Illinois State Genealogical Society Blog

The Illinois State Genealogical Society is pleased to announce a new database entitled  Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937 Database (ICEC Records 1837-1937). This record set is a genealogical index to the book  History of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937  and contains close to 12,000 records, all available free to the genealogy community. The database records are listed in "page order" for those wanting to see the records as they appear in the book. In addition, the database can be searched by Surname, Given Name/First Name and Field/Appointment, and results can be displayed in ascending and descending order. A special thanks to ISGS members Oriene Springstroh and  Sheryl Grandt who spent almost a year compiling this important research database. * * * History of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937 (Authorized Centennial Edition, by Rev. John G. Schwab, assisted by Rev. H.H. Thoren,...

On Tuesday, December 11 , at 8 PM Central, J. Mark Lowe, CG , will present, Ready-Set-Plan! Developing a Research Plan . In this webinar, you will learn how create a research plan to help you stay focused on your research tasks and better manage your research projects. To attend this webinar, register at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/226300078 . Last week's webinar, Sidestep Genealogy , presented by George G. Morgan, is now available to ISGS members in the Members Section of the ISGS website ( http://ilgensoc.org/members.php ). Upcoming Webinars December 11 – Ready-Set-Plan! Developing a One-Step Research Plan with J. Mark Lowe, CG Register at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/226300078 January 8 – Beyond the Draft Cards: Additional Selective Service Records with Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL Registration will be available in mid-December. At that time, you can register by going to the ISGS webinar page at our website at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?...

The ISGS Office will be closed next week, Monday, November 19, 2012 and Thursday, November 22, 2012. Regular hours will resume on Monday, November 26, 2012. © 2012, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society

Guest Author, Pamela Tremé Like many researchers, I’ve always used city directories as cross confirmation of the location of a family. I locate family members on each census, and then check for city directories. If they are available, I can do a spot check to confirm that the family is where I expect to find them. In an early city directory, you might find just a person’s name and address, which may or may not be useful. As city directories developed over time, the information they provided became more detailed. In later city directories, you can have any of the following information in addition to a person’s name and home address: The name of a person’s spouse The person’s occupation The name of the company where the person works The person’s business address along with their home address The location to which a person moved if they’ve moved since the last directory The first name of a widow’s husband The name of children when they are listed as students…childre...

On November 13, George G. Morgan will share some strategies for researching our ancestors' siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins in order to break down brick walls in his presentation Sidestep Genealogy . Date : Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 8:00 pm Central Description : Brick wall research blocks are inevitable. We strive to start with ourselves and work backwards, but sometimes there are impediments that stop us in our tracks. It is then that we must use our most creative research skills, and it is essential that we move to other family members. That means researching our ancestors' siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, and the collateral lines with which they are connected. Sidestep genealogy means researching these alternative individuals, their records, the places that they lived, and other resources. This lecture will make you stop and think about what alternative research paths you might use, and point you to new resources you may never have considered. Presenter ...

Awards Announced At ISGS Annual Conference in Rockford, IL October 29, 2012 – Springfield, IL . On Saturday, October 20, 2012, five individuals were honored by the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) with awards for their outstanding achievements in the field of genealogy. ISGS presented the awards at the its annual conference – Family History In Profile – in Rockford, Illinois: ISGS President Janice Fritsch and Rita Welsh Mrs. Rita Welsh – Special Recognition Oregon, Illinois Mrs. Rita Welsh is a retired librarian for the Lee County Genealogical Society. Her wonderful memory for the local, and not so local, facts has made her invaluable to researchers who visited the library in search of their “roots.” Rita was an outstanding example of loyalty, efficiency and willingness to do all she could to help people find their needed information. Janice Fritsch and D. Patrick Gorman D. Patrick Gorman - Community Service Award Dixon, Illinois D. Patrick Gorman h...

The Illinois State Genealogical Society is a proud affiliate for the Flip-Pal® mobile scanner which means that when you purchase a Flip-Pal or one of the many accessories, you help support the programs and mission of ISGS. Visit http://flip-pal.com/ISGS to purchase a Flip-Pal. A Special Coupon for ISGS Members and Fans At our recent Fall Conference in Rockford, we had a Flip-Pal on display at the ISGS table for attendees to test drive as well as brochures with a special coupon worth 10% off the purchase of a Flip-Pal mobile scanner. We're excited to share this coupon with you whether you're a member of ISGS or just a fan! Use code ISGS now through December 31, 2012, during the check out process and you'll save 10%! Still More Ways to Support ISGS . . . Did you know that you can shop at a variety of genealogy vendor websites using these links and also support ISGS?  The Shop and Support ISGS program lets you make purchases at Ancestry.com, FamilyTree DNA ,...