Meetings & Classes
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NWIGS Meetings/Classes 2024 - Third Saturday of the Month - start time is 10:00 am
In-Person and Virtual through Zoom unless specified otherwise
Upcoming Meetings 2024
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The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the Naturalization Process in the USA.
Presented by Kaylynn Matthews, NWIGS President October 19, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. Portage, IN 46368 Meeting Room A and on Zoom Many immigrants decided to become citizens of the United States, which began in 1790, as simply as signing their name to a list. Now it takes many years of waiting and loads of paperwork to become a citizen, but it creates valuable records about the applicant's life which helps us learn more about our ancestors. These court records are available to the public for research. Some naturalization record collections have indexes, some records have been lost, some are simple to find, and some are not where you would expect them to be. Questions we will answer include: Who was eligible to apply? What was the process and what can I learn from the records? When did naturalization start in each state and when were the papers filed after immigration? When did they finally become a citizen after filing the paperwork? Where did my ancestor file for citizenship and where are the records now? Why would my ancestor want to be naturalized and why would I want to find these records? How do I know if my ancestor filed for naturalization and how do I find the records? The techniques learned in this presentation apply to all states and not just Indiana. Of all the documents you can obtain to learn about your ancestor, naturalization records should be near the top of your list. Visit the registration page to sign up to attend October's meeting via Zoom. |
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Discovering Your Roots: A Beginner's Genealogy Workshop
November 16, 2024 9:30am to 4:30pm Valparaiso Public Library 103 Jefferson St, Valparaiso IN Unlock the mysteries of your family history at the Discovering Your Roots: A Beginner's Genealogy Workshop! Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to refine your research skills, this engaging workshop offers everything you need to delve into your ancestry. Join us for informative classes on Genealogy Basics, The Research Process, Source Citations, Vital Records, Census Records and Online Databases. The day will include tours and exploring the resources of the Larry G. Clark Genealogy Center at the library. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow genealogy enthusiasts and uncover the stories that shaped your family's past. Participants may attend in person or via Zoom. The workshop is free, but we request that you register to attend. |
Past Meetings 2020-2024
Handouts and recordings for past meetings, when available, can be accessed by members on the Meeting Videos & Notes Page.
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Y-DNA Introduction Presented by Sara Allen, Allen County Public Library September 21, 2024, 10:00 a.m. Central Time Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Meeting Room B and on Zoom Learn about the Y-DNA test for genealogy. This test of a male subject's direct patrilineal line is offered by Family Tree DNA testing company. Discover how to interpret your results and use this test to further your family history. Sara Allen began researching her family history when she was eleven years old, using the collection of The Genealogy Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in history and social sciences from Wheaton College (IL). Upon graduation she worked at Buswell Memorial Library as a cataloger and reference librarian until 2006. She has her master’s degree in library and information science from Dominican University. Her first professional genealogy position began in 2006 when she became Genealogy Librarian and later Assistant Manager of Local & Family History Services at the St. Joseph County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana. She joined The Genealogy Center staff as a Genealogy Librarian in 2013. While at South Bend, she spoke and wrote on topics of genealogy and local history for libraries and societies in the Michiana area. She is currently the co-administrator of the Mitchell y-DNA project at Family Tree DNA and is involved with Unclaimed Persons, a volunteer organization that works to locate the relatives of deceased persons whose families are unknown. She is a member of the Schuyler Colfax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her areas of interest include Indiana, the Midwest and the Upper South, 20th/21st century genealogy, and DNA for genealogical purposes, Eastern European research. Visit the registration page to sign up to attend September's meeting via Zoom. |
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"This is a Grave Situation" What's in my Cemetery Bag?
Presented by Linda Novotny August 17, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Lake County Public Library, 1919 81st Ave. Merrillville, IN 46410 Meeting Room A and on Zoom Linda Novotny has been "digging up" her ancestors for over 40 years. She and her husband have spent thousands of hours stalking cemeteries and have fulfilled about 6000 photo requests for others seeking help with finding their families. Linda worked at the Larry J. Clark Genealogy center at the Valparaiso Public Library for almost nine years where she taught numerous genealogy classes. She is currently the archivist for the Porter County Clerk's office. |
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How the DAR Can Help with Genealogy Research
Presented by Margaret (Peg) McGriff July 20, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Meeting Room B and on Zoom Our July speaker will be Margaret (Peg) McGriff, past and honorary regent of the William Henry Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Peg was the regent of the chapter from 2021-2024 and was recently made an honorary regent. She will be discussing both the history of the chapter and how DAR can help us all with genealogy research. |
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From Blackstone to the Statutes at Large--How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists
Presented by Judy G. Russell JD, CG, CGL, The Legal Genealogist® June 15, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Lake County Public Library, 1919 81st Ave. Merrillville, IN 46410 and on Zoom. Judy Russell will be joining us via Zoom. To understand our ancestors’ lives - why they did what they did, we need to understand the law that governed their lives in so many ways. Learn how knowing the law our ancestors lived by helps us make sense of the records they left and find clues to more and different records. |
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Local Women:1860-1920
May 18, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383, Meeting Room B and on Zoom Presented by Serena Ard, President of Duneland Historical Society This program highlights the way Porter County women lived and worked prior to gaining the right to vote. It tracks changes in citizenship and banking laws as well as societal norms and cultural trends. Several specific women from the Duneland area will be highlighted to reflect the changes over time. |
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Sharing Session
April 20, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Lake County Public Library, 1919 81st Ave. Merrillville, IN 46410 and on Zoom Share your genealogy projects, discoveries, or stories with others. This is your opportunity to bounce your research conundrums off of others who may have had the same issue but have found a way to solve it. Feel free to speak up and share what you have been up to verbally. Those who wish to create short presentations that include photos, documents, maps, or other visuals that help to illustrate their story will be invited to share their screen. |
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Exploring the Calumet Regional Archives
With Jeremy Pekarek, Archivist March 16, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central Time At the Portage Library, 2665 Irving St. Portage, IN 46368 Meeting Room A&B, and on Zoom Join Jeremy Pekarek of Indiana University Northwest, in exploring IUN's archival resources. Pekarek will provide an overview of the archives while touching on digital resources, navigating the webpage, scheduling appointments, and using the physical collection. |
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Making the Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne Your Research Assistant
February 17, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central on Zoom Learn how you can use resources from this national family history repository for free from anywhere in the world while also discovering what research gems are available for those who can come to the Genealogy Center in person. With Curt B. Witcher Director of Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library and manager of the widely acclaimed Genealogy Center as well as the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research. February's meeting will only be held online. |
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Using the Family History Guide
With Bob Taylor of The Family History Guide Association January 20, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Central on Zoom The Family History Guide is a "free learning, research, and activities center for family history." This presentation will provide you with a tour of the website's features including its powerful system for learning to use the major genealogy websites, genealogy sites, "Show Me Videos," its knowledgebase, resources, and activities. January's meeting will only be held online. |
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Land for the Landless: Homestead Records and How to Use them in Family History Research
With Amber Oldenburg from One Branch at a Time Genealogy November 18, 2023, 10:00 a.m. Central Time Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383, Meeting Room B and on Zoom The Homestead Act of 1862 opened millions of acres of land for settlement across 30 states. Interested individuals needed to meet certain criteria before they could gain title to this land. The records created from this process are often overlooked by family historians. This session will help you understand the wealth of knowledge that can be found in these valuable records. Amber Oldenburg is a genealogist, lecturer, and social media manager with a degree in Family History Research from Brigham Young University-Idaho, where she currently serves as an online instructor in their Family History Research program. She specializes in Midwest and Great Lakes states research. We will meet in person at the Valparaiso Public Library and our meeting will also be streamed via Zoom. The Video recording and handouts will only be made available in our members area for two weeks following this presentation. |
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Organizing Genealogical Research
Saturday, October 21, 2023, 10:00 a.m. Central Time Lake County Public Library, 1919 81st Ave. Merrillville, IN 46410, Meeting Room A and on Zoom "How do I organize all of this?" was the urgent question Mike Longan confronted when he inherited his parent's genealogical research collection nearly four years ago. Mike will share what he has learned about how to organize primary documents, genealogical research materials, photos, and physical artifacts. He'll also discuss systems and software for organizing digital files as well as how to organize photo and document scanning projects. Identifying goals and objectives, setting up systems for cataloging and locating items, and breaking the organization process into achievable projects have been keys to success. Finally, Mike will talk about how his organizing work has enabled him to share his family's collection with others and his hopes for how it will help him to pass the collection on to those who will most appreciate it in the future. Mike Longan is the webmaster for NWIGS and a Professor of Geography at Valparaiso University. Become a member or log in to the members area to view the recording and download the handout and the slides from the presentation. |
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Automating Your Research Using Goldie May
Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10:00 A.M. Central Time Valparaiso Public Library, Meeting Room B and on Zoom Genealogy software developer Richard K. Miller will speak about using Goldie May, a set of "research power tools," to help with your genealogy research. We will meet in person at the Valparaiso Public Library and our meeting will also be streamed via Zoom. |
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Annual Sharing and Networking Meeting
Saturday, August 19, 2023, 10:00 AM Central Time VENUE CHANGE Due to flooding at the Lake County library this meeting will be held at the Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St., Portage, IN Also attend via Zoom, registration link coming soon. Share your genealogy projects, discoveries, or stories with others. This is your opportunity to bounce your research conundrums off of others who may have had the same issue but have found a way to solve it. Attendees will have a chance to win prizes including: a complementary annual subscription to Fold3, a 6-month subscription to Ancestry.com, and a Costco gift card. Must be present, in-person or online, to win. |
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Where can I find that in Lake County? Saturday, July 15, 2023, 10:00 AM Central Time In Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St., Portage, IN 46368 and also on Zoom for those who cannot attend in-person. We are very excited to have Marlene Polster, Lake County Genealogist teaching us “Where can I find that in Lake County?” |
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JUNE 17, 2023, 10 AM CENTRAL TIME MEETING IN-PERSON AND ON ZOOM
IN PERSON AT LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1919 81ST AVE. MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410, MEETING ROOM B Research in Indiana's Church Records Our June meeting will include a presentation by John Beatty of the Allen County Public Library. "Research in Indiana's Church Records" will examine the records of various denominations in Indiana and show examples. It will offer strategies for how to use them. A handout will be available. Please register in advance to participate via Zoom. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
MAY 20, 2023, 10 AM CENTRAL TIME MEETING IN-PERSON AND ON ZOOM
IN PERSON MEETING AT VALPARAISO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MEETING ROOM B
The Porter County Archives
Our next NWIGS meeting will be on May 20, 2023, at 10 AM CDT. We will be meeting in person at the Porter County Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383; and on Zoom. Our presenters will be Porter County Clerk, Jessica Bailey, and Victoria Gresham, of the Porter County Archive. They will be sharing what records are kept and how they can help your research. Please register in advance to participate via Zoom. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
IN PERSON MEETING AT VALPARAISO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MEETING ROOM B
The Porter County Archives
Our next NWIGS meeting will be on May 20, 2023, at 10 AM CDT. We will be meeting in person at the Porter County Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383; and on Zoom. Our presenters will be Porter County Clerk, Jessica Bailey, and Victoria Gresham, of the Porter County Archive. They will be sharing what records are kept and how they can help your research. Please register in advance to participate via Zoom. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
APRIL 15TH, 2023 MEETING AND CLASS, IN-PERSON AND ON ZOOM
10 AM CDT AT THE MERRILLVILLE BRANCH OF LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1919 81ST AVE. MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410 LOWER LEVEL MEETING ROOM.
Our presenter on Zoom with be Melissa Johnson of Johnsongenealogyservices.com with information on Descendant Tracing.
Melissa Johnson is a Certified Genealogist® specializing in genealogical research on families from NJ, NY, PA and the British Isles; DNA testing for adoptees and unknown parentage; dual citizenship; lineage society research; and genealogical writing, editing, and publishing.
Descendant Tracing
Take a break from researching backward in your family tree and begin “descendant tracing.” Learn how to trace all of the descendants of an ancestor (not just those in your direct line) to locate living cousins. This lecture focuses on the value of researching forward in your family tree and introduces the resources and types of records useful for this increasingly popular type of research.
10 AM CDT AT THE MERRILLVILLE BRANCH OF LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1919 81ST AVE. MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410 LOWER LEVEL MEETING ROOM.
Our presenter on Zoom with be Melissa Johnson of Johnsongenealogyservices.com with information on Descendant Tracing.
Melissa Johnson is a Certified Genealogist® specializing in genealogical research on families from NJ, NY, PA and the British Isles; DNA testing for adoptees and unknown parentage; dual citizenship; lineage society research; and genealogical writing, editing, and publishing.
Descendant Tracing
Take a break from researching backward in your family tree and begin “descendant tracing.” Learn how to trace all of the descendants of an ancestor (not just those in your direct line) to locate living cousins. This lecture focuses on the value of researching forward in your family tree and introduces the resources and types of records useful for this increasingly popular type of research.
MARCH 18, 2023 MEETING IN-PERSON AND ON ZOOM
10 AM AT VALPARAISO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MEETING ROOM B
Our presenter will be Serena Ard, Curator of the Westchester Township History Museum
Preservation 101
Everyone has treasures, heirlooms, or photographs they want to preserve for future generations. Westchester Township History Museum Curator Serena Ard will give tips and tricks for taking care of your heirlooms at home to help them survive the elements, time, and handling.
Examples will be demonstrated, and a handout will be provided.
10 AM AT VALPARAISO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MEETING ROOM B
Our presenter will be Serena Ard, Curator of the Westchester Township History Museum
Preservation 101
Everyone has treasures, heirlooms, or photographs they want to preserve for future generations. Westchester Township History Museum Curator Serena Ard will give tips and tricks for taking care of your heirlooms at home to help them survive the elements, time, and handling.
Examples will be demonstrated, and a handout will be provided.
Saturday, February 18, 2023 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Porter County Public Library 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Room B and also on Zoom for those who cannot attend.
Sharing Session
Our first in-person meeting in two years. It will be a hybrid meeting, both in-person and on Zoom.
Rescheduled from January
Porter County Public Library 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Room B and also on Zoom for those who cannot attend.
Sharing Session
Our first in-person meeting in two years. It will be a hybrid meeting, both in-person and on Zoom.
Rescheduled from January
Saturday January 21, 2023, 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Sharing Session
Meeting rescheduled for February 18, 2023
Sharing Session
Meeting rescheduled for February 18, 2023
Past Meetings 2022
Saturday, February 19, 2022, 10 am -
Researching Property and House History
Serena Ard, Curator of the Westchester Township History Museum, will give tips and tricks for researching your family's property and/or house history using county records, property abstracts, architectural history, local resources, etc. All of this will be interspersed within a case study done by the museum for the Friends of Indiana Dunes house located in the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Saturday, March 19th, 10:00 am -
DNA: Using a Chromosome Browser with Your DNA
presented by Julia McIntyre
See a demonstration on how to use chromosome browsers at various websites, and learn why you might want to use one to determine who are all those people that you match at your DNA test website. You can actually identify portions of DNA you received from specific ancestors using chromosome browsers!
Saturday, April 16th, 10:00 am -
How do you use DNA in your genealogy research?
Share with the NWIGS online community how you use DNA to enhance and create new discoveries in your genealogy research.
What methods do you use and what have you found out?
With special guest: Angel Goins
Saturday, May 21st, 10:00 am -
Laws Related to Cemeteries and Available Help
presented by Jeannie Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives,
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Cemeteries tell us much about who came before us. The size, shape and documentation vary from religious groups, time period, and location. But, all are important outdoor museums. There are various state laws that protect sites and individuals interested in their protection. Jeannie R. Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives for the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, will discuss the state of cemeteries in Indiana, what is being done at various levels to protect and restore them, and what we can do to help. (Images: Jeannie Regan-Dinius; Cemetery in Martinsville, IN)
Researching Property and House History
Serena Ard, Curator of the Westchester Township History Museum, will give tips and tricks for researching your family's property and/or house history using county records, property abstracts, architectural history, local resources, etc. All of this will be interspersed within a case study done by the museum for the Friends of Indiana Dunes house located in the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Saturday, March 19th, 10:00 am -
DNA: Using a Chromosome Browser with Your DNA
presented by Julia McIntyre
See a demonstration on how to use chromosome browsers at various websites, and learn why you might want to use one to determine who are all those people that you match at your DNA test website. You can actually identify portions of DNA you received from specific ancestors using chromosome browsers!
Saturday, April 16th, 10:00 am -
How do you use DNA in your genealogy research?
Share with the NWIGS online community how you use DNA to enhance and create new discoveries in your genealogy research.
What methods do you use and what have you found out?
With special guest: Angel Goins
Saturday, May 21st, 10:00 am -
Laws Related to Cemeteries and Available Help
presented by Jeannie Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives,
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Cemeteries tell us much about who came before us. The size, shape and documentation vary from religious groups, time period, and location. But, all are important outdoor museums. There are various state laws that protect sites and individuals interested in their protection. Jeannie R. Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives for the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, will discuss the state of cemeteries in Indiana, what is being done at various levels to protect and restore them, and what we can do to help. (Images: Jeannie Regan-Dinius; Cemetery in Martinsville, IN)
Saturday June 18, 2022
No Easy Button: Using Immersion Genealogy to Understand Your Ancestors
With Lisa Alzo
Family history is so much more than just names, dates, and places, or boxes, lines, and charts. For 21st century genealogists, it is easy to limit our research to the documents or other facts we find online, or to what others tell us to be true. Learn how to take your research a step further to understand your ancestors’ lives through “immersion genealogy”—the process of discovering where they lived, worked, and worshipped, and experiencing those customs and traditions they passed down through the generations. Key resources, methodology, and tips for reaching out to relatives and repositories, and how to make the most out of a trip to your ancestor’s hometown (whether in North America or across the pond) will be discussed.
No Easy Button: Using Immersion Genealogy to Understand Your Ancestors
With Lisa Alzo
Family history is so much more than just names, dates, and places, or boxes, lines, and charts. For 21st century genealogists, it is easy to limit our research to the documents or other facts we find online, or to what others tell us to be true. Learn how to take your research a step further to understand your ancestors’ lives through “immersion genealogy”—the process of discovering where they lived, worked, and worshipped, and experiencing those customs and traditions they passed down through the generations. Key resources, methodology, and tips for reaching out to relatives and repositories, and how to make the most out of a trip to your ancestor’s hometown (whether in North America or across the pond) will be discussed.
Saturday July 16, 2022, 10:00 am Central Time
Sharing Session
Share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories with others online.
Saturday August 20, 2022, 10:00 am
Beginner's Guide to French-Canadian Genealogy
Presented by Judy Nimer Muhn
Sharing Session
Share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories with others online.
Saturday August 20, 2022, 10:00 am
Beginner's Guide to French-Canadian Genealogy
Presented by Judy Nimer Muhn
Saturday September 17, 2022, 10:00 am
Mind the Gap: Filling Holes in Genealogical Research
Presented by Suz Bates
Mind the Gap: Filling Holes in Genealogical Research
Presented by Suz Bates
Saturday October 15, 2022, 10:00 am
The National Road and Westward Migration 1830s and 1840s
with Kay Ford
The National Road and Westward Migration 1830s and 1840s
with Kay Ford
Saturday November 19, 2022, 10:00 am Central Time
Exploring Family Geography
With Mike Longan
Genealogy is most often associated with history. Yet, as anyone beginning to explore their family history quickly learns, questions about where things happened are just as important as questions about when they happened. In this presentation professor Longan draws on examples from his own family’s history to show how focusing upon family geography may alter the kinds of questions we ask about our family’s history and help us to value sources of information in new ways. Exploring and mapping places where events took place in the lives of a family complicates questions about origins and reveals the social forces that shaped family history. Addresses and occupations in city directories and corporate photographs reveal the ways that places where our ancestors lived influenced their vocations and vice-versa. Vacation photographs considered across generations reveal extraordinary places that shaped ancestor’s lives beyond the everyday. Focusing on geography in family history provides context and explanations for events in ancestors’ lives and potentially helps us connect the biographies of our ancestors to our own, even if our paths never crossed in time.
Exploring Family Geography
With Mike Longan
Genealogy is most often associated with history. Yet, as anyone beginning to explore their family history quickly learns, questions about where things happened are just as important as questions about when they happened. In this presentation professor Longan draws on examples from his own family’s history to show how focusing upon family geography may alter the kinds of questions we ask about our family’s history and help us to value sources of information in new ways. Exploring and mapping places where events took place in the lives of a family complicates questions about origins and reveals the social forces that shaped family history. Addresses and occupations in city directories and corporate photographs reveal the ways that places where our ancestors lived influenced their vocations and vice-versa. Vacation photographs considered across generations reveal extraordinary places that shaped ancestor’s lives beyond the everyday. Focusing on geography in family history provides context and explanations for events in ancestors’ lives and potentially helps us connect the biographies of our ancestors to our own, even if our paths never crossed in time.
Past Meetings 2021
Saturday January 16th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) – Google Meet
Sharing Session
Share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories since we last met.
Saturday, February 20th, 2021 – 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour) – Google Meet
Topic: Latino and Hispanic Genealogy: The Basics
Nicole Martinez-LeGrand Coordinator, Multicultural Collections at the Indiana Historical Society.
Latin America is the largest grouping of countries and dependencies in of the Western Hemisphere. Presently, one of the largest growing demographics in the United States. Learn about Latino and Hispanic culture through genealogy in the United States and in Latin America. This course speaks to the history of colonization in Latin American countries to present day immigration to the United States.
Saturday, March 20th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: "I Have a Civil War Ancestor... Now What?"
Brian Rhinehart from Rhinehart Roots
Civil War soldiers often left a rich genealogical paper trail. Many of these records are tucked away at the National Archives in Washington DC. Learn what records are available for your ancestors only at the National Archives, what records are online already, and how to access all of them. These records may unlock some of the family stories that have been forgotten over time, as well as break down a brick wall or two!
Saturday, April 17th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: Writing Your Family Story
Patrick Thornton
Join professional writer and editor Patrick Thornton for a lecture about transforming all the research that you’ve compiled over the years into an engaging narrative for your family and future generations. This lecture will break down how to transform dense research into prose, with examples from Patrick’s own family history, going back to the 1600s.
Saturday, May 15th, 2021 - 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour) - Zoom
Sharing Session
Share a story and details of the life of an ancestor you have researched or share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories since we last met. Or tell us about your research specialties and share tips from what you have learned.
Saturday, June 19th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: Finding Your New England Ancestors
David B. Appleton
David B. Appleton (B.S. History) internationally known author and lecturer will discuss genealogical research in the six New England states Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. This can sometimes be seen as easier to do than in many other regions in the United States. "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." (Quote by Michael Comeaux, Assistant Archivist, Massachusetts State Archives.) But that strength, the many records available, can also make genealogical research in New England challenging, because it can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records that may relate to New England ancestors. Learn about some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and discover many of the most useful places to start looking for genealogical information there.
Saturday July 17th 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: Uncovering North Township: A digitization journey at the Hammond Public Library
Amanda Aguilera
Description: Amanda Aguilera, Special Collections Librarian from the Hammond Public Library's Suzanne G Long Local History Room will be our speaker. Follow along as Local History Librarian Amanda Aguilera discusses the various digitization projects she and community volunteers Martha Latko and Lauren Rhein are working on at the Hammond Public Library. Their projects include the Hammond Technical-Vocational High School World War II job training records put out by the United States Department of Education and cover a span of 4 years during World War II. During this time, students came from all over the country to be trained in war-related technical skills and vocations. While incredibly important to the local historical World War II narrative, this collection also maps the changes that the United States workforce underwent during this crucial period. Amanda will also talk about a smaller, though no less interesting, collection of Hammond police tickets from 1911-1914 that give us a glimpse of the darker side of North Township’s past. Finally, she will go over their largest collection and digitization project to date, the North Township land abstract collection. Spanning several decades at the turn of the 20th century, and has documents from Hammond, Highland, Munster, Whiting and East Chicago. These land abstracts offer us a fascinating glimpse not only into routine transactions that occur during the sale of land, but provide a fascinating window into the real lives of early North Township settlers through legal documents such as warranty deeds, wills, estates, guardianships, and partitions.
Sharing Session
Share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories since we last met.
Saturday, February 20th, 2021 – 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour) – Google Meet
Topic: Latino and Hispanic Genealogy: The Basics
Nicole Martinez-LeGrand Coordinator, Multicultural Collections at the Indiana Historical Society.
Latin America is the largest grouping of countries and dependencies in of the Western Hemisphere. Presently, one of the largest growing demographics in the United States. Learn about Latino and Hispanic culture through genealogy in the United States and in Latin America. This course speaks to the history of colonization in Latin American countries to present day immigration to the United States.
Saturday, March 20th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: "I Have a Civil War Ancestor... Now What?"
Brian Rhinehart from Rhinehart Roots
Civil War soldiers often left a rich genealogical paper trail. Many of these records are tucked away at the National Archives in Washington DC. Learn what records are available for your ancestors only at the National Archives, what records are online already, and how to access all of them. These records may unlock some of the family stories that have been forgotten over time, as well as break down a brick wall or two!
Saturday, April 17th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: Writing Your Family Story
Patrick Thornton
Join professional writer and editor Patrick Thornton for a lecture about transforming all the research that you’ve compiled over the years into an engaging narrative for your family and future generations. This lecture will break down how to transform dense research into prose, with examples from Patrick’s own family history, going back to the 1600s.
Saturday, May 15th, 2021 - 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour) - Zoom
Sharing Session
Share a story and details of the life of an ancestor you have researched or share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories since we last met. Or tell us about your research specialties and share tips from what you have learned.
Saturday, June 19th, 2021 - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: Finding Your New England Ancestors
David B. Appleton
David B. Appleton (B.S. History) internationally known author and lecturer will discuss genealogical research in the six New England states Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. This can sometimes be seen as easier to do than in many other regions in the United States. "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." (Quote by Michael Comeaux, Assistant Archivist, Massachusetts State Archives.) But that strength, the many records available, can also make genealogical research in New England challenging, because it can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records that may relate to New England ancestors. Learn about some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and discover many of the most useful places to start looking for genealogical information there.
Saturday July 17th 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: Uncovering North Township: A digitization journey at the Hammond Public Library
Amanda Aguilera
Description: Amanda Aguilera, Special Collections Librarian from the Hammond Public Library's Suzanne G Long Local History Room will be our speaker. Follow along as Local History Librarian Amanda Aguilera discusses the various digitization projects she and community volunteers Martha Latko and Lauren Rhein are working on at the Hammond Public Library. Their projects include the Hammond Technical-Vocational High School World War II job training records put out by the United States Department of Education and cover a span of 4 years during World War II. During this time, students came from all over the country to be trained in war-related technical skills and vocations. While incredibly important to the local historical World War II narrative, this collection also maps the changes that the United States workforce underwent during this crucial period. Amanda will also talk about a smaller, though no less interesting, collection of Hammond police tickets from 1911-1914 that give us a glimpse of the darker side of North Township’s past. Finally, she will go over their largest collection and digitization project to date, the North Township land abstract collection. Spanning several decades at the turn of the 20th century, and has documents from Hammond, Highland, Munster, Whiting and East Chicago. These land abstracts offer us a fascinating glimpse not only into routine transactions that occur during the sale of land, but provide a fascinating window into the real lives of early North Township settlers through legal documents such as warranty deeds, wills, estates, guardianships, and partitions.
Saturday, August 21st, 2021 - 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Topic: The Overland Trails: Westward Migration in the 19th Century
Amber Oldenburg
This lecture will discuss why people headed west, the trails used, what the pioneer experience was like, and how to discover the records left behind.
Topic: The Overland Trails: Westward Migration in the 19th Century
Amber Oldenburg
This lecture will discuss why people headed west, the trails used, what the pioneer experience was like, and how to discover the records left behind.
Saturday, September 18th, 2021 - 10:00 am (1 hour plus Q & A) - Google Meet
Topic: “Research Your Overseas Ancestors Without Going ‘Across the Pond”
Vicki Ruthe Hahn
Learn how to find your immigrant ancestors’ information in U.S. records, in over-seas on-line genealogy databases, & in other (mostly-free) resources. Using histories & maps to help track immigration. What to do about language barriers. Emphasis on England, Ireland, Germany, & Norway.
Saturday, October 16th, 2021 -
10:00 am (appx. 1 hour)
Topic: Tips and Tricks To Discover Your Croatian Roots
Robert Jerin
Description: Robert has been researching Croatian family histories since 1986 and for the past 18 years he has been conducting Croatian Genealogy Workshops across the US and Croatia. In those 18 years he has helped connect dozens of families around the world. Robert enjoys helping people discover their Croatian family history and realized that many descendants of Croatians from the second, third and fourth generations know very little about Croatian history and culture.
Saturday, November 20th, 2021 - 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour) - Zoom
Topic: "The 1950 US Census: Are You Ready?"
Thomas MacEntee
Description: Participants will get up to speed on the history of the 1950 US Census, why the 1950 US Census form is radically different than previous forms, and how the data will be accessed. In addition we’ll cover what you can do NOW to prepare for the release of the 1950 US Census as well as volunteer projects related to indexing and finding aids. Finally, we’ll cover how you can always get the latest information related to the release of the 1950 US Census data!
The registration link is located in the members area of this web site by logging in or contact: [email protected]
Past Meetings 2020
Saturday November 21st -
10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour)
Researching Women in Your Family History
The search for the women in your family history can be riddled with roadblocks like wrong or missing information. Westchester Township History Museum Curator Serena Ard will discuss the reasons for research troubles (like when women could/could not file wills, own property, etc.) as well as tips and tricks for finding and documenting the women in your family.
Saturday October 17th - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour)
Joseph Bailly of Bailly Homestead
Randa J. Duvick, Professor of French at Valparaiso University will speak about Joseph Bailly, his account book (the volume that is owned by our own Porter County Museum in particular), and the fur trade in early Indiana and Michigan.
Saturday September 17th - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour)
Organizing Your DNA Matches
with NWIGS member Gerard Dupczak
Gerard will show us a way to label and organize our DNA matches.
Saturday August 15th - 10:00 am (appx. 1 hour)
DNA Matching with Angel Goines - Google Meet
Description: Class by Angel Goines. What does that DNA report really mean? How can you best use your data? What is a centimorgan? Why such a large range in centimorgans and still my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. cousin? My goal is to answer these questions in a clear and user friendly manner. Please bring your DNA report issues, questions, problems, dilemmas or roadblocks and I will try work my way through them.
Saturday July 25th 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour) - Google Meet
Sharing Session: Tell the Story of An Ancestor - Google Meet
Google Meets - Invitation email has been sent to members
Share a story and details of the life of an ancestor you have researched.
June 20th – Mayflower Ancestors and Research - -CANCELED
Merrillville Branch Library
Jenny Warner genealogist and librarian who serves as the President of DuPage County Genealogical Society will be our speaker.
May 16th - Discovering Our FANs and Collaterals - -CANCELED
Valparaiso Public Library
Melissa Tennant from Allen County Public Library
This session will show how exploring the Friends, Acquaintances, Neighbors (FANs) and relatives of your direct ancestor can help demolish the genealogical brick wall.
March 21st - Researching Women in Your Family History -CANCELLED
Rescheduled for November 21, 2020
Valparaiso Public Library
The search for the women in your family history can be riddled with roadblocks like wrong or missing information. Westchester Township History Museum Curator Serena Ard will discuss the reasons for research troubles (like when women could/could not file wills, own property, etc.) as well as tips and tricks for finding and documenting the women in your family.
February 15th – Proving Adoption
Merrillville Branch Library
One of the hardest obstacles a genealogy researcher can face are adoptions within the family. On July 1, 2018 the Indiana Law changed making it possible for some adoptees to obtain their original birth record.
Marlene Polster began her Indiana adoption journey after hearing about her own father's adoption. In her presentation "Proving Adoption," she will explain how a family member can prepare to research information they need on a family adoption. She will also go over the process that it takes for Indiana adoptees to get their records
January 18th – Webinar and Discussion: Are you related to someone famous?
Valparaiso Public Library
Watch a webinar about websites that can help you find famous ancestors in your tree. We will discuss famouskin.com