Our 2025 Genealogy Club schedule is confirmed! Meetings will be held via Zoom at 11 a.m. Central Time, with two large-scale hybrid events scheduled for the spring and fall. The theme of this year’s schedule is Put Your Best Technology Foot Forward, where you will learn new tools, apps and online skills to level up your research. We can’t wait for you to enjoy our upcoming programs!

Genealogy Club Meeting Information

  • Online meetings are held through Zoom, and registration is required. Zoom links and meeting handouts are emailed to registrants one day before the program. Reminder emails are sent one day prior and one hour before the meetings.
  • Twice during the year, we will host large-scale hybrid (in-person and online) events. For these programs, our speakers present their lectures at the library in front of a live audience, with a live stream available on Zoom. You will find registration links for both the Zoom and in-person meetings on their individual event pages on our events calendar. Registration is required for hybrid meetings.
  • All of our Genealogy Club meetings are free and open to the public. You can register by phone at 630.685.4176 or online at fountaindale.org/events.
  • To register online quickly and easily, type “Genealogy Club” in the search box at the top of the page and adjust the calendar dates to find the club meetings for the entire year.
  • You are not required to enter a library card number during the registration process.
  • We would like to express our gratitude to our speakers for their cooperation in permitting the recording of sessions. These recordings will be accessible on our YouTube channel after each program, ensuring that our homebound and working patrons can benefit from the content. All recordings will be available for streaming the day after the meeting.

Winter Meetings (January–February)

Evernote for Genealogy Research
Wednesday, January 8, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Jennifer Warner
Evernote is a note-taking and task-management application you can use both on a computer or via a mobile app. During this presentation, you will learn all about Evernote and why genealogists use the software.

Handy with MyHeritage Library Edition
Wednesday, February 12, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Laura Street Chaplin
Searching effectively on MyHeritage Library Edition may be a challenge when you are more used to other sites. In this lecture, you will learn everything MyHeritage Library Edition has to offer! From family trees, your MyHeritage personal website and their DNA offerings to their impressive photo tools, this presentation is designed for new and experienced genealogists alike!

Spring Meetings (March–May)

Forensic Genealogy
Wednesday, April 9, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Christine Cochran
Forensic genealogy is a new buzzword these days. But what exactly is forensic genealogy? How is it applied? Who needs a forensic genealogist and why? This lecture will address these questions and provide some real-world examples. Hold on to your hats because what you learn will open Pandora’s Box!

Translating Foreign Language American Newspapers
Wednesday, May 14, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Suz Bates
This lecture will introduce you to new and existing translation tools to help you research foreign language newspapers published in the United States. Learn how to streamline the translation process, optimizing your workflow as you discover new information about your ancestors in these underutilized publications.

Summer Meetings (June–August)

Google Workspace for Genealogical Research
Wednesday, June 11, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Eleanor Brinsko
What if there was a free, one-stop place online where you could access your genealogy research from anywhere, make the templates to your liking AND share it with family members? That’s where Google Workspace comes in. This lecture will introduce you to programs on Google Workspace, which will make organizing, sorting and storing research a little easier and help you find what you need to break down the brick walls!

Using Indirect Evidence
Wednesday, July 9, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Liz Ross
After the first months of finding and recording all the low-hanging fruit, your research will take you further back in time to less settled places and fewer records. This lecture will show you how using indirect evidence to the fullest will advance your research and put another piece into the puzzle of your family.

Scan Got Old Negatives With These 5 (Mostly) Free Apps!
Wednesday, August 13, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal
Are your old film negatives wasting away in a box in the closet? This lecture will show you how to bring your old negatives to life so you can enjoy them! These days, it’s quick, easy and inexpensive to scan film negatives with your smartphone. This lecture will walk you through five apps and a few household items to begin preserving your family memories!

Fall Meetings (September–November)

Seems Phishy: Protecting Your Genealogy Online
Wednesday, September 10, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Tina Beaird
So much of our genealogy research is taking place online. You can take many common-sense steps to protect your online identity and reduce the chance you’ll be the next target for a scammer, hacker or identity thief. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to safeguard your data online and what you can do to protect the privacy of your family while sharing information about your ancestors.

Using DNA to Identify Enslaved Ancestors
Wednesday, October 8, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented with LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson
Reconstructing the lineage of enslaved ancestors presents unique challenges due to the involuntary separations that severed family ties and records that rarely identified the enslaved by surnames. Learn how to apply DNA standards to test results to establish genealogical proof of a genetic relationship.

Special Events

Irish Genealogy Workshop with the Ulster Historical Foundation
March 17 & 18, 9 a.m. CST (In-person and Zoom)
Presented by Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt
The Fountaindale Public Library District is partnering with the Plainfield Public Library District to host a special two-day Irish Genealogy Workshop with the Ulster Historical Foundation.

World War II Military Genealogy Workshop
Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. CST (In-person and Zoom)
Presented by Jennifer Holik
Join us for a full-day World War II Military Genealogy workshop! Our sessions will be held in person at the library and virtually through Zoom. The schedule for the day will include:

  • 9:30 a.m.: Research a Veteran: Exploring the Basics of Military Research
  • 11 a.m.: Exploring the Greatest Generation: Adding Context to the Veteran’s Stor
  • 1:30 p.m.: Researching WWII Online

Feel free to share our schedule with your family and genealogy friends. If you have any questions about our programs and research assistance, you can reach me by phone at 630.685.4201 or by email at ddudek@fountaindale.org.

See you at our next club meeting!