I just returned from a short trip to the Chicago area, where I had the privilege of speaking to the DuPage County (Illinois) Genealogical Society. I spent the entire day lecturing, speaking on four of my favorite topics:
- The Witness – An Often Overlooked Source
- Using Tax Records to Establish Relationships
- Chasing Women – Finding the Women in Your Pedigree
- Flames Over the Courthouse – or – Your Ancestor Was Not Lost in the Courthouse Fire
The exhibit hall had a good mix of vendors including:
VENDORS
- Maia’s Books
- Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe
- Front Page Books
- Genline
- Family Tree Tours
- Lake Claremont Press
- Photo Grafix
- Slideshows of Memories
- Stitched for You
SOCIETIES
- CAGG-NI
- Czechoslovak American Genealogical Society of Illinois (CSAGSI)
- Fox Valley Genealogical Society
- Illinois State Genealogy Society
- The Scottish Genealogy Group of the IL St. Andrew Society
I want to publicly thank the DuPage County Society for inviting me to speak, and handling the sales of Dollarhide’s excellent Census Substitutes & State Census Records publications. This allowed me more one-on-one time with attendees between lectures. I didn’t bring any home with me – they all sold!
I also want to thank the gentleman from “Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois,” who loaned me his Mac for the day, after mine failed me. I didn’t get his name, but without his help, I’d have been in trouble.
And thanks to Jeff and Barb Bockman, who put me up for a couple days prior to the conference. I had a good time running around the cemeteries, and visiting with both of them.
Other speakers were Jeff Bockman, Don Litzer, Craig Pfannkuche, and Lesley Martin. A crowd of over 200 people turned out to go to classes and browse the exhibit hall. A good time was had by all.
I had so much fun, I’ve decided that I’m going to solicit a bit more speaking. If your society would like to have me come to your area, take a look at my Genealogical Speakers Guild page. By the way, my lecture fees are very reasonable…