Geneva History Museum

While I pondered about a genealogical to-do list for my recent trip to Chicago, I submitted a question to the Rootsweb ILKane mailing list: “Hello all, My 3rd great-grandmother Helena (nee Åman) Tolf died 13 Jan 1901. According to her obituaries, she died in Batavia and is buried at West Batavia Cemetery. But neither Kane County nor…

Genealogy Random Acts of Kindness

“At one time there were thousands of volunteers in every U.S. state” who volunteered their time and genealogical expertise to an organization called RAOGK – Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness according to a new organization by the same name. For years I both volunteered and employed volunteers many times. Genealogy is very much a pay-it-forward hobby. I…

I Forgot My Cemetery Kit

As a result, I couldn’t fix this: Husband and I recently took a genealogical road trip to Illinois. First Stop – Judy Russell. The Legal Genealogist spoke at the Chicago Genealogical Society meeting in Arlington Heights. That was a day well spent. Next up – locate the final resting place of two of my Tolf ancestors.…

Why We Should Ask for Help

Michael John Neil’s suggestion to get an outside opinion could not have been more timely. The day after I read it, I had a wonderful opportunity to follow his advice. (Thank you Michael!) While preparing for an upcoming event sponsored by the local German Genealogy Society, I mentioned one of my stumbling block ancestors, Maria…

Speaking of German Genealogy

Lois Hemmeter Edwards, author of the “Beginner’s Guide to Germanic Genealogy” spoke at the Germanic Genealogy Society meeting this morning. Husband and I both have German ancestry and needed a little kick in the Deutschland to give those lines some attention. Lois offered a step-by-step process for climbing a German family tree once an ancestor’s…