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.
Unless otherwise specified, in-person meetings are held at the Town and Country Public Library, 320 E North St., Elburn, IL.
The start time for all events listed is 7:00 p.m. Central Time, unless otherwise noted. Meeting topics and speakers are subject to change.
07 December 2025
KCGS Sponsored: Holiday Social and Year in Review
Join us as we celebrate our personal genealogy accomplishments, look back at the KCGS 2025 year, and all plan for 2026. This meeting will be a great opportunity to socialize with genealogy friends as well as review the new materials added to the Lawrence Martin Heritage Center of the past year.
This meeting is a special day / time: Sunday at 2pm.
Presentation method: In person only at the Lawrence Martin Heritage Center, 315 E Shannon St, Elburn
08 January 2026
TCPL Sponsored: Using Podcasts to Expand Your Genealogical Knowledge
Presented by: Peggy Jude
Transform your commute, walks, and waiting time into learning opportunities. Podcasts offer convenient, expert-led genealogical education you can access anywhere. Find out how to find genealogical podcasts and learn how they can accelerate your research skills.
Presentation method: In-person and virtual. Registration with the library required.
22 January 2026
KCGS Sponsored: Where Do I Begin? Basics of Swedish Research
Presented by: Kathy Meade of ArchivDigital
Learn how to trace your Swedish roots. The presentation will cover naming patterns, Swedish spellings, and Swedish geography. The presentation will focus on finding the key facts about one’s Swedish ancestor, such as the Swedish name, the parish of origin, and significant dates, such as a birth date, needed to use the Swedish records. We will review various personal records, U.S. public records,
Swedish-American unique records, and emigration records to discover these facts and locate these valuable resources.
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Members will receive Zoom meeting invitation.
12 February 2026
TCPL Sponsored: Even More Unusual Places to Find Births and Naturalizations
Presented by: Debra Dudek
Widen your search for birth dates and locations, as well as naturalizations, from a variety of underutilized resources such as military rosters, consulate applications, voter registrations, cancelled passports, frackturs, and much more.
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Registration with TCPL required.
26 February 2026
KCGS Sponsored: All Politics is Local: Finding Your Political Ancestors
Presented by: Tina Beaird
These words, spoken by former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil, still ring true. Whether your ancestor was elected to public office or just aspired to serve, lots of records and artefacts were created. Former four-time political candidate, Tina Beaird, will guide you through the political process and explain what records may exist and where to find them.
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Members will receive Zoom meeting invitation.
05 March 2026
TCPL Sponsored: Community Cookbooks Finding Family, Friends and Lost Recipes
Presented by: Catherine Lambrecht
Catherine Lambrecht has been working for several years acquiring and documenting local community cookbooks. Learn how to find community cookbooks and possibly discover a family recipe of your own.
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Registration with TCPL required.
26 March 2026
KCGS Sponsored: From New York to the Heartland: The Orphan Train Experience in Illinois
Presented by: Jamie Poorman
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a remarkable and heart-wrenching chapter of American history unfolded as thousands of children embarked on a journey from the crowded streets of New York City to new lives in rural communities across the nation. This was the Orphan Train Movement, a unique initiative that left a lasting impact on the children themselves, as well as on the communities that welcomed them. The movement would last for 75 years and impact an estimated 250,000 children. We will explore the beginnings of this movement, the organizations involved and the journeys taken by the children, and then take an in-depth look at the lives of a handful of orphan train riders.
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Members will receive Zoom meeting invitation.
09 April 2026
TCPL Sponsored: Too Good to Be True
Presented by: Candace Marx
The genealogy world has a long history of fraudsters and fabricated facts. Good family historians want to create truthful trees and avoid being conned by information that looks “too good to be true”. In this presentation we learn about genealogy scams of the past and present, and discuss tips to avoid modern day “snake oil salesmen.”
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Registration with TCPL required.
23 April 2026
KCGS Sponsored: Mayhem on the Manifest: Intrigue and Deception Caught My Eye
Presented by: Suzanne Hoffman
Meeting details forthcoming
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Members will receive Zoom meeting invitation.
14 May 2026
TCPL Sponsored: Great Graves of Illinois: Exploring the State’s Most Storied Cemeteries
Presented by: John Kokoris
Join Illinois traveler John Kokoris for a look at the graves of great Illinoisans and notable monuments to lives well lived. There will be a look at art and literature inspired by these storied cemeteries. The perfect program for cemetery lovers, road trippers, and history buffs alike.
Presentation method: Hybrid in-person and virtual. Registration with TCPL required.
