Holiday Folk Fair Nov 17 - 19, 2017

Holiday Folk Fair International will be held at the State Fair Park Exposition Center Friday November 15  from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday November 16 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday November 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. $12.00 dollars admission for adults, $10.00 for children 6 to 12 and $10.00 for Seniors 62 and over. Children under 5 and all military personnel with a military ID card are admitted free. Great ethnic food, dancing and crafts. Hope to see you there!

Lori Bessler is Presenter at October 25th Meeting

The Wednesday October 25th Waukesha County Genealogy Society Meeting will
be one you don't want to miss! Lori Bessler, Reference Librarian at the Wisconsin Historical Society, will be our presenter speaking on "How to Find Genealogical Collections Anywhere and Everywhere". She will show you how to identify institutions and what to expect from these resources. We will meet at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard Street, Waukesha, WI. A short business meeting will be held at 6:45 PM with Lori's presentation to follow at 7:00 PM. BRING A FRIEND

Wednesday September 27 Meeting

"Finding Wilhamina - The Strategic Use of Professional Researchers comes to the Rescue" will be the program for the September meeting. Dorothy Boxhorn will share her adventure using various professional researchers over the years  and how it eventually helped with finding Wilhamina. The meeting will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard St, Waukesha, WI. A short business meeting will be held at 6:45 PM with the program to follow at 7:00 PM.

Fall Means Many Genealogy Learning Opportunities

Are you looking for a way to get your genealogy juices flowing after the summer off? Here are three opportunities and I am sure there are more. Town of Mukwonago  Parks and Rec - DNA Workshop Saturday Oct 14, 2017- more information at the town website.  Saturday October 21 FREE workshop presented by Milwaukee Family History Center 9600 W Grange Ave, Hales Corners ,WI - go to http://familyhistoryworkshop.rworld.net for more information. Milwaukee North Family History Center, 755 Woelfel Rd, Brookfield, WI - FREE Monthly Saturday Workshops - contact mnsfhcworkshops@gmail.com to get more information.

WCGS Pot Luck Dinner August 23, 2017

The Waukesha County Genealogy Society end of the year Pot Luck Dinner will be held Wednesday August 23 at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard Street, Waukesha WI. The festivities are from 5:00PM to 8:00PM. A special addition this year will be entertainment provided by BABOUSHKA BABES performing European folk music. COME - if you have signed up or not. Bring a dish to share and a non-alcoholic beverage for yourself. Life does tend to get in the way, if you can't make the whole evening come when you can.

2017 - 2018 Planning Meeting for WCGS Wednesday July 26

The 2017 - 2018 Planning Meeting for Waukesha County Genealogy Society will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday July 26 at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard Street, Waukesha, WI. All are welcomed to attend and contributed ideas for the coming year. There will not be a speaker at this meeting.

Genealogy Tip - Thanks

When communicating with someone, whether it be online, in person or by mail, always respond with a thank you. This simple gesture will give you one more chance to contact the person and reaffirm your connection.  This is especially important if they have sent a file or in some other way helped you out.

The Homestead Act of 1862 and How It Relates to your Genealogy Research

Waukesha County Genealogy Society member Steven Schellin will present at the  June 28, 2017 meeting " The Homestead Act of 1862 - US Land Policy Pre-Civil War through 1988". This copyrighted presentation is the work of Dr. John F. Kirn, Jr., presented by Steven Schellin with the author's permission. The meeting will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard Street, Waukesha, WI

Genealogy and the UWM Libraries: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

  The Wednesday May 26 meeting will have as presenters: Heidi Anoszko - Reference and Instruction Specialist, UW-Milwaukee Archives and Area Research Center and Stephen Appel - Geospatial Information Specialist, American Geographical Society Library, UW-M Libraries. The meeting will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard Street, Waukesha, WI. There will be a short informative meeting at 6:45 p.m. with the presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Genealogy Tip - Watch for Surnames

You should always be on the lookout for cousins! If you belong to an organization that might cover your people's home turf always watch the newsletter, membership list, donor list or other form of communication looking for family surnames. Cousins show up in the most unusual places.

How to Write Your Own Obituary

Judy Rockwell will be our presenter at the Wednesday April 26 meeting of Waukesha County Genealogy Society. Judy is a member of Berlington Genealogical Society and will be sharing techniques on "How to Write Your Own Obituary". There will be a short informative meeting starting at 6:45 pm with the presentation to follow at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard St., Waukesha, WI

Genealogy Day Trip - Midway Village Museum, Rockford, Il

World War I re-enactment will be held Saturday April 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday April 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. For more information refer to Sunday April 2 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, TAP, Weekend Getaway. You can also go to their web site midwayvillage.com for more information.

Genealogy Tip - Join Local Genealogy Societies

 It could be to your benefit to join local and/or state genealogy societies for the areas your people were from. I have found many cousins this way for little expense. If the society has a surname registry make sure to join it and check the membership list for family names. You may then have found relatives willing to help you in your search.

WCGS Meeting Wednesday February 22 - Blame It on Your Ancestors! What Did You Really Inherit?

The February meeting will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church (Nelson Hall), 200 Richard Street, Waukesha. The meeting begins at 6:45 pm with a short informative business meeting. The program starting at 7:00 pm. Steve Schellin will present about Medical Genealogy, a neglected area of genealogical research that may answer some questions and raise many more. You may have the answers and not know it! If the Waukesha Public School System cancels functions due to weather this meeting will also be canceled.

Genealogy Tip - From the Mouth of Babes

Don't give up on our younger generations for continuing our love of family history and genealogy. They just think about it a little differently. I was talking to a millennial about touching a document versus seeing it on the computer. He said  "Yes, it is the closest thing we have to time travel." There is hope.

Genealogy Tip - How did they live?

Have you ever wondered about your ancestors everyday life? What the weather was like for them on any given day? Find the closest larger city.  You can add this city to your weather app on your telephone or computer to monitor the weather for your family's home village. I personally monitor four cities in Germany - I find it great fun and informative.