South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society - Illinois

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from SSGHS! Our library is closed today and tomorrow. We reopen on Monday.

11/25/2025

Join us Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 pm Central time for a free Zoom event as Mark Olsen presents "Introduction to Family Tree Maker." Olsen is the Family Tree Maker Ambassador, and will show us the basics of this popular software program. Please register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6QMkwA5pSjSof8miK6he4A after which you'll receive the program link.

Customer Info Name : Linda Swisher Contact Number : +12196295769 Society Name : South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society Requested Topic or Focus of the Event : Introduction to Family Tree Maker Your Society Title : President Length of Event : 1 Hour Session Meeting open to public? : Yes ope...

11/24/2025

Village plans to tear down Van O Homestead in South Holland.

South Holland plans to tear down the historic Van Oostenbrugge Homestead, but descendant Bill Paarlberg wants to save the house.

11/24/2025

It’s that time of year when prices are at their lowest. For instance, Legacy Family Tree Webinar subscriptions are 50% off. Ancestry offers 50% off gift memberships. Many vendors have their DNA kits on sale. Check the genealogy vendors’ websites to see if they have special holiday offers.

11/22/2025

Can't find your ancestor? Create a plan, then work the plan. Tips from Family Tree Magazine: https://familytreemagazine.com/strategies/genealogy-expert-brick-wall-tips/?

Got a frustrating ancestry research problem? Follow these six timeless tips from genealogy experts to work through brick walls and build your family tree.

11/22/2025

Our members are able to take advantage of today's DNA SIG (Special Interest Group). We also have a Writers' Group SIG and a Zoom-only SIG called "Websites: New and Interesting."

Consider becoming a member of SSGHS. Just go to https://ssghs.org/get-involved/membership/ (you can join by mail, or online with PayPal, credit or debit card).

Membership year: September 1st through August 31st. Membership has its benefits. SSGHS offers the following to the public, free of charge: 9 meeting programs, 11 digital issues of SSGHS News*, Pullman Records Quick Search, use of the SSGHS Library, and … Continued

11/21/2025

Ancestry's Black Friday Sale is starting early. You can get 50% off gift memberships. You can even gift the membership to yourself, but there are stipulations that you must follow. Thomas MacEntee explains how to do it.

(NOTE: SSGHS does not endorse or promote any vendor; this is for informational purposes to explain how to take advantage of this offer. Genealogy Bargains, Cyndi's List and other sites are Ancestry affiliates and are offering 50% off links. You pay no more for the membership, but by using their link, they receive a percentage.)

Ancestry Black Friday Gift Membership Sale: Step right up, bargain-hunters and family history fans! This holiday season, Ancestry has rolled out a Black

11/19/2025

Archaeological presentation this Thursday night in Homewood:

11/19/2025

Do you remember Nike missle sites? Were there any in your area? Here's a page of information about sites in Illinois: https://ed-thelen.org/loc-i.html

The Nike Missile launch site, located near LaGrange Road and 151st Street, became operational in 1957. This site was active from approximately 1957 to the mid-1960s. In 1975, the Village of Orland Park purchased the abandoned site from the U.S. Army for $1 and converts it to a civil defense shelter. Another Nike base, the control site, was located on 153rd Street near the present-day Metra station. This property was acquired by Andrew Corporation in the 1960s. The site was razed in 2006.

11/19/2025

Coming up in Flossmoor!

Plan ahead! Curious about Flossmoor’s little known stories? Like the debacle that made the front page of the Wall Street Journal? Or the international scandal caused by a Flossmoor resident and H-F graduate that also happened to be a Pl***oy centerfold? Curious about the ancient fossil find three boys made while pretending they were Roy Rogers? Or maybe you heard the rumors but need the full story about Muhammad Ali in Flossmoor.

These stories are all part of the lesser known history of our village. Author and lifetime resident Tom Dobrez will share some of the more interesting tales of our town. Dobrez is the author of the recently released A More Perfect Place..The Story of Flossmoor- a detailed history of our village as it turned 100 years old.

Join Tom for some Flossmoor trivia and to hear stories from his book which will be available to purchase for a special price just before the holiday. Registration is not required.