WINNEBAGO & BOONE COUNTIES GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
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The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to:
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Special free events at RPL East Branch this summer, sponsored by WBCGS
Saturday, June 7, 11:00am "Life Writing Your Story for Posterity and Fun" - Vicki Ruthe Hahn
Have you ever wanted to write/tell your life story? Bring a photo, momento, or memory from your past to write about. For beginner & experienced writers, family history, etc. Ends w/ hands-on exercise. As the best expert on you, you can begin to record the stories that you wish your ancestors had left about their lives. Learn how to reflect your own life (through words, poetry, drawing, and mapping) with some proven writing techniques and suggestions. This general program helps beginners be successful (even if you do not think that you are creative), and is also for experienced writers. You may be surprised at how many memories you recall while we conclude with a relaxed, no pressure hands-on writing exercise.
Saturday, July 19, 1:30pm "Rockford's Cemeteries, Discovering the Famous" - Jerry Moors
Local history and genealogy enthusiasts will learn tips about Find a Grave®, a free online database of cemetery records. Find a Grave® contains the world's largest collection of burial records via their website or free app. Jerry Moors, treasurer of Winnebago/Boone Counties Genealogical Society, is the featured presenter.
Have you ever wanted to write/tell your life story? Bring a photo, momento, or memory from your past to write about. For beginner & experienced writers, family history, etc. Ends w/ hands-on exercise. As the best expert on you, you can begin to record the stories that you wish your ancestors had left about their lives. Learn how to reflect your own life (through words, poetry, drawing, and mapping) with some proven writing techniques and suggestions. This general program helps beginners be successful (even if you do not think that you are creative), and is also for experienced writers. You may be surprised at how many memories you recall while we conclude with a relaxed, no pressure hands-on writing exercise.
Saturday, July 19, 1:30pm "Rockford's Cemeteries, Discovering the Famous" - Jerry Moors
Local history and genealogy enthusiasts will learn tips about Find a Grave®, a free online database of cemetery records. Find a Grave® contains the world's largest collection of burial records via their website or free app. Jerry Moors, treasurer of Winnebago/Boone Counties Genealogical Society, is the featured presenter.
Northern Illinois Genealogical Conference
Saturday, July 12, 2025
8:30 am - 3:30 pm CDT
In-Person at McHenry County College (see image below)
McHenry County College (MCC), 8900 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012
To register, click here. Early registration discount until June 8.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
8:30 am - 3:30 pm CDT
In-Person at McHenry County College (see image below)
McHenry County College (MCC), 8900 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012
To register, click here. Early registration discount until June 8.
All in-person meetings are at the Rockford Public Library - East Branch 6685 East State St, Rockford IL
UPCOMING MEETINGS
WBCGS holds monthly meetings that are open to the public. We do not have meetings in December and July. Note the Thursday evening time for our June and August meetings.
At each meeting, our speaker makes a presentation about a specific topic related to genealogy or a topic of local interest.
Based on the success we've had in using Zoom for our monthly meetings, we plan to continue offering Zoom meetings. Meeting invitations will be sent to all WBCGS members with an email address prior to each meeting. Members and non-members can register for our meetings using the links below.
At each meeting, our speaker makes a presentation about a specific topic related to genealogy or a topic of local interest.
Based on the success we've had in using Zoom for our monthly meetings, we plan to continue offering Zoom meetings. Meeting invitations will be sent to all WBCGS members with an email address prior to each meeting. Members and non-members can register for our meetings using the links below.
JUNE MEETINGThursday, June 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. CDT
"Winnebago County Poorhouse and Cemetery" Speaker: Kathi Kresol Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom) Zoom registration for this meeting Kathi Kresol will share her research into Winnebago’s county's challenges it faced while striving to serve the poor and insane of the region. This will include personal stories of some of the residents who lived and died at the almshouse. It will also include some of the strangest cases of unsolved murders, suicides and strange deaths. Kathi has been researching the area's history for almost 20 years for her column in The Rock River Times, “Voices from the Grave.” She has two solo books published including, "Murder and Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois" and "Haunted Rockford, Illinois". 
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ISGS Associate Member
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The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was formed in 1968 through the cooperative effort and forward thinking of Illinois genealogical society representatives, who envisioned a statewide genealogical organization. ISGS is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian, educational organization.
Visit their website for more info www.ilgensoc.org |
