Archived News - November 2012

ISGS News - Friday, November 30, 2012
 
NEW: Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937 Database  
 
 
The Illinois State Genealogical Society is pleased to announce a new database entitled Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937 Database (ICEC Records 1837-1937). This record set is a genealogical index to the book History of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937 and contains close to 12,000 records, all available free to the genealogy community. The database records are listed in "page order" for those wanting to see the records as they appear in the book. In addition, the database can be searched by Surname, Given Name/First Name and Field/Appointment, and results can be displayed in ascending and descending order.
 
A special thanks to ISGS members Oriene Springstroh and Sheryl Grandt who spent almost a year compiling this important research database.
* * *
History of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937 (Authorized Centennial Edition, by Rev. John G. Schwab, assisted by Rev. H.H. Thoren, Ph.D., Chicago, IL (Harrisburg, Pa.: Evangelical Press).
 
This index names persons who were associated with the development of this German-speaking church denomination within the northern part of Illinois from the 1840s to 1937 and the capacity in which they were associated. Those persons were primarily clergymen, but early church founding members and others are often named. The overall structure of the book was based partly on annual conference records – yearly summaries of the activities of its churches and their members – and partly on the history of the circuits or fields where churches were founded.. It is possible with this database to flesh out the entire career of a man who served this church, including date of ordination, when he became a deacon or an elder, and dates and locations where he was stationed. Other personal information may also be found, such as family relationships and dates and places of birth, death, and burial.
  • There is a separate entry in the database for each time a person is mentioned in the written text, including the event that prompted the record.
  • Surname entries for the same individual were not always spelled consistently.
  • Often only last names were noted in the book, with no initials or given names provided.
  • Use of only first initial for names of ministers was frequent, but there were instances of the complete name.
  • In most cases there is no additional information on the page from which the information was extracted. However, it may be helpful to see what other names and activities appear in the same frame of reference on the same page.
  • Place names were not indexed.
  • Conf. = Conference.
  • Phrases within quotation marks are direct quotes from the text.
  • Brackets [ ] within a comment indicate that an explanatory word or words were inserted for clarity.
  • Varying phrases were used for the same agenda items from conference to conference, depending on who took the minutes and who compiled the report contained in the book. Meeting reports usually contained date, place, and name of the presiding bishop of the conference; the names of both the German and English language secretary(ies); recent deaths; names of those newly licensed to preach; names of those ordained as deacons or elders; recognition of newcomers to the conference and the departure of others; and the annual assignments of presiding elders over the conference districts.
  • Serious students of this denomination may wish to obtain the book for closer examination. There is a copy at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
Click here to see the expanded notes on this important Illinois research database.
 
The ICEC Records 1837-1937 database is available in the Free Database section of the ISGS Website at http://ilgensoc.org/cstm_confEvangChurch.php.
 
ISGS News - Tuesday, November 20, 2012
 
Upcoming ISGS Webinars and 2013 ISGS Webinar Schedule
 
 
 
On Tuesday, December 11, at 8 PM Central, J. Mark Lowe, CG, will present, Ready-Set-Plan! Developing a Research Plan. In this webinar, you will learn how create a research plan to help you stay focused on your research tasks and better manage your research projects. To attend this webinar, register at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/226300078.
 
Last week's webinar, Sidestep Genealogy, presented by George G. Morgan, is now available to ISGS members in the Members Section of the ISGS website (http://ilgensoc.org/members.php). Upcoming Webinars
  • January 8 – Beyond the Draft Cards: Additional Selective Service Records with Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL Registration will be available in mid-December. At that time, you can register by going to the ISGS webinar page at our website at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=234.
  • February 12 – Best Genealogy Present You Can Give Yourself: Citing Your Sources with Harold Henderson, CG Registration will be available in mid-December. At that time, you can register by going to the ISGS webinar page at our website at http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=234.
For the complete list of upcoming webinars, including the entire 2013 schedule, visit http://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=234.
 
And don't forget to spread the word by printing out a few copies of our webinar flyer to hand out at your local society meetings. The flyer can be accessed at http://ilgensoc.org/upload/menu/2013webinarbrochure.pdf.
 
Please direct any questions to the ISGS Education Committee at isgseducation@ilgensoc.org.
 
ISGS News - Friday, November 16, 2012
 
ISGS Office Closed Next Week - November 19-23, 2012
 
 
The ISGS Office will be closed next week, Monday, November 19, 2012 and Thursday, November 22, 2012. Regular hours will resume on Monday, November 26, 2012.
 
ISGS News - Tuesday, November 6, 2012
 
November 2012 Webinar – Sidestep Genealogy
 
 
On November 13, George G. Morgan will share some strategies for researching our ancestors' siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins in order to break down brick walls in his presentation Sidestep Genealogy.

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 8:00 pm Central

Description: Brick wall research blocks are inevitable. We strive to start with ourselves and work backwards, but sometimes there are impediments that stop us in our tracks. It is then that we must use our most creative research skills, and it is essential that we move to other family members. That means researching our ancestors' siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, and the collateral lines with which they are connected.

Sidestep genealogy means researching these alternative individuals, their records, the places that they lived, and other resources. This lecture will make you stop and think about what alternative research paths you might use, and point you to new resources you may never have considered.


 
Presenter: George G. Morgan

George G. Morgan is the president of Aha! Seminars, Inc., and an internationally recognized genealogy expert who presents at local, state, national, and international genealogical conferences. George is the prolific author of literally hundreds of articles for magazines, journals, newsletters, in genealogical publications, and at online sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K, Singapore, and elsewhere. McGraw-Hill has published his tenth book, the third edition of his How to Do Everything: Genealogy, in 2012. He is Vice President of Membership for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and other societies in the U.S. and the U.K. George and Drew Smith produce The Genealogy GuysSM Podcast on the Internet at genealogyguys.com.

Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/559302166

Recordings and Syllabus Also Available

For ISGS members who cannot attend on November 13th, a recording of the webinar, along with the syllabus, will be made available in the Members Section of the ISGS website at http://www.ilgensoc.org. If you're not already a member of ISGS, visit Join ISGS! for more information.