Join us on the 2nd Thursday of the month
at 7:00 PM (Central)
(General meetings are free and open to the public)
(No meetings in July, August, or December)
Members can access the recordings and handouts from past meetings HERE
Download the 2024 FVGS Program Schedule
ONLINE-January 11, 2024 Meeting: Location, Location, Location: Putting Your Ancestors in Their Place by Diana Elder, AG, AGL
Locality research is key to making progress in genealogy research. Understanding the history, geography, records, and repositories for the research locality is the foundation for building a solid research plan and finding additional information about your ancestor.
Diana Elder, AG®, AGL™, is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States and serves as a Commissioner for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-authored the companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence. She created the study group and eCourse that teach the Research Like a Pro process through videos and learning modules. Diana and her daughter, Nicole, share research tips on their website, Family Locket (https://familylocket.com/), and host the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast.
Diana regularly teaches at genealogy conferences such as RootsTech and the National Genealogy Society Conference. She also presents webinars and seminars to local genealogy societies across the United States.
ONLINE-February 8, 2024 Meeting: Are You a Genealogy Spelunker or Caver? Exploring the Deep Recesses of the Family Tree by Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, MA
We talk a great deal about the leaves and roots of our family tree, but how many of us venture into the tree, digging out lesser-known stories and hidden (or hiding) facts? In recent vernacular (ca 1960), “spelunkers” are the folks who venture into caves for casual exploration but are not serious about getting in deeper (figuratively or literally). “Cavers,” on the other hand, are serious explorers who enter the cave well-prepared and are not prone to giving up at the slightest stalactite. Which are you?
Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, MA, former Southern California college speech professor (MA – Speech Communication; PhD – Folklore), is a national speaker and author. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), she is the former director and current family history consultant for the Corona, CA FamilySearch Center, has worked on background research for two genealogy television programs, and was a host for podcasts on social history. A former Board-Certified genealogist with over 45 years of research experience, she is a former board member of APG and past president of its So. Cal. Chapter; 1st Vice-president of the Corona Genealogical Society, as well as webmaster for that same organization; and participant on a number of other society boards. Jean writes the “Aunty Jeff” column for the Informer, the newsletter of the Jefferson County NY Genealogical Society. Her website: is circlemending.org.
ONLINE-March 14, 2024 Meeting: Using Timelines for Analysis and Correlations by Jill Morelli, CG, CGL
I love timelines and tables! They correlate the evidence revealing gaps and overlaps. A timeline of the life of an ancestor can tell us about their movements, their relationships, and their life choices. If we look at the changes in a family, the progression of events becomes understandable. It is the only way one can analyze the pre-1850 censuses, the “tick mark censuses,” where only the head of the household is named. Explore the different ways you can learn more about your family by using timelines and tables.
Jill Morelli, CG, CGL, is a writer, lecturer, and co-founder of the online Applied Genealogy Institute, providing practicum-based educational opportunities for genealogists. She specializes in Scandinavian research and is constantly honing her methodological skills. She lectures nationally and has written articles for National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Swedish American Genealogist, and many others. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society, program director for the Puget Sound-APG chapter, and is writing a book about 45 orphans from New York City who came to Iowa in 1890.
IN PERSON-April 11, 2024 Meeting: Back to School: Making the Most of School Records by Tina Beaird
Learn about the many ways you can access cool details about your ancestors by using school records like yearbooks, school schedules, teacher’s registers, school newspapers, alumni directories and much more. This is one class you won’t want to ditch.
Tina Beaird is the owner of Tamarack Genealogy and is the Genealogy/Local History Librarian at the Plainfield Public Library. She lectures extensively on military research, Scottish records, and archival preservation. She is First Vice President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society and board director for the Oswegoland Heritage Association. Tina volunteers her time with several local historical and genealogical societies scanning and indexing historic records. Occasionally, Tina finds time to research her own family tree, which she has been pursuing for over 25 years. As many of you know, Tina is a rabid baseball fan; she and her family have visited 25 out of 30 Major League Ballparks and can’t wait to get back on the road to visit the last five!
IN PERSON-May 9, 2024 Meeting: Part 1 – Research a Veteran – Exploring the Basics of Military Research by Jennifer Holik
All the records DID NOT burn. Have you ever wondered what dad or grandpa did in the war? What happened to your uncle, who died? What was training and combat like? How did Grandpa get wounded? What happened to the family during and after the war? Answers can be found. In this session, you will learn:
- Where to begin your research at home.
- What questions to ask.
- The first part of the research strategy to learn any veteran’s story from any 20th-century war and military branch.
- What records you need to establish the foundation, and where to locate them.
- How to create a timeline of service.
- How to begin writing the story.
I use storytelling along with the records to help you understand the deeper impacts of service. You might want a tissue for the story at the end of this session.
Jennifer Holik is a genealogist, and military researcher, spiritual coach, and intuitive healer specializing in inherited & war trauma, & ancestral healing. She has more than 25 years of genealogy & military research & writing experience. Jennifer helps people identify & release the beliefs, behaviors, & patterns in their lives & the lives of their ancestors that keep them stuck. Using a variety of tools, including writing, energy healing, research, & more, she helps you release the past & create the life you desire.
MEETING LOCATION*:
Nichols Library – Community Room (Lower Level)
200 W Jefferson Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
*(Note special meeting location for this event)
IN PERSON-June 13, 2024 Meeting: Part 2 – Exploring the Greatest Generation: Adding Context to the Veteran’s Story by Jennifer Holik
Contextual records are everywhere, not just in the National Archives!
Once you have established what units your service member was in and where they served, it is time to explore unit-level records.
In this program, you’ll explore:
- The second part of the research strategy to piece together your veteran’s story.
- How to add to your timeline of service and expand the narrative.
- Explore various histories, journals, photos, and maps for all the military branches.
- You will learn about the most valuable foundational records to put your service member into context and write a richer story everyone will want to read.
These records help you write the narrative to your stories. They will also help you understand why your veteran was who they were after service and probably bring up more questions for you to consider.
Jennifer Holik is a genealogist, and military researcher, spiritual coach, and intuitive healer specializing in inherited & war trauma, & ancestral healing. She has more than 25 years of genealogy & military research & writing experience. Jennifer helps people identify & release the beliefs, behaviors, & patterns in their lives & the lives of their ancestors that keep them stuck. Using a variety of tools, including writing, energy healing, research, & more, she helps you release the past & create the life you desire.
IN PERSON-September 12, 2024 Meeting: Analyzing Your Research by Maureen Brady
The gates to many research “brick walls” may often be opened by a thorough analysis of the records. Using examples of typical research documents, this presentation will demonstrate how clues for further research are often found “between the lines.”
Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has forty years of 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 & Illinois, and the Chicago Scots Scottish Genealogical Society.
MEETING LOCATION:
Naperville Municipal Center – Room B (Lower Level)
400 S Eagle St, Naperville, IL 60540
IN PERSON-October 10, 2024 Meeting: Germans to America’s Midwest (1848-1900) by Scott Norrick
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
- A local example of German settlement
- Cultural influences brought to the Midwest
- Top sites for researching your German ancestors
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 others 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 Britain, Ireland, and Germanic 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. He has presented to dozens of genealogical societies, history centers, and libraries. He also recently presented to the Association of Professional Genealogists.
MEETING LOCATION:
Nichols Library – Community Room (Lower Level)
200 W Jefferson Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
*(Note NEW meeting location for this event)
IN PERSON-November 14, 2024 Meeting: Heirloom Show & Tell by FVGS Members and Guests
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!
MEETING LOCATION:
Naperville Municipal Center – Room B (Lower Level)
400 S Eagle St, Naperville, IL 60540