Illinois Archives: 641 Newspapers for Genealogy Research
By Tony Pettinato on October 5, 2023
An article (with a title list) about the 641 Illinois newspapers available in GenealogyBank’s online Historical Newspaper Archives... (Read More)
Tag: Illinois
Historic Illinois Cemetery Project Is Documenting the Dead
By Thomas Jay Kemp on June 12, 2015
Like many historic cemeteries, the Herrin City Cemetery in Herrin, Illinois, is trying to document all of the persons buried in the cemetery. So far their efforts have uncovered “89 previously unknown burial sites.” Good work! Are you working on a cemetery project this summer? If you are, here’s a cemetery research tip. Genealogy... (Read More)
Old Tombstones Recently Unearthed from Forgotten Illinois Cemetery
By Thomas Jay Kemp on July 25, 2013
Genealogists are always digging. So are backhoe operators. It was a good thing that the Fosterburg Water District was digging for a waterline in Prairietown, Illinois, because while digging they found a long-abandoned historic cemetery. Amazing. No one had remembered that there was an old cemetery there. The tombstones had fallen and over the... (Read More)
Dating Old Family Photographs with Civil War Revenue Stamps
By Mary Harrell-Sesniak on November 14, 2012
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak shows how to determine the date of undated, Civil War-era family photographs using revenue stamps affixed to the back of the picture. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. Do you have Civil War-era photographs of your ancestors that are undated? As this... (Read More)
Family History Expos – Georgia 2011
By Thomas Jay Kemp on November 18, 2011
Georgia Family History Expo – Duluth, Georgia 2011 Over 400 genealogists gathered in Duluth, Georgia, for the annual Family History Expo held at the Gwinnett Center on Nov. 11-12, 2011. Now in its second year, this conference has the size and feel of a national conference. There were over 60 informative family history sessions... (Read More)
Get the front page of the day you were born or any day in history!
By Thomas Jay Kemp on September 2, 2010
Looking to decorate your den? Use GenealogyBank to identify, save and print the front page or any article from newspapers published in the past 300+ years. Choose the front page of the day your Dad was born or any historic day from the past. It is easy with GenealogyBank to save, print and frame... (Read More)
Patty Barthell Myers, 1930-2008
By Thomas Jay Kemp on October 17, 2008
Patty Barthell Myers died 9 October 2008, at the home of her daughter, Lucy Bonnington. Her obituary (San Antonio Express-News (TX) – October 13, 2008; Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 Oct 2008) simply stated her “life’s work was genealogy.” Well said. She was the author of numerous compiled genealogies and reference works including: Female index to... (Read More)
It’s Wild Bill Hickok’s Day ….
By Thomas Jay Kemp on May 27, 2008
Wild Bill Hickok – James Butler Hickok – was born on May 27, 1837 in Troy Grove, Illinois. Famous in movies, films and hundreds of newspaper articles – he is central to the legends of the Old West. Newspapers serialized his story and pictured him fighting bears, outlaws and Confederate agents. Images by Van... (Read More)
Homestead Act – May 20, 1862 – Daniel Freeman 1st Homesteader
By Thomas Jay Kemp on May 20, 2008
Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. It would take effect on January 1, 1863. The first homesteader to take “the required oath and [be] given the documents which made him possessor of 160 acres of land” was Daniel Freeman (1826-1908). Daniel Freeman was born April 26, 1826 in Lewisburg, Preble... (Read More)
