“The Power of Story: How to turn a Family Genealogy into a Family History”
In The Power of Story: My Father, Me and You, Chicago writer Matt Nickerson uses his dad's tale of World War II heroics to reveal how to write a family history. Matt tells you how to go beyond your family tree, uncover the stories behind the names and dates, and leave your children and grandchildren a powerful legacy!
Feb 9
Location: Glenview Public Library, 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview
Speaker: Gail Lukasik
Topic:“A Family Story of Race and Racial Passing ”
Offering insights into issues surrounding the complex history of racial passing in the United States, “Gail Lukasik’s book “White Like Her” tells the story of her mother’s passing, Gail’s struggle with the shame of her mother’s choice, and Gail’s subsequent inner journey of self-discovery and redemption. In the historical context of the Jim Crow South, she explores her mother’s decision to pass, how she hid her secret even from my father, and the price she paid for choosing whiteness.
Dr. Dan Hubbard
Topic: “Murder in the Family”
Where the Murderers Roam, Some family stories are far more important than they seem on the surface. Connections to people may be lost, events toned down, rationales forgotten. In this presentation we start with a social disruption (the Civil War), a motivation (The Homestead Act) and the story of a fight between farmers. Then, with some research, we’ll weave it all together and learn that sometimes a simple fight over a fence was something more, something darker.
Jennifer Holik
Topic: “Finding the Answers: WORLD WAR II ONLINE”
One place many people begin research for their World War II service member is online. While most of the records you need to reconstruct service history are not available online, you can find clues and unit or contextual information to add to your soldier’s story. Many people also connect with living family members of soldiers buried in ABMC cemeteries through online resources. In this program, Jennifer will:
· Explain some myths and common questions about online research.
· Explain how to research using the collections on Ancestry.com and Fold3.com.
· Discuss other places you can find information online and how that can lead to offline resources.
· Explain where and how to connect with other researchers or European grave adopters.
· Discuss using social media to locate information.
Northbrook History Museum, 1776 Walters Ave.
Speaker: Emily Simkin
Topic: “Archive - Passing down your Family History”
