North Suburban Genealogical Society

04/30/2026

Word of the Week: Altersschwäche = weakness of old age.

If you are lucky enough to find your ancestors' death records, either in certificate form or in church books, you may find yourself wondering how they died.

The cause of death is usually written in the old German script, which can be difficult to translate.

One common cause of death is "Altersschwäche", which means old age.

What are some causes of death you've discovered while researching?

04/30/2026

04/28/2026

Ivan Sparling Jr.'s incredible World War I diary, written on cigarette rolling papers during his time in France, were recently given to the Library by Sparling's great-granddaughter Molly on behalf of his descendants.

Veterans History Project donations like this one are so interesting and special!

Do you have an original diary, journal, or manuscript that you or another veteran in your life kept from time in the service? Please reach out to us at vohp@loc.gov to tell us more about your materials.

04/28/2026

“Sometimes I'll start a sentence, and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way.” - Michael Scott

Do you like history? Like transcribing documents? Is your superpower reading cursive handwriting? Then we have a project for you!

The National Park Service and the US National Archives (NARA) are collaborating on a special project to transcribe the pension records of more than 80,000 of America’s first veterans and their widows. The project will make a permanent contribution to the historical record for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

You’re invited to help transcribe these records and uncover new stories. Get started by registering as a volunteer with the National Archives. Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/revolutionary-war-pension-project.htm

Image: Graphic with a historical sketch of a soldier of the American Revolution, with the text, "reading cursive is a superpower.”

04/27/2026

04/19/2026

During WWII, baseball was a great way for troops to blow off steam between combat missions. "Corbin's Invaders" were named in honor of the 386th Bomb Group's commanding officer, Col. Thomas Corbin. Games could be highly competitive and drew hundreds of spectators. https://f3.social/6yd8

04/16/2026

Special Webinar: Chicago Genealogical Society Commemorates America 250

Join the Chicago Genealogical Society on June 1, 2026 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. central for our CGS Zoom Webinar "18th Century America: Cultural Changes and Their Effect on Records" with Sylvia Tracy Doolos (CGS Member $0/Guest $10*). Registration required.

From colonial expansion to revolution, 18th-century America was a time of upheaval. Discover how political, cultural, and social transitions shaped recordkeeping, and learn where to find the surviving documents of your ancestors.

Our speaker, Sylvia Tracy Doolos, has been interested in genealogy for 45 years and has been working as a professional genealogist for over 10 years as the owner of New Leaf Genealogy. She is President of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (CAPG), and the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE), and Past President of the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH). Sylvia is a proud graduate of ProGen 48 and has a B.A. in History with a minor in English focusing on linguistics, so she could study how language changes affected record keeping.

**Note this is our Annual Members Meeting**

* Registration is required via the Chicago Genealogical Society website at https://www.chicagogenealogy.org/event-6460257. Registration will close 1 hour prior to the event. This webinar is FREE for CGS members. Non-Members can register for the event for $10. No refunds. The meet-up will take place virtually via ZOOM. Everyone registered will receive an email the morning of the event with log-in instructions and a link. This information is not to be shared. Registering for this webinar signifies you accept responsibility to either show or hide your visage, voice, or both on the webinar screen and audio for this live presentation and ergo its recording.

Note: The Webinar will be recorded and available on the CGS website in the Members Only section at https://www.chicagogenealogy.org/Webinar-Archive.

Thank you for being a member of The Chicago Genealogical Society! https://www.chicagogenealogy.org/

04/16/2026

How did these men pass the time on the deck of a gunboat during the Civil War? We see at least three games of checkers and some musical instruments. What else can you spot? https://f3.social/6yd6

04/16/2026

Everyone is invited to our 50th Anniversary Community Kickoff this Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. This is a free afternoon gathering where friends, neighbors, and supporters are invited to enjoy a celebratory “first look” to hear about exciting plans for the anniversary year, raise a glass in honor of the Museum’s 50th birthday, and share in a slice of cake. Be part of the Ribbon Cutting of our new connection on the second floor sponsored by City of Chicago - Department of Planning and Development. Please register on our website at www.swedishamericanmuseum.org/product/34969 so we know how many to expect!

04/10/2026