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Using Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy and CCC Civilian Conservation Corps
WHEN: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – 7 PM to 9 PM
Doors open at 6 PM
WHERE: Meeting at The Ale House (New Berlin Bowling Lanes)
16000 W. Cleveland Avenue
New Berlin, Wisconsin (Please park in the East Parking Lot)
Guests are always welcome to attend the Milwaukee Personal Ancestral File Users Group monthly meetings. On November 12, we will have two FREE presentations. Come learn with us about:
1. “Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)” Cathy Dailey. Created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a New Deal Program that provided jobs for unemployed single men during the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, the CCC enrolled more than three million men ranging in age from 18 to 25 years. It’s estimated that during its nine years of operation, there were over 4,500 camps across the country. Join us for a discussion on this work relief program that helped conserve and improve America’s public lands, forests and parks while addressing the nation’s high unemployment level. Discover the men, their projects and their lasting legacies. Cathy Dailey’s genealogy “addiction” began when researching her great-grandfather, a tugboat captain, who drowned during a gale storm on Lake Erie in 1909. Through vessel registry records and newspaper accounts, she was able to piece together the timetable of his tragic death and locate his grave in Cleveland, Ohio. Cathy relies on “round-about” methods, including property records, newspaper articles, Censuses, city directories, cemetery receiving logs, and funeral home archives, to bring to life the stories of her elusive relatives. She views her genealogical research as a giant puzzle — not all of the pieces fit precisely together, yet each one adds to the richness of the image.
2. “ Where We Are With Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy” Randy Ray. Where we are and where we’re going with AI in Genealogy is what Randy will help us discover - the features, possibilities of, and how to use a few of the formats out there, including ChatGTP, Google Gemini and the Family Search Labs Experiment. Randy Ray has a passion for genealogy and historical preservation, and is dedicated to uncovering the stories of the past. He’s well-versed in computer technology and methods of research, with a specialty in cemetery and Find A Grave work. Randy volunteers at the Ozaukee County Historical Society, where he assists in preserving local history and helping others connect with their roots. He and a co-host formed the Cedarburg Public Library Genealogy Club and Randy is a frequent presenter at the Milwaukee Personal Ancestral File Users Group meetings.
Bring a friend! The Milwaukee Personal Ancestral File Users Group (MPAFUG) is a computer Genealogy group dedicated to teaching how to use the Internet to research your family history.
The British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois (BIGWILL) invites you to our November meeting with speaker, Maureen Brady.
“Comparing the Birth, Marriage and Death Records of the United Kingdom” While England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all part of the United Kingdom, the church and civil registration systems used to record births, marriages and deaths are very different. Maureen Brady’s presentation will review and compare each record type, and suggest key online search sites.
Maureen Brady, a former school librarian and computer educator, has over forty years’ experience with family history research. She has traced her Scottish roots back to the end of the 17th century, and has also pursued Chicago and the Midwest, the trans-Allegheny U.S., Quebec, Irish and Swedish research. Maureen has made numerous presentations to genealogical societies, libraries, conferences and workshops throughout the U.S., as well as presenting for the Brigham Young University Library family history webinar series. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and a life member of the Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland Family History Society and the Ohio, Chicago and McHenry County (Illinois) Genealogical Societies. Maureen is also active in the Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Lake County (Illinois) Genealogical Societies, the British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois, and the Chicago Scots Scottish Genealogical Society.
Visitors are always welcome to attend our BIGWILL presentations, free of charge. Come learn with us!
Instructions to attend the ZOOM meeting to follow in future “reminder” emails.
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. Live meetings in May, July, September and November are held in The Community Church, 5714 Broadway, Richmond, IL 60071 and simultaneously via ZOOM. January and March meetings are online only, virtually via ZOOM.
Introduction to German Genealogy
Saturday, November 15
10:00 am - 2:00 pm CT
Learn how to research your German-speaking ancestors in this three-part workshop sponsored by the Max Kade Institute and the Wisconsin Historical Society. The workshop is led by Antje Petty, the Associate Director of the Max Kade Institute for German American Studies, and an expert in the history of German-speaking immigrants. WHS Members get a special discount.
Don't wait! Registration closes on Wed., Nov. 12, 2025.
BIRTH, MARRIAGE & DEATH RECORDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025
10 AM to Noon (Central Time, USA & Canada)
WHERE: BIGWILL live meeting at The Community Church, 5714 Broadway,
Richmond, IL 60071 and virtually via ZOOM
To participate in the meeting via ZOOM, please use the following Link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85411945272?pwd=M1P39xJao9pXU7O8ZLAWgUTKUagl1x.1
Meeting ID 854 1194 5272
Passcode 705325
David Barnhill and Stephen Rueff, from SuperMonster市City!will be here to talk about America’s Monsters, Superheroes and Villains: Our Culture at Play. They provide in-depth insights and nuances on the featured toys, their creators, and their cultural context. This exhibit intertwines history, the art of play, and pop culture themes to explain social and political trends from the past eighty years.
Thank you to Sponsor APEX Engineering, Eau Claire, WI.
The exhibit reveals five powerful themes:
Curated by Stephen Rueff, the exhibit unpacks how these fantastical figures became symbols of America’s place in the world—and mirrors of who we thought we were.
Rueff explains that “this presentation isn’t just a toy box trip down memory lane—it’s a cultural X-ray of America’s psyche! From Cold War paranoia to Atomic Age optimism, for over 80 years, these iconic pop culture characters have reflected our deepest fears, lived out our wildest dreams, and wrestled with the biggest questions about power, identity, and hope in American history.”
The presentation is included with admission.
For more information contact Diana Peterson at d.peterson@cvmuseum.com | 715.834.7871.
Society Briefs, Village News … or the other “Gossip Columns”
Date of Event: November 21, 2025
Start Time: 1:00 PM (Central)
The Milwaukee County Genealogical Society presents:
Event Title:Passing the Torch: Jewelry Gifted as is, or Reimagined for the Next Generation
Presenter: Vivian Paul Anton
Description:
How far back can you trace your roots? Imagine having a personal heirloom piece from your ancestors, such as a piece of jewelry. What would you do with it? Would you wear it? Would you frame it? If you wanted to make a small or large change, how would you go about doing that to honor the integrity of the piece and the original owner? See some remarkable examples of how to go about doing this.
Inspired by my father Paul, who journied from Greece to America, I embrace his spirit of determination and craftsmanship in my work as a Jewelry Designer and Graduate Gemologist. With a career spanning from galleries in LA, NY, and beyond - plus features in Vogue, Harper's and Elle - my designs continue to evolve. After many decades in retail, I'm looking ahead to new possibilities with Vivian Paul Anton Jewelry Design - a brand rooted in heritage, faith, and passion. Over 50 years in the Milwaukee Area.
Location of Event: Milwaukee Central Public Library 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI. First Floor Rotary Club of Milwaukee Community Room.
IN PERSON: No registration needed for in person at the Library
ONLINE VIA ZOOM Register here for zoom link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/gqT8Xg1kR1S5ZWAUjBUUbQ
A short membership meeting will precede the presentation.
Find Your Ancestors: Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan: The Key to Thorough Research
Join us in person at the library or virtually via Zoom for our monthly Find Your Ancestors series.
Registration: No registration is needed to attend the program in the library. Zoom attendees must register in advance for this program here.
Program Topic: Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan: The Key to Thorough Research
Thorough research is one of the elements of the Genealogical Proof Standards. How do you know if you've done enough? A research plan is the key. From creating to working through your pan, learn how to use this tool to keep you on track and be as thorough as possible.
Presented by Cheri Hudson Passey
Cheri Hudson Passey is a professional genealogist, instructor, writer, speaker, and owner of Carolina Girl Genealogy, LLC. She is the host of the YouTube genealogy chat show GenFriends and is a genealogical researcher, subcontracted by Eagle Investigative Services, Inc., for the US Army Past Conflict Repatriations Branch. She is involved in many genealogy societies and organizations and on the National Genealogical Society board.
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