henry Louis Gates. It traces the family histories of seven prominent African Americans (Quincy Jones, Mae Jamison, Whoopie Goldberg and others). The first two hours will air Wednesday, February 1st and the second two hours will air Wednesday, February 8th.” Tony was interviewed for the program. More information can be found on the PBS website http://www.pbs.org/previews/africanamericanlives/ and WNET's website http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/.

Tony’s accomplishments as a genealogist are impressive. He wrote a chapter in The Experts Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do, and was one of three co-authors of the African American Genealogical Sourcebook. He was a featured genealogy expert in six episodes of the PBS television series, Ancestors 2, and was the African American Genealogy expert in the original PBS Ancestors. Tony traveled three continents as the genealogist in search of Jesus’ family in the 2005 BBC documentary, The Real Family of Jesus.

His research on the Underground Railroad in 2001 enabled the Kimsey Crossing home in Tamarora, Illinois to be recognized by the National Park Service's Network to Freedom. Tony’s testimony before Congress in 2000 helped preserve 135 year old Freedmen's Bureau records. He has received many honors, served on several national and regional boards, and has been interviewed for radio, television, and publications.

Tony authored the African American Genealogy chapter in the revised edition of The Source, which will be out this year.

Despite his busy schedule, Tony has managed to trace two family lines back seven generations. His genealogical research has qualified him for lineage society membership in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Pioneer Families of New Mexico, and First Families of the Twin Territories.

To learn more about Tony, visit his website at http://www.tonyburroughs.com/.

Be sure to catch Tony’s television appearances on February 1st and 8th!

Heritage Spotlight: The DuSable Museum of African American History

2006-01-29T16:03:00.000-06:00

The DuSable Museum of African American History, founded in 1961, was renamed in 1968 to honor Jean Baptist Pointe DuSable, a Haitian fur trader who was Chicago’s first permanent resident. A goal of the museum is to preserve and interpret the experience and achievements of African Americans. The DuSable claims to be the oldest museum of its type in the country.
Keep Reading About the DuSable Museum

The museum’s galleries include exhibits on a number of topics and a community gallery of art. Some current and recent displays include 100 Plus One … American’s Music Before Motown and Beyond, A Right Given But Denied- Exploring the Civil Rights Movement, and Annie Malone: Black Beauty Culture Pioneer and Millionaire.

The DuSable offers programs for children and adults, book signings, courses, lectures, a museum store, and seasonal celebrations throughout the year. Memberships are available and donations are welcome.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. The museum will be closed on Mondays during the conference. Admission is reasonably priced at $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors, $1 for children 6-13, and free for children 5 and under. On Sundays admission is free. The museum's website is at http://www.dusablemuseum.org/.

The handicap accessible building is at 740 E. 56th Place in Washington Park. Their phone number is 773-947-0600.

If using the RTA Trip Planner http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/ you will find the DuSable Museum is one of the choices in the destination drop down list. To take public transportation from the conference to the DuSable, walk north from the hotel .3 miles to the Rosemont CTA. Take the Blue Line (O’Hare to Forest Park) to the Washington and Dearborn Station. Take the Red Line (to 95th/Dan Ryan) to Garfield. Then take the CTA Bus 55 Eastbound to 55th and Payne. Walk .1 mile south to the museum.

Friday, June 9: NGS Banquet Speaker, Craig Pfannkuche

2006-01-27T13:54:00.000-06:00

He’s got a booming voice, he’s got an eye for detail and he’s not afraid to get dirty! While we dine on roasted sirloin Friday night at the NGS Banquet, we will be delighted by Chicago’s own Craig Pfannkuche, as he presents “Excavating Grandma’s Privy for Family History Data.” This is sure to be an entertaining topic, and is a popular program in the Chicago area. Born and raised in Chicago, Craig received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Northern Illinois University. He taught high school American history and anthropology for thirty years.
Learn More About Craig and the Banquet

In addition to teaching, from which he is now retired, Craig has held several leadership positions in area genealogical and historical organizations. He is currently the president of Memory Trail Research, Inc., on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Genealogical Society, the Genealogical Archivist for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Historical Society, and he’s on the Board of Directors for the McHenry County (Illinois) Genealogical Society.

With whatever spare time he has, Craig is a frequent lecturer on a variety of genealogical topics. He has also written several articles for historical journals and society newsletters.

Come learn what you might find in Grandma’s privy (besides the obvious!) and how it can enhance your family history research.

Register for F344 to reserve your place at this event. A cash bar reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m. The food, fellowship, and a lecture that is sure to be talked about for years to come are only $45.

Beyond Chicago: Naperville, Illinois – A Taste of Pioneer Days

2006-01-26T10:29:00.000-06:00

Naperville, Illinois has grown to be one of the state’s largest cities, but if you visit downtown Naperville, you will get a taste of its original charm. Jefferson Street is the core of the city, and it still retains small shops and many appealing restaurants.
Read More About Naperville

One Naperville specialty is Pioneer Days in the unique Naper Settlement, located in the downtown area. The settlement is a virtual museum, made up of 19th century homes, shops and public buildings. A popcorn stand there was once an active business. A Chinese gentleman sold popcorn there for many years, saving to bring his lady to America. The former, outgrown Episcopalian Church was moved into the village and is now a site for many Naperville weddings. All of the Settlement buildings contain historical furnishings and factual descriptions. Costumed villagers relate the story of Naperville’s early years and its growth into the city of today.

Adjacent to Naper Settlement is the Martin-Mitchell Museum, a beautifully restored mansion from Naperville’s earlier days. Guided tours are available. The museum building has a library of special interest to genealogists, covering primarily Naperville and DuPage County, but including broader area information.

The Settlement hosts year-round activities, from Civil War reenactments to candle dipping demonstrations. To check out the schedule of events, visit their website http://www.napersettlement.org/. The city of Naperville has a website http://www.naperville.il.us/ which offers dining and lodging suggestions.

Thanks to Nancy Houston for her informative look at Naperville.

CGC Member Spotlight: DuPage County (IL) Genealogical Society

2006-01-24T00:05:00.000-06:00

The DuPage County (IL) Genealogical Society (DCGS) is an integral part of the Chicago Genealogical Consortium and the home society of Consortium Chairman Jeff Bockman.
Read More About DCGS

DCGS'S focus is on DuPage County families and their histories. Many members’ families were among the first settlers in DuPage County. Membership is from all over the United States and numbers around 175. Society representatives are willing to address queries about early area pioneers.

DCGS meets the second Wednesday of each month, except for June, July and August. After a very short business meeting they get down to the business of genealogy with a featured speaker. Scheduled for this year are "What's New at the Newberry Library" [if you get a chance while you are here for the NGS Conference, the Newberry is a must], "Finding Your Chicago Ancestors," and "Extra! Extra! Read All About Your Ancestors!"

The Society publishes The Review quarterly. The quarterly features both new articles and items from the past, such as 100 Years Ago in DuPage County, newspapers, and census records from the townships. New items feature book reviews and books added to the genealogy collection at the Wheaton Public Library. This library has an extensive genealogical collection, which is available to the public even though the library is undergoing renovations. If you visit, stop and say hello to Donna Freymark, the DCGS Education Chairman and Wheaton Librarian. She'll be glad to get you started in the genealogy department. A DCGS member is available every Friday evening in the library’s genealogy department to assist anyone doing research.

Classes are offered for all levels of expertise in the spring and fall. The five classes can be taken individually or as a group. The classes are offered at a local library and are taught by society members.

The society has a list of publications to its credit. They include Bicentennial Citizens, DuPage Landowners (book or CD), and Index to the Naturalization Records of DuPage County.

Each year DCGS members work enthusiastically on their annual conference. This year marks the society’s 31st conference, which takes place on March 4th. Nationally known speakers this year include John Konvalinka, Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, Mike Karsen, and Craig Pfannkuche. Three of these will be presenting at the NGS Conference. DCGS’s day-long event will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, St. Charles, IL. There are three tracks, vendors with plenty of time for browsing, and lunch. Registration varies from $35.00 to $45.00.

For more information about the DuPage Co (IL) Genealogical Society and the Conference, visit the DCGS website, http://www.dcgs.org/, or stop by the DCGS table at the NGS Conference.

Vendor Spotlight: Let’s Get Scrappin’

2006-01-23T12:26:00.000-06:00

“My favorite place in Chicago is Shedd Aquarium. Every year my father would take us down to the lakeshore to enjoy the sights and especially the fish! I loved standing in front of the entrance, then looking to my left to see Lake Michigan and the skyline. Every year I'd take pictures and I still have those to remind me of those great summers. June is a great time to get out and sightsee!” says Lili Stephenson.
Read More About Let's Get Scrappin'

Let's Get Scrappin' is Stephenson's company. She started the business to help those who want to share their memories for generations to come. Not only does Lili carry quality scrapbooking products (Top Line Creations), she has large portfolios (12 X 18 and 18 X 24) to preserve bigger documents or larger family trees. Her website also has a place where you can download digital photos to share with family and friends, store them along with traditional photos, and other great tools to preserve your memories.

“With years of being a hobby genealogist, I am different from others who just sell scrapbooking supplies. I'll have our generational wedding book on display at the convention, and can get you on your way to mixing documents and pictures to create a fantastic view of your family history!” Lili says. When she isn’t busy creating treasures, Lili is volunteering at the Buffalo Grove (IL) Family History Center, or taking care of her growing family.

Visit Lili and Let’s Get Scrappin’ at Booth 819. Her generational wedding book is impressive and we are sure you will find it helps inspire you to find new ways to preserve and share your heritage.

The Let's Get Scrappin' website is at: http://www.letsgetscrappinonline.com/.

CGC Member Spotlight: Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists

2006-01-21T18:45:00.000-06:00

The Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists (NWSCG) was founded in 1977. Its major purposes are to promote the study of genealogy and history, to conduct programs and workshops, to encourage preservation of public and private records, and to assist members in the study of family history.
Keep Reading About the NWSCG

NWSCG generates a bi-monthly newsletter entitled News From the Northwest. It has created several publications that index records of interest to researchers in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs. Current projects include donating resources to libraries impacted by Hurricane Katrina and indexing vital records that appeared in Paddock Publications during the 1920’s.

The society meets eight months out of the year (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov) on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30pm. Meetings are held in Arlington Heights, IL in the Forrest View Education Center at 2121 South Goebbert. Speakers at the general meetings provide a wide range of information and experience in order to help the genealogist learn how to research his/her families. Membership is open to everyone. For more information, visit their website at http://www.mtprospect.org/nsgs/ or contact them via e-mail at nwscg@yahoo.com.

We are thrilled to have the NWSCG as a member of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium. Dan Wertz and Teresa McMillin are both representatives for NWSCG.

Speaker Spotlight: Jeffrey Bockman

2006-01-20T15:06:00.000-06:00

Jeffrey A. Bockman was born and raised in Chicago. After a career in the insurance industry, he decided to apply his engineering, management, and computer background to genealogical research. In the late 1980s, Jeff began collecting ancestors and building on his maternal grandmother's DAR and Magna Carta family tree.
“Unfortunately,” says Jeff, “after learning ‘real research’ techniques, I had to chop down a large portion of the forest.”
Continue Reading About Jeff Bockman

After receiving an MBA in Organization Development in 1994, Jeff became active in genealogy societies and society management. He was a 3-term president of the DuPage County (IL) Genealogical Society (DCGS) and 4-term vice president of the Illinois State Genealogy Society. He has been involved with planning the DCGS Annual Conference for 12 years. Since 1996, Jeff has served as webmaster for the DuPage County IL GenWeb Project, which is now integrated with the DCGS web page at www.dcgs.org .

Jeff started teaching basic genealogy classes and introductory lectures in 1995. Since then, he has spoken at a number of regional and national conferences. Regarding his upcoming conference lecture titled “Real Research on the Web,” Jeff says, “This lecture has really changed since 1996 when I was introducing people to the internet and how to access it to now where new sites and records are being added almost daily.”

A second lecture by Jeff, called “No Birth Certificate? No Problem!” takes a look at the wide variety of primary and secondary sources that can be used if a birth certificate can't be found. It demonstrates that how someone defines a problem can greatly impact his or her ability to solve it. “The one thing that my ancestors did leave me,” says Jeff “is a variety of interesting records.”

In 2004 Jeff self-published a booklet titled "A Gift That Money Can't Buy" which encourages people to preserve their own immediate family history and memories. He has also been published in the FGS FORUM, Family Tree Magazine (UK), and Heritage Quest Magazine. As a result, he receives e-mails from around the world.

“I am pleased that NGS has chosen the Chicagoland area to hold their 2006 Conference. It was an honor being elected as the Chairman of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium and the Local Arrangements Chair for the 2006 NGS Conference.”

“I hope that you enjoy the conference and can join me for a lecture or two.”

You can also visit Jeff at http://www.JeffBockman.com.

Blog Index

2006-01-19T00:23:00.000-06:00

CGC Chair Jeff Bockman has created a topical index to this Blog. While the Blog is searchable by keyword in the search box at top left, Jeff knows it will be helpful to have an index too.

To check out the index, go to the CGC site and check it out! The index will be updated periodically, so if you do not find what you are looking for check back soon.

Thanks Jeff!

Vendor Spotlight: Fun Stuff for Genealogists, Inc.

2006-01-19T00:16:00.000-06:00

Bev Petersen never used to think of herself as "fun" until she started doing genealogy and realized that there is humor in this hobby. “Who else tracks dead people?” she says. Indiana based Fun Stuff for Genealogists was created because Bev felt that there were not enough trinkets offered to genealogists to allow them to show off their love of the hobby.
Keep Reading About Fun Stuff

One day at an antique show Bev spotted a beautiful antique family tree chart. She put her printing background to work after buying it, and reprinted it because her genealogy friends told her they would buy one. The 1888 Family Tree Photo Holder was printed, and yes, her friends bought them.

As the saying goes, the rest was history. That was 1998. She went on the road. After losing money at her first genealogy conference as a vendor, she realized she needed to sell more items. Her next item was a tee shirt. When that was well received, along came a mug, and on and on. Bev now carries over 500 items for the genealogist and family historian.

Items include magnifiers, clip-art, jewelry, embroidered cardigan sweatshirts, blue jean shirts, tee shirts, canvas bags, historic map reproductions, archival items, mugs, pedigree charts of all sizes and shapes, rubber stamps, scrap booking supplies, journals, bibs and shirts for babies and kids, novelty items like pens, letter openers, coin purses, bumper stickers and much more.

You can see Bev and her "fun stuff" at booths 514, 516 and 518, or if you can't wait until June, you can see her web site at http://www.FunStuffForGenealogists.com where you will also find the store address and a toll free number. Bev says she tries hard to get items out within a day or two of the order, unless she is at a national seminar and out of town.

We can’t wait to see Bev and Fun Stuff in Chicago!

Wednesday, June 7th: Opening Session

2006-01-18T16:29:00.000-06:00

Starting off this year’s NGS Conference in the States will be Dr. Allen Weinstein. There couldn’t be a more fitting speaker to kick off this national conference. In February 2005, Dr. Weinstein was sworn in as the ninth Archivist of the United States. His charge is to lead the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) into the technological future so that our records of yesterday may be here tomorrow.
Continue Reading About the Opening Session

According to his biography on the National Archive’s website, Dr. Weinstein has had a long and notable career in the fields of academia and politics. In his earlier years, he served as the Professor of History at Smith College and Chairman of its American Studies Program. He later held the position of University Professor at Georgetown University, followed by University Professor and Professor of History at Boston University. He has held visiting professorships at several other universities.

In 1985, Dr. Weinstein founded the Center for Democracy, a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote and strengthen the democratic process. He was awarded the United Nations Peace Medal (1986) and numerous other international awards for his efforts to aid countries in their democratization processes.

In addition to these notable achievements, Weinstein has authored several books and written for numerous scholarly journals. Don’t miss what Dr. Weinstein has to say to the genealogists of America!

The next person to speak at the opening session will be the lively and engaging John Philip Colletta, Ph.D., presenting “They Glided This Way: The Erie Canal and Peopling of the Midwest”. This teacher, lecturer and author comes to us from Washington, D.C. He conducts workshops for the National Archives, teaches at the Smithsonian Institute and other area universities, as well as several regional and national genealogical institutes. Dr. Colletta is also a popular lecturer at national conferences. In addition to numerous genealogy articles, he has authored 3 books: They Came in Ships, A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Arrival Record; Finding Italian Roots: The Complete Guide for Americans and his latest, Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy and Its Aftermath. You’re sure to enjoy this speaker!

Glide on in to the opening session and have the honor of hearing this duo officially start the conference week!

CGC Member Spotlight: BIGWILL

2006-01-14T22:42:00.000-06:00

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL) is one of the eight member societies that make up the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium.
Read More About BIGWILL

BIGWILL’s focus is on the British Isles: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Their membership is approximately 150-175 from all over the United States. The majority of members are from Wisconsin and Illinois.

BIGWILL President Peggy Rockwell Gleich says, “If you need help locating your ancestors in the British Isles, the British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois may be just the group for you. We have several very experienced members from the British Isles or with a great deal of knowledge who can help with your research.”

The BIGWILL home base is Richmond, Illinois, a small “antique” village in northern Illinois, just south of the Wisconsin border. Meetings are held at Grace Lutheran Church, surrounded by a beautiful cemetery and woods filled with pheasants, deer and other wild animals.

BIGWILL meets the third Saturday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September, and November). Meetings begin at 10:00 a.m. and refreshments are always served.

The society publishes the BIGWILL News, a bi-monthly newsletter. Articles by authors with an array of experience in either British Isles research and/or genealogy will tempt your reading appetite. Books reviews, lists of surnames, a library report and other items are staples. Queries are free to members.

The BIGWILL library is located at Richmond’s Nippersink Library. This collection grows with additions by members and the society. A Research Help Desk is maintained on meeting afternoons at the Nippersink Library from 1-3 pm. The materials are available during regular library hours.

BIGWILL offers a growing database, support groups, members' mailing list, and a great group of people to research with anytime.

The society had a successful 2005 conference with Maggie Loughran & Paul Blake from England. The society has an active role in NGS Chicago 2006.

For more information see the BIGWILL Website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiilbig. Something new is always being added. The webmaster has as online calendar to rival anyone around the country! Check it out!

Gleich says, “Whether you are new or an ‘old hat’ to genealogy, a conference is a great way to find out what is going on in genealogy today. A conference also lets you become involved as much as you want to be involved, either individually or with a group. And, oh do you ever learn! And the people you meet are just amazing. The networking possibilities are worth the cost alone. Your whole experience will be wonderful. Enjoy yourselves!”

BIGWILL Members with special roles in the CGC include Susan Sincere, BIGWILL Librarian and Hospitality Assistant; Jackie Torrance, Treasurer, Assistant Registration; Peggy Rockwell Gleich, BIGWILL President, Volunteer Coordinator; Kathy Brady-Blake, society representative and Publicity Chair.

Practical Guide: Chicago Historical Society

2006-01-13T12:55:00.000-06:00

For visitors to Chicago of a genealogical bent, the Chicago Historical Society would normally be a "must see" place.
Continue Reading Chicago Historical Society

Regrettably, throughout 2006, the Society's galleries are undergoing a massive renovation project! The museum's galleries were closed in December 2005, and are not scheduled to reopen until autumn.

The Society's research facilities will continue to be available to scholars and researchers on a very limited basis. The Research Center houses an extensive collection of finding aids for those with Chicago-area roots. Early city directories, telephone books and similar items are available. The Center also houses an extensive manuscript collection for significant families and businesses associated with the city.

The Society's photographic collection is impressive. Historical figures of note to Chicago and Illinois are included, but also materials related to the Civil War and the life of Abraham Lincoln are held by CHS. With Chicago's central location, it served as the nation's transportation hub for decades. Your family may well have passed through the city; images worth including in your materials may be found there.

Given the renovation work, anyone hoping to visit the CHS is advised to contact the Society prior to coming, as construction may interfere with some access. Many of the holdings are in storage due to the renovation. They may be reached by telephone at 312/642-4600.

Reaching the Chicago Historical Society is simple by public transportation. The Blue Line from O'Hare to downtown will connect with the No. 22 bus (Clark/Dearborn), which will bring you to the CHS. Be sure to call ahead--but if you have family with Chicago connections, even with the inconvenience of renovations, a special trip may be worthwhile!

For more information: htp://www.chicagohs.org

Speaker Spotlight: Becky Stewart Higgins

2006-01-12T00:20:00.000-06:00

Having lived in the Chicago area for more years than she cares to disclose, Becky Stewart Higgins is thrilled to have the NGS Conference close at hand. “I hope attendees from across the country will take advantage of the wonderful genealogical resources available in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. “Of course,” she says, “I don’t want them to miss out on our delectable variety of food or outstanding entertainment, either.”
Read More About Becky Higgins

Though most of her life has been spent in the Chicago area, Becky was born and lived her first ten years in a small town in Indiana. While researching her family there, she learned about her “orphan train rider” ancestor. The more she learned about him, the more she learned about the history of the system that placed at least 200,000 children in homes throughout the country over a 75 year period.

Becky’s Wednesday presentation, “They Came by Train,” is being sponsored by the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America, a national organization headquartered in Concordia, Kansas. Higgins is president of the OTHSA.

Becky says, “I can’t describe how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to share not only the history and facts about the orphan train era, but its great significance to the genealogical community. I believe that many a ‘brick wall’ would crumble away by looking for an orphan train rider.”

We welcome Becky and hope that her Orphan Train presentation can help to bring someone’s ancestors home.

Volunteer Opportunities Are Still Available!

2006-01-11T01:01:00.000-06:00

The 2006 National Genealogical Society conference is slated for June 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Volunteer opportunities are available that can match every attendee’s interests and background, and can be worked around your conference schedule. Help is needed before, during, and after things unwind. Here’s a rundown on some of the volunteer opportunities.
Learn More About Volunteering!

Registration: Do you like meeting and greeting people? Then this job is for you. Welcome conference registrants, distribute bags, and help attendees feel delighted to be there.

Session monitors: Here’s a chance to listen to the speakers and volunteer at the same time! This job is very simple. Stand at the meeting room door, greet attendees, and answer the proverbial question, “Is this where I’m supposed to be?”

Exhibitor support: Do you want to volunteer before the conference starts? A few people are needed at the hotel on Tuesday, June 6, the day before the conference begins, to help exhibitors find their spaces and get ready for the big event. No heavy lifting required!

Hospitality: Ever think you’d like to be a concierge? Then this job is for you! Be the person in the know who can direct attendees to various points of interest both at the conference and in and around the city. If you don’t have all the answers, you’ll know where to get them. From “Where will the luncheon be held?” and “What time does the exhibit hall open?” to “How do I get to the Newberry Library?” and “What’s playing at the Rosemont Theatre?” your help will be more than appreciated.

Peggy Gleich, president of Bigwill (British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois) is the Volunteer Coordinator for the conference. If you’d like to volunteer or want more information about available opportunities, contact Peggy at P.O. Box 8003, Janesville, WI 53547-8003 or pgleich@sbcglobal.net.

Don’t miss this chance take an active role in a national conference. Won’t you please give us a hand? We look forward to seeing you there!

Vendor Spotlight: Document History LLC

2006-01-10T00:40:00.000-06:00

When you see Mark Kohls at Booth 911 don’t expect to see him running. That doesn’t mean he won’t be eager to assist you with your purchases. It simply means that Mark will be in the Chicago area for something less grueling than the Chicago Marathon.
Read More About Document History LLC

Mark’s last Chicago Marathon run was in 2000. “It was a horrible race for me,” Mark said. He became dehydrated, which forced him to walk a good part of the way. “That was my worst race ever, though the crowds were fantastic!” he said of his experience.

Kohls is expecting fantastic crowds at the NGS conference as well. His company, Document History LLC, will mark its first year exhibiting at the national conference. He will be promoting a new product, Life Story Recording.

Life Story Recording is a service that helps people pass on their experiences, life lessons, and values to their children, grandchildren and the generations to follow.

Kohls feels that many people find it difficult to start their autobiography. Getting parents and grandparents to begin theirs can be tricky too. He believes the best way to start is with a comprehensive telephone interview followed by publication on CDs or DVDs. Document History provides nationwide interviewing 24x7. Their customers can give copies of their life stories to all of their family members.

While researching his wife’s family, Kohls conducted many interviews and learned their value. These were the inspiration for the founding of his company. “I have found out how incredibly useful oral biographies are for gathering family stories and getting an in-depth understanding of our ancestors. So many people who publish family history have far too little of these,” Mark adds.

A genealogist for 16 years, Kohls serves on the board of the Bay Area Genealogical Society [WI].

If your family story is waiting to be told, stop to visit Mark Kohls at the Document History LLC booth - if you can catch him!

CGC Member Spotlight: Lake County IL Genealogical Society

2006-01-09T00:28:00.000-06:00

The Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society (LCIGS) is one of the eight societies that have joined together to form the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium. LCIGS President Allen Elias offers advice to those attending the conference. “Learn, make connections with people in the field--give yourself a genealogical treat.”
Read More About LCIGS

The society, headquartered in the northeast corner of Illinois, has a strong focus on Lake County and northeastern Illinois. They have published numerous books on Lake County, including vital records indexes, cemetery transcriptions, census abstracts, and many others. A complete list of society publications can be found on the society's website http://www.rootsweb.com/~illcgs/.

Approximately 25% of the roughly 200 members live outside of the area. Many members living elsewhere have roots in Lake County. Some visit to use the LCIGS research collection, housed at the Fremont Public Library at 1170 N. Midlothian Road in Mundelein.

The LCIGS Reading Room's growing collection contains about 10,000 printed items, plus computer resources. The Lake County holdings are strong, but the collection is not limited geographically. The research room is only open when a volunteer is present, so phone ahead to check the schedule if you plan to visit.

A collection of Illinois census abstracts, microfilms of census, WWI Draft Registrations, newspaper, and county probate are some of the items held. An ongoing obituary card file is kept. It is estimated that it presently contains about 100,000 obituaries ranging from approximately 1950 to present.

The society hosts programs at ten monthly meetings each year and publishes a quarterly. Their main event is the fall workshop, held each November. Nationally known speakers, a variety of vendors, a silent auction, and door prizes are a part of the day-long extravaganza. The society offers limited look-ups and answers simple queries.

LCIGS members with active roles in the CGC include Debbie Mieszala, CG, Registration Chair and Blog mistress, and Kathy Brady-Blake, Publicity Chair.

Elias says “You haven’t really lived if you have never attended a national genealogy conference.”

The members of LCIGS welcome you. If you have never attended a national conference, give Chicago a try!

CGC Chairman's Welcome

2006-01-07T18:48:00.000-06:00

Hi, my name is Jeffrey Bockman and I am the Chairperson for the CGC - Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium and the Local Arrangements Chair for the NGS 2006 Conference being held in Rosemont, IL from June 7 - 10, 2006.
Read the Chairman's Welcome

The National Genealogy Society has arranged four great days of lectures & workshops and has assembled a wide variety of vendors. See: Program & Speaker Details or download & print the Program & Registration Booklet (pdf file 994kb).

I hope that you will also register for the CGC's Sweets Home Chicago on Wednesday Evening - June 7th, 2006. This social event will feature the Ken Chaney Xperience, a jazz trio and singer, along with a Dessert Buffet, a cash bar, and the opportunity to visit with friends and various interest groups. Register for session W-130 at a cost of $27.

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to visit the City of Chicago. In June it is one of the prettiest cities in the world. Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain, the new Millennium Park, the Art Institute, window shopping on the "Magnificant Mile" of North Michigan Avenue, the Hancock Building Observatory, and Navy Pier are all "Can't Miss" sights. For those that want to do research there are a number of great facilities in the Chicagoland area. Newberry Library is just a few blocks west of the Hancock Building. See the CGC webpage for many local research links.

Since the conference is being held in Rosemont near the O'Hare airport you will need to add a day or two before or after the conference to really see downtown Chicago.

I am not a member of the the Chicago tourism board or being paid to welcome you. I was born and raised in Chicago and have had relatives living in the city since 1853. The nicest commute I ever had was driving from my parents home, in Hyde Park, along Lake Shore Drive, looking at the sun rising over Lake Michigan, on my way to Illinois Institute of Technology. IIT is located just east of the home of the World Champion Chicago White Sox. Take an extra day or evening to catch a ball game with the Sox or visit the Cubs up at Wrigley Field. We also have zoos, museums, and lots of tall buildings.

For those of you who won't be able to visit Chicago you will get to see a mini photo travelogue prior to the opening session and at Sweets Home Chicago.

The CGC Blog has additional sites to visit and conference information.

I would like to take this opportunity to also thank all of the chair people and other volunteers that are working hard to help the CGC and NGS to make this conference a wonderful experience for all.

I hope to see you in Chicago in June!
Jeff

Jeffrey A. Bockman
Local Arrangements Chair, NGS 2006
www.JeffBockman.com

Photo taken from the Planetarium by Jeffrey Bockman