Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS)

05/29/2026

Happy birthday, Wisconsin!

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/wisconsin-admitted-union

05/21/2026

The Green County Historical Society is presenting “Green County, its first history” on June 20 from 9-3:30 at the Historical Society Museum and at the Monroe Public Library. The Museum will be open for the above hours. The library community room will be open for the presentations at 9:30 am for the 10 am “Green County Archaeology: From Wooly Mammoths to Lead Badgers” with Kevin Akemann. It will close until 12:30, when it will once again open for the Green County on the Eve of White Settlement, 1815-1832: Native People, Lead Mining, and More with Patrick Jung.
Throughout the day before and after the presentations, Brian Diehl will be demonstrating “The Art of Flint Knapping”. Exhibits of Rock Collections, Native American Artifacts, and more from attending exhibitors. Feel free to bring your items for identification assistance. No sales or appraisals.
The museum will be open throughout the day from 9-4.

For any questions, please contact the Museum Coordinator at [email protected] or by leaving a message at 608-921-1537.

05/16/2026

The Polish Genealogical Society of America is hosting a webinar this Sunday, May 17th at 2pm CT on the topic of Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy - Applications and Implications. Dan Sadowski, a genealogist and AI expert, has been utilizing AI in genealogy for a number purposes. To introduce you to its potential, Dan will use examples to cover topics including:
• What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Conversations with AI on Polish history, partitions, US naturalization process, etc
• Using AI to stitch together multiple complex documents
• Writing letters and performing complex translations with AI
• A summary of what worked, what did not work, and some common problems
Registration is free for members or $15 for non-members. Click here to register: Webinar - AI in Genealogy – Applications & Implications - Polish Genealogical Society of America
Registration: https:/ /pgsa.org/product/ai-in-genealogy-applications-implications/

05/11/2026

"America at 250! Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestors"
Speaker: Scott Norrick

WBCGS – Regular Meeting Program
Saturday, June 6th, at 1:30 p.m. CDT
Meeting Location: Rockford Public Library, East Branch,
6685 East State St., Rockford IL

In person and Zoom.
Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ehd_exX5SNOs2ZjzTkPRvg

For the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, this presentation will guide you in discovering Revolutionary War ancestors using key archives, resources, and strategies while exploring both Patriot and Loyalist stories.

Scott Norrick’s passion is connecting people to their past. While providing a list of names, dates and places for ancestors is a start, Scott enjoys helping others discover the stories of triumphs and tribulations that defined our ancestors’ lives. He does this by assisting clients with breaking down their genealogical brick walls and by helping them document the rich stories of their family history. His areas of expertise include research in the American Midwest along with the immigration to the Midwest from European countries. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University. With over 30 years of family history research experience, he is familiar with all the latest and time-tested genealogical tools. Through his company Ancestral Past, he welcomes the opportunity to assist others on their genealogy journey.

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

05/07/2026

Green County Genealogical Society
Friday Fun Day May 15, 2026
“GPS Mapping presented by Bill Holland and Dowsing presented by Donna Kjendlie”

Please meet at 1 pm in the south eastern section of the Greenwood Cemetery. You will need the find-a-grave app on your smartphone. Download the app from the Apple or Google App store if you have not done so. Bill Holland will demonstrate how to GPS monuments and how to find monuments that have been previously GPS marked. Each individual will be given the first and last name, date of birth, and date of death, of a previously GPS marked monument and challenged to find their first monument by GPS. Only 22% of monuments in Greenwood Cemetery have been previously GPS marked so it will be easy to find graves to mark with GPS. Don’t take it too seriously. We will have fun, as genealogists always do.
Donna Kjendlie will demonstrate using the dowsing rod to find unmarked gravesites. Dowsing rods will be provided.

For any questions about the meeting or presentation, call Bill at 734-735-3475. 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 www.greencogenealogywi.org.

05/06/2026

Upcoming event information:
What's New in Technology and Genealogy Hybrid: Mount Prospect Public Library or Zoom
Date: 16 May 2026 10:00 AM CDT
If offered Virtual or Hybrid, you must register to receive the Zoom meeting info. Non-members will be charged $5 for the Zoom link.
To register: What's New in Technology and Genealogy

05/04/2026

ROCK COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Free In-Person Presentation by Bob Block: World War II POWs in Wisconsin, Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 PM at the Milton House Museum.

Program Presenter: Bob Block is a resident of Oregon, WI. He retired from the Wisconsin Crime Lab in Madison, WI, after 34 years. Before retiring as head of the drug identification unit and has testified in courts of law 500 times as an expert witness. Bob is an active member of the Oregon Area Historical Society with an interest in local history.
Program Summary: Most people are unaware that Wisconsin had POW (Prisoner of War) camps during WWII and are surprised to learn that there were camps at 38 locations, with a total of 20,000 mostly German POWs. This presentation tells interesting stories of those who may have lived in a community that once had a POW camp, those who worked side by side with POWs, and those who were once prisoners in a POW camp. You will find this presentation informative, educational, and entertaining.

How to Attend: The public is invited to this live, in-person presentation at the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville Rd., Milton, WI (Map Link) or view via Zoom on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app. The Zoom link, passcode, and audience handout can all be found at the RCGS website at: www.rcgswi.org/events--speakers.

05/04/2026

“USING PHOTOGRAPHY HISTORY IN GENEALOGY”

WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2026
10 AM to Noon
(Central Time, USA & Canada)

WHERE: Nippersink Public Library
5418 Hill Road
Richmond, IL 60071

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois (BIGWILL) invites you to our May meeting with speaker, Vicki Ruthe Hahn.

Vicki Ruthe Hahn’s presentation topic
“USING PHOTOGRAPHY HISTORY IN GENEALOGY”

Photographs give a direct insight into the past, and into the lives of individuals portrayed in them. They are a perfect way for genealogists to identify ancestors (from 1839 on) by analyzing physical resemblance, the history of fashions worn, backgrounds, and special occasions depicted. Learn how to help narrow the dates by identifying what photography studios and camera/developing/mounting technologies were used through the history of photography. Explore how to combine photography with other genealogical techniques, and organization. Bring a vintage photograph along, and we can try to identify the range of years that it was taken.
Vicki Ruthe Hahn, owner of Stateline Genealogy Club, LLC, is a retired librarian with a BA and MLIS from University of Illinois. An experienced, regional genealogy presenter and consultant, she founded the “Stateline Genealogy Club” at Beloit Public Library in 2012, and created the “StatelineGenealogyClub.Wordpress.com" BLOG in 2015. She has a background in history, anthropology, research, writing, teaching, and clothing history. Vicki sorts out mysteries, rediscovers histories, weaves stories, and helps people with local history and their family genealogy, specializing from Central Illinois to Central Wisconsin.
Visitors are always welcome to attend our BIGWILL presentations, free of charge.
To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89485759312?pwd=YYUXZw0RGM6gGpGCt7QknOxAqbGtA9.1
Meeting ID: 894 8575 9312 Passcode: 660657

05/04/2026

May the 4th be with you. ;)

04/27/2026

Date of Event: Friday 29 May 2026
Start Time: 1:00 PM Central - Member meeting precedes Program
Event Title: How to Self-Publish Digital and Print Books Inexpensively
Presenter Name: Joe Kirchen
Description of Event: We all have one thing in common: we have built family trees, established them on genealogy sites, and collected a wealth of information about our ancestors. Beyond the data in our storage boxes—the old photos, obituaries, and funeral cards—we have uncovered fascinating stories about the lives they led and the history they moved through. We are proud of these roots, but the question remains: what do we do with this fountain of information?
Like many of you, I had never written anything longer than a brief school assignment or business report. However, at the suggestion of a friend, I looked into Amazon’s Kindle Direct Self-Publishing software. After spending a week getting a feel for the program, I envisioned a way to share 300 years of family history with my relatives. Five months later, I held a 200-page paperback proof in my hands, and by the sixth month, I had 40 finished copies ready for our family reunion—all at a cost of under $10 per book.
I am looking forward to sharing my experience of becoming a first-time author with you and am happy to take any questions you may have.
Bio: I am an amateur genealogist and have been retired for 14 years. Prior to my retirement, I had a 36-year career with the Chicago Cubs, where I served in several front-office positions. I am an accountant and ticket manager by trade.
IN PERSON Location: Milwaukee Central Public Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI, 2nd Floor Innovation and Learning Lab (Old Computer Lab) OR
join online with the link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/5NOyJoi1Rbmw21fm7bC4Zw #/registration

www.milwaukeegenealogy.org Milwaukee County Genealogical Society membership programs are held in person at the Central Library and online. The program will start with a short business meeting. The speaker presentation will begin about 1:15 PM. We all have one thing in common: we have built family tr...