Illinois State Genealogical Society Blog

We're excited to announce that the Illinois State Genealogical Society 2017 Fall Conference will be October 27 & 28 at the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois. This year's conference theme is "Build Your Family Tree: DNA, Research, and Writing." Lecture proposals are now being accepted for the Illinois State Genealogical Society 2017 Annual Fall Conference to be held October 27 & 28, 2017 at iWireless Center in Moline, IL. The ISGS Conference draws attendees of all experience levels, from the beginner to the professional and the hobbyist. Submissions utilizing our theme to promote the expansion of our knowledge and skills are encouraged as well as topics on Illinois, Midwest resources, and the Northwest Territory. The deadline for submission of proposals is February 27, 2017. Notifications will be sent via email to all speakers who submitted proposals no later than March 10, 2017. Please visit the Illinois State Genealogical Society's website for

Join us on  Tuesday, February 14 , at 8:00 PM Central, when Diane Richard will present  Freedmen’s Bureau Records – Valuable to ALL Southern Research! . To attend this webinar, register at  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1351772958627269635 Last week's webinar,  Finding Dirk: Records of Insane Asylums in Illinois , presented by Jill Morelli, is now available to ISGS members in the Members Section of the ISGS website ( http://ilgensoc.org/members.php ). Upcoming Webinars February 14 -  Freedmen’s Bureau Records – Valuable to ALL Southern Research! Presenter:   Diane Richard Registration:   https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1351772958627269635 March 14 -  Nurse, Matrons, Laundresses & Cooks. Documenting Women in the Civil War Presenter:   Angela Y. Walton-Raji Registration:   https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8176273406953966595 April 11 -  Tracing Slave and Slaveowner Ancestors with DNA and Genealogy Presenter:   Nicka Smith Regi

Title :   Finding Dirk: Records of Insane Asylums in Illinois Date : Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 8:00 pm Central Description : Individuals were committed to "insane asylums" for a variety of reasons in the 19th century--sometimes necessary and sometimes by others for personal reasons. This presentation explores the evolution of care of the mentally ill in the 18th century starting with Bethlam Hospital in London, the source of the term "bedlam," through to the early 20th century. The records publicly available during this era is wider than one might expect and certainly contains more information than one would see today. The presenter also petitioned the courts for the records of 3 mental hospitals, containing information that was initially withheld. Tracing the experiences of a patient who was confined in the Jacksonville, Elgin and Peoria (Illinois) asylums between the years of 1872 and 1905, we can identify the changes in care and record keeping for Dirk B