Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS)

Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS) The Wisconsin State Genealogical Society (WSGS) is a statewide genealogical organization. Visit our website at https://wsgs.org for more information!

Founded in 1939, WSGS now has members both within and outside of Wisconsin. WSGS is a non-stock, nonprofit Wisconsin corporation whose basic purpose is to encourage, facilitate and improve the quality of genealogical study in Wisconsin and about Wisconsin families. To these ends WSGS:

* Collects and publishes genealogical and historical material related to Wisconsin families and their forebea

rs


* Conducts meetings and conferences for the instruction and interest of members


* Encourages the establishment of genealogical collections in libraries throughout the state


* Works to ensure public records in Wisconsin remain open for genealogical and historical research.

Pardon our dust but we are in the process of switching web hosting providers so it may be an hour or two for the new web...
06/18/2026

Pardon our dust but we are in the process of switching web hosting providers so it may be an hour or two for the new webite to show up.

This is all part of our process of providing a better website for everyone.

06/10/2026

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. Due to spacing at the museum, the library community room on the second floor 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 Steve and Janet Goebeli, James Beer and other attending exhibitors. Fluorescent rock viewing to find which rocks will “shine” will be fun for the kids that attend! Identification help will be available for your items of rocks and archaeological value. No sales or appraisals.

The museum will be open throughout the day from 9-4. Donations will be appreciated.

Midwest Tour 2026Greetings!Hope to see you on our Midwest tour.YOU ARE INVITEDFamily Tree Maker is heading to the Midwes...
06/09/2026

Midwest Tour 2026

Greetings!

Hope to see you on our Midwest tour.
YOU ARE INVITED

Family Tree Maker is heading to the Midwest on June 15th for a six-day tour of Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. At six free events hosted by local genealogy societies, public libraries, and Family Tree Maker user groups, Executive Director Duff Wilson and I will present interactive demonstrations of the latest Family Tree Maker edition and provide an insider's look at what lies ahead.
Tana Pedersen
SPECIAL GUEST TANA PEDERSEN

Also joining our Midwest tour, author Tana Pedersen will present her latest Family Tree Maker book about getting connected with your relatives. Tana has written many Family Tree Maker guidebooks, including the Companion Guide and Little Book of Answers.
FTM 2024
ABOUT THE TOUR EVENTS

You can find event details below and a list of topics we'll be covering. There will also be special prices on Family Tree Maker, and related books and software. All events are free of charge and open to the public. You don't need to be a member of the sponsoring society or user group to attend any of the tour events, although please do register so we can save you a seat. Duff, Tana and I are looking forward to meeting you and will be happy to stay around at the end of each event to answer questions as time permits.

Hope to see you at one of the stops along the way!
Mark Olsen

Mark Olsen
Family Tree Maker Ambassador

***

1. Lincoln, NE Event

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints FamilySearch Center
3000 Old Cheney Road, Lincoln, NE 68516

Monday, June 15th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpages:

Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society (Family Tree Maker User Group)
Greater Omaha Genealogical Society
American Historical Society of Germans from Russia

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-tree-maker-event-in-lincoln-ne-tickets-1987620386080?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost: FREE

2. Des Moines, IA Event

Iowa Genealogical Society Conference Center
628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309

Tuesday, June 16th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpage: Iowa Genealogical Society (Family Tree Maker User Group)
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-tree-maker-event-in-des-moines-ia-tickets-1987621336924?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost: FREE

3. Madison, WI Event

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints FamilySearch Center
4505 Regent Street, Madison, WI 53705

Wednesday, June 17th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpage: Dane County Area Genealogical Society (Family Tree Maker User Group)
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-tree-maker-event-in-madison-wi-tickets-1987622413143?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost: FREE

4. Cedarburg, WI Event

Cedarburg Public Library, Community Room
W63 N589 Hanover Avenue, Cedarburg, WI 53012

Thursday, June 18th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Host webpage: Cedarburg Public Library
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-tree-maker-event-in-cedarburg-wi-tickets-1987625772190?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost: FREE

5. Green Bay, WI Event

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints FamilySearch Center, Gym
651 Pinehurst Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54302

Friday, June 19th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpages:

Bay Area Genealogical Society
Manitowoc County Genealogical Society
Appleton Public Library
Brown County Library
Sheboygan County Historical Research Center

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-tree-maker-event-in-green-bay-wi-tickets-1987626563557?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost: FREE

6. Eau Claire, WI Event

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room 306
400 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701

Saturday, June 20th
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Society webpages:

Chippewa County Wisconsin Genealogical Society
Dunn County Genealogical Society
Genealogical Research Society of Eau Claire
St. Croix Valley Genealogical Society

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-tree-maker-event-in-eau-claire-wi-tickets-1987627458233?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost: FREE
FAMILY TREE MAKER TOPICS

Some of the things we will discuss:

A brief introduction to Family Tree Maker and why it's been America's favorite desktop family history software for over 35 years.
Features only found in Family Tree Maker, including some insider tips and tricks for expert users.
How TreeVault® securely backs up changes in your tree every fifteen seconds and provides a connection to our growing ecosystem of mobile apps.
The new Connect Workspace in FTM 2024 that makes it easy to enlist relatives to help accelerate your research.
Easy on the Eyes®, a long-requested feature that gives relief to tired old eyes by enlarging each section of the screen just when it's needed.
A number of useful requested improvements in managing and reporting relationships.
Tools for cleaning up orphaned items (media, sources, and citations).

We'll also cover:
1. FTM CONNECT 2.0

For the greatly expanded version 2.0 of our mobile tree viewer app (for Android, iPhone, and iPad), we'll show you:

How FTM Connect can now be used by your relatives to fact-check your tree and introduce you to extended family members you didn't know you had.
How to use FTM Connect with an iPad or Android tablet to provide a handy touchscreen that works seamlessly with Family Tree Maker on your PC or Mac at home.
How to take your tree with you on your tablet or smartphone when visiting relatives and have their additions and corrections waiting for you as sticky note hints on your FTM tree when you get back home.

2. INSIGHTFUL TIPS FROM OUR PUBLICATIONS

Tana Pedersen will share insights from some of Family Tree Maker's most popular companion publications, including:

Companion Guide – practical guidance and step-by-step help for getting the most out of Family Tree Maker.
Little Book of Answers – clear solutions and helpful tips for many of the most common questions users ask.
The Hidden Power of Family Connections – practical ways to find, contact, and collaborate with relatives and fellow researchers.

3. ASK THE PRESENTERS

We'll leave time to answer your questions (Q&A).
We'll offer hands-on help with Family Tree Maker on your own computer as time permits after each tour event.
We'd love to hear your requests for features you'd like to see in future editions.

SPECIAL EVENT PRICES

You will be able to purchase Family Tree Maker, related software, genealogy books or an online course at special prices.
QUESTIONS?

Our support staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help. Click here to have a friendly chat with a member of our team.
FUTURE TOUR STOPS

If sometime in the future you're having an event of the genealogical kind, or you'd like to plan one around Family Tree Maker at your society, give us a shout at [email protected] and we'll try to put your event on the map too.
WANT TO START A USER GROUP?

If you are interested in starting a Family Tree Maker user group in your area, we can provide door prizes and make a presentation at your first meeting if you'd like – in person or on screen. Write to [email protected] to learn more.

© 2026 The Software MacKiev Company. Software MacKiev and the Software MacKiev logo are trademarks, and Family Tree Maker, the Family Tree Maker tree logo, TreeVault, and Easy on the Eyes are registered trademarks of The Software MacKiev Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

06/06/2026

Free Presentation by Rock County Genealogical Society
• Program Summary: Writing Your Family History for the Non-writer. Were your ancestors royalty or members of the working class? Were they rich or barely surviving? Whoever they were, their memory deserves preservation. Steve's program will discuss a process and format that make it easier to transform your research efforts into a written family history. Learn a method to easily save your information and tips to help them “come alive.” If we do not preserve our ancestors' memories and stories for future generations, who will?
• Program Presenter: Steve Szabados is a genealogy lecturer, author, and a member of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists, the Illinois State Genealogical Society, and the Polish Genealogical Society of America. He is also a genealogy volunteer at the Arlington Heights, Illinois, Library and the Genealogy Columnist for the Polish American Journal.
• How to Attend: Members and the public are invited to attend this free Zoom presentation on Tuesday, June 9th at 6:30 PM. This is a live Zoom presentation, and please join at the scheduled time. The Zoom link, passcode, and audience handout can all be found at the RCGS website at: www.rcgswi.org/events--speakers.
•
o Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82375527678?pwd=WoVjIXCs9rXPEGRV1TcwUZ3aEBsil4.1
o Password: Family (note capital F)

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

Address

PO Box 5106
Madison, WI
53705

Website

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