We are pleased to announce we will be returning to IN PERSON monthly membership meetings. Our next meeting will be Monday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Western Illinois Museum.

We’ll celebrate with a good ol’ fashioned ice cream social. We have a new publication author Allen Nemec will discuss. “Reminiscences – A History of Macomb as Remembered By Alex Holmes”. We’re excited about this unique book. It has pictures, a FULL name index, and great stories about Macomb.

Come join us on MONDAY, JUNE 20 AT 6:00 P.M. Please wear a mask if you have not been vaccinated for everyone’s safety.

Our monthly membership meetings are held the third Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the Western Illinois Museum in Macomb, IL.

Here is a list of dates for the 2020 year:

Monday, March 16

Monday, April 20

Monday, May 18

Monday, June 15

Monday, July 20

Monday, August 17

Monday, September 21

Monday, October 19

Monday, November 16

Please come join us!

Our February monthly meeting will be held Monday, February 17 at 6 p.m. at 201 South Lafayette, Macomb, IL (Western Illinois Museum). Please bring a covered dish to share, any interesting genealogical finds, resources, news or photos you’d like to share.

We will be closed December 25, 2018 through January 1, 2019.

Enjoy your holidays!

For a limited time (Oct 1-Nov 30 2018), the Illinois State Library opens up their databases for remote access for all Illinois residents.  There are several genealogy and newspaper sources to explore that normally require a subscription.

For details:  http://www.finditillinois.org/tryit/

2018 Sept General Meeting Minutes 9.17.18

18 members and guests were in attendance.

The meeting was called to order at 7 pm and Vice President Roger Frowein introduced Tim Howe to share information about the Rezab Prairie at the Old Macomb Cemetery.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: Minutes were shared and motion was made and passed to approve the minutes from the August meeting.

TREASURER’S REPORT: The Society has $63,593.58 in total assets currently.

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Bridget Hinchee will discuss the Atkinson/McCord Cemetery at our October meeting.

MEMBERSHIP: We have 225 members, one new member and two renewals

PUBLICATIONS: The County History book is available for pickup for those who pre-purchased it.  There are a few left available for purchase at the Library.

VOLUNTEER: We need volunteers to staff the Library on Saturday, Sept. 29 and October dates.  We can also use volunteers to do indexing from their home computers.

OBITUARY COMMITTEE: No meeting.

WEBSITE: Jean shared information about the Announcements page, as well as an area for Queries.  She has asked for historical photos to be sent to her also.  They may be sent via email or regular mail.

OLD BUSINESS: Members were reminded of the ISGS Conference at the end of October in Springfield. Information is available at ILGENSOC.ORG.  McDonough County Clerk Gretchen DeJaynes will be receiving a Community Service award at the event.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: We need a Volunteer Committee head. Elections will be held in October.  Let Debbie Nicholson know if you are interested prior to Saturday, October 13.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Julie Terstriep, Secretary

The McDonough County History and Families Book have arrived. They may be picked up on Tuesday from 1:00pm – 3:30 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm at the Genealogical Center, 201 S. Lafayette St., Macomb, IL. For those that have elected they be mailed, they will ship directly from the publisher on the 18th and will take approximately 7-10 by USPS.

The book is available for sale at $69.95 (cash or check). However limited copies are available. Stop by the Genealogy Center (inside the Western Illinois Museum) during regular Center hours to purchase.

We are thrilled with this new book and anxious for you to get them. Thank you for your support.

From our August General Meeting Topic:

TRANSCRIBING HISTORY

by Julie Terstriep

(Terstriep@yahoo.com)

Would you like to volunteer to transcribe old documents?  Here are a few places looking for your expertise.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum – ChroniclingIllinois.org

Smithsonian Institute    https://transcription.si.edu/

The National Archives  https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/registerandgetstarted

University of Minnesota – Civil War documents https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/zooniverse/decoding-the-civil-war    (Phase 2 to begin soon)

University of Iowa http://diyhistory.lib.uiowa.edu/index.php  (Over 87,000 pages transcribed!)

Learning to read the handwriting:

Reading German Suetterlin handwriting – http://www.suetterlinschrift.de/Englisch/Sutterlin.htm

How to read Palmer Method Spencerian Script – free book on National Archives site: https://archive.org/details/cu31924029485467

Help with abbreviations: http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/oldhand.html

Facebook groups :

Deciphering Genealogy Script

Genealogy Translations  – Group who will translate documents from one language to another.

———————————————————————————————————————–

TRANSCRIBING GUIDE

From Find My Past blog (https://blog.findmypast.com/tips-for-2063791571.html

1. Analyze the record before you begin reading the handwriting
2. Move slowly, very slowly
3. Read for content first
4. Conduct a letter by letter read and create a “key”
5. Conduct a word by word read
6. Read aloud
7. Trace the handwriting
8. Cross your t’s and dot your I’s
9. The letter “s”
10. “Th” and “y” and “y” and “t”

One common abbreviation in the past was to abbreviate “th” with a character that closely resembles the letter “y.” So, if you encounter a document that looks like “ye” that could mean “the.” You might also see the “e” written as a superscript because it wasn’t uncommon for the abbreviations to be written as the main letter with the rest superscripted with or without a line underneath.

You may also see “yt,” which is an abbreviation for that. “Y” is the abbreviation for “th” followed by a “t” would be “tht” or “that.”

11. Take a rest.

Monday, August  20, 2018

The August General Meeting of the McDonough County Genealogical Society was brought to order at 7 pm at the Western Illinois Museum.

The speaker for the evening was Julie Terstriep, who spoke about “Transcribing History” and shared how she transcribes old documents for the National Archives, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, University of Minnesota and University of Iowa.  She shared some interesting stories she discovered while transcribing including finding her 7 times great uncle’s Revolutionary War Pension records.  She  shared how others can also transcribe these documents.

The general meeting was called to order.

There was no Secretary’s report from the previous general meeting as he held an ice cream social rather than a meeting.

Marla gave the financial report.   We have $6463.84 in our checking account; $69,914.02 in total assets. A lockable cabinet was purchased during the month.  It holds old reports, original documents and extra copies of valuable books. New windows, previously paid for from Pella, have been installed in the Library.  Patrons commented on how much more quiet the library was.

Roger Frowein, Vice President, said he is looking for more topics for upcoming meetings.

Lin Stults reported we have 224 members, 27 of whom have not renewed.  Last notice renewal emails went out within the past two weeks.

Sat, Sept. 8 was set as a volunteer training date for those who are willing to help hand out the History Books.  (Allen reports these will be delivered, Tuesday, Sept. 11 @ 4:00 p.m.)

Julie shared information regarding scanning and reprinting of the 1992 History Book and the Church book authored by the MCGS.

Meeting adjourned.

Our Genealogy Center will be closed Sep 1 2018 for the Labor Day Weekend.