South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society - Illinois

02/04/2026

If you would like more information about DNA, this conference is for you (4 presentations). Learn about RootsMagic11 with a beginner and advanced presentation. There's a topic on Norwegian genealogy, organizing your genealogy research, publishing your family's story using Kindle direct publishing and more!. Go to www.dcgs.org/conference to learn more and register. There are 16 exhibitors, including a book seller this year and several door prizes.

02/02/2026

As we kick off Black History Month, Family Tree Magazine explains types of newspaper articles that can aid in your family history.

https://familytreemagazine.com/heritage/african-american/from-runaways-to-reunions/

Search old newspapers for these four kinds of articles unique to your African American ancestors.

02/01/2026

Happening at Sand Ridge Nature Center this month:

02/01/2026

Check out Ancestry's events for February, including Black History Month, America250, and RootsTech.

It’s February, and there is a jam-packed calendar of Ancestry events coming your way. Between celebrating Black History Month, preparing for Rootstech 2026, and ensuring you are continuing to make impactful progress with building your family tree - there is something this month for everyone. Here’s what to mark in your calendars.

February 3rd: We’ll be kicking off the beginning of Black History Month with a Facebook Live hosted by Nicka Sewell-Smith. Join the Facebook Live here at 2pm MT.

February 4th: Can’t get enough of Nicka’s expertise in African American research? Neither can we! Nicka will also be hosting a webinar at 11am MT focused on how to explore your African American family history. Register now: https://bit.ly/4a4vYW4

February 10th: Rootstech 2026 is just around the corner! Join us here at 2pm MT for a Facebook Live to hear from Crista about how to make the most of everyone’s favourite family history event.

February 11th: This beginner-friendly webinar demystifies the random inheritance of DNA and shows how it shapes everything you see in your AncestryDNA® results. 11am MT. Register here: https://bit.ly/3NFRlo6

February 18th: Ready to take your family tree skills to the next level? Kicking off at 11am MT, this session will see Crista Cowan walk you through some of the most helpful Ancestry tools and features to help you make major progress in 2026.

February 24th: Join us back on Facebook at 2pm MT as we sit down with Crista to discuss how Ancestry is commemorating 250 years of the United States, and how you can join in celebrating the stories of your ancestors.

February 25th: As Black History Month comes to a close, this session helps you build on the insights and discoveries you’ve made throughout the month. Join Nicka at 11am MT. Register here: https://bit.ly/3Z7V5RO

01/31/2026

Yikes! We don’t ❤️ that!

01/31/2026

Congratulations to the Park Forest Historical Society.

January 30th marked the 41st Anniversary of the formation of the Park Forest Historical Society. We will celebrate it by co-sponsoring the viewing of "Revisiting Utopia" at Freedom Hall tonight with 250 friends new and old. Sold out.
Thank you to Library Director Neal Ney for his support of the Society when it began, and to the late Judge Henry X. Dietch for coming to the library with the idea to start a society, and serving as its first president.
Thank you to all past and present PFHS Board Officers and Directors who have helped to build the Society and to keep it going this long.
Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped build and record the collection since 1981.
Thank you to Jane Nicoll, co-founder, archivist and museum director for working with the archive collection since 1981, serving on the board since 1985 and for running the museum as a volunteer director since 1998.
Join us to help us save YOUR history.

01/30/2026

Check out our February newsletter:

Click here to read our latest newsletter.

01/30/2026

Condolences to family and friends.

The South Suburban News has confirmed that Harvey’s Mayor Chris Clark has passed away. We have learned the he was very ill. He had missed several meetings and concern had grown about his health condition.
The details are still developing at this time.
We will update as more details come in.
We offer prayers and condolences to his family.

01/29/2026

Shelley Thorpe Cardiel often "rescues" vintage photos and sends them to genealogy groups across the country, in hopes of returning them to family. Because this photo has local connections, Shelley kindly gave us permission to post it here.
-------------
"I have an old studio photograph of John and Emma GREVE which was taken at the Boyd Studio in Chicago, IL. It appears to have been taken in the 1880’s with the two children about 3-6 years old at the time. John’s name is also referenced as “Uncle” on the back of the photograph, guessing this means the person making the note was related via marriage only to John and not Emma? Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding the children and their family:

Emma GREVE was b. 18 Nov 1879 in Illinois to parents John GREVE Sr. (1835-1912) and Anna M. LEETJE or LUTJER (1852-1932). Emma was one of 6 children born to this family including Frank or Franz; Marie Christina; Welhelmina; Anna; Emma; and John David GREVE Jr., all born between 1871 and 1883. Emma married Claus Dotty Jacob THOEMING or THOMING Jr. (1869-1950) and they had two children including Althea M. THOEMING (1911-1984) and Adelbert J. THOEMING (1913-1994). Emma died 11 Apr 1972 and is buried in the Washington Memory Gardens Cemetery in Homewood, IL.
John David GREVE was b. 6 Nov 1883 in Cook County, IL to the same parents. John married Harriet Mae COSPER (1912-1951) and they had a son, David GREVE (b. 1937). John died in Feb 1963. Their brother Frank died in 1927 and is also buried in the Washington Memory Garden Cemetery in Homewood, IL as is their sister Ann S. GREVE who died in 1930 and another sister Marie Christina GREVE WITTE (1872-1927). Their mother Anna died in 1932, and she is also in the same cemetery.

Their sister Marie Christina GREVE was b. 27 Dec 1872 in Midlothian, IL and married August Gottfried WITTE (1869-1940) in 1892 and they had two children including Minerva Grace WITTE GRUONER (1893-1982) and Elvera Jeanette WITTE CUPISS (1900-1951). Marie died in Chicago, IL on 29 Nov 1927.
I would like to get this photograph to family and appreciate you contacting me if you are a member of this family or know someone who might be.
Thanks,
Shelley

01/29/2026

Join us Sat., Feb. 14 as Peg Kapustiak presents "Find Industrial and Company Records in the Chicago Metro Area." Peg will present on Zoom. Join us at SSGHS for the Watch Party, or view from home. (To view from home via Zoom, you must register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/9lEusgi6QZm4MIKEb6w5Kw after which you will be sent a link via email.)