Meetings & Classes 2020
Note: Due to COVID-19, NWIGS will use Google Meet for our meetings/classes.
Members will receive an email invitation or they can log into the member area to find the code.
How to join a Google Meet Meeting: YouTube Video Link
Quick Guide: How to join a meeting
Members will receive an email invitation or they can log into the member area to find the code.
How to join a Google Meet Meeting: YouTube Video Link
Quick Guide: How to join a meeting
Meetings/classes start at 10:00 am
Virtual through Google Meet
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.
December No Meeting - Happy Holidays
Google Meet Classes 2021
Saturday January 16th - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour)
Sharing Session
Share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories since we last met.
Virtual through Google Meet
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.
December No Meeting - Happy Holidays
Google Meet Classes 2021
Saturday January 16th - 10:00 am ( appx. 1 hour)
Sharing Session
Share your genealogy projects, discoveries or stories since we last met.
Past Meetings 2020
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
escription: 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
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
escription: 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