MCIGS 2022 Virtual Summer Conference
Saturday, July 9, 2022
Speakers
Maureen Brady
Librarian and educator with over 35 years of genealogy experience
Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has over thirty-five years of experience with family history research. She has traced her own Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century and beyond, and has also pursued Chicago area, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebec, Irish and Swedish research. She is the family history trainer for the Crystal Lake (IL) and Buffalo Grove (IL) Family History Centers.
Maureen has made numerous presentations to Illinois and Wisconsin genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops, as well as presenting at the 2002 National Genealogical Society Conference in the States and the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Central Florida Family History Conferences. Her topics include Chicago and Cook County research, Scottish research, Internet resources, the Scots-Irish and using FamilySearch®. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists, as well as a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society, the Chicago Genealogical Society, the Ohio Genealogy Society and the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society. She is also active in the British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL), the Illinois St. Andrew Society’s Scottish Genealogical Group, the Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Society and the Clan Donnachaidh Society.
Librarian and educator with over 35 years of genealogy experience
Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has over thirty-five years of experience with family history research. She has traced her own Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century and beyond, and has also pursued Chicago area, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebec, Irish and Swedish research. She is the family history trainer for the Crystal Lake (IL) and Buffalo Grove (IL) Family History Centers.
Maureen has made numerous presentations to Illinois and Wisconsin genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops, as well as presenting at the 2002 National Genealogical Society Conference in the States and the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Central Florida Family History Conferences. Her topics include Chicago and Cook County research, Scottish research, Internet resources, the Scots-Irish and using FamilySearch®. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists, as well as a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society, the Chicago Genealogical Society, the Ohio Genealogy Society and the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society. She is also active in the British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL), the Illinois St. Andrew Society’s Scottish Genealogical Group, the Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Society and the Clan Donnachaidh Society.
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
AG, FOGS
Author, instructor, and professional genealogist
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS has an amazing ability to bring laughter into the lives of her audience members. One of her favorite photos is a picture of her mother on her way to a church picnic, then on to an afternoon of cemetery transcribing. It was taken just four days before Peggy was born!
Having grown up with parents that were deeply involved in genealogy takes her love of family history to a new level. Some people are amazed that she knew people that were actually born in the 1800’s; her own grandparents. Listening to the stories from bygone years, touching the fabrics from quilts, dresses, blessing gowns, and bonnets all have added to the admiration of previous generations.
Peggy is a frequent lecturer at many local societies in Ohio, as well as Family History seminars. She has presented at Brigham Young University, and ICAPGen, and taught Continuing Education classes at several community colleges and The Ohio State University. One of her proudest moments was achieving the credentials that qualified her to be an Accredited Genealogist, for it polished her research skills. In 2018, she was given the honor of Fellow of The Ohio Genealogical Society, as well as the Laura G. Prescott for Exemplary Service to Professional Genealogy
Peggy and her husband Kerry are co-Directors at a Family History Center in northcentral Ohio. She is a featured columnist in Reminisce magazine, has written several Legacy QuickGuides, has filmed as an instructor for Ancestry Academy, and is a researcher for Ancestry ProGenealogists.
AG, FOGS
Author, instructor, and professional genealogist
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS has an amazing ability to bring laughter into the lives of her audience members. One of her favorite photos is a picture of her mother on her way to a church picnic, then on to an afternoon of cemetery transcribing. It was taken just four days before Peggy was born!
Having grown up with parents that were deeply involved in genealogy takes her love of family history to a new level. Some people are amazed that she knew people that were actually born in the 1800’s; her own grandparents. Listening to the stories from bygone years, touching the fabrics from quilts, dresses, blessing gowns, and bonnets all have added to the admiration of previous generations.
Peggy is a frequent lecturer at many local societies in Ohio, as well as Family History seminars. She has presented at Brigham Young University, and ICAPGen, and taught Continuing Education classes at several community colleges and The Ohio State University. One of her proudest moments was achieving the credentials that qualified her to be an Accredited Genealogist, for it polished her research skills. In 2018, she was given the honor of Fellow of The Ohio Genealogical Society, as well as the Laura G. Prescott for Exemplary Service to Professional Genealogy
Peggy and her husband Kerry are co-Directors at a Family History Center in northcentral Ohio. She is a featured columnist in Reminisce magazine, has written several Legacy QuickGuides, has filmed as an instructor for Ancestry Academy, and is a researcher for Ancestry ProGenealogists.
Michael John Neill
Genealogy writer and speaker
Michael John Neill began researching his family genealogy in the early 1980s and grew up a few miles from the county courthouse in the county where many of his family members have lived since the 1860s. He has spent many days rummaging through old original records in a variety of locations across the United States attempting to discover more ancestral details other than vital event dates. Foraging those records for clues has taught him a great deal about research, his ancestors, and himself.
Michael writes and lectures on a variety of genealogical topics, with particular interest in immigration, women’s rights, research methodology, and problem-solving. He has also led annual research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, since the late 1990s. His lectures and trips emphasize helping researchers improve their research skills so they can more effectively conduct their own research because he knows that no one cares as much about a genealogist’s family as the genealogist themselves.
Michael has a master’s degree in mathematics and has been a community college instructor since the early 1990s. He maintains a web presence at www.genealogytipoftheday.com
Genealogy writer and speaker
Michael John Neill began researching his family genealogy in the early 1980s and grew up a few miles from the county courthouse in the county where many of his family members have lived since the 1860s. He has spent many days rummaging through old original records in a variety of locations across the United States attempting to discover more ancestral details other than vital event dates. Foraging those records for clues has taught him a great deal about research, his ancestors, and himself.
Michael writes and lectures on a variety of genealogical topics, with particular interest in immigration, women’s rights, research methodology, and problem-solving. He has also led annual research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, since the late 1990s. His lectures and trips emphasize helping researchers improve their research skills so they can more effectively conduct their own research because he knows that no one cares as much about a genealogist’s family as the genealogist themselves.
Michael has a master’s degree in mathematics and has been a community college instructor since the early 1990s. He maintains a web presence at www.genealogytipoftheday.com
Paula Stuart-Warren
CG, FGMS, FUGA
Genealogical and historical professional researcher
Paula Stuart-Warren is a genealogical and historical researcher, lecturer, and coach based in Minnesota but research has taken her to locations and repositories across the U.S. One set of her great grandparents is buried in Chicago and northern Illinois was home to many other parts of the family. She has done presentations in the U.S., Canada, and on the ocean. Her specialties include unusual records, analysis, research planning, problem-solving, manuscript and archival repositories, railroads, and Native American genealogy. She is a course coordinator and instructor at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and a former board member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and MGS. Paula loves audience questions after each presentation and anytime on event days.
CG, FGMS, FUGA
Genealogical and historical professional researcher
Paula Stuart-Warren is a genealogical and historical researcher, lecturer, and coach based in Minnesota but research has taken her to locations and repositories across the U.S. One set of her great grandparents is buried in Chicago and northern Illinois was home to many other parts of the family. She has done presentations in the U.S., Canada, and on the ocean. Her specialties include unusual records, analysis, research planning, problem-solving, manuscript and archival repositories, railroads, and Native American genealogy. She is a course coordinator and instructor at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and a former board member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and MGS. Paula loves audience questions after each presentation and anytime on event days.
Session Descriptions
Maureen Brady
Scottish Family History Research: Beyond the Basics
This presentation will examine these elements, the wealth of records which were created and how the resources can be accessed, including the Internet. Emphasis will be “beyond” the usual church, civil and census records.
Tracing a Chicago Family’s Roots: A Case Study
Using examples from Chicago area research, this presentation will demonstrate strategies for tackling these problems and review record availability, repositories and online resources.
Using Newspapers to Fill in the Gap s in a Family Story
This presentation will review the major websites offering access to historical newspapers and search strategies for finding those nuggets of information which can break down brick walls or add color to our ancestors’ lives.
Analyzing Your Research
Using examples of typical research documents, this presentation will demonstrate how clues for further research are often found “between the lines”.
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners; White Servitude in America
People came to the colonies by various means; some desired to come, and some came against their will. This lecture will examine indentureship in early America and will follow a case study of the story behind my own ancestors' arrival.
Preparing for Your Cemetery Research Trip
This class shows the do’s and don'ts of what to bring as you research with 'boots on the ground' techniques. A look into www.FindAGrave.com completes the preparation into such a trip.
Hidden Gems in the FamilySearch Wiki
What is a wiki? It’s one of the best-kept secrets of FamilySearch. Let’s learn how this powerful and robust tool can bring the world to your fingertips.
Migration Trails to the Ohio
“Ohio fever” brought people to this western frontier state in droves. The division of the land became a pattern for most of the other land areas in the United States.
Michael John Neill
Researching the Entire Family
This lecture discusses, via examples, the importance of researching the siblings, extended family, and associates of the ancestor of interest.
An Unnatural Process
This lecture discusses naturalization from the colonial era until World War II with an emphasis on how history has impacted the amount of records that were created.
Locating Emigrant Origins
This lecture discusses sources and methods for possibly locating from where an immigrant ancestor originated.
Charts, Charts, and More Charts
This lecture talks about key elements to include in any chart, troubleshooting before you get started, brainstorming, and ways to get creative with your data.
Paula Stuart Warren
Finding Maiden Names: Let Me Count the Ways
This session presents myriad ways to determine what was Great Grandma Margaret’s maiden name. Clues and a checklist guide you in the search.
Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking
When this lecture is over you will know where to turn to find out more about the railroad, its records, and where to find them.
The Art of Successful Genealogical Research Trips
This session details steps both online and off to help you plan a successful research trip.
New York State Research: The Changing Face of the Modern Era
This lecture focuses on some of the new things in New York research that have come about in the last several years.
Scottish Family History Research: Beyond the Basics
This presentation will examine these elements, the wealth of records which were created and how the resources can be accessed, including the Internet. Emphasis will be “beyond” the usual church, civil and census records.
Tracing a Chicago Family’s Roots: A Case Study
Using examples from Chicago area research, this presentation will demonstrate strategies for tackling these problems and review record availability, repositories and online resources.
Using Newspapers to Fill in the Gap s in a Family Story
This presentation will review the major websites offering access to historical newspapers and search strategies for finding those nuggets of information which can break down brick walls or add color to our ancestors’ lives.
Analyzing Your Research
Using examples of typical research documents, this presentation will demonstrate how clues for further research are often found “between the lines”.
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners; White Servitude in America
People came to the colonies by various means; some desired to come, and some came against their will. This lecture will examine indentureship in early America and will follow a case study of the story behind my own ancestors' arrival.
Preparing for Your Cemetery Research Trip
This class shows the do’s and don'ts of what to bring as you research with 'boots on the ground' techniques. A look into www.FindAGrave.com completes the preparation into such a trip.
Hidden Gems in the FamilySearch Wiki
What is a wiki? It’s one of the best-kept secrets of FamilySearch. Let’s learn how this powerful and robust tool can bring the world to your fingertips.
Migration Trails to the Ohio
“Ohio fever” brought people to this western frontier state in droves. The division of the land became a pattern for most of the other land areas in the United States.
Michael John Neill
Researching the Entire Family
This lecture discusses, via examples, the importance of researching the siblings, extended family, and associates of the ancestor of interest.
An Unnatural Process
This lecture discusses naturalization from the colonial era until World War II with an emphasis on how history has impacted the amount of records that were created.
Locating Emigrant Origins
This lecture discusses sources and methods for possibly locating from where an immigrant ancestor originated.
Charts, Charts, and More Charts
This lecture talks about key elements to include in any chart, troubleshooting before you get started, brainstorming, and ways to get creative with your data.
Paula Stuart Warren
Finding Maiden Names: Let Me Count the Ways
This session presents myriad ways to determine what was Great Grandma Margaret’s maiden name. Clues and a checklist guide you in the search.
Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking
When this lecture is over you will know where to turn to find out more about the railroad, its records, and where to find them.
The Art of Successful Genealogical Research Trips
This session details steps both online and off to help you plan a successful research trip.
New York State Research: The Changing Face of the Modern Era
This lecture focuses on some of the new things in New York research that have come about in the last several years.