Our 2026 Genealogy Club schedule is confirmed! Meetings will be held via Zoom at 11 a.m. Central Time, with one large-scale drop-in event scheduled for November. The theme of this year’s schedule is Freedom For All, which will highlight records, resources and untold stories from our nation’s America 250 Commemorations.

Genealogy Club Meeting Information

Zoom 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.

Registration Details

  • All of our Genealogy Club meetings are free and open to the public.
  • You can register by phone at 630.685.4176 or online on our events calendar.
  • To register online quickly and easily, type “Genealogy Club” in the search box at the top of our events calendar 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.
  • Registration for these programs are open now, unless otherwise noted.

Meeting Recordings

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)

The Power of People: Voices via Petitions
Wednesday, January 14, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Diane Richard
Much of our early legislation is a result of petitions, a means by which individuals or groups of people can seek to change the status quo. Learn where these petitions are held, how you can find them and how they can uncover new details about your ancestors.

Homesteading: Land for All
Wednesday, February 11, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Christine Cohen
Homestead application packets are great sources of genealogical information. They list family members, statements from neighbors and more.  They can also include pages from the family Bible, birth, marriage or death certificates, newspaper clippings and witness affidavits. Additionally, Union Civil War Veterans had to provide proof of military service, and immigrants had to provide naturalization documents.

Spring Meetings (March–May)

Purple Heart Medals
Wednesday, March 11, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Liz Ross
The Purple Heart medal originated as General George Washington’s “Badge of Military Merit” in 1782 to recognize acts of bravery, but it fell out of use until 1932 when it was reinstated as the Purple Heart medal to commemorate wounded or killed soldiers. This lecture will review the history of this award and provide an overview of “Purple Hearts Reunited”, the organization which invites genealogists to volunteer time and expertise to find living descendants of wayward medals.

What the Law Put Asunder: Divorce in America
Wednesday, April 8, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Sara Cochran
Historically, divorce in the United States was rare, but not unheard of. This class considers changing laws and social attitudes as they relate to marriage and divorce, how those laws and attitudes affect our research and the records and provides tips for determining if there was a divorce and accessing those records.

American Battlefield Monument Cemeteries
Wednesday, May 13, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Tina Beaird
The ABMC maintains over 50 cemeteries, monuments, markers and memorials around the world representing soldiers, sailors and nurses who died in the line of duty overseas during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean Conflict. We will walk through a history of the ABMC, the types of records that were created and how you can locate records for veterans interred in one of the cemeteries.

Summer Meetings (June–August)

Navigating the Empire State for Genealogy Research
Wednesday, June 10, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Jennifer Warner
The State of New York has been a home, layover and entry point for thousands of people. In this lecture, you will learn how navigate and locate genealogy materials for ancestors from a variety of backgrounds. You will also learn what new research material has been made available online, what can be retrieved in archival sources and what new sources will be made available to genealogists in the future.

A Tale of Two Brothers: The Patriot and the Outlaw
Wednesday, July 8, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Janice Sellers
This presentation focuses on the contrasting lives of two brothers during the Revolutionary War: Joseph and Moses Mulliner. One was known as a Tory and Refugee leader, commanding a British boat and inspiring terror through raids around New Jersey. The other enlisted as a soldier in the Continental Army. Janice M. Sellers delves into the story of these two brothers, examining the historical context of their actions and the decisions they made during a tumultuous period in American history.

Women and the War of 1812
Wednesday, August 12, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Julia Anderson
The War of 1812 is America’s second revolution, and women participated through everyday and extraordinary means. This participation occasionally flew in the face of traditional gender boundaries, and they ultimately received little acknowledgement in the aftermath of the war. Genealogist Julia Anderson will provides narratives, resources and records relating to the women who contributed to this under researched American war effort.

Fall Meetings (September–October)

The Road to Independence: Defying the British during the Revolutionary War
Wednesday, September 9, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented by Michael L. Strauss
The Revolutionary War era provides a rich array of records for your genealogical research. This lecture provides an overview of historical records including compiled military service records, pensions, state and federal bounty land, local militia, along with records from the Continental Navy and Marine Corps. Additionally the program will include historical context and resources for Shay’s Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion.

Antebellum Migration of Free Persons of Color
Wednesday, October 14, 11 a.m. CST (Zoom)
Presented with Denyce Peyton
During the antebellum period, free people of color in the United States experienced significant migration patterns, often driven by the desire for greater freedom and opportunity. While many remained in the South, particularly in urban areas, a notable number migrated north, seeking refuge from slavery’s oppressive reach and pursuing economic advancement. In this lecture, you will learn how migrations were shaped by both personal choices and legal restrictions, with some free people of color establishing dual households or even returning to the South at a later date.

Special Events

Doughnuts with the Doughboys
Wednesday, November 11, 5–7 p.m. CST (In person/Drop in)
Meeting Room A
Learn more about World War I from an exhibit of banners, artifacts and historical interpreters while enjoying a tasty doughnut.

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!