WINNEBAGO & BOONE COUNTIES GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to:

• Encourage and support genealogical researchers.
• Promote the discovering and preserving of valued genealogical resources of Winnebago and Boone County, Illinois.
• Through our website, provide resources to help genealogists with an interest in Winnebago or Boone County, Illinois.
• Offer networking opportunities with others who have similar research interests.

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.  Meetings are the first Saturday of the month at 1:30pm. 
We do not have meetings in December, July and August.  
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.

Kate F. O'Connor - A Suffragist and So Much More: Celebrating Our Local History - America 250th
Speaker: Lynell Cannell
Saturday, August 22, 2026 11a.m. - Rockford Public Library - East Branch (in person only)
As a part of our society's continuing partnership with the Rockford Public Library, our society is providing another presentation for RPL, this time by long-time WBCGS board member Lynell Cannell.

Kate F. O’Connor is honored prominently on the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Sculpture on Rockford’s riverfront.  Learn all about this noted Rockford suffragist who was also well known as a public servant, successful businesswoman, public speaker, and defender of rights for women and children.  Her achievements from the 1880s to the 1940s were noteworthy, but even more interesting was her fearless and fun approach to life and its adventures.  The more you learn about her, the more you will wish you could have known her.

Lynell Cannell is a retired software engineer and educator.  Since retirement she has been a board member and docent at the Ethnic Heritage Museum in Rockford and has studied various local history topics.  She has made presentations at the Center for Learning in Retirement, the Ethnic Heritage Museum, the Rockford Public Library, the Winnebago and Boone County Genealogical Society, and various civic and historical organizations.

SEPTEMBER MEETING

Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
​
"Celebrate 250 with a Patriot"
Speakers: Sharon Thomasson and Darlene Schoepski
Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom)
​
​Zoom registration for this meeting

​​Join us for a special program featuring representatives from the Beloit Chapter and the Asa Cottrell Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Kishwaukee Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Learn about the history and mission of these respected lineage societies, along with the benefits of membership and the process for proving eligibility.

Whether you’re just beginning your family research or already have Revolutionary War ancestors, this session will highlight the resources, guidance, and support available to help you take the next step in your genealogy journey.​

OCTOBER MEETING

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at 1:30p.m. CDT
​
"WBCGS 40th Anniversary"
Speaker:
Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom)
​
​Zoom registration for this meeting
​
As the Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society celebrates its 40th Anniversary, we invite both longtime and newer members to share favorite memories, special moments, and reflections about WBCGS. For 40 years, our society has been built on friendship, volunteer dedication, and a shared love of family history, and we want to honor those stories during this milestone celebration.
​
Whether you remember the early years or are one of our newest members, your memories matter. Join us as we gather member stories, enjoy refreshments, door prizes, and a special commemorative memento, while preserving not only family history, but the history of WBCGS itself. 

NOVEMBER MEETING

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. CST
​
“250 Years Later – Everyday American Patriot Heroes, Robert Campbell, SR and His Family“
Speaker: Vicki Ruthe Hahn
Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom)
​
​Zoom registration for this meeting

2026 is the 250 years anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of the United States signing the Declaration of Independence. Explore the time period around the War for Independence through the lives of Robert Campbell, SR and his family, and their Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania neighbors. Learn about Robert Campbell, (and other pioneers including Daniel Boone) expanding westward through the Allegheny Mountains to settle on Native American’s land, the resulting French Indian War, the War of Independence, and afterward. While away from his farm bravely serving as an American Revolutionary soldier, Robert Campbell, Sr had a compelling tragic experience. From his headstone – Robert Campbell, SR “was one of the early settlers of this valley and with them suffered much from Indian cruelty. In the year 1775 his wife and infant daughter were barbarously murdered, his house burned, and the rest of his children, five in number taken captives, one of whom never returned.” What is the rest of their story?

Vicki Ruthe Hahn, owner of Stateline Genealogy Club, LLC, is a Retired Librarian with a BA and MLIS from University of Illinois. An experienced, regional Genealogy Presenter and Consultant, she founded the “Stateline Genealogy Club” at Beloit Public Library in 2012, & created the “StatelineGenealogyClub.Wordpress.com" BLOG in 2014.
She has a background in history, anthropology, research, writing, teaching, and clothing history. Vicki sorts out mysteries, rediscovers histories, weaves stories, & helps people with local history and their family genealogy; specializing from Central Illinois to Central Wisconsin.​

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

ISGS Associate Member​