GSSI will be holding a Holiday Open House for researchers to come and check out our archives room at our Cambria facility.  In June of last year we had outgrown the small room we were in and have now moved into a larger room which allows us more space for researchers.  Since then we have acquired all new chairs, more tables, a microfilm machine that was donated to us by the Williamson County Hisortical Society and a screen for small group programs.  This facility is normally only available for research purposes by appointment only but we welcome you to come and join us as we kick off the holiday season with this Open House.  

Local historian and author Darrel Dexter will be conducting a presentation on the campus of John A. Logan College in Carterville on Saturday, March 14th, This happes to be National Genealogy Day as well. Come join us on the campus in the Event Center Room F118.

 

Darrel is the author of several books, including Bondage in Egypt; Slavery in Southern Illinois and A Trot Down to Egypt; The Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Jonesboro, IL

"The One-Word Key to Solving Most Brick-Wall Problems in Genealogy."      Presented by Rick Allen

 

Have you been researching your family history but got stuck when you hit a brick wall? Don't give up! Join us for the program "The One-Word Key to Solving Most Brick-Wall Problems in Genealogy." During this presentation, Rick Allen will present ideas for junp-starting your research. After learning the one key word, we will spend time exploring suggested way you might apply its concepts to help knock down some of the brick walls in you own family tree.

 

Rick is currently a professional genealogist operating Backstory Bloodhound (www.backstorybloodhound.com). He researches regularly in southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. His favorite thing is to bust down a long-standing brick wall! After obtaining a Master's degree, Rick taught histroy at Southeast Missouri State University. He is currently a Director of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogist and was former director at GSSI and editor of the Saga of Southern Illinois. Now he spends most of his spare time tracing family histories and assisting with the preservation of historic records for future generations.