Illinois State Genealogical Society Blog

The September/October 2013 issue of the ISGS Newsletter is now available to both ISGS members and non-members. Visit the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org and click ISGS Newsletter to download the current issue (in PDF) and to view past issues going back to January/February 2008. © 2013, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

This is your last chance to get in on the Early Registration pricing for the upcoming ISGS 2013 Fall Conference , to be held in Sandwich, Illinois on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26, 2013. Save By Registering Before October 1, 2013 ISGS Members and Non-Members can save by registering on or before October 1, 2013.  Register and pay online using this link or print the registration form using this link (opens in PDF via Adobe Reader), pay by check and make sure your form is postmarked by October 1, 2013 to be eligible for the discount. Not a member of ISGS? Click here to join now! Individual membership is $30 a year. WANTED: Future Genealogists for Youth Workshops on Saturday, October 26, 2013 There is still room in the Youth Workshops , but sign up TODAY! The ISGS Youth Workshop will teach children from grades one through twelve the basics of genealogical research. The registration fee is $5.00 for the 1st - 4th Grade workshop and $10.00 for the 5th - 12th Grade wo

Join us on Tuesday, October 8 , at 8:00 PM Central, when Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, will present, Up In Smoke!! What To Do When the Courthouse Burns . To attend this webinar, register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1130232329628818432 . Last week's webinar, “To the Honorable, the General Assembly” – The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions , presented by Judy G. Russell, is now available to ISGS members in the Members Section of the ISGS website ( http://ilgensoc.org/members.php ). Upcoming Webinars October 8 - Up In Smoke!! What To Do When the Courthouse Burns Presenter: Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1130232329628818432 November 12 – Little Houses on the Prairie: Midwestern Research Techniques Presenter: Diana Crisman Smith Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/848493470127452672 December 10 – Miracles, Mysteries & Mayhem: Online Family Trees Presenter:  Jeanne Larzalere B

If you are making plans to attend the ISGS Fall 2013 Conference - The Way They Were - in Sandwich, Illinois, October 25-26, 2013, we strongly advise that you make your hotel reservations soon! We've received word from the Timber Creek Inn & Suites that our reserved block for Friday evening is already sold out and that there are only 27 rooms available in the entire hotel that night. Other nights such as Thursday and Saturday are also filling up fast. Here is the information you need to book your room for the conference: Timber Creek Inn & Suites 3300 Drew St, Sandwich, IL 60545 Telephone: (866) 992-7335 http://www.timbercreekinnandsuites.com Conference Rate: $89.99 per night (if reserved by October 1, 2013). Mention "ISGS" when making your room reservation. © 2013, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

The Peoria County Genealogical Society (PCGS) in Peoria, Illinois, was organized in April 1973 with the purpose of preserving, perpetuating, and replicating the records of our ancestors, with Peoria County, Illinois being the primary area of concern. Charter membership was closed on the first day of June 1973 with a total of 70 members. In June 2013, the Society celebrated its 40 th anniversary. Currently there are about 200 members. A regular membership is $19/year ($17/year for seniors) and entitles you to their magazine Prairie Roots , the PCGS newsletter, and discounts on society publications. For more information, visit the Join Us! page on their website. Society meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month (except July, August, and December) at 6:30 PM at the North Branch of the Peoria Public Library located at 3001 W. Grand Parkway in Peoria. Meetings are open to the public. Meeting information can be found on their website. The Society's reference collection is

Fox Valley Genealogical Society of Naperville, Illinois 20th Annual Fall Conference Saturday, September 28, 2013 Family Photos: Their Stories and Preservation featuring internationally recognized photo identification and family history expert Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective Maureen Taylor is our nation’s foremost historical photo detective. Maureen is the author of a photo blog and several books, including Preserving Your Family Photographs, Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats 1840-1900, Fashionable Folks Hairstyles 1840-1900, Finding the Civil War in Your Family Album, The Last Muster, and Images of the Revolutionary War Generation. She has written a number of magazine articles and is a contributing editor for “Family Tree Magazine.” Maureen has been featured in top media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Hallmark Television, The View, Better Homes & Gardens, the Boston Globe, Martha Stewart Living, MSNBC, PBS Ancestors, and more. The one-hour interactive lecture

Illinois State Genealogical Foundation To Support Genealogical and Historical Activities The Illinois State Genealogical Foundation (ISGF), a private, not for profit, tax exempt organization, was recently established in Illinois to help support genealogical and historical activities in the state. ISGF is governed by nine Directors who have an interest in supporting and promoting genealogy and Illinois history. The purpose of ISGF is to assist in developing and increasing educational opportunities for the genealogical and historical community of Illinois. It also will be providing service and support for students and organizations whose primary interest involves the study and education of genealogical and historical events in Illinois. ISGF encourages gifts of money, property, historical papers and documents, and other material having educational, artistic, scientific and/or historical value. ISGF will receive, hold, and administer such gifts with the primary intent of servi

What in the world are legislative petitions? Judy G. Russell will tell us more about this colonial resource on September 10 in her presentation "To the Honorable, the General Assembly" – The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions . Date : Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 8:00 pm Central Description : As colonists and as citizens of the new United States, Americans were fiercely protective of their right to petition their government. Whether the issue was forming new counties, building bridges and highways, or some matter of public concern, our ancestors made their voices heard in legislative petitions that are a treasure trove for genealogists. Presenter : Judy G. Russell Judy G. Russell is a lecturer, educator and writer who enjoys helping others understand a wide variety of genealogical issues, including the interplay between genealogy and the law. More at http://www.legalgenealogist.com . Register : https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3615763026611679