Latest Newsletter is out – see it below!
Bloomington-Normal Census District Maps are here! (click to see)
Would you like tell a story? We are looking for articles to publish in the upcoming Gleanings.
Please Email us to discuss. Click “Contact us” in the About menu.
You may renew or join online and receive member benefits immediately.
Tina Beaird at 6:30pm on May 17, 2022 ZOOM only-
“The 1950 Census”
Tina is an author, lecturer, and owner of Tamarack Genealogy. She holds an MLS with a specification in archives preservation and often lectures at conferences both local and national.
The 1950 Census is the biggest thing to hit genealogy in a long while. Come and learn the latest from Tina !
FREE to everyone – membership not required!
Suz Bates at 6:30pm on July 19, 2022 via ZOOM –
“Genealogy Treasures in Cemetery Records”
Suz Bates is a genealogist who teaches on a variety of topics, but specializes in presenting step-by-step instructions for genealogy research, archiving, and technology.
Learn how to research using cemetery records locally or out of state. Please join us via ZOOM. Details are in the events calendar.
Lisa Louise Cooke – 1:00 pm on Sept 17, 2022
“Three Cool Cases Solved”
Lisa Louise Cooke is the author of several books including The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox, 3rd edition. She produces and hosts the popular Genealogy Gems Podcast, and the free weekly YouTube show Elevenses with Lisa at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel.
Please join us for this Zoom presentation – see details in events calendar.
Bloomington Public Library Donates Scanpro 3000 Microfilm machine to TMCGS Library!
Creates .pdf or .jpg from microfilm pages.
The eImage Scanpro 3000 allows patrons of the TMCGS Library on the second floor of the McLean County Musuem of History to scan films, enhance, crop, and save .pdf or .jpg images to a thumb drive. This machine replaces our older reader which did not create digital images. Thank you to Sara Engels and the Bloomington Public Library for thinking of us as you remodel the library.
New Online Store – (for everyone) offering our publications for immediate download !
Members get 25% off (email us for a coupon code if you have not renewed yet) !
Members may now view several prior presentations at their convenience – see below !
Members have immediate access to all past Gleanings from 1967 – present
Members have access to The History of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church 1837-1937. This searchable .pdf has information on hundreds of ministers !
Everyone has access our Gleanings indexes to research their relatives.
Everyone has access to lots of free information about McLean County, it’s history, and it’s cemeteries. (Resources page)
The MCGS general meetings are FREE to the public. With COVID, our meetings have been taking place via ZOOM. Recent topics have been:
Mimi Davis – New Databases at Bloomington Public Library – Available to members.
Susan Kaufman – Unusual Sources – Available to members.
Tina Beaird – Illinois Digital Resources – Available to members.
Jane Haldeman – Final Resting Place – The Stones Tell the Story
Jane Haldeman – My Ancestor was a Farmer
Upcoming Events (Click for details and ZOOM link):
May 10 – MCGS Board Meeting 6:30 pm. ZOOM details
May 17 – Tina Beaird – The 1950 Census 6:30 pm – ZOOM details
July 19 – Suz Bates – Genealogy Treasures in Cemetery Records – ZOOM details.
September 17 – 1:00 pm – Lisa Louise Cooke presents Three Cool Cases Solved. ZOOM details.
November 15 – 6:30 pm. Annual meeting and officier installation. MCMH Courtroom
November 29 – 6:30 pm. Bill Iseminger gives a joint presentation with the Museum and Bloomington Public Library on “The McLean Regiment” in the civil war. Live and ZOOM.
Visitor Counter
How to Use this Site
For research, we have made our Gleanings indexes availble to the general public. Search them for surname and other information, noting the Gleanings Issue. Then Join or Log in, as members are given access online to all Gleanings issues.
Many FREE resources are available to all. They include: Ancestral chart, family record, street name fun, popular links, our cemetery guide publication with directions and descriptions of McLean County cemeteries !
The McLean County Museum of History offers many attractions and events – some via ZOOM. Click here or on the photo https://mchistory.org for more information.
The MCGS Genealogy Library is on the 2nd floor and offers books and journals from around the country, computers set up with Ancestry and Family Search, and often a volunteer to assist you. Hours of operation are here (https://www.mchistory.org/visit).
On Demand Programs available to Members ! Sign up and learn today !
Tina Beaird Presents “Illinois Digital Resources”
Tina Beaird is owner of Tamarack Genealogy and is a history librarian in the Chicago area.
This program is a “fire hose” of information. Fortunately you can pause the presentation anytime to make notes on the two handouts provided. So much of what is available is digital and Tina shows us where to look to find information that does not automatically pop up as a hint. Two handouts are available. Log in or join now to view this program in the member’s area.
Susan Kaufman Presents “Unusual Sources”
Susan Kaufman is Senior Manager at the Houston Public Library.
This interesting program presents unusual sources of information that you will not find easily. Have an interest in History? Check out the listing of all Civil War soldiers to receive an artificial limb. This is just one of the many sources Susan illuminates. A downloadable handout is available. Log in or join now to view this program in the member’s area.
Mimi Davis Presents “New Databases at BPL”
Mimi Davis is the Electronic Resources Librarian at the Bloomington Public Library (BPL). Learn about the new Genealogy Databases available.
BPL has two new databases “Heritage Hub” and “Black Life in America” that are rich with genealogical information. BPL cardholders can access these information sources from home. The slide program is available as a downloadable file. Log in or join now to view this program in the member’s area.
Check out our latest Newsletter !
Check out our first Gleanings!
Gleanings in Member’s area !
Click image to left to open preview edition with Table of Contents & Surname Index.
McLean County Poor Farm – new information with a spreadsheet available in the members area.
An article by McLean County Museum of History librarian Bill Kemp on McLean County auctioneers.
We remember Ruth Carpenter, a life member who contributed extensively to MCGS, by reprinting her nursing story. This story highlights the excellent content in past issues of Gleanings.
A look at research methods to add someone to Find a Grave.
Researching a poem written for a local family.
Special thanks to Susie Pope and others for their work on this issue.
Please join and then access thru Members tab.