Back by popular demand! The Fountaindale District and the Plainfield Area Public Library District are hosting a two-day Irish Genealogy Workshop featuring the Ulster Historical Foundation on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18, at the Fountaindale Public Library, 300 W. Briarcliff Road in Bolingbrook, IL.
This is a free workshop, open to genealogists of all skill levels. No library card required!
As a courtesy to our attendees, these sessions will be available in person (limit 40) or virtually through Zoom. Don’t forget to sign up for both days if you’re interested. In-person participants will have access to light snacks, handouts and the opportunity to purchase Ulster Historical Society books during the breaks. Virtual attendees will receive handouts via email ahead of the program and may send questions to our speakers during the sessions and browse the online Ulster Historical Foundation bookshop. Recordings of the sessions will be available for a very limited time following the program on our YouTube channel.
Day One Conference Schedule
Virtual Registration In-Person Registration
Monday, March 17, 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
9 a.m.: Doors open to the event
9:15 a.m.–4 p.m.: One-on-one Irish Genealogy Consultations* with the Ulster Historical Foundation.
*Consultations are $50 by reservation. Reserve your time slot online. In-Person Only.
9:20 a.m.: Opening Remarks
9:30 a.m.: Finding Irish Ancestry and Places of Origin in North American Records with Kathy O’Leary
10:30 a.m.: Morning Break
11 a.m.: Unusual Places to Find Irish Births and Naturalizations in American Records with Debra M. Dudek
12:30 p.m.: Virtual Program Ends
12:30 p.m.: Lunch Break (Lunch is not provided. In-person participants should bring a lunch or use their break to visit a nearby restaurant.)
1:30–3:30 p.m.: Open Genealogy Work Session
3:30 p.m.: Day One Program Ends
Day Two Conference Schedule
Tuesday, March 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Virtual Registration In-Person Registration
9 a.m.: Doors open to the event
9:20 a.m.: Opening Remarks
9:30 a.m.: Introduction To Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research
11 a.m.: Morning Break
11:30 a.m.: Records Related to the Different Churches in Ireland
12:30 p.m.: Lunch Break (Lunch is not provided. In-person participants should bring a lunch or use their break to visit a nearby restaurant.)
1:30 p.m.: Census Substitutes and Other Important Sources for the Eighteenth-Century
2:30 p.m.: Afternoon Break
3 p.m.: The Irish Poor Law and Local Government Records: Board of Guardians, Workhouse Registers and Grand Jury Records
4 p.m.: Closing and Door Prizes
One-on-One Consultations
On Monday, March 17, our speakers from the Ulster Historical Foundation will offer in-person one-on-one sessions (by appointment) for a fee of $50. These sessions should be booked online before the event date.
Have questions about this program? We can help! Call 630.685.4201 or email ddudek@fountaindale.org for assistance.
We look forward to providing more details on this exciting program in the next few weeks. See you at the library!