WBCGS

WINNEBAGO & BOONE COUNTIES GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society exists to:

Encourage and support genealogical researchers.
Promote the discovering, collecting, indexing, and preserving of valued genealogical resources of Winnebago and Boone Counties.
Encourage publication of county material and family histories.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

WBCGS holds monthly meetings that are open to the public. We do not have meetings in December, January, and July.
Each month, one of our Members or an outside speaker makes a presentation about a specific topic related to genealogy or research.

DUE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH COVID-19, ALL IN-PERSON MEETINGS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.
For the time being, we are continuing with online meetings using Zoom. Meeting invitations will be sent to all WBCGS members with an email address.
If you’re not a member and are interested in attending, please send us an email at wbcgensociety@gmail.com. You can also contact us at:
WBCGS, PO Box 10166, Loves Park IL 61131-0166.

DEC/JAN WINTER BREAK

We will resume our monthly meetings on February 5, 2022 with Thomas MacEntee!

FEBRUARY MEETING

Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
“Getting Ready for the 1950 US Census”
Speaker: Thomas MacEntee

Summary: Many genealogists remember the amount of excitement in April 2012 around the release of the 1940 US Census. Following the “72 Year Rule” for records at the National Archives, the results of the 1950 US Census will be made public on Friday, April 1, 2022. It is never too early to prepare for this valuable data related to US genealogy research!
Description: Participants will get up to speed on the history of the 1950 US Census, why the 1950 US Census form is radically different than previous forms, and how the images will be accessed on and after April 1, 2022. In addition, we will cover what you can do NOW to prepare for the release of the population schedule images as well as volunteer projects related to indexing and finding aids. Finally, we’ll cover how you can always get the latest information related to the release of the 1950 US Census data!

Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community. He has made over 1000 lecture appearances from 2009 to the present.

MARCH MEETING

Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
“It's All Online! Or Is It?”
Speaker: Lori Bessler

It is important to have a plan when going into the Internet to do genealogical research. This presentation will help you go into the searches in a controlled and well organized manner to prevent surfing and losing your way. It highlights genealogical collections that you will not find online as well.

Lori Bessler is the genealogy and local history specialist in the Wisconsin Historical Society's Library, Archives, and Museum Collections division. She presents a wide variety of talks and workshops for the general public, including: Genealogy: Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced; Using Ancestry.com; Using FamilySearch.org; Online Research; Where to Find Collections Anywhere and Everywhere; Immigration Research

ISGS Associate Member