May Genealogical Events in the Northwest Suburbs

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information. If you know of any events that I have missed, please email me. I hope to see you at an event!

May 2 9:30 AM

German Immigration by Teresa McMillan

Gail Borden Library, Elgin

elgingenealogysociety@gmail.com

May 6 10:00 PM

Courthouse Discoveries by Tina Beaird

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

May 6 9:30 AM-4:00 PM

Genealogy Day (includes live webinar)

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

May 9 7:00 PM

Navigating Cook County Records by Ray Johnson

Schaumburg Township District Library

genealogywithtony.wordpress.com

May 10 7:00 PM

Tapping the Power of FamilySearch (includes online recording)

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

May 11 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

May 11 7:30 PM

Slave Registers of Southern Illinois by Anita Boyd
Naperville Municipal Center

http://www.ilfvgs.org/

 May 13 1:00 PM

How Genealogy is Healthy for You by Sarah Stumme 

Northbrook Historical Society

http://nsgsil.org

May 17 6:30 PM

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places: The Search for Marriage Records

by Ginger Frere

Wheaton Public Library

www.dcgs.org

May 17 10-3 PM (by appointment)

Swedish Genealogy Research Help by Kathy Meade

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

May 20 10:30 AM

Wiki Trees by Marty Acks

Schaumburg Township Public Library

http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

May 22 6:30 PM

Using FamilySearch.org

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

June 7 7:00 PM

Genealogy-Where Do You Look? by Jacquie Schattner

http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/

June 8 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

June 10 1:00 PM

Ancestry.com Tips and Techniques by Jane G Halderman

Northbrook Public Library

http://nsgsil.org

April Genealogical Events in the Northwest Suburbs

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information.

April 5 7:00 PM

Emigration and Immigration – The Story of Your Immigrant Ancestors 

by Jacquie Schattner

Prospect High School $

http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/

April 8 1:00 PM

The Day That Lived in Infamy: Navigating Basic WWII Records

by Jennifer Holik

Glenview Public Library

http://nsgsil.org

April 11 1:30 PM

Genealogy Writing Group

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

April 11 7:00 PM

Ancestral Stories Fact or Fiction by Barbara Peterson

Schaumburg Township District Library

genealogywithtony.wordpress.com

April 12 Noon-7:00 PM (by appointment)

Swedish Genealogy Research Help by Kathy Meade

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

April 12 7:00 PM

Breaking Down a Brick Wall: Unlocking My Irish Ancestry

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

April 13, 7:00 PM

Read the Tabloids, German Church Records

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

April 13 7:30 PM

Unraveling the Mystery of DNA by Jane Haldeman

Naperville Municipal Center

http://www.ilfvgs.org/

April 13 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

April 15 10:30 AM

Researching Italian Records by Daniel Niemiec

Schaumburg Township Public Library

http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

April 19 6:30 PM

Family History Research in the British Isles by Maureen Brady

Wheaton Public Library

www.dcgs.org

April 27 10:00 AM

Discovering Your Ancestors Online by Steve Szabados

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

May 2 9:30 AM

German Immigration by Teresa McMillan

Gail Borden Library, Elgin

elgingenealogysociety@gmail.com

May 6 10:00 PM

Courthouse Discoveries by Tina Beaird

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

May 6 9:30 AM-4:00 PM

Genealogy Day (includes live webinar)

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

May 9 7:00 PM

Navigating Cook County Records by Ray Johnson

Schaumburg Township District Library

genealogywithtony.wordpress.com

March Genealogical Events in the Suburbs (Most are Free)

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information.

March 4 10:00 PM

On and Off the Net: Locality Searching by D. Joshua Taylor

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

March 7 7:00 PM

A Guide to Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Fremd High School $

http://adc.d211.org/academics-home/continuing-education-home/

March 7 7:00 PM

The Most Helpful Genealogy Tools You’ve Never Used by Marsha Peterson-Maass

St. Charles Library

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/

March 8 6:30 PM

Using Ancestry.com

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

March 8

Write Your Family History (with online recording)

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

March 9 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

March 11 1:00 PM

Genealogy Research - Beyond the Basics by Steve Szabados

Northbrook Historical Society

http://nsgsil.org

March 11 9:00 AM

42^nd Annual Genealogical Conference of DuPage County Genealogy Society

NIU – Naperville

www.dcgs.org

March 15 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy – Where Do You Look? by Jacquie Schattner

Prospect High School $

http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/

March 16 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Irish Genealogy: Famine Records and Emigration

(Includes Live Webinar)

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

March 18 10:30 AM

What's New in Technology?  by Ed Rosenthal

Schaumburg Township Public Library

http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

March 22 7:00 PM

A Guide to Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Prospect High School $

http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/

April 1 10:00 PM

What’s New on the Internet by Caron Brennan

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

April 5 7:00 PM

Emigration and Immigration – The Story of Your Immigrant Ancestors by Jacquie Schattner

Prospect High School $

http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/

April 8 1:00 PM

The Day That Lived in Infamy: Navigating Basic WWII Records

by Jennifer Holik

Glenview Public Libary

http://nsgsil.org

April 12 7:00 PM

Breaking Down a Brick Wall: Unlocking My Irish Ancestry

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

April 13, 7:00 PM

Read the Tabloids, German Church Records

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

April 13 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

If you know of any presentations I have missed, please let me know.

February Genealogy Suburban Events

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information.

If you know of any events that I have missed, please email me. I hope you see at an event you’d like to attend.

February 1 7:00 PM

Finding Your Roots in Naturalization Records by Steve Szabados

St. Charles Library

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/

February 4 10:00 AM

DNA: A Power Tool in the Genealogist’s Tool Box by Karen Stanbary

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

February 7, 14, 21 & 21 1:30 PM

Family History Writing Challenge

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

February 8 7:00 PM

Grandma Nellie’s Scrapbook

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

February 8 10:00 AM

Finding Your Ancestors Online

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

February 11 1:00 PM

The Chicago 1893 World's Columbian Exposition: What Remains

by Ray Johnson

Glenview Public Library

http://nsgsil.org

February 13 10:30 AM

New Sources for British Isles Research by Paul Milner

Schaumburg Township Public Library

http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

February 15 6:30 PM

Family History's Navigational Tool: The G.P.S. by Laura Cosgrove Lorenzana

Wheaton Public Library

www.dcgs.org

February 16 12 noon

Census Discoveries by Laura Street Chaplin

Town & Country Public Library District – Elburn, IL

elburn.lib.il.us

February 16 7:00 PM

Emigration and Immigration – The Story of Your Immigrant Ancestors by Jacquie Schattner

St. Charles Library

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/

February 17 1:30 PM

Researching Ancestors on FindMyPast

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

February 20 10 AM

Military Genealogy by Tina Beaird

Town & Country Public Library District – Elburn, IL

elburn.lib.il.us

February 25 2:00 PM

Understanding Commercial DNA Test Results

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

February 25 10 AM

Swedish Military in ArkivDigital by Kathy Meade

Swedish American Museum, Chicago

www.SwedishAmericanMuseum.org

February 27 6:30 PM

Finding Your Roots Online

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

February 28 7:00 PM

Ancestry.com Primer by Caron Primas-Brennan

St. Charles Library

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/

February 28 7:00 AM

Genealogy – Where Do You Look? by Jacquie Schattner

Fremd High School $

http://adc.d211.org/academics-home/continuing-education-home/

March 4 10:00 PM

On and Off the Net: Locality Searching by D. Joshua Taylor

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

March 7 7:00 PM

A Guide to Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Fremd High School $

http://adc.d211.org/academics-home/continuing-education-home/

March 7 7:00 PM

The Most Helpful Genealogy Tools You’ve Never Used by Marsha Peterson-Maass

St. Charles Library

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/

March 8 7:00 PM

Write Your Family History (with online recording)

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

March 9 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

March 11 1:00 PM

Genealogy Research - Beyond the Basics by Steve Szabados

Northbrook Historical Society

http://nsgsil.org

January Genealogy Events in the NW Suburbs

Happy New Year! 

If you are like me, with a quiet genealogy month in December, I have a renewed spirit to start out the year with a push into learning new ideas.  I’m looking forward to attending several of the events listed below.  Here are the presentations in the area for the next six weeks or so.  If I’ve missed an event or you know of a society that can be included, please let me know.  Most of these events are free, but please check the website listed for more information and if necessary, any registration.  

I hope your genealogy research is successful in 2017.

January 7 10:00 PM

German Immigration to the United States by Teresa McMillin

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

January 10 7:00 PM

10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Easter European Research by Lisa Alzo

Town & Country Public Library District – Elburn, IL

elburn.lib.il.us

January 11 7:00 PM

Evernote for Genealogists

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

January 14 1:00 PM

Writing Family History by Dr. Daniel Hubbard

Northbrook Historical Society

http://nsgsil.org

January 17 7:00 PM

Quhat’s in a Nayme?

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

January 18 6:30 PM

Find My Past by Debra Dudek

Wheaton Public Library

www.dcgs.org

January 19 12 noon

Start with What You Know by Laura Street Chaplin

Town & Country Public Library District – Elburn, IL

elburn.lib.il.us

January 21 10:30 AM

Newspaper Necessities by Tina Beaird

Schaumburg Township Public Library

http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

January 25 7 PM

Emigration and Immigration- The Story of Your Immigrant Ancestors 
by Jacquie Schattner

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

January 30 6:30 PM

Genealogy 101

Palatine Public Library

http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

February 1 7:00 PM

Finding Your Roots in Naturalization Records by Steve Szabados

St. Charles Library

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/

February 4 10:00 AM

DNA: A Power Tool in the Genealogist’s Tool Box by Karen Stanbary

Arlington Heights Senior Center

http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

February 8 7:00 PM

Grandma Nellie’s Scrapbook

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

https://fountaindalegenealogy.wordpress.com/

February 11 1:00 PM

The Chicago 1893 World's Columbian Exposition: What Remains

by Ray Johnson

Glenview Public Library

http://nsgsil.org

February 13 10:30 AM

New Sources for British Isles Research by Paul Milner

Schaumburg Township Public Library

http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

Second Set of Eyes

A fellow researcher emailed me to ask for help finding his gr-grandmother, Ellen Potratz’s death information. (The name had been spelled Nellie Potrax on her wedding certificate.)  His grandfather, Ellen’s son, was born in June, 1903. The researcher had found her husband’s second marriage certificate dated in 1904. He assumed Ellen died between those two dates, especially because in her brother’s 1910 death notice, she was listed as his late sister.  

He had thoroughly looked in all the right places:  Illinois and Cook County death indexes, findagrave.com, newspaper death notices, and the Cook County Catholic cemetery kiosk index.  He’d even gone to Cook County to see if they could find it for him.  This researcher asked if I could meet with him and give him some more resources.

Instead, I decided to first poke around on the internet and within an hour, in the Cook County death index, I found an Ellen Poster who died on July 4, 1903.   The address where she died was given, the birth place was correct.  Calvary was listed as the cemetery.  I emailed the researcher and he wrote back within minutes.  Yes!  It was her!  The address was correct.  He searched findagrave.com and found her listed as Ellen Potrx, buried in Calvary, with the same death date, a few days after her son’s birth.   Within a couple of hours, I’d found her information, which he’d been looking for years.

I emailed him one more time that day but did not receive a reply, which was rather unusual.  Several days later he wrote that he and his wife, immediately got in their car and drove to the cemetery to find her burial place!  He was so kind in thanking me for my help in finding her.

This is a lesson from which we can all learn. When your research is “stuck”, one solution is to reach out to another researcher. In this case, the problem was the variation of the spelling of the surname.  Potratz, Potrax, Poster or Potrx were the names listed on various legal documents. 

A second set of eyes may find something that is hiding in plain sight.