Programs

This talk discusses how the forthcoming Illinois & Michigan Canal was pivotal in shaping the new state through its socio-economic influence early in the nation’s westward expansion.

Dr. Wayne Duerkes is a professional historian and author with over 30 years of experience in Illinois history, with an emphasis on the state’s northern tier and the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the nineteenth century. He is a faculty member at Illinois Valley Community College. He is on the Board of Directors for the Illinois State Historical Society. His first monograph, on market development in north-central Illinois in the Antebellum period, is under contract with the University of Illinois Press and is currently in second review. He is also working on an updated history of the Illinois & Michigan Canal.

A look into what one newspaper called the most sensational murder case in Kane County history (as of 1912). The Murder of Edwin Kelchner in 1890 created numerous records. Edwin was married to the speaker’s great-great-grandfather’s sister. This talk will explore the sources used in researching this case, some of which might not be familiar to the researcher, and will also evaluate those sources for reliability and any potential pitfalls they may contain.

Mike Fichtel has been passionate about genealogy since age 13, when he discovered a family history notebook compiled by his mother. That early curiosity grew into a lifelong dedication to researching, preserving, and sharing historical records. A charter member of the Fox Valley Genealogical Society (FVGS), Mike has served the organization in numerous roles, including 1st Vice President for Programs, President, Librarian, and long-time editor of the Fox Tales publication. He has been an FVGS board member since 1981 and continues to serve as Director-at-Large and Librarian.

One of Mike’s most significant contributions is “Mike’s Index,” an extensive database of more than 55,000 entries referencing surnames, vital records, obituaries, Bible records, cemetery information, biographies, and local history sources. Begun over 30 years ago on index cards and later digitized, the Index remains an essential resource for FVGS researchers.

Mike has also led significant cemetery documentation efforts, guiding volunteers in reading and preserving inscriptions from thousands of graves in area cemeteries. He is especially proud of the Calvary Cemetery (Aurora) and Copenhagen Cemetery projects, which include photographs, obituaries, church records, and biographical details—much of which would otherwise have been lost.

Beyond FVGS, Mike volunteered for years at the National Archives at Chicago, assisted local libraries and historical societies, and contributed research for public exhibits. His work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Illinois State Genealogical Society’s Volkel Medal of Honor and an award from the Aurora Historical Society for his contributions to local ethnic and family history.

Mike remains a trusted resource and passionate advocate for genealogical research.

LOCATION: Grace United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)
300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville, IL 60540

The first picture postcards were published for the 1889 Paris Exposition, celebrating the completion of the Eiffel Tower. In America, the first picture postcards were printed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago —making Illinois the birthplace of the American picture postcard.

Since those flowery Victorian originals, uncountable billions of postcards of every aspect of life have been printed, depicting train stations and bandstands, street views and cartoons, ads for products and services, ‘beauties’ and ‘freaks,’ social history both whimsical and dark, and everything in between. An early mention of postcards is in the 1870 diary of a Welsh curate, who called them “a happy invention.”

In 2016, the world’s largest public collection of postcards and related materials, the Curt Teich Postcard Archives, was given to the Newberry Library by the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

Katherine Hamilton-Smith, the founding curator of the Teich Archives, presents a look at the documentary, power, and significance of picture postcards. She touches on the Curt Teich Company of Chicago, the role Illinois played in the history and development of postcards, and the picture postcard as a cultural icon.

NOTE: Attendees are encouraged to bring their family postcards/collections for review and comment!

Katherine Hamilton-Smith is a museum and archives professional with 30+ years of experience in public history, historic sites management, exhibitions and interpretation, collections development and care, National Historic Landmarks, and fundraising.

Katherine is the founding curator of the Curt Teich Postcard Archives Collection—a core collection of the Newberry Library, Chicago. Her work with the Teich Archives gave her special expertise in the history and significance of picture postcards. She holds an MA in Art History from the University of Chicago and a BA in Art History from the University of Nebraska, and studied art history and music history at St. Andrews University in Scotland, where she specialized in early medieval manuscript illumination and American Abstract Expressionism.

LOCATION: Grace United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)
300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville, IL 60540

Different DNA research questions sometimes require different strategies. See three unique questions solved using DNA analysis tactics you can apply to your own research.

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Kelli Jo Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, author, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable new tool for genealogists, potentially saving 100s of hours a year and offering new ways to organize our research. However, these tools have important limitations that must be understood in order to utilize them properly and efficiently. We will cover the benefits and limitations of generative AI, and how you can explore this entirely new field without becoming overwhelmed!

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Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD, is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence. In 2007, he started The Genetic Genealogist (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com), one of the earliest blogs on the topic. Blaine is the author of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the award-winning Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the world’s first genetic genealogy workbook. He also co-authored “Genetics for Genealogy” with Judy Russell in 2018’s Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (ProGen PPS) (Elizabeth Shown Mills, Author and Editor).

Blaine is or has been an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. Blaine is a graduate of ProGen Study Group 21, a trustee for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, and a member of the DNAngels Board of Directors since 2022 (President since January 2023), and a member of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) “Investigative Genetic Genealogy Working Group” since 2019. He is also the founder in 2017 of Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques, a very active Facebook group with approximately 90,000 members.

Lineage societies have been collecting and preserving family histories for more than 125 years. Did you know that some of these resources are available online for free? And you don’t even need to be a member to take advantage of them! From the databases and documents of the DAR to simple lists of pioneers and soldiers, this presentation will show you the gems that are available online and how to find them.

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Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal, Certified Genealogist®, is a professional researcher, writer, educator, and national genealogical speaker. Her specialties include methodology, technology, and online research resources.

Elizabeth has studied at the National Institute for Genealogical Research (NIGR, now known as GenFed) in Washington, DC; the Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) in Dallas, Texas; and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the President of the Second Life Virtual Genealogical Society, Director of the NGSQ Study Groups program, and a Genealogy Consultant for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

As a family history lecturer, Elizabeth has given presentations for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, RootsTech, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Utah Genealogical Association, and many others. Her professional memberships include the Board for Certification of Genealogists, the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and she is an active member of the public speaking club Toastmasters International.

Since 1987, Elizabeth has made it her goal to research, share, and preserve her family stories. She is a co-host of the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast (https://branchingout.show) and the author of the family history lifestyle website Heart of the Family™ (https://www.thefamilyheart.com). Her mission is to help others make the past part of their present.

Do you have a unique family artifact that led you to seek discoveries about your ancestral roots? Did you discover a document or a photo that helped you solve a brick wall? Do you have a cherished heirloom that tells part of your family history? We’d love to hear about it!

Bring your family heirloom, photo, document, or other interesting item, and share the story behind it with other genealogy enthusiasts. Members and guests can participate in the ‘Show & Tell’ event. Be ready to share your family artifacts and take a minute (or three) to tell a story about it. If your item is too large to carry, you can still tell us about it and maybe show a picture if you have one.

Even if you don’t bring anything, we know you’ll enjoy seeing the heirlooms and hearing their stories. Come for the refreshments and stay for the great conversation with others who share your love for family history. We hope you will join us for this fun and inspiring event!

LOCATION: Grace United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)
300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville, IL 60540

To undertake writing about an ancestor, it is essential first to compile records that provide insight into their life. This lecture will examine the lives of John B. and Nancy Arringdale, focusing on the plethora of records they generated while relocating across six states, beginning in Ohio and Illinois. We will analyze a sample biographical sketch to assess both its strengths and the areas where record collection could have been more thorough.

Heather Robb holds a master’s degree in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. She also has a bachelor’s degree in History and has done graduate studies in Public History, where she developed an interest in museum studies and architectural history. She is a graduate of the Boston University Genealogy Certificate Program and holds a Professional Learning Certificate (PLCGS) in American records from the International Institute for Genealogical Studies. She is a qualified genealogist (QG) through the Register of Qualified Genealogists based in the United Kingdom and is currently working on her Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) portfolio.

She has worked in the archive and artifacts department at the Airborne Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and has served as a genealogical researcher for Purple Hearts Reunited for the last six years. She was a military spouse for the duration of her husband’s military career and found fulfillment in organizing events and activities with several organizations for military spouses at various duty stations.

Heather specializes in military records research and house histories. She also does multigenerational genealogy research to help extend family lines backward and forward. She loves being involved in genealogy education and has served as a coordinator for the ProGen study program as well as a facilitator with Boston University’s genealogy certificate program. She enjoys continuing her American genealogy education by attending national and state conferences as well as genealogical institutes like GRIP, IGHR, SLIG, TIGR, and AppGen.

LOCATION: Grace United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)
300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville, IL 60540

This presentation will describe my Humanities course—how it started, how it has evolved, and how we use family history as a vehicle to develop rigorous academic skills such as research, composition, project creation, and oral presentation. The course culminates with a documentary project that allows the students to tell the stories they have uncovered throughout the semester.

Michael Andrews has been an English teacher and soccer coach at Prospect High School since 2003. He has also been an avid genealogist for nearly two decades. At Prospect, he teaches a Humanities course for high school seniors that incorporates a semester-long family history project. The project’s goal is to allow students to explore their own personal histories and teach them to think, research, and create like actual historians.

LOCATION: Grace United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)
300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville, IL 60540