Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS)

12/21/2025

Can you believe it's almost 2026? Don't let the New Year sneak up on you so fast that you miss our January 3rd Zoom Only presentation with Kate Penney Howard who will teach us How to Use DNA to Discover Patriot & Loyalist Ancestors.

www.wbcgensociety.org

Our 2026 programming is scheduled and most of our presentations are related to our Nation's 250th birthday, plus our 40th Anniversary!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, ¡Feliz Navidad!, God Jul, Joeux Noël, Buon Natale and Frohe Weihnachten!

Don't forget to either record or document conversations with your elders.

Happy Researching,

Paula Olson
Newsletter Editor
Winnebago and Boone Counties Genealogical Society
1710 Van Stone Dr
Machesney Park IL 61115-2166
https://www.wbcgensociety.org/

The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to: Encourage and support genealogical researchers. Promote the discovering and preserving of valued genealogical resources of...

12/17/2025

Pure Germany still has room on these trips!

12/17/2025

Milwaukee County Genealogical Society Event:

Date of Event Friday 23 January 2026
• Start Time 1:00 PM Central - Member meeting precedes Program
• Event Title Using U.S. Land Records in Genealogy
• Presenter Name Karen Fortin
• Description of Event : Land records are an important part of your genealogical toolkit. This presentation will provide an overview of common terms and concepts, explore how land records can help your research, and assist you in locating these valuable resources. The presentations will also share examples showing how to go from finding a deed to finding the land described in it on the modern landscape.

Karen’s passion for history and research led her to an interest in genealogy. She began volunteering with the Pinellas Genealogy Society in Largo, FL in 2012, and was the society’s president from 2014-2017. Karen began providing genealogy and history presentations in 2016 and has lectured at various genealogical societies, public libraries, and other interested organizations. One of her goals is to help people explore historical periods, places, and events so that they can better understand their ancestors and the world in which they lived.

She is a member of: Pinellas Genealogy Society, Florida State Genealogical Society, New England Historic Genealogical Society, New York Biographical and Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, and Genealogical Speakers Guild.
• IN PERSON Location: Milwaukee Central Public Library 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 1st floor Rotary Club of Milwaukee Community Room
• ONLINE Registration https://zoom.us/meeting/register/F0aN4fsOSSWike_r_00j0g #/registration

12/07/2025

From Jim Marten-

I recently gave a noon hour workshop on using Ancestry.com and a few other sites to find Civil War ancestors, or to interpret documents that pop up when searching for ancestors. You can see it on the Milwaukee County Historical Society YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFGp-ov44hQ.

Jim Marten
Professor Emeritus of History
Marquette University

https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469684239/the-sixth-wisconsin-and-the-long-civil-war/

Reimagining one of the oldest genres of Civil War history, this book engagingly presents the story of the war and its aftermath through the lens of a single ...

12/07/2025

" Using DNA to discover Patriot and Loyalist Ancestors "
Speaker: Kate Penny Howard

Winnebago/Boone County Genealogical Society – Regular Meeting Program
Saturday, January 1st at 1:30 p.m. CDT
Meeting Location: Zoom only - No in-person meeting this month

Zoom ONLY!.
Zoom link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GEAMlcqSSSWVPxVL8mriAg

Join Genetic Genealogist Kate Penney Howard as she shows us ways that she discovered new Revolutionary War veterans using DNA and traditional genealogy. She'll share tips to use DNA to break down Revolutionary-era brick walls and surprising things that she uncovered! Kate is a genetic genealogist and speaker who has presented at many conferences and local libraries and societies.

Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist, specializing in brick wall work, HighRoH, and endogamy. She has presented at Rootstech, East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, Illinois Genealogical Society, the International Congress on Medieval Studies, NAAP/RTK's Untangling Our Roots, and the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Future speaking engagements include Rootstech 2025 and Ohio Genealogical Society 2025, as well as local library & genealogical society presentations. Kate studied vocal music and earned a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 2011, and has been pastor of North Christian Church since her ordination in 2012.

To register in advance for this program visit our page for the Zoom link. facebook.com/WBCGS! or on our website www.wbcgensociety.org

For more information, call Diane McCue at (815) 543-2287

Visit us at our website www.wbcgensociety.org and on Facebook, facebook.com/WBCGS!

The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to: Encourage and support genealogical researchers. Promote the discovering and preserving of valued genealogical resources of...

12/05/2025

And from affiliate member Rock County Genealogical Society-

HOLIDAY HEIRLOOM AND MEAL PARTY
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Main entrée, plates and utensils are provided, just bring a dish to share.

Location: Join us at the Tomah Room in the Milton House Museum (no Zoom of this event).

Program Presenter: Attendees themselves

Program Summary: Anyone with a family story or heirloom to discuss is invited to briefly address the group.

How to Attend: This event is a live-only (no Zoom) holiday celebration. Members and the public are invited to attend and asked to bring a dish to share and an optional family heirloom to discuss. We meet at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included.

(Note - Live Social Meeting - no Zoom Broadcast).

Julie Jacobs Feingold, Speaker & Events Coordinator
Rock County Genealogical Society board member
RCGS.Speakers@gmail.com

Send a message to learn more

12/05/2025

From our affiliate Dodge/Jefferson Genealogical Society-

Just a friendly reminder that we will be hosting a presentation on Monday, December 9, 2025, at 6:30 pm at the Watertown Public Library in the Community Room. The guest speaker will be Dr Patrick Steele and his subject will be "Wisconsin and World War I". This presentation is open to the public and free of charge. Please refer to your November 2025 newsletter for more information.

As members you are also invited to a small Christmas Gathering at 6 pm in the same place. Please bring a snack or finger food and join us for some sharing of stories before the presentation.
Hope to see you there!

Lila Miller, DJCGS Treasurer & Newsletter Editor

Send a message to learn more

11/30/2025

The Green County Genealogical Society will host “Vintage Textiles and Family Stories” by Eileen Daniels. The presentation is December 6, 2025 at 10 am in the Turner Hall Ratskeller Restaurant. (note location)

Join Eileen for a heartwarming trunk show that weaves together art, history, and humor. Through her collection of art quilts, Eileen celebrates the beauty of vintage linens and the family stories they carry. Each piece tells its own tale—quilts made with great-grandmother’s blocks from the early and mid-1900s, adorned with cherished handkerchiefs, delicate doilies, and lace. With a dash of humor and plenty of family lore, Eileen’s presentation invites you to see how old fabrics can stitch together generations and memories in unexpected ways.

Eileen has been a quilter for more than 50 years, and she loves to share her creative artwork. She also taught middle school Home Economics for 30 years before she retired. She and her husband of 54 years live in the woods outside of Brodhead, WI where they both have their studios. Ross does woodworking.

For any questions about the meeting or presentation, call Donna at 608-921-1537. The GCGS Research Center (located in the lower level of the Monroe Public Library is open to the public for research Tuesdays 10 am-3 pm. Other times available by appointment. The phone number is 608-328-7436 and the website is

Green County Genealogical Society is your resource center for Green County and surrounding counties

11/25/2025

Wisconsin Genealogy Day!
https://www.facebook.com/events/4146873712241964

Send a message to learn more

11/19/2025

The Chippewa County Genealogical Society will meet at 10:00 on Saturday, November 22, at the Chippewa Area History Center, 12 Bridgewater Avenue, Chippewa Falls.

There will be a short business meeting, followed by a program titled "The Military Influence on Families: The Life of Brigadier General Dennis Sullivan"

11/19/2025

The 2026 webinars are now ready for registration. I hope everyone enjoys them. These webinars are free to the general public with handout. Members can watch the recordings later, if needed.

WSGS is a statewide genealogical organization. Founded in 1939, WSGS' basic purpose is to encourage, facilitate and improve the quality of genealogical study in Wisconsin & about Wisconsin families.

11/15/2025

I am looking for someone who could go to the Marathon County courthouse to look at some indexes, and if lucky, transcribe 4 records. Yes, I will pay. Please PM me. I would think about 2 or so hours. Please email me at nadine17543@yahoo.com if interested. Thank you- Nadine Guilbault