Ongoing Genealogy Drop-in Help
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Listed here are times when a volunteer from the Fox Valley Genealogical Society will be available in the adult services department to help any interested individuals who wish to obtain assistance either to get started on a genealogy project or to complete difficult genealogical research challenges. Nichols Library Adult Services Department 1st Tuesday each month 6:30-8:30 p.m. 3rd Thursday each month 3:00-5:00 p.m. 95th Street Library Adult Services Department 2nd Thursday each month 12:30-2:30 p.m. Nichols Library 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Naperville, Illinois 60540 95th Street Library 3015 Cedar Glade Dr. Naperville, Illinois 60564 630-961-4100
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Online Resources All databases are available from home with your library card number and PIN, except Ancestry –Library Edition which is in-library use only. No library card is needed to access these resources within the library.
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Many genealogy hobbyists who recently attended DuPage County Genealogical Society's annual conference enjoyed the informative and lively presentations of John Philip Colletta. Mr. Colletta, a nationally known presenter, is a faculty member of the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research (University of Georgia, Athens) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. He is featured in the Great Courses DVD series: Discovering Your Roots: An Introduction to Genealogy, At Nichols Library, Wanda Schlafly inspired attendees to preserve family history with audiovisual formats. Also introduced at the program were options for using Naperville Libraries' hardware and software to convert traditional print and film media to digital formats. For example, all Naperville libraries have 'Bullet Scanners' available to all that can scan and digitize a stack of photos in seconds. The 'Wolverine', pictured at left, digitizes film and slides. Library staff are happy to assist with use of these devices. If you are interested in photo restoration, each library has multiple versions of Adobe Photoshop available to anyone. Library cardholders can access easy Photoshop photo restoration tutorials on Lynda.com, as well as "Organizing and Storing Digital Photos and Videos" from professional organizer Suzanne Kaye.
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Two Nordic courses in one day, as well as visitors from Nordic heritage societies!
First Kathy Meade, North American representative for Arkiv Digital, will present “Discover how and where to research your Swedish, Danish and Finnish heritage!” The class will outline the steps for identifying key information about an ancestor allowing a researcher to jump the pond. This includes looking at key U.S. resources; unique Swedish-American, Danish-American and Finnish-American sources and research centers. Then looking at the various record types and where you can find these resources online, both free and subscription sites, and at physical archives and research centers. Then Laura Kovarik, Illinois State Genealogical Society President, will present “It’s Hard to Be Humble: The Joys of Norwegian Research” explaining how to trace Norwegian ancestors here and in Norway. An emphasis will be placed on no-cost options. Learn to love those patronymic names! Heritage organizations will be in attendance to introduce their resources: Finnish American Society of the Midwest Museum of Danish America Norsk Museum Swedish American Historical Society Door Prizes include subscriptions and publications Light Refreshments Sign up for a free Nordic Event reminder here.
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of the City Directory Thursday, April 12, 7:30 pm Refreshments 7:00 p.m. Naperville Municipal Center 400 S. Eagle Street Meeting Room B Join us at the monthly meeting of Fox Valley Genealogical Society where Certified Genealogist Teresa Steinkamp McMillin will be the guest speaker. The city directory provides an opportunity to discover our ancestors’ historical context. Pictures, advertisements, maps of the city and many more items are often included. The audience will be encouraged to understand each directory’s unique qualities. Reverse directories will also be discussed. Every directory available for a given ancestor/family should be consulted.
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Introduction to Library Genealogy Resources Saturday, May 5, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nichols Naper Launch This program will introduce beginners to free genealogy resources available at Naperville Public Library buildings and on the Library’s website. These resources include Ancestry Library Edition, Heritage Quest, and Fold3. A limited number of laptops will be available, or bring your own if you would like to follow along with this tour of each resource.
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Genealogy Day 2018! Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook, IL In addition to the in-person program, a live stream and recorded edition of the program is available for free. This year’s speakers and schedule of lectures: Dropsy, Quinsy, or Consumption: Just Exactly What Did My Ancestor Have? presented by Kimberly Nagy Death Demystified: Understanding Coroner and Undertaker Records presented by Tina Beaird Your Predecessor’s Personality on Paper: Using Handwriting Analysis in Genealogical Research presented by Gina Pommier
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Researching Your Colonial Ancestors Saturday, May 26, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nichols NaperLaunch This program by Jane Haldeman explores ancestors living in the Original Thirteen Colonies before the Revolutionary War. Each colonist came to the “new world” for different reasons and each colony was different. They come for both religious and economic opportunities. Find out what records are available and where they are to learn about Colonial American Ancestors. In addition, information about Patriot heritage societies will be shared after the program.
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Your Opportunity Thursday, June 14, 7:30-9 p.m. Refreshments 7 p.m. Naperville Municipal Center 400 S. Eagle Street, Meeting room B This special event honoring the Illinois bicentennial is in cooperation with Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau and Fox Valley Genealogical Society. This program by historian John Hallwas is intended to foster community by emphasizing local heritage that helps residents to feel meaningfully connected. Illinois’s monumental literary heritage is particularly rich in autobiographies and memoirs, including the first noted autobiography from the Midwest (Chief Black Hawk’s), the most famous memoir associated with the Civil War (Ulysses S. Grant’s), and one of the most celebrated autobiographies by an American woman (Jane Addams’s Twenty Years at Hull House), among many others. Such works often address issues of identity and belonging, which are as crucial today as ever.
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Saturday, August 25, 9:30 a.m. Nichols Community Room Caron Primas Brennan will explain why and how to implement DNA testing in genealogy research. Brennan will use case studies and examples, to illustrate how to incorporate DNA testing into family history research. This is NOT a primer on the science of DNA, although some basic information is included. The audience does not have to be knowledgeable about DNA testing to learn from this presentation. Caron Primas Brennan is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the CAGNNI Speakers Bureau, a Board Member of the Chicago Genealogical Society, and a Board Member of the Illinois State Genealogical Society.
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Cradled in Swedenby Carl-Erik JohanssonCradled in Sweden is considered by many to be the "bible" of Swedish research. This book describes various record sources in detail, and includes information on each of the parishes, military divisions, probate districts, naming customs and more. With over 26 chapters , this book is full of useful information for those researching their Swedish ancestry.
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Where the sweet bird singsby Ella Joy OlsenEmma Hazelton is frozen by grief from the death of her young son from a rare genetic disease, unable and unwilling to consider her husband Noah’s suggestion that they try to have another child, forcing her to delve into her family's past in order to make sense of her present. By the author of Root, Petal, Thorn. Original.
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Ancestors: who we are and where we come fromby David HertzelThroughout history people have incorporated ancestors into rituals public and private, religious and secular. Societies are often organized around ancestral constructions; medical professionals consider ancestral information important to a patient's diagnosis and to the study of disease. Hertzel offers an introductory foray into the nature of relationships people today have with their ancestors, and explores the significance of ancestry and ancestral belief in our modern world.
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