IN-PERSON-Finding Ancestors in the Land of Lincoln by Dr. David Joens, May 11, 2023 7:00 PM (Central)

The Illinois State Archives was established in 1921 and is housed in the Margaret Cross Norton building in Springfield, IL. The State Archives serves as the depository of public records of Illinois state and local governmental agencies which possess permanent administrative, legal, or historical research values. Its collections do not include manuscripts, newspapers, or other nonofficial sources. The Director of the Archives, Dave Joens will give an overview of the available records and discuss how they can assist genealogists looking for family records in Illinois.

David Joens is the Director of the Illinois State Archives, the state agency that is responsible for the preservation of historic Illinois state and local government records. He is a fifth-generation resident of Illinois, an army veteran, and a former newspaper reporter for the Sun Newspapers in Lisle and Naperville. Joens received his Bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, two Master’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and a doctorate in Illinois history from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He is the author of three books on Illinois history and government, including “From Slave to State Legislator: John W. E. Thomas, Illinois’ First African American Lawmaker,” published by SIU Press.

Location:
Naperville Municipal Center – Room B (Lower Level)
400 S Eagle St, Naperville, IL 60540