Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS)

02/28/2026

Tomorrow (March 1st) is the last day to get the early bird pricing for Gene-A-Rama 2026.

Today is the last day to get the locked in hotel rate.

https://wsgs.org/GAR2026

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.

02/28/2026

IMMIGRATION – PORTS OF ENTRY
WHEN: Saturday, March 21, 2026
10 AM to Noon (Central Time, USA & Canada)

WHERE: Virtually via ZOOM only

To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82394020687?
Passcode OJSuwcTAL3mWJODrpqKSrcIjW6pH9J.1

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois (BIGWILL) invites you to our March meeting with speaker, Christine Cohen.

Christine Cohen presentation topic – “IMMIGRATION – PORTS OF ENTRY”
About 47 million people immigrated to the US between 1607 and 1990 and about 70% entered through the Port of New York. However, consider a broader search in all ports, such as Boston, New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Providence. Also, an entry through Canada and Mexico, should be researched. Christine will review the websites and resources to locate clues to these entry ports such as State Censuses, Voter Registrations, WWI Draft registrations, and Passport Applications.

Christine’s interest in genealogy began in 1977 with the airing of the TV mini-series “Roots”. Her enthusiasm was piqued when she was given a typed pedigree chart, commissioned by her maternal grandfather, of their Dutch heritage from the New Netherlands in the 1650’s. Christine is a native Californian, and a graduate of UCLA in Political Science. She has moved to Oregon for retirement and pursues her genealogy journey full-time. Christine is a long-time member of the Whittier Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) and currently is the Program Director. She is a member of the Tualatin Chapter of the DAR, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, APG and the Society Delegate for NGS.

Visitors are always welcome to attend our BIGWILL presentations, free of charge.

To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82394020687?
Passcode OJSuwcTAL3mWJODrpqKSrcIjW6pH9J.1

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

02/25/2026

The early registration deadline is ending soon on March 1st for this year's Gene-A-Rama. The Hotel deadline is February 28th.

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.

02/24/2026

Just under one week left for early bird registration for Gene-A-Rama in Marshfield! February 28 is the deadline for the hotel block. Any registrations by mail must be postmarked by March 1. After that, you will need to register electronically. If you have any questions, write us at wsgs@wsgs.org. You can see the website for program details. Hope to see you there!

02/24/2026

The Green County Genealogical Society will present - "Stoughton’s William Seamonson and his Civil War Adventuress “by John Arneson.
The presentation is March 7 at 10 am in the Monroe Public Library community room on the second floor. The program is open to the public!

Wisconsin Sons of Norway- Mandt Lodge member John Arneson will share the story of his adventure following the Civil War battle engagements of John’s great grandfather, William Seamonson. Born in Norway and immigrating as a young child, William went on to serve three years in the Wisconsin 23rd Division in the Red River, Vicksburg, and Mobile Campaigns during the Civil War. Follow the journey that John’s investigation has taken as he shares how he researched his great-grandfather’s story of service to his country and what resources anyone has access to in order to research their own family members. Travels took them to Norway, Camp Randall, four southern states where most of his battle engagements occurred, to the state capitol, and ending at his final resting spot at West Koshkonong Church.

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

Green County Genealogical Society is your resource center for Green County and surrounding counties

02/23/2026

Free Zoom-Only Presentation by Rock County Genealogical Society
Located at 816 State Street in Madison, the Wisconsin Historical Society holds one of the top five genealogical collections in the country, with materials from across the U.S. and Canada. Reference Librarian, Jill Fuller will help you discover more about the extensive family history collections at the WHS, including newspapers, family history books, court records, and more. Learn how to search the catalog and website to find materials on your family, both during a visit to WHS and remotely from home.
How to Attend: Anyone is invited to attend this free Zoom presentation on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 PM. This is a Zoom-only presentation and must be watched at the scheduled time. The Zoom link, passcode and audience handout can all be found at the RCGS website at: www.rcgswi.org/events--speakers.

The RCGS Speakers & Programs page provides information about dates, times, location (including map directions), speakers biographies for the Society's FREE program, seminar, workshop and field trip topics.

02/21/2026

British Columbia Genealogical Society member and professional genealogist Kathy Chung is offering a fun, supportive, small-group genealogy research trip to Edinburgh from June 13-20, 2026. The tour includes seven nights hotel and seven breakfasts, 3 days of supported research at Scotland's People, a day-long bus tour out of the city, a closing night dinner with Scottish music, and pre-trip information and guidance. Enjoy the company of other family history buffs while you deepen your knowledge of your roots in the country of your ancestors. For this inaugural trip, Kathy is offering genealogy society members who register by March 15 a $200CAD discount. Simply mention your genealogy society membership in the "anything else you'd like us to know" section of the registration form. Details and registration at

Genealogy research trips to Edinburgh, Scotland, with a professional genealogist. Unlock your family history and experience a taste of Scotland.

02/21/2026

Naturalization: The Path to U.S. Citizenship
Mar 3
7 - 8:30PM Central
Join genealogist Teresa Steinkamp McMillin to learn about the history of naturalization and procedural changes.

https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Event/EV10263

02/18/2026

https://www.copalam.us/

Colorado Palatines to America Spring Seminar. Seminar is in-person and by ZOOM 18 April 2026, 9:30 AM - 4:30 pm The Colorado Chapter of Palatines to America is pleased to announce that Fritz Juengling has accepted our invitation to be the speaker at our Spring seminar, 18 April 2026. About Fritz Doc...

02/16/2026

The deadline for the Governor’s Archives Awards (GAA) is fast approaching! The Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board will be accepting nominations until the deadline on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

The GAA recognizes programs, practitioners, or significant archival work for their achievement, innovation, or creativity in increasing preservation, access, or use of archival materials.

If you have already submitted a nomination, we sincerely thank you for your participation! For more details, see

The Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board (WHRAB) and the Wisconsin Historical Society invite nominations for the Governor's Archives Awards

02/16/2026

Winnebago/Boone County Genealogical Society
RPL, East Branch
6685 East State Street, Rockford, IL
2026 Programs

Saturday, 3/7/2026 at 1:30pm – Using AI Responsibly to Recover/Restore Old Photos, with Bob Bertolasi. Explore how to use AI responsibly in restoring old photographs, with a focus on accuracy, ethics, and avoiding misleading enhancements in genealogical research. (In person and Zoom)

Saturday, 4/11/2026 at 1:30pm – Dark Days of Illinois History: Prohibition, with Kathi Kresol. Explore the dark side of Illinois history with a thrilling look at Prohibition, when infamous criminals turned the state into their own playground of shootouts, heists, and hideouts. Rare photographs and little-known stories reveal the shadowy legacy of Illinois’s most notorious “businessmen.” (In person and Zoom)

Saturday, 5/2/2026 at 1:30pm – Self-Publishing with Maureen Lang. Learn to publish on KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing. Bring your laptop for hands on. MUST have an Amazon account to access KDP. (In person and Zoom)

Saturday, 6/6/2026 at 1:30pm – American at 250, with Scott Norrick. For the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, this presentation will guide you in discovering Revolutionary War ancestors using key archives, resources, and strategies while exploring both Patriot and Loyalist stories. (In person and Zoom)

Saturday, 9/5/2026 at 1:30pm – SAR/DAR/C.A.R, with Sharon Thomasson and Darlene Schoepski. Learn what the SAR, DAR, and C.A.R. are all about and how to join these patriotic lineage societies honoring Revolutionary ancestors. (In person and Zoom)

Saturday, 10/3/2026 at 1:30pm – Special 40th Anniversary

Saturday, 11/7/2026 at 1:30pm - 250 Years Later - Everyday American Patriot Heroes, Robert Campbell, SR and His Family with Vicki Hahn. Discover Robert Campbell Sr.’s powerful story of frontier life, loss, and service during the Revolutionary era. (In person and Zoom)

2026 Special Programs Hosted by WBCGS

Saturday, 3/21/2026 at 1:30pm - Rockford's Only Monument to Women: Creating a Suffrage Centennial Sculpture During a Pandemic! - Discover how 13 organizations and over 200 volunteers came together to create Rockford’s Women’s Suffrage Plaza, a unique mosaic honoring the 19th Amendment, local suffrage leaders, and future voters, while exploring the stories, symbols, and educational resources behind the sculpture.

Check us out on Facebook for updates and added events.

wbcgensociety@gmail.com WBCGS - Home (wbcgensociety.org)

The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to: Encourage and support genealogical researchers. Promote the discovering and preserving of valued genealogical resources of...

02/16/2026

"Using AI Responsibly to Recover and Restore Old Photos"
Speaker: Bob Bertolasi

WBCGS – Regular Meeting Program
Saturday, March 7th, at 1:30 p.m. CDT
Meeting Location: Rockford Public Library, East Branch,
6685 East State St., Rockford IL

In person and Zoom.
Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ehd_exX5SNOs2ZjzTkPRvg

With rapid developments in artificial intelligence, it’s more important than ever to talk about responsible use of AI in genealogy, especially when restoring or recovering historic photographs. New tools appear constantly, and while many are heavily promoted by genealogy and heritage platforms, much of that attention is driven by marketing rather than accuracy.

Over the past year, ongoing discussion within the genealogy community and emerging ethics committees have highlighted the need for transparency, faithfulness, and care when using AI with historical images. Some platforms, notably Gemini, are gaining recognition for producing restorations that many genealogists consider more accurate and respectful of the original photograph. Interestingly, much of Gemini’s capability is currently available at no cost for limited daily use, raising important questions about standards, expectations, and where the performance bar should be set going forward.

This seminar explores how to use AI thoughtfully and ethically, ensuring that restored images support honest genealogical research rather than unintentionally rewriting history.

Bob Bertolasi graduated from East High School, Bob served in the U.S. Air Force until 1962, later earning a degree in General Science from Rockford College with majors in Physics, Mathematics, and Psychology. His career has spanned roles at Ingersoll Milling, Kelsey Hayes Gunite Foundry and Twin Disc, and has worked in 31 countries and logged over 1.8 million air miles. Now retired, Bob joined Rock Valley College’s Center for Learning in Retirement in 2012 and is currently an instructor, committee member and media specialist. In addition, he enjoys a lifelong interest in photography and showcasing his customized 1950 Ford at car shows.

To register in advance for this program visit our page for the Zoom link. facebook.com/WBCGS! or on our website www.wbcgensociety.org

For more information, call Diane McCue at (815) 543-2287