Guardians of England’s Poor, from Parish to Workhouse

When
17 Jan 2026
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location
Zoom

GUARDIANS OF ENGLAND’S POOR, FROM PARISH TO WORKHOUSE

WHEN: Saturday, January 17, 2026

10 AM to Noon (Central Time, USA & Canada)

WHERE: Virtually via ZOOM only

To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rsKDz5xfTQSTtzkDdpiV7w

Please note, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois (BIGWILL) invites you to our January meeting with speaker, Angela Snedaker.

Angela Snedaker’s presentation topic – “Guardians of England’s Poor, from Parish to Workhouse”

In England there is a difference between the Old Poor Law, administered by church parishes, and the New Poor Law, established in 1834, which took the power from the parish and gave it to the board of guardians. Poor law unions and workhouses became the norm for those who could not afford to care for themselves or their children. A variety of records were created – this presentation will demonstrate how to find the records that exist for these unions. Angela will also explain how pauperism and “indoor” versus “outdoor” relief led to the decline and dismantling of the workhouse.

A professional genealogist researching since 2014, Angela Snedaker has a degree in Family History Research from BYU-Idaho, specializing in British Isles research. Her driving passion is education – she teaches research classes at the Ogden FamilySearch Center in addition to tutoring and client research. She also contracts as a British Isles research specialist for Ancestor Seekers, and is a family history consultant for her church. She enjoys organizing genealogy events for her local community. In addition to the British Isles, Angela has experience with records and research in various countries and U.S. states. The greatest joy of Angela’s life is her family – while her children have yet to catch the genealogy bug, she is confident that eventually it will bite them.

Visitors are always welcome to attend our BIGWILL presentations, free of charge.

To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rsKDz5xfTQSTtzkDdpiV7w

Please note, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

The British Interest Group of Wisconsin & Illinois (BIGWILL) is a special interest group for those who wish to research family history and ancestry in the British Isles. We meet at 10:00 am (Central time) on the third Saturday of January, March, May, July, September and November. January and March meetings are online only, virtually via ZOOM.

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Using U.S. Land Records in Genealogy

When
23 Jan 2026
1:00 PM
Location
Milwaukee Central Public Library / Online

· Date of Event Friday 23 January 2026

· Start Time 1:00 PM Central - Member meeting precedes Program

· Event Title Using U.S. Land Records in Genealogy

· Presenter Name Karen Fortin

· Description of Event : Land records are an important part of your genealogical toolkit. This presentation will provide an overview of common terms and concepts, explore how land records can help your research, and assist you in locating these valuable resources. The presentations will also share examples showing how to go from finding a deed to finding the land described in it on the modern landscape.

Karen’s passion for history and research led her to an interest in genealogy. She began volunteering with the Pinellas Genealogy Society in Largo, FL in 2012, and was the society’s president from 2014-2017. Karen began providing genealogy and history presentations in 2016 and has lectured at various genealogical societies, public libraries, and other interested organizations. One of her goals is to help people explore historical periods, places, and events so that they can better understand their ancestors and the world in which they lived.

She is a member of: Pinellas Genealogy Society, Florida State Genealogical Society, New England Historic Genealogical Society, New York Biographical and Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, and Genealogical Speakers Guild.

· IN PERSON Location: Milwaukee Central Public Library 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 1^st floor Rotary Club of Milwaukee Community Room

· ONLINE Registration https://zoom.us/meeting/register/F0aN4fsOSSWike_r_00j0g#/registration

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Wisconsin Genealogy Day

When
21 Feb 2026
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location
online - Zoom

Title: Wisconsin Genealogy Day

Presenters: Mica Anders, Rebecca Hopman, Dana Kelly, Eileen Snyder

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Central

Format: Zoom webinar

Cost: Free

Description: Join us for a free virtual event where you will learn from expert speakers about how to research your Wisconsin and Midwestern ancestors. Presentations include “Researching Wisconsin Ancestors” by Rebecca Hopman; “Tracing Early African American Legacies in the Midwest” by Mica Anders; “Beyond Vital Records: Useful Government Resources for Genealogists” by Eileen Snyder; and “Norwegians in the Midwest” by Dana Kelly. Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

This webinar will be recorded and made available to registered attendees for 30 days.

Registration: https://wihist.org/wgd

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Wisconsin Genealogy Day

When
21 Feb 2026
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location
Online Webinar

Wisconsin Genealogy Day

Discover how to research your Wisconsin and Midwestern roots in this free program.

Register Online

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About the Event

Wisconsin Genealogy Day celebrates Midwestern history and Wisconsin family stories through a free, all-day virtual program. Expert speakers guide attendees on how to research their regional ancestors. There will be time for questions at the end of each presentation. This event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society.

Don’t wait … register today to save your seat!

Schedule (Central Time)

8:45 - 9AM — Virtual doors open
9 - 10:15AM — “Researching Wisconsin Ancestors” by Rebecca Hopman
10:15 - 10:30AM — Break
10:30 - 11:45AM — “Tracing Early African American Legacies in the Midwest” by Mica L. Anders
11:45AM - 12:15PM — Meal break
12:15 - 1:30PM — “Beyond Vital Records: Useful Government Resources for Genealogists” by Eileen Snyder
1:30 - 1:45PM — Break
1:45 - 3PM — “Norwegians in the Midwest” by Dana Kelly

Presentations

Researching Wisconsin Ancestors by Rebecca Hopman
Explore your family’s Wisconsin story and learn about the unique genealogical resources of the Badger State. Beginning with an overview of Wisconsin’s rich state history, migration patterns, and agriculture and industry, we’ll then look at key records and resources as well as effective search strategies for family historians with Wisconsin roots.

Tracing Early African American Legacies in the Midwest by Mica L. Anders
Journey through the Midwest's rich African American history. We'll explore the lives of early black residents who shaped the region from the 1850s to the 1880s. Discover the stories of homesteaders, entrepreneurs, and veterans who contributed to the Midwest's development despite numerous challenges.

Beyond Vital Records: Useful Government Resources for Genealogists by Eileen Snyder
Government publications can provide genealogists contextual information about the lives of their ancestors beyond birth, marriage, and death records. We’ll explore some of the government collections at the Wisconsin Historical Society and learn how they can help us paint a fuller picture of our ancestors’ lives.

Norwegians in the Midwest by Dana Kelly
Norwegian immigrants began trickling into Illinois and Wisconsin during the 1830s and 1840s. They brought with them many traditions, including excellent Lutheran Church congregational record-keeping. We will explore Norwegian-American church records and how they can help point us to records in Norway. We will also touch on Norwegian naming traditions and their importance to genealogy.

Know Before you Go

A link to the webinar will be emailed after you register and again the day before the program.

If you do not see the email, please check your spam folder. A computer with internet access is required to participate.

If you do not have internet access, you may be able to call in for audio-only access.

Can’t attend live? That’s OK! This webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be made available to all registrants for 30 days.

Advance registration required.

Contact
Rebecca.Hopman@wisconsinhistory.org or 608-261-9515

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My African American Family Research

When
27 Feb 2026
1:00 PM
Location
Milwaukee Central Public Library

Date of Event: Friday 27 February 2026

Start Time: 1:00 PM Central - Member meeting precedes Program

Event Title: My African American Family Research

Presenter Name: Catherine Bell

Description of Event: Cathy began researching her family genealogy in the 1980s. She will tell the story of how she traced her African-American roots back to the slave schedules and identified the slaveholder in Tennessee. Find out which resources helped her trace her family history.

Cathy has completed the Genealogical Principles course through Boston University’s Genealogy Studies Program. She is currently enrolled in the National Genealogical Society's course, Advanced Skills in Genealogy. She is a retired Program Coordinator/Instructor in Health Information Technology and Medical Coding at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

IN PERSON Location: Milwaukee Central Public Library 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 1^st floor Rotary Club of Milwaukee Community Room

ONLINE Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/NkQfxKmfSUCyZneMD2ofEw#/registration

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Naturalization: The Path to U.S. Citizenship

When
3 Mar 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Online - Zoom

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Ask Us Anything: A Genealogy Q&A with WHS Staff

When
7 Apr 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Online - Zoom

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Chinese American Genealogy

When
12 May 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Online - Zoom

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Wisconsin STate Genealogical Society

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