Your immigrant ancestors are the foundation of your roots in the U.S. Why did they come? The voyage itself. Entering the U.S. ports. How to find emigration and immigration and naturalization records. Learn the interesting details of your ancestors’ journey to their new life here. List of more than 30 websites and other resources included.

Jacquie Schattner has been actively researching her family’s ancestors since 1996. She volunteered at the local Family History Center for 15 years, teaches genealogy at local high schools, and at libraries and online at genealogy groups all over the U.S. She is active in several genealogy societies and has written several genealogy books. She currently works as a Publications Coordinator and as a freelance editor. Jacquie received her B.S. degree from the University of Illinois. She is a retired school secretary, living in Palatine, IL. She is happily married for 40+ years and has 3 grown children, 2 sons-in-law, and 6 adorable grandchildren.

This meeting is co-sponsored by FVGS and the Naperville Public Library.

This is a HYBRID Meeting:
Join us in person at the 95th Street Library – Room A
(3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564)
OR
Register HERE to attend ONLINE

The CGSI conference is the premiere event to learn about techniques for genealogical research in the areas now known as Czech Republic and Slovakia, and to share and connect with the genealogy, history, and culture of those from the Czech and Slovak ancestral lands of Central Europe. The conference will explore the history and culture of the people who lived in the present-day countries of Czech Republic and Slovakia through presentations and workshops, films, tours, networking opportunities, and social events. 

The conference's format allows attendees to connect with each other, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors. In addition to the in-person programming at The Ingleside Hotel, attendees will have access to pre-conference online networking opportunities.

Early Bird registration is now open. The conference itself is "in-person only," but will include virtual pre-conference networking via Whova, an online platform to connect, discuss topics, organize virtual meet-ups, and more, which was a great success at our 2021 virtual conference, enabling discussion on a wide variety of relevant topics. For an admission fee of $25, the Whova online platform can be available if you are unable to attend the conference in person. 

Most of us know to look in cemetery records but miss a valuable resource, the funeral home. This lecture looks at the history of funeral homes and the records they kept. We will also look at a case study showing the value of these historic and unique records.

I got my start in family history at age 10 when my father took me to the grave of my great-grandfather; that sparked a lifetime of interest in family history. I have spent the last 25 years researching my own family history and helping others make history a part of their story.

I am associated with the following groups and organizations:​

• Hungarian Genealogical Society of Michigan – President​
• International Society of Genetic Genealogy
• Virtual Genealogical Association – Past-President

Daniel has experience doing research in the following regions:

• Great Lakes Region United States (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin)
• Mid-Atlantic United States (Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York)
• Central Eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Slovakia, Serbia)​

Meetings are free to attend for members and guests. This event will be recorded. Access to the recordings is a member benefit. 

Learn how to take care of your family archive and get tips for creating a succession plan to ensure your documents, photos, and artifacts can be shared with future generations.

Saturday, 23 Sep – LIVE ONLINE Keynote "Who's Going to Want It? Keeping Your Treasures Out of The Landfill" by Scott Fisher of “Extreme Genes”. We kick off our virtual Fall Conference with this LIVE ONLINE keynote. Scott will explain the various parts of an ideal succession plan, including preservation, archiving, presentation, connecting stories, and marketing.

Tuesday, 26 Sep – LIVE ONLINE "Archiving & Preservation Workshop" with Melissa Barker. Registrants can submit an archiving or preservation question in advance. If selected, Melissa will feature your example in her presentation.

Saturday, 30 Sep –

  * LIVE ONLINE "Scan-A-Thon & Photo Organizing Workshop" with LaDonna Garner (limited to 50 registrants). A town hall-style virtual session to organize, scan and learn tips to get your photos prepped, digitized, and shared with family.

  * LIVE ONLINE "Gifting Your Collection-A Panel Discussion and Q&A" with experts from Newberry Library, Naper Settlement, and Little White School Museum. Moderated by Laura Kovarik. Learn the ins and outs of gifting your collection.

Registrants also have unlimited access to four ON-DEMAND Lectures (from 16 Sep through 16 Oct) featuring:

 * "The Home Archivist: Preserving Family Records Like A Pro!" by Melissa Barker

 * "Save It! Backing Up and Organizing Photos, Digital Files, and Paper Piles" by LaDonna Garner, MA

 * "Organize Like an Archivist: Taming Your Genealogy Records and Research" by Nancy Loe, MA, MLS

 * "Where There’s a Will…" by Denise May Levenick

Visit https://ilfvgs.org/education/conference/ for all conference and registration details.

This is a HYBRID Meeting:
Join us in person at the 95th Street Library – Room A
(3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564)
OR
Register HERE to attend ONLINE

This meeting is co-sponsored by FVGS and the Naperville Public Library.

With DNA making headlines as a key forensic tool, many want to know more about the science of crime-solving DNA analysis.  What kind of DNA is this? How is it obtained? How is DNA used? What are the developing issues involving privacy, insurance, or personal control? Come explore this hot topic and hear some examples from recent true crime headlines.

Laura Chaplin began researching her family history when she was inspired by a professor at college. Since then, she has spent years researching, attending countless workshops, and traveling across the country on research trips. She is now the owner of Willowtree Research: Family History and Genealogy Services. Laura has a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the Illinois State Genealogical Society. At the Town & Country Public Library in Elburn, she was the History & Genealogy Manager and help them to open their Lawrence J. Martin Heritage Center.

Jerry Smith presents his program "The Metes and Bounds of Land Plats" online via Zoom. Jerry will show us how land plats can solve difficult genealogical problems. The session includes an introduction to drawing metes & bounds plats, discusses the value of connected tract maps that show multiple parcels, and covers available plat and map resources on-line at the Pennsylvania archives. Jerry will present several case studies that illustrate the value of using land plats in your research.

Registration for this program opens on Monday, September 4, 2023 for both members  ($5) and non-members ($10). Visit our website for more information on the program, speaker or to register. This presentation will be recorded.  Only members who have registered for this program as members will be able to view it for 30 days following the program date, by logging in to the website and selecting "Meeting registration" from the Members-Only menu.

1:00 - 2:00 pm EST - Local and county histories are often overlooked resources that can contain a wealth of resources on your ancestors and the places that they lived. This presentation explores the background of local and county history books; what information can be found in them; and, where to find them, both in print and online. Presented by Karen Fortin.

This will be a hybrid meeting held in-person at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, Local History Room (2d Flr),  Largo, FL  33771 and online via Zoom. Registration is only required for Zoom attendees.

Do you have or think you have Quaker ancestors? Quaker records are among the most complete and accessible available. In this class, we will look at the history, the beliefs, the uniqueness of the Quakers, finding aids and resources. Terminology, dating practices, migration patterns, and governmental structure are additional topics to help us locate our Quaker ancestors.

Instructor: Suzanne Brayer
Tuesday, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., August 29, 2023

THIS CLASS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY. Registrants will receive the necessary link via e-mail about one week prior to the class.

1:00 - 2:00 pm EST - Strategies to find birth families - This class is for those that have taken the DNA Basic class and are ready to explore ways to use DNA to help find birth families.  You need to have a good understanding of general genealogical research strategies and databases such as Familysearch.org and Ancestry.com search engines and be familiar with your DNA testing company's products and tools. Presented by Susan Luce and Denise Manning.

This class will be held online only via Zoom.

1:00 - 2:00 pm EST - They were the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) far from home in the nation's publicly owned forests and parks. Earning money to send back to their needy families, they contributed to the renewal and beautification of the country. First, we explain the history that led to the need for this mammoth government project and what was accomplished. And then we’ll show you the records and how you can find your own CCCer. Presented by Lori Coffey.

This will be a hybrid meeting held in-person at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, Local History Room (2d Flr),  Largo, FL  33771 and online via Zoom. Registration is only required for Zoom attendees.