Genealogist to explain how to research online for Chicago Jewish family history

"Online Resources for Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland" will be the topic of a talk by genealogist Mike Karsen at a Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, 10 a.m. event presented by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois at West Suburban Temple Har Zion, 1040 N. Harlem Ave., River Forest, Ill.

This presentation provides an overview of all online records and resources that are useful to Jewish researchers seeking their Chicago roots. Karsen begins with a brief history of the Jews of Chicago. The seminar mostly concentrates on uniquely Jewish resources such as cemeteries, funeral homes and more, especially online publications that are searchable by surname. It also covers the naturalization process, location/residence records, and legal documents including wills and probate files.

For more information about this event, see https://jgsi.org/event-3573824 or phone 312-666-0100.

A professional speaker, Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), and is a past president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. He has presented over 300 talks on genealogy topics locally, nationally, and internationally including at Newberry Library and Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Mike is the author of the JewishGen website's "Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland" and has published articles on genealogy.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members collect, preserve, and perpetuate the records and history of their ancestors. JGSI is a resource for the worldwide Jewish community to research their Chicago-area roots.

The JGSI motto is "Members Helping Members Since 1981." The group has more than 320 members.

JGSI members also have access to useful and informative online family history research resources, including a members forum, more than 50 video recordings of past speakers' presentations, the free searchable JGSI Jewish Chicago Database, monthly JGSI E-News, quarterly Morasha JGSI newsletter, and much more.

Monthly JGSI meetings feature informative speakers as well as access to a research library and expert volunteer genealogy help desk.

For more information about this event and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, see jgsi.org or phone 312-666-0100.