Current KCGS members will receive notification of both KCGS and Town and Country Public Library (TCPL) genealogy meetings.
Guests interested in attending any KCGS sponsored meeting encouraged to supply their name and email address to kcgsinfo@gmail.com. For TCPL programs, register with the library directly, via the provided link.
The start time for all events listed is 7:00 p.m. Central Time
05 January 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Immigration to the United States: Passenger Lists
Presented by Jaymie Middendorf
“Immigration to the United States: Passenger Lists” focuses on available records from about 1820 to 1924. We will discuss finding an ancestor’s origins, various tools for locating passenger lists, how to find images and information on ships. We’ll also look at examples of passenger arrival lists from 1820 to 1913 to see how the lists have changed over time and what information can be found on the lists, including examples of folks held for special inquiry and who were detained.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
Registration Link:https://elburn.librarymarket.com/event/genealogy-seekers-immigration-united-states-passenger-lists
26 January 2023
KCGS Sponsored: Tracking Immigration Records
Presented by KCGS Representatives
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
02 February 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Courthouse Finds
Presented by Tina Beaird
Courthouses are great resources for personal family history. Probate files, chancery cases, land sales, and law suits are just a handful of the types of records one can find in their local courthouse files. Join Tina for tips and tricks to identify and secure these records.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
Registration link: https://elburn.librarymarket.com/event/genealogy-seekers-courthouse-finds
23 February 2023
KCGS Sponsored: Aliens in the Army
Presented by Debra Dudek
Non-citizens residing in the USA during World War I were drafted in the military, and with their induction into service, and the government responded by streamlining the naturalization process for these ‘alien’ servicemen. Find out how you can research your WWI ancestors in records at the National Archives and discover more about their military service and personal path to citizenship.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
02 March 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Church Records
Presented by Jenny Warner
You will learn how to find church records, use them to find your ancestors, and solve programs you may come across in your family tree. Many people forget the value that church records can provide in a person’s search for their family’s history. You may think that the only information available is records on baptism, marriage, and deaths. That may not be the case; church records can provide links to immigration or towns in which the family originated.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
Registration Link: https://elburn.librarymarket.com/event/genealogy-seekers-church-records
23 March 2023
KCGS Sponsored: The Illinois State Archives
Presented by Dr. David A Joens, Director
Dr. Joens excitedly shares information family historians need to research the Illinois State Archives. With laughter and enthusiasm, all learn of the collections available, at the Archives and the records held at the seven regional IRAD depositories located on state university campuses throughout Illinois.
Presentation method: Hybrid–In person and Virtual
06 April 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Newspaper Necessities
Presented by Tina Beaird
Newspapers hold an astounding amount of genealogical and local history information other than obituaries. Learn how to find the hidden gems in newspapers like claim day notices, cards of thanks, society news, tax notices, and more. Learn how to locate digital copies of original newspapers as well as what online indexes and abstracts exist.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
Registration Link: https://elburn.librarymarket.com/event/genealogy-seekers-newspaper-necessities
27 April 2023
KCGS Sponsored: Online Newspapers–Look Beyond the Lede
Presented by Laura Marshall Kovarik
The lede is the first sentence or paragraph in a news article. It draws you into the rest of the story. For many genealogists, newspaper obituaries are the lede. But when you look beyond obituaries, you will find more information and details about your family and their lives. The increase in digitized newspapers has made incorporating newspapers into your research easier than ever. This program will look at online databases, search strategies and the types of information you can find in online newspapers.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
04 May 2023
TCPL Sponsored: It’s Not Online! The Other 90% of Records
Presented by Suz Bates
Many useful records for genealogy research are not online. How do you find these records and then how do you access them? Suz Bates, a local genealogist, will present ways to find and use archives, repositories, depositories, historical societies, and more to expand your family history research.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
Registration Link: https://elburn.librarymarket.com/event/genealogy-seekers-its-not-online-other-90-records
25 May 2023
KCGS Sponsored: Screening Newspaper Finds
Presented by KCGS Representatives
Newspapers are a vital tool to add interest and detail to our family histories! Share and describe how you found your own newspaper evidence in this Crowd-Sourced KCGS Workshop. (Note: Although the program follows on from TCPL’s April 6 “Newspaper Necessities” presentation with Tina Beaird AND KCGS’s Apr 27 “Look Beyond the Lede” presentation with Laura Marshall Kovarik, attendance at either of these prior events is not required.)
Presentation method: In-person only
22 June 2023
KCGS / Batavia Public Library Sponsored: The National Road–America’s Highway
Presented by Dr. Kimberly Ormsby Nagy
The National Road extended from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois. It was built in the early 19th century to aid settlers in their westward migration. Many of our midwestern ancestors traveled on, and settled near, the National Road.
Presentation method: Via Zoom
Registration via Batavia Public Library required
27 July 2023
KCGS / Batavia Library Sponsored: My New England Research is Done–Or Is It?
Presented by D. Joshua Taylor
Though your New England pedigree might date to the early 1600s, there is often more work to be done–and even a few mistakes to be corrected. This session will explore methods to spot potential errors and assumptions in colonial New England research.
Presentation method: Virtual only
Registration via Batavia Public Library https://batavia.libnet.info/event/7921946
24 August 2023
KCGS Sponsored: Finessing FindMyPast
Presented by Laura Street Chaplin
With its United Kingdom emphasis, FindMyPast is an incredible resource but are we taking advantage of it? Learn to finesse its finer points in this presentation and enrich your research. Laura covers FindMyPast’s specialties, searching for records, their Family Tree function, and plenty more.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
07 September 2023
TCPL Sponsored: They Lived Where? Tips for Researching Locations
Presented by Laura Kovarik
Once you have identified the location for a family event, you have an opening to create a rich, detailed life portrait for your ancestor. Location research allows genealogists to learn the details surrounding their family, helping to give context and understanding to their lives. We will take a look at location research across time, learning what to do when you recognize the place and especially when you don’t!
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
28 September 2023
KCGS Sponsored: DNA Painter
Presented by Kelli Bergheimer
DNA Painter is a valuable tool for figuring out your DNA matches. Learn how to paint matches, bulk upload matches, and use filters and uploaded GEDcoms to help in your resesarch.
Presentation method: Hybrid–in person and virtual
21 October 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Family History Day
Full day presentation of speakers on a variety of topics. Tours and research time in the Lawrence J Martin Heritage Center will be available. Additional details to come!
26 October 2023
KCGS / Batavia Public Library Sponsored: Reverse Genealogy: Locating Living Distant Relatives
Learn about free online sites to locate unknown living relatives, and even possible ways of identifying and contacting unknown Ancestry.com or other DNA site matches. A fascinating use of technology.
Presentation method: Virtual only
Registration via Batavia Public Library
02 November 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Preserving Local Veterans’ Voices
Presented by Katherine R Wilson
Program details to come!
07 December 2023
TCPL Sponsored: Research a Veteran
Presented by Jennifer Holik
Program details to come!
14 December 2023
KCGS Sponsored: Holiday Social