ISGS Fall Conference- Meet Our Speakers!

Details for our upcoming Fall Conference are now available on the ISGS website- we hope to see you in Bloomington/Normal on October 28th!

Check out our expert speakers and the topics they will be presenting!

Keynote speaker: Dr. David Joens, Director of the 

Illinois State Archives

David Joens is the Director of the Illinois State Archives, the state agency that is responsible for the preservation of historic Illinois state and local government records. A fifth-generation resident of Illinois, Joens received his Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, two Master's degrees from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and a doctorate in illinois history from Southern Illinois University in Carbon-dale. He is the author of three books on Illinois history and government, including "From Slave to State Legislator: John W.E. Thomas, Illinois' First African American Lawmaker", published by SIU Press.

         Rick Allen

Rick lives in Metropolis, Illinois, and is the owner of Backstory Bloodhound, LLC, conducting on-site genealogical research at facilities in southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. He loves to bust through those brick walls. Rick also teaches history part-time for Southeast Missouri State University. He retired in 2016 after 33 years of service at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Rick was the editor of the Saga of Southern Illinois for seven years and is currently the Genealogist for the Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois and the Treasurer of the Pope County Historical Society. He has been researching his family history since he was a teenager and has published several family history books as well as record books on Pope County. He has a deep interest in preserving records and making them accessible to future generations.

Rick will present "Research in Deepest Southern Illinois"
Southern Illinois was the first region in the state to be settled. This session will explore a little of its unique history and discuss the records, resources and facilities available to assist researchers within the region. Time for Q&A will follow the presentation.

      Teri D. Barnett

Teri D. Barnett currently serves as the Newspaper Librarian for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. She holds a M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in History with a minor in ANthropology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She has attended multiple genealogical conferences around the state of Illinois, such as the Illinois State Genealogical Society's Fall Conference and the Federation of Genealogical Society's Conference when it was held in Springfield. Due to Teri's extensive background in Genealogy, she is the Ex-Officio representative for the ALPLM to the Illinois State Genealogical Society. She is a member of the Illinois State Genealogical Society and National Genealogical Society.

Teri will present "Researching Your Ancestors at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum"
Have you ever wondered what materials and collections the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has for genealogists to use? Have you ever wondered what happened to the Illinois State Historical Library? This session will answer those questions and walk you step by step on what is available for genealogists and other researchers to use and how to request those materials, both in the library and from afar.

       Tina Beaird

Tina is the owner of Tamarack Genealogy and is the Genealogy/Local History Librarian at the Plainfield Public Library. She lectures nationally on military research, genealogical methodology, Scottish records, and archival preservation. She is a governing board director of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, the Northern Illinois Historical League, and the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board. Tina volunteers her time with several local historical and genealogical societies scanning and indiexing historic records. Occasionally, Tina finds time to research her own family tree which she has been pursuring for over 25 years. Tina's Illinois research is focused in Chicago, and in Cook, Kane, Kendall, Will, Perry and Randolph counties.

Tina will present "Illinois County Resources Primer"
With 102 counties in Illinois, there are hundreds of locations scattered across the state where significant records collections live. Tina will help you sift through these repositories to find county resources pertinent to your Illinois ancestors including vital records, land patents, school censuses, justice of the peace records, and more.

     Caron Brennan

Caron Brennan loves history, biography, puzzles and a good mystery, which makes her perfectly suited to genealogy research! A 6th grade school project got her interested in researching her own family tree. Her special areas of genealogical interest are Colonial America, Prussian and Norwegian research along her family lines as well as DNA projects. Caron belongs to several local and regional genealogy groups as well as being a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She is currently the Registrar for the Anan Harmon Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) and Facilitator for the Chicago Region of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).She has been teaching at the Newberry Library in Chicago and speaking at local libraries and genealogical societies for over ten years.

Caron will present "How I Use DNA in My Genealogical Research"
In this presentation, I talk about "why" and "how" of DNA testing in genealogy research. Using case studies and examples, I explain how I have incorporated DNA testing into my genealogy research. Disclaimer: this is NOT a primer on the science of DNA, although some basic information is included. The audience does not have to be knowledgeable about DNA testing to learn from this presentation.

   Aimee Rose-Haynes

Aimee Rose-Haynes is a wife and mother of 2 adult daughters. She has a passion for anything history which naturally led into her love of genealogy since 2003. Since February 2020, Aimee has generously volunteered her time and expertise to the non-profit organization DNAngels. With a passion for genetic genealogy that dates back to 2016, Aimee has become deeply involved in the field. Her dedication and knowledge have led her to present alongside DNAngels at prestigious events such as the 2023 RootsTech DNA Day and the 2023 Untangling Our Roots Summit. At these gatherings, Aimee shared her insights and experiences in presentations titled "DNA Search Angels to the Rescue". However, Aimee's contributions to genetic genealogy go beyond speaking engagements. In 2022, she was interviewed by the Cherokee Phoenix and in 2023, a guest on GenFriends Genealogy Chat Show. Additionally, Aimee showcased her writing skills be penning an article for Severance Magazine titled "Genetic Genealogy". Collaborating with Penny Waters, she also delivered a compelling presentation at the 2023 Ohio Genealogical Society conference, delving into the intriguing realm of "Forensic Genetic Genealogy". Aimee's specialization lies in DNA cases that span 1-3 generations, allowing her to identify ancestral lines from grandparents to great-great-grandparents. She possesses a unique skill set that enables her to prove or disprove Native American heritage. As an enrolled citizen in the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe, Aimee has made it her personal mission to reunite lost Native cousins with their tribes and help them rediscover their cultural roots.

Aimee will present "Unraveling DNA Histories: Inspiring Stories of Discovery"
Over-the-counter DNA tests have gained significant traction in recent years, not only because they offer insights into one's ancestral roots but also due to their capacity to reveal health predispositions. While many undertake these tests out of sheer curiosity about their lineage, some individuals stumble upon unexpected and life-altering truths. This presentation will delve into the transformative experiences of three such individuals. Upon receiving their unexpected results, each person embarked on a journey not just of personal introspection but of outreach, dedicating their efforts to assist and enlighten others who might be grappling with similar revelations.

     Laura Kovarik

Laura Kovarik has been involved in genealogy for more than 25 years, including leadership, edicational, and committee positions at the national, state, and local levels. Laura has enhanced her genealogical education through conferences, institutes, and study groups. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS), the Norwegian American Genealogical Center, and other local genealogical and historical societies. Her writing has appeared in Fox Tales and The Quarterly. With a Master of Urban Planning, one of Laura's areas of interest is the recently released 1950 US Census. Additional areas of concentration include Norwegian research, newspapers, and incorporating ephemera into genealogical research. Laura's current project is using ephemera to document the social life and labor union ties of an ancestor in the late 1880s Chicago.

Laura will present "Illinois History and Genealogy: Speed Version!"
If you are new to researching in Illinois, or need a refresher, come and learn some of the basics about Illinois' history and the resources that can assist you in your genealogy quest.

     David McDonald

David McDonald, whose high school work at Genealogy Unlimited in Buffalo Grove set off a 45 year career in the field, is a native of Springfield. He lectures on methodology, church records and locality research have been delivered internationally, nationally, regionally and locally since 1982. Dave served the city of Chicago as its consulting genealogist during its runway expansion project at O'Hare. A Protestant minister in Wisconsin, Dave coaches clients as they work through their research projects to become better genealogists.

David will present "Illinois Settlement Patterns from the Colonial Period to 1850"
From the opening of European explorations of North America, to the opening of the heartland in the early republic, Illinois has drawn adventurers and fortune seekers, Yankees and southerners, freed slaves and European-ordinary folk, seeking a home. We'll examine the communities they created, and the networks who joined them in settling the area we now call the Prairie State.

Additionally, we will be hosting a speaker from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Illinois State University. Learn more about the unique county resources and records available through IRAD!

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