Zion Meeting

Did your ancestor live in one of the Original Thirteen Colonies? Were they here before the Revolutionary War? Each colonist came to the "new world" for different reasons and each colony was different. They came for both religious and economic opportunities. The Southern Colonies, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia were rural, with planters and farmers. Besides English immigrants there were Scots, Scots-Irish, Germans and Africans. Find out what records are available and where they are, so you can learn about your Colonial American Ancestors.

Jane Haldeman has 20 plus years of research experience. Her passion for genealogy began in the 8th grade with a school assignment. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Theater. Combining her passions for genealogy and theater she now lectures on technology as it applies to genealogical research. Ms. Haldman developed and owns "It's Relative" a genealogical service business provides lectures, workshops, research and consultations. It's Relative is based in the suburbs of Chicago. There is easy access to many of the major repositories in Illinois and the Midwest including the Great Lakes branch of the National Archives, Illinois Regional Archive Depository (IRAD), Newberry Library, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Wisconsin Historical Society Library-Archives in Madison as well as many others. Go to their site at (www.itsrelative.net) for more details.

Other positions Jane has held include President, Illinois State Genealogical Society, past president 2010–2012 and board member since 2001 of the Fox Valley Genealogical Society (Naperville, IL), Past Chapter Registrar, Fort Payne Chapter (Naperville, IL) National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and Past Design and Technical Editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly journal.

Jan 15, 2024 - Monday ZOOM Meeting only	*"Colonial Research "* Did your ancestor live in one of the Original Thirteen Colonies? Were they here before the Revolutionary War? Each colonist came to the "new world" for different reasons and each colony was different. They came for both religious and economic opportunities. The Southern Colonies, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia were rural, with planters and farmers. Besides English immigrants there were Scots, Scots-Irish, Germans and Africans. Find out what records are available and where they are, so you can learn about your Colonial American Ancestors. Jane Haldeman Jane Haldeman has 20 plus years of research experience. Her passion for genealogy began in the 8th grade with a school assignment. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Theater. Combining her passions for genealogy and theater she now lectures on technology as it applies to genealogical research. Ms. Haldman developed and owns "It's Relative" a genealogical service business provides lectures, workshops, research and consultations. It's Relative is based in the suburbs of Chicago. There is easy access to many of the major repositories in Illinois and the Midwest including the Great Lakes branch of the National Archives, Illinois Regional Archive Depository (IRAD), Newberry Library, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Wisconsin Historical Society Library-Archives in Madison as well as many others. Go to their site at (www.itsrelative.net) for more details. Other positions Jane has held include President, Illinois State Genealogical Society, past president 2010–2012 and board member since 2001 of the Fox Valley Genealogical Society (Naperville, IL), Past Chapter Registrar, Fort Payne Chapter (Naperville, IL) National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and Past Design and Technical Editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly journal.
Feb 19, 2024 - Monday ZOOM Meeting Only	*" Germans to America Midwest 1848 - 1900"* Over 46 million Americans have some German ancestry. The largest German immigration wave to America was 1848-1900, and the majority of those that came then settled in America's Midwest. This presentation will examine the reasons why so many Germans were leaving their homeland during this period as well as why so many settled in America's Midwest. In addition, the presentation will cover: German immigration trends Ports of departure and arrival Midwest German hotspots Cultural influences brought to the Midwest Top sites for researching your German Ancestors Scott Norrick via Zoom Scott Norrick's passion is connecting people to their past. While providing a list of names, dates and places for ancestors is a start, Scott enjoys helping others discover the stories of triumphs and tribulations that defined our ancestors' lives. He does this by assisting clients with breaking down their genealogical brick walls and by helping them document the rich stories of their family history. His areas of expertise include research in the American Midwest along with the immigration to the Midwest from European countries. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University. With over 30 years of family history research experience, he is familiar with all the latest and time-tested genealogical tools. Through his company Ancestral Past, he welcomes the opportunity to assist others on their genealogy journey.
Mar 18,2024 - Monday In Person & ZOOM Meeting	*"Headline DNA: Helping to Solve True Crime"* Since retirement in 2020 Laura is excitedly devoting more time to her genealogy business. It's so rewarding helping others enjoy the excitement and tremendous fulfillment of learning about their own family heritage. Laura has a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the Illinois State Genealogical Society. At the Town and Country Public Library in Elburn, she was the History and Genealogy Manager and help them to open their Lawrence J. Martin Heritage Center. A long-time dream came true with the launch of Willowtree Research Genealogy Services in 2013. In 2014, I completed the Boston University "Certificate in Genealogical Research" program and am now a proud BU Gen certificate-holder (OL 14). Eventually, ticked a box on my 'bucket list' employed as History and Genealogy Manager at a local library. In that role I oversaw the creation and opening of their Lawrence J. Martin Heritage Center. Along the way I've served on several genealogical boards, including as a Director and Newsletter Editor for the Illinois State Genealogical Society. Laura Chaplin With DNA making headlines as a key forensic tool, many want to know more about the science of crime-solving DNA analysis. What kind of DNA is this? How is it obtained? How is DNA used? What are the developing issues involving privacy, insurance, or personal control? Come explore this hot topic and hear some examples from recent true crime headlines.
Apr 15,2024- Monday In-Person & ZOOM Meeting	*"Creating a Coffee Table Style Family History Book"* Michelle has created two print-on-demand family history books. The books are in full color, and chock full of photos, documents, newspaper clips, genealogy charts and other family artifacts. Learn how to put together a beautifully formatted book, how to print copies at a very reasonable price, and how to publish and make your book available to others. Speaker: Michelle Bray Wilson Michelle Bray Wilson has been active in the genealogy community for over 10 years. She speaks throughout the Midwest. She is a former president of CAGGNI, the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois.
May 20, 2024 - Monday In-Person and ZOOM Meeting	*"The Connection Between NW Germany and Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky"* The connections as to why so many Germans emigrated from North Western Germany To Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Speaker: Dan Jungclas - In-Person and Zoom Dan has over 30 years of experience and embodies a professional approach. He continually invests in quality genealogical education and resources; is tech savvy and is passionate about what he does. Dan specializes in a number of areas like Genealogy related to Cincinnati, Ohio; Northern Kentucky and other areas of the Midwest, the US Civil War, WWI, WWII and German Genealogy. Dan Jungclas, The Ancestry Guy Is A Member of the Following: The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), Genealogical Speakers Guild, National Genealogical Society (NGS), Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS), Hamilton County Ohio Genealogical Society (HCGSOHIO), Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS), International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP), Germanic Genealogical Society (GGS) Minnesota, Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS), St. Louis Genealogical Society (StLGS), Germans in St. Louis (GSL), and the Palatines To America.
June 17, 2024 - Monday In-Person	*"Problem Solving Workshop"* Workshop - Submit Problems To Solve Speaker: Zion Genealogical Society and Lake County Illinois Genealogy Society
July - 2024 No Meeting
Aug 19, 2024 - Monday In-Person & ZOOM Meeting	*"What's New On FamilySearch?"* FamilySearch, a family history website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, gathers, preserves, and shares genealogical records worldwide. It offers free access to its resources online at familysearch.org. As the website is very dynamic, this presentation will discuss the latest FamilySearch developments, including new features, historic records, classes/webinars, and more. Speaker: Maureen Brady Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has forty years experience with family history research. She has traced her Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century and beyond, and has also pursued Chicago and the Midwest, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebecois, 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.
Sept 16, 2024- Monday In-Person & ZOOM Meeting	*"The War of 1812"* Discover the stories and service of the military men of America's 'Second Revolution'. Reaching beyond federal pension records, this lecture examines a range of resources spanning military registers, navy accounts, and prisoner of war records. Speaker: Debra Dudek Debra M. Dudek is Head of Adult and Teen Services at the Fountaindale Public Library District in Bolingbrook, IL. She holds a post graduate certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Ms. Dudek is the Book Review Editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, an executive board member of the Illinois State Historical Society, website coordinator for the Chicago Chapter NSDAR, and is the author of the World War I Research Guide: Tracing American Military and Non-Combatant Ancestors.
Oct 21, 2024 - Monday In-Person & ZOOM Meeting	*"Using Probate Records for Genealogical Research"* Is there a relative who never had any children of their own, had no siblings and died owning enough property to require a probate or an estate settlement? If so, the records of that settlement may be particularly interesting. The deceased person’s heirs-at-law typically would have been their first cousins or their first cousin’s descendants. Even if there was a will, these heirs-at-law typically would have had to have been notified of the probate. Those records could help determine relationships and indicate where people were living at the time the relative died. Estate or probate records would typically be filed at the local court level. Speaker: Michael John Neill Michael John Neill has been actively engaged in genealogical research for over thirty years. He writes the popular "Genealogy Tip of the Day" which is hosted on www.genealogytipoftheday.com. Michael has lead research trips to the Family History Library and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He gives lectures on a variety of genealogical topics and concentrates on research in the Midwestern and upper Southern regions of the United States and several countries in Western Europe. Michael is a former community college mathematics instructor and has a master's degree in mathematics.
Nov 18, 2024 - Monday In-Person & ZOOM Meeting	*"Maps and Trails"* Tina Beaird Tina Beaird is the owner of Tamarack Genealogy and is a Genealogy and Local History librarian at the Plainfield Public Library in Plainfield, IL. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree with a specialization in Archives/Preservation from Dominican University. Tina has won multiple research and digitization grants to preserve and digitize historic documents and photographs. Currently, she is First Vice President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, and board director for the Oswegoland Heritage Association. Tina is also an active member of the Society of American Archivists and the American Library Association.
Dec 2024	*NO MEETING - HAPPY HOLIDAYS*

Zion Genealogical Society of Lake County (Illinois, USA)

Researching Around the World

Including the Neighboring Lake County Communities of:

Beach Park, Gurnee, North Chicago, Park City, Wadsworth, Waukegan, Wildwood, and Winthrop Harbor

Zion Genealogical Society ~ c/o Zion-Benton Public Library ~ 2400 Gabriel Avenue ~ Zion, IL 60099
Website: zgsil.org ~ Facebook: facebook.com/ZionGenealogicalSociety ~ Email: ziongenealogy@gmail.com

2024 Program Schedule and Activities

Updated January 4, 2024