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 NaperLaunch Small Meeting Room 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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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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Fold3 Expansions In the Online Resource Fold3, the War of 1812 pension files have grown to contain surnames beginning with the letter 'P'. Digitizing pension files is continuing. If you don’t see your ancestor’s pension file, keep checking back. The Naperville Library's version of Fold3 is identical to the subscription version, and can be accessed by anyone in our branches, and remotely by NPL cardholders. Anyone can create an account to save discoveries, and to create memorial pages. The War of 1812 collection is organized by state or organization, and then by the soldier’s surname and given name. "In 1813 and 1816, Congress approved a military pension for soldiers who served between 1812 and 1815 and suffered a disability or death. In 1871 and 1878, Congress expanded the pensions to include more veterans." These files can include rank, place of residence, and date of birth. A widow’s application can include residence, maiden name, place of marriage, circumstances of her husband’s death, and names of children under 16. Occasionally there is a photograph of the veteran. Fold3 has also recently added to their collection of WWII Allied POW Records. Virtual Roadtrips Winter weather is not ideal for traveling to an ancestral home, but there are a number of online options for viewing locations. Realtor websites such as Zillow and Redfin provide photos of both exteriors and interiors of existing homes, as well as neighborhood views. Note that different websites can offer alternate views taken from different angles and during various times. My Great-grandmother's home no longer exists to view in this way, but on Zillow I can see where it once stood. The address is now a parking lot for the County Historical Society that resides in a former neighbor's historical home, built during the same era as my relatives' house. That property has interior views available online, and being a historical society, the Victorian interior is preserved with furnishings and objects from the time of my ancestors! Additionally, the 'Street View' in Google Maps allows for a 360° look at a property's surrounding neighborhood. Google Earth Pro (free for the Chrome browser) provides the viewer both a street and an aerial view (zooming in from orbit), and a look back in time (incrementally, depending on available images taken over past decades). To access this feature select a location, then select View > Historical Imagery. Another online resource for seeing historical locations was recently announced. Sanborn Maps are being made available on the Library of Congress website. These are detailed fire insurance maps of approximately 12,000 U.S. cities and towns in the 19th and 20th centuries. They reveal changes in environments over decades. These maps are being added to the Library of Congress site over the next three years for a total of 500,000 images. "The maps are arranged by state, then city and release data. Currently there are over 25,000 sheets from over 3000 city sets online in the following states: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OK, PA, SD, TX, VA, VT, WY and Canada, Mexico, Cuba sugar warehouses, and U.S. whiskey warehouses." Local history seekers can also find microfilm editions of Sanborn Maps for Naperville for the years 1886, 1892, 1898, 1909, 1921, 1926-1949, in the Nichols Library Local History collection. Death Index Updates Save the Date Fox Valley Genealogical Society has announced that they will host their 2019 fall conference on Saturday, September 21st, at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville. The featured speaker, Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS, is an award winning genealogist and an Ancestry Academy Expert Instructor.
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4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630 Want to discover your Irish and Scots-Irish ancestors? Join Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt from the Ulster Historical Foundation during their annual United States lecture tour to learn how to get the most out of Irish resources and records, gain strategies for breaking down brick walls, and grasp important historical context. Free to attend, register at above link.
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Do you have ancestors that might have been involved in the Underground Railroad? How do you find records of those who were involved? Presenter Janice Lovelace, Ph.D., is a genealogical researcher, educator, author and lecturer, with over thirty years of experience. Register at above link for this viewing or become an ISGS member to view this and many, many other webinars at your leisure. Members also receive a discount on the ISGS fall conference this year in Naperville, October 25 & 26.
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Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m. Naperville Municipal Center 400 S. Eagle St. Lower Level Meeting Room B Having an adopted ancestor can be one of the most challenging aspects of genealogy. In times past, records of adoptions weren't as well kept as they are today, making searching for the link between birth families and adoptees difficult. And, in modern times, adoption searches are often hindered by legal barriers. Join Matt Rutherford, Curator of Genealogy at Chicago's Newberry Library, as he discusses techniques and sources for exploring records of American adoptions in all time periods. Co-sponsored by Fox Valley Genealogical Society and Naperville Public Library.
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This is the monthly meeting of the Elgin Genealogical Society where Grace DuMelle will present “Tools to Dig Deeper: Probate and Inquest Records.” She will tell us why it’s worth looking for a probate case even if you think your ancestor didn’t have money. You can find relatives you didn’t know existed, a listing of property and furnishings, and bills from service providers. Grace is on staff at the Newberry Library in Chicago and has experience on both sides of the reference desk, as a staffer and as a researcher.
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Learn how to research your Irish ancestors using online resources, Perfect for beginner and intermediate genealogists. The presenter is Debra Dudek.
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200 W. Jefferson, Naperville This genealogy interest group provides the opportunity to network with other family history enthusiasts. Genealogy hobbyists who would like to talk about their discoveries, share collection tips, and learn from other family historians are encouraged to attend. You do NOT have to be an NPL cardholder to register. *Register here.
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Learn about the best resources and strategies for digging into your family’s Chicago roots. Discover geographic and government sources that can open a window into your ancestors’ world. Presented by Grace DuMelle, author of the award-winning book Finding Your Chicago Ancestors.
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300 W. Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook Genealogy Day is a free day-long conference open to researchers of all experience levels. In addition to the in-person program, a live stream and recorded edition of the program is available for free on our blog http://fountaindalegenealogy.org/webinars. This year's speakers and schedule of lectures: - How DNA Testing Can Help Your Genealogy Research by Steve Szabados
- A Review of Ethnicity Results from Nine DNA Testing Companies by Robert Sliwinski
- Using Today’s Commercial DNA Test Results in a Medical Family Tree by Marsha Peterson-Maass
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200 W. Jefferson, Naperville In certain geographic areas of Germany, the custom of German farm names has been in existence since about 1000 A.D. In this custom, a farm carried the surname and anyone who inherited that farm assumed that name. Teresa McMillin, CG, an Ancestry.com Expert, explains some of the common pitfalls a searcher may encounter when exploring in one of these areas and how to overcome them.
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The Adoptee's Guide to DNA Testing: How to Use Genetic Genealogy to Discover Your Long-lost Familyby Tamar WeinbergReconnect with your roots! Adoptees, foundlings, and others with unknown parentage face unique challenges in researching their ancestors. Enter this book: a comprehensive guide to adoption genealogy that has the resources you need to find your family through genetic testing. Inside, you'll find: strategies for connecting your genealogy to previous genealogists, detailed guides for using DNA tests and tools, plus how to analyze your test results and apply them to research, and real-life success stories that put the book's techniques into practice and inspire you to seek your own discoveries.
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Also available as an eAudiobook on Hoopla!
An illuminating study of the genetic history of the British Isles, based on a systematic, decade-long DNA survey, traces the genetic makeup of British Islanders and their descendants, taking into consideration such events as the Roman invasions and Norman conquest and ranging from prehistoric times to the genetic heritage of Americans of British descent.
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Also available on Hoopla!
Dr. Gates uses genealogy and DNA science to trace the ancestry of celebrities.
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Naperville: A Brief Historyby Bryan J. OggSince Naperville sprang from the northern Illinois prairie, it has maintained an unmistakably fascinating heritage. The settlers who followed the Napers to the DuPage River had to endure the hardships of felling trees and plowing prairies to make a place to call home. The campuses of the Research and Technology corridor might seem pretty far removed from the travails of those early years, but both are part of the same determined community.
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A New Genealogical Atlas of Irelandby Brian MitchellA New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland has established itself as a key resource in Irish genealogical research. It includes maps detailing the location of Roman Catholic parishes in all thirty-two counties of Ireland and Presbyterian congregations in the nine counties of Northern Ireland. Also, this volume contains a complete geographical picture of the three major religious denominations in Ireland during the middle years of the 19th century.
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Land & Property Research in the United Statesby E. Wade Hone When early settlers left their homelands to start a new life in America, they had dreams of owning their own land a prospering from their own efforts. They were suspicious of all forms of government and did their best, in many cases, to be invisible to a variety of record keepers. But when it came to ensuring that their precious land was, without doubt, their own, they were careful to provide all of the information requested of them by the various government agencies. It is this care in reporting that makes this reference as valuable as the most comprehensive and useful review of land and property research for genealogists.
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Napervilleby Jo Fredell HigginsFounded in 1831 by Capt. Joseph Naper and incorporated in 1857, the city has progressed from rural farmland to a robust commercial economy. In 1860, kerosene lamps and one wooden bridge were surrounded by the sounds of prairie fowl and croaking frogs. In 1960, the population exploded. Now, 21 languages are spoken in the community, and the meandering downtown Naperville Riverwalk offers bucolic serenity to those strolling along the Century Walk artwork. The city comes alive thanks to its people and families, organizations, leaders, and events. It is filled with a rich culture that values the history of yesterday while looking forward to tomorrow's joys.
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Tracing Your Prisoner of War Ancestors: The First World War: A Guide for Family Historiansby Sarah PatersonThe experience of civilian internees and British prisoners of war in German and Turkish hands during the First World War is one of the least well-known - and least researched - aspects of the history of the conflict. The same applies to prisoners of war and internees held in the UK. Yet, as Sarah Paterson shows in this authoritative handbook, a wide-range of detailed and revealing information is available if you know where to look for it.
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Also available as an eAudiobook on Hoopla!
An actor and award-winning travel writer describes his quest to uncover his family's history in Ireland and is joined by other writers who tell the stories of their trips to various locales around the globe in search of their roots.
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The Family Tree Irish Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Ancestors in Irelandby Claire SantryThis in-depth guide from Irish genealogy expert Claire Santry will take you step-by-step through the exciting--and challenging--journey of discovering your Irish roots. You'll learn how to identify immigrant ancestor, find your family's county and townland of origin, and locate key genealogical resources that will breathe life into your family tree. With historical timelines, sample records, resource lists, and detailed information about where and how to find your ancestors online, this guide has everything you need to uncover your Irish heritage.
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Tracing Your Irish & British Rootsby W. Daniel QuillenExplains where to find Irish and British records, how to access these records, preparations for a trip abroad to do research in these countries, pitfalls and issues in obtaining such records, research tips specifically geared for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and more.
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