Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS)

11/19/2025

The Chippewa County Genealogical Society will meet at 10:00 on Saturday, November 22, at the Chippewa Area History Center, 12 Bridgewater Avenue, Chippewa Falls.

There will be a short business meeting, followed by a program titled "The Military Influence on Families: The Life of Brigadier General Dennis Sullivan"

11/19/2025

The 2026 webinars are now ready for registration. I hope everyone enjoys them. These webinars are free to the general public with handout. Members can watch the recordings later, if needed.

WSGS is a statewide genealogical organization. Founded in 1939, WSGS' basic purpose is to encourage, facilitate and improve the quality of genealogical study in Wisconsin & about Wisconsin families.

11/15/2025

I am looking for someone who could go to the Marathon County courthouse to look at some indexes, and if lucky, transcribe 4 records. Yes, I will pay. Please PM me. I would think about 2 or so hours. Please email me at nadine17543@yahoo.com if interested. Thank you- Nadine Guilbault

11/11/2025

The Green County Genealogical Society will hold its Friday Fun Day November 21 from 1-3 pm in the Research center located in the lower level of the Monroe Public Library.

Friday Fun Day November 21st, “Pomeranian Research Tools “discussion led by Ken Bartelt at1 pm at the Green County Genealogical Society Center, Ken will talk about the possibilities of tracing Pomeranian ancestors in the Pomeranian duplicate church records and the Civil Registration.

Ken will also discuss the Meyer Gazetteer. A search of the Gazetteer will give you lots of information about the village your ancestors lived in.

Bring your Pomeranian questions concerning your research. Ken is prepared to help answer your questions.
He will have a few copies of my "German history in a nutshell" to share.

GCGS will also have maps and reference materials available.

Ken has been researching genealogy since 1977. He has printed three family histories and recently started working on the Bartelt family. He has also printed “The Basswood Affair,” a story based on the school bombing.

The past two years he has been scanning and indexing the collections at the Winslow Historical Museum, and recently began doing the same for the McConnell Area Historical Society.
He worked at the Rockford Post Office for 30 years and lives in Pecatonica, IL.


For any questions about the meeting or presentation, call Donna at 608-921-1537. The GCGS Research Center (located in the lower level of the Monroe Public Library is open to the public for research Tuesdays 10 am-3 pm. Other times available by appointment. The phone number is 608-328-7436 and the website is www.greencogenealogywi.org.

11/08/2025

Wisconsin Historical Society Genealogy Programs
Spring 2026
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February 2026
Title: Wisconsin Genealogy Day
Presenters: Mica Anders, Rebecca Hopman, Dana Kelly, Eileen Snyder
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Central
Format: Zoom webinar
Cost: Free
Description: Join us for a free virtual event where you will learn from expert speakers about how to research your Wisconsin and Midwestern ancestors. Presentations include “Researching Wisconsin Ancestors” by Rebecca Hopman; “Tracing Early African American Legacies in the Midwest” by Mica Anders; “Beyond Vital Records: Useful Government Resources for Genealogists” by Eileen Snyder; and “Norwegians in the Midwest” by Dana Kelly. Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

This webinar will be recorded and made available to registered attendees for 30 days.

Registration: https://wihist.org/wgd

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March 2026
Title: Naturalization: The Path to U.S. Citizenship
Presenter: Teresa Steinkamp-McMillin
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Central
Format: Zoom webinar
Cost: $25.00
Description: Finding naturalization records is an important part in researching our immigrant ancestors. A process for becoming a United States citizen has been in place since our country’s early history. Laws have been enacted and modified throughout time. The process has seen many changes as a result. Join genealogist Teresa Steinkamp McMillin to learn about the history of naturalization and procedural changes. She’ll explain how to find records and illustrate these steps with examples.

Can’t attend live? The webinar will be recorded and made available to registrants for 30 days. The registration deadline is Sunday, March 1, at 11:59 PM Central. Don’t wait … register today to save your seat!

Registration: https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/naturalization-the-path-to-citizenship

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April 2026
Title: Ask Us Anything: A Genealogy Q&A with WHS Staff
Presenter: Jill Fuller, Lee Grady, Rebecca Hopman
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Central
Format: Zoom webinar
Cost: $25.00
Description: Do you have a question about researching your family history? Or how the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) can help with your genealogy project? Join our very own genealogy experts to get answers and learn about how to use WHS collections and services for your family history research. WHS holds one of the top five genealogical collections in the country, with materials from across the United States and Canada, including newspapers, family history books, court records, and more. Archivist Lee Grady and librarians Rebecca Hopman and Jill Fuller will answer questions from the audience and highlight their favorite tips and resources for family history research.

Can’t attend live? The webinar will be recorded and made available to registrants for 30 days. The registration deadline is Sunday, April 5, at 11:59 PM Central. Don’t wait … register today to save your seat!

Registration: https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/ask-us-anything-genealogy-webinar

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May 2026
Title: Chinese American Genealogy
Presenter: Grant Din
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Central
Format: Zoom webinar
Cost: $25.00
Description: Join genealogist Grant Din to learn about Chinese Americans across the United States and the information you can glean from documents like ship manifests, censuses, and death records to explore the history of early Chinese immigration pre-exclusion, including the California gold rush, railroads, and urban settlements. You will also learn about ports of entry like Angel Island, segregated schools, Titanic survivors, the development of Chinese communities including in rural areas such as the Sacramento River Delta, and more.
Can’t attend live? The workshop will be recorded and made available to registrants for 30 days. The registration deadline is Sunday, May 10, at 11:59 PM Central. Don’t wait … register today to save your seat!

Registration: https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/chinese-american-genealogy

11/08/2025

PLEASE JOIN Rock County Genealogical Society FOR THIS ZOOM PROGRAM--AT HOME OR AT THE MILTON HOUSE on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11 at 6:30pm CST

TITLE : IRISH ANCESTORS- THE TOP 5 WEBSITES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

This webinar is a romp through the top 5 websites where you will find information on your Irish ancestors. Best of all, they are all free! This is ideal if you are at the start of your Irish ancestral research and will give you a good grounding before delving into the more obscure record sets. We will cover the main collections on each web site and will include search hints and tips so that you can maximize your search.

Presenter--Natalie Bodle is a professionally qualified genealogist, author and a speaker on the international circuit. Her company, www.RootsRevealed.co.uk, is a Professional Genealogy and Family History Research Service which is based in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. She has many years’ experience of researching family trees and achieved professional qualification after completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies with the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

HOW TO ATTEND: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, required passcode and handout can be accessed on our RCGS Website if you wish to view at home. Navigate to our speakers page for November.

Please join us for this interesting and informative program.

Julie Jacobs Feingold & Events Coordinator
Rock County Genealogical Society
Milton House Museum
18 S. Janesville Street, Milton, WI 53563
RCGS.Speakers@gmail.com | RCGSWI.org

Professionally qualified genealogist in Northern Ireland - research undertaken throughout Ireland & the UK.

11/05/2025

BIRTH, MARRIAGE & DEATH RECORDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025
10 AM to Noon (Central Time, USA & Canada)

WHERE: BIGWILL live meeting at The Community Church, 5714 Broadway, Richmond, IL 60071 and virtually via ZOOM

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois (BIGWILL) invites you to our November meeting with speaker, Maureen Brady.

“Comparing the Birth, Marriage and Death Records of the United Kingdom” While England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all part of the United Kingdom, the church and civil registration systems used to record births, marriages and deaths are very different. Maureen Brady’s presentation will review and compare each record type, and suggest key online search sites.

Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has over forty years’ experience with family history research. She has traced her Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century, and has also pursued Chicago and the Midwest, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebec, Irish and Swedish research. Maureen has made numerous presentations to genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops throughout the U.S., as well as presenting for the Brigham Young University Library family history webinar series. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society and the Ohio, Chicago and McHenry County (Illinois) Genealogical Societies. Maureen is also active in the Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Societies, the British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois, and the Chicago Scots Scottish Genealogical Society.

Visitors are always welcome to attend our BIGWILL presentations, free of charge. Come learn with us!

To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85411945272?pwd=M1P39xJao9pXU7O8ZLAWgUTKUagl1x.1
Meeting ID 854 1194 5272
Passcode 705325

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL) is a special interest group for those who wish to research family history and ancestry in the British Isles. We meet at 10:00 am (Central time) on the third Saturday of January, March, May, July, September and November. Live meetings in May, July, September and November are held in The Community Church, 5714 Broadway, Richmond, IL 60071 and simultaneously via ZOOM. January and March meetings are online only, virtually via ZOOM.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

11/05/2025

The Widow Won, the Barkeep Lost: Using Historical Context and the FAN Club to Enrich Your Family Stories - Candace Marx

Date: 15 Nov 2025 10:30 AM CST

Hybrid - Arlington Heights Memorial Library & Zoom

The Widow Won, the Barkeep Lost: Using Historical Context and the FAN Club to Enrich Your Family Stories

by Candace Marx

On 16 May 1890, Arthur Bell bought a keg of beer from a saloon in Yorkville, Illinois. What happened next would forever change the fate of two families. This case study will demonstrate how to bring your family legends to life by adding historical, social, and cultural context. Numerous examples will help prove that researching your ancestors' friends, associates and neighbors (the FAN club) can reveal new clues and bring fresh points-of-view to old stories. Helpful and unique reference materials, including books and websites, will also be discussed.

Candace Marx studied Fine Arts with a focus in illustration at Northern Illinois University and has created numerous portraits for family and friends. She holds a certificate from Boston University's online Genealogical Research Program, has completed the ProGen Study Groups program, and the Genetic Genealogy program at Excelsior College. In 2019, she was honored with the American Society of Genealogists' Scholar Award.

Candace has volunteered at the St. Charles History Museum, transcribing Civil War-era journals of St. Charles and Fox Valley residents. As a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists' Chicago Chapter and an active board member of the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS), Candace has also published several articles in the ISGS Quarterly. Candace specializes in Chicagoland records, particularly those in Kane County, as well as Cook, DuPage, and Kendall Counties. Her research expertise extends to Luxembourg ancestry in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin. She is skilled in transcribing old handwriting and enjoys helping clients identify family members in historical photographs.


If offered Virtual or Hybrid, you must register to receive the Zoom meeting info. Non-members will be charged $5 for the Zoom link.
To register: The Widow Won, the Barkeep Lost: Using Historical Context and the FAN Club to Enrich Your Family Stories - Candace Marx.

Learn more about CAGGNI at https://caggni.org/Join-CAGGNI

Best regards,

CAGGNI

CAGGNI, the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois, holds regular meetings online and at various libraries in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

10/31/2025

10/28/2025

Please join Rock County Genealogical Society for their free Zoom Program--

Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum Tomah Room or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app. You can access this link and required password on our website. Navigate to the speakers page for November.

Program Presenter: Natalie Bodle is a professionally qualified genealogist, author and a speaker on the international circuit. Her company, www.RootsRevealed.co.uk, is a Professional Genealogy and Family History Research Service which is based in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. She has many years’ experience of researching family trees and achieved professional qualification after completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies with the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Program Summary: This webinar is a romp through the top 5 websites where you will find information on your Irish ancestors. Best of all, they are all free! This is ideal if you are at the start of your Irish ancestral research and will give you a good grounding before delving into the more obscure record sets. We will cover the main collections on each web site and will include search hints and tips so that you can maximize your search.

How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout can be accessed on our Website. Navigate to our speakers page for November.

Julie Jacobs Feingold Speaker & Events Coordinator
Rock County Genealogical Society
Milton House Museum
18 S. Janesville Street, Milton, WI 53563
RCGS.Speakers@gmail.com | RCGSWI.org

Professionally qualified genealogist in Northern Ireland - research undertaken throughout Ireland & the UK.