WINNEBAGO & BOONE COUNTIES GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to:
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All in-person meetings are at the Rockford Public Library - East Branch 6685 East State St, Rockford IL
Note the special day and time (Thurs 6pm) for June and August meetings. Also note that there is no meeting in July.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
WBCGS holds monthly meetings that are open to the public. We do not have meetings in December and July.
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.
If you’re not a member and are interested in attending a Zoom meeting, please send us an email at [email protected].
You can also contact us at: WBCGS, 1710 Van Stone Dr., Machesney Park IL 61115-2166.
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.
If you’re not a member and are interested in attending a Zoom meeting, please send us an email at [email protected].
You can also contact us at: WBCGS, 1710 Van Stone Dr., Machesney Park IL 61115-2166.
AUGUST MEETINGThursday, August 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. CDT
"FamilySearch, Hands On" Speaker: Maureen Brady Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom) Zoom registration for this meeting You are welcome to bring your laptop or tablet for a hands-on experience. Outlets are limited, so come fully charged. If you haven't already done so, be sure to create a free account at familysearch.org prior to the meeting. FamilySearch®, a free website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, provides family history researchers with access to original digitized historical records from around the world and indexes linked directly to many of those records. Even experienced researchers often do not know how to locate FamilySearch’s full digitized records collections. This presentation will provide an overview of the digital records collection and suggest search strategies for locating the historical records. Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has forty years experience with family history research. She has traced her Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century and beyond, and has also pursued Chicago and the Midwest, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebecois, Irish and Swedish research. Maureen has made numerous presentations to genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops throughout the U. S., as well as presenting for the Brigham Young University Library family history webinar series. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society and the Ohio, Chicago and McHenry County (Illinois) Genealogical Societies. Maureen is also active in the Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Societies, the British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois, and the Chicago Scots Scottish Genealogical Society. |
SEPTEMBER MEETINGSaturday, September 7, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
"DNA, Behind the Scenes" Speaker: Dan Hubbard Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (with Zoom speaker) Zoom registration for this meeting DNA testing has become part of genealogy but what does it really mean? What are the different tests? Why do they tell us different things? Where did we get the different components of our genetic heritage? Who should be tested? How can DNA testing be used to attack genealogical problems? In short, what do you need to know to start to think about DNA? Dr. Daniel Hubbard has been seriously researching his family history since he was 11 years old. He is a former particle physicist who lived in France, Switzerland and Sweden for 20 years before returning to Illinois with his family. A full-time professional genealogist, book designer and writer, he is the owner of Personal Past (www.thePersonalPast.com ) with research concentrating on North American and Northern European records. He is past president of the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society and a member of the Swedish-American Genealogy Society Advisory Board at the Swedish-American Museum in Chicago. |
OCTOBER MEETINGSaturday, October 5, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
"Italian-American Immigrants and Chicago Mafia Connections in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin" Speaker: Vicki Hahn Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom) Zoom registration for this meeting Learn more about Italian-Americans immigration to the United States, the organization of the Mafia, overcoming the difficult search for genealogy of its members, the influences it had on local history, and its connections to people in area communities. Vicki Ruthe Hahn, President of Stateline Genealogy Club, LLC, is a Retired Librarian with a BA and MLIS from University of Illinois. A Genealogy Presenter and Consultant, she founded the Beloit Public Library “Stateline Genealogy Club” in 2012, and created the “StatelineGenealogyClub.Wordpress.com" BLOG in 2014. She has a background in history, anthropology, clothing history, research, writing, and teaching. Vicki sorts out mysteries, rediscovers histories, weaves stories, & helps people with local history and their family genealogy; specializing from Central Illinois to Central Wisconsin. |
ISGS Associate Member
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 |