Chicago Northwest Suburban November Genealogical Events (and 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.
If you’d like individual help, the following public libraries’ websites state that you may make an appointment with a librarian or genealogy volunteer: Schaumburg, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. On the first Thursday of the month from 3-4:30 PM, the Indian Trails Library, Wheeling has a genealogy question and answer session with the librarian. The Bloomingdale Public Library has a similar group on the fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:30 PM. and the Palatine Public Library holds a group on the second Thursday of the month at various times. See the library websites for more information on these meetings. For more information about the presentations below, you may check the websites for more details.

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

November 1, 9:00 AM
Why My Austro-Hungarian Ancestors were Neither Austrian nor Hungarian
by Paul Valasek
Arlington Heights Senior Center
nwsgenealogy.org

November 5, 7:00 PM
Beyond Ancestry: More Resources for Genealogical Research by Anne Shaughnessy
Mount Prospect Public Library
http://mppl.org/calendar/

November 6, 7:00 PM

Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/

November 8, 10:00 AM
Hanover Military Records by Teresa McMillan
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/

November 9, 12:00-2:00 PM
Free Polish, Russian and German Translations - 15 minute appointments
Polish Genealogical Society of America at Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/genealogy_appointments

November 9, 2:00 PM

Kosciuszko Squadron in World War II by James S. Pula
Polish Genealogical Society of America at Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.pgsa.org, http://www.ahml.info/attend/events/all/2014-11

November 11, 7:30 PM

Swab Your Cheek: Make the Most of DNA Kinship Results by Marsha Peterson-Maass
Schaumburg Township District Library
http://genealogywithtony.wordpress.com/2013-programs/

November 12
Swedish Genealogy – 90 minutes of 1 on 1 help by appointment
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/genealogy_appointments

November 12, 7:00 PM

From Seeds to Tree by Jacquie Schattner
Indian Trails Library, Wheeling
http://www.indiantrailslibrary.org/

November 13, 7:00-8:00 PM

Finding Chicago Ancestors by Grace Dumelle
Palatine Public Library
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/events

November 17, 6:30-8:00 PM

Using Ancestry Library Edition
Palatine Public Library, Palatine
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/events

December 2, 7:00-8:30 PM

DNA for Genealogy by Jeffrey Bassett
Palatine Public Library
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/events

My Memorable Monthly Mentions (AKA My Favorite Blogs this Month)

I admit, I love reading genealogy blogs...daily.  AND...I keep a list of my favorites.  Each month, I am happy to share my favorites with you.  I'll be calling them my monthly mentions.  I hope you enjoy them too.  Blogs I've liked in the past month are:

Why do you love genealogy? Over 40 responses. http://blog.genealogybank.com/why-do-you-love-genealogy.html

A sweet story about a mother who “retires” from genealogy. http://nutsfromthefamilytree.blogspot.com/2014/08/mom-has-officially-retired-from-active.html

Another very funny blog post from Kerry Scott of Clue Wagon fame. http://www.cluewagon.com/2014/08/ancestor-hate-mail/

So you want to write your family stories, but can’t find the time? Here are some good ideas. http://ambernagle.com/2014/08/finding-time-to-write/

There have been many articles about WWI recently. This is a poignant letter by an army father, sent to his sons to be opened if he did not survive the Great War. Its sentiments could be felt and written by many fathers who went to war. http://chrispaynebooks.com/blog/remembrance-charlie-paynes-letter-to-my-darling-boys-23-august-1917/

 17 Genealogical Things to Do if You Only Have a Few Minutes, not much more to say. http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2014/09/10/17GenealogyThingsToDoIfYouHaveOnlyAFewMinutes.aspx

Have you been looking in Illinois for an elusive marriage record? Maybe you should try Indiana or Iowa where the requirements for marriage were more flexible. These easy marriage areas are called often Gretna Greens after the infamous Scottish town. http://www.sassyjanegenealogy.com/gretna-green-and-marriage-records/

This is not a blog but a website where you can find museums in any area by putting in the zipcode. If you are looking for historical societies, you can narrow the search. Great way to find those hidden records when you are planning a visit. http://museums.hackingthehumanities.org/

An interesting blog on citing sources. No, not your normal take on the subject, http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-challenge-of-sources.html

The name of this blog, Ten Tips to Revive and Refocus Your Family History Research, says it all. http://www.thearmchairgenealogist.com/2014/08/10-tips-to-revive-and-refocus-your.html

When it comes to “nonpaternity” events in our family trees, we usually won’t know the “why” of what happened. Here are some thoughts about the subject to ponder. http://www.cluewagon.com/2014/09/dna-non-paternity-event/

 

Do you have a blog you enjoy?  Please let me know about it.

 

Football and Genealogy

As we do on many Sundays, my husband and I were watching football.  He is Buffalo Bills fan, I am a Bears fan.  This time, I admit, I’m semi-watching, and poking around on my computer at the same time.  Fred LOVES sports.  And because of that, I gladly get caught up in everything he’s watching or reading.  Our conversations are something like this (when we saw a Payton Manning/Denver Broncos win)

Husband:  Did you see that Archie is at the game?

Me: Yes (and inside a little proud that I know he’s referring to Payton’s father.)  Was Archie a quarterback too?  (I knew he was a football player and had two sons that are playing now.) 

Husband:  Yes, but he wasn’t probably as good professionally as he was in college. (Sorry Archie, if you are reading.)

 Me:  Where did Archie play professionally?

Husband:  Louisiana, the New Orleans Saints.

Me:  Where did he play in college?

Husband:  Mississippi

HOW DOES FRED KNOW THIS STUFF?  He is a one man sports encyclopedia.

Why is this part of a genealogy blog?  Well, there are some people who just keep sports facts in their brains.  And then there are people like me, and maybe you, who keep family facts in their brains.  Ask me about my third gr-grandfathers Karel Knudde, Hiram Dunbar, or Jan Baptiste Verbeke, I can give you an immediate answers. I can also tell you where and when they were born, their jobs and lots of other facts.  Just like Fred knows where Archie Manning played in college. It’s just the way my weird brain works.  How about yours?

 (As sort of a PS to this  blog.) I feel very blessed to have been happily married to Fred for more than 30 years.  I picked a great guy.  He loves sports, and I love to ride on his sports shirt tails.  I’ve been to many more football, baseball, hockey and basketball games than I ever envisioned before I met him.  I’m his sports buddy, many times.  It’s enriched my life. 

 On the other hand, he is my biggest fan when it comes to genealogy.  He listens to my endless stories. On vacations, which Fred plans, he allows time, even DAYS for me to visit cemeteries, libraries, and meet with historians.  He (mostly) comes with me, or (sometimes) he’ll find something else to do, and picks me up.  He’s waiting for me at our front door after I’ve given a presentation, anxious to hear how it went.  See, I did marry the right guy, didn’t I?  He’s a keeper.