Elburn library to open new genealogy research center

For now, it’s an empty ranch house directly behind the library, but professional genealogist Laura Chaplin envisions it full of family members, students fulfilling assignments and others interested in historical facts perusing the shelves and poring over old documents.

The Town and Country Public Library in November 2017 purchased the house with the long-term intention of expanding the library campus. In the meantime, the library board decided to use the space to create a genealogical research center for western Kane County.

Longtime library director Lynn Alms, who had the dream for the center, arranged for the library to take ownership of the Elburn and Countryside Historical Society’s historical collection when the society closed down in the 1970s. Alms hired an archivist to categorize the documents and preserve and organize them into separate boxes.

When Amy Grimscheid became the library’s first history and genealogy manager in 2012, she began an extensive genealogy and history program. She organized a volunteer group of indexers, who helped to further organize the historical society’s collection, and made it available to researchers by appointment.

The materials include historical information related to local businesses, schools and newspapers, an extensive photograph collection, maps and plat surveys, genealogical information such as cemetery records, obituaries, individual family histories and artifacts, and Kane County Court and Probate records.

Grimscheid coordinated the creation of sets of postcards of historical Elburn photographs for sale, as well as historical mugs celebrating the history of Elburn.
She resurrected the Elburn Historical Society's oral history project in cooperation with the American Legion in which she interviewed local veterans and other community members. She also initiated in 2014 the library's first genealogy group, the Family Historical Interest Group or FHIG. The group still meets once a month, so members can encourage each other in their genealogical pursuits of family history and other historical interests.

Chaplin connected with Grimscheid in 2015 and began conducting presentations for the Elburn library genealogy group and, in conjunction with the Kane County Genealogical Society, began teaching classes at the library called "Do Over Start it Right" with materials adapted from Thomas MacEntee's "Genealogy Do Over" online sessions.
People from around the county attended these classes, as well as the afternoon FHIG groups.

Chapin initiated late-night genealogy lock ins, which continue to take place quarterly on Friday nights. During these sessions, individuals roam the library using online library subscriptions such as ancestry.com and findmypast.com, sharing information and exploring the archives.

The library also has recently offered the Gliddon family-sponsored Local and Family History Series, antique appraisal fairs, day trips to places such as the Newberry Library in Chicago and the Family History Center in Naperville, and presentations by several well-known speakers on genealogy and history-related topics.

The 2018 three-part series on DNA had a larger attendance than any of the other adult program offerings this year.
Hired by the Town and Country Library in September as the library's History and Genealogy Manager, Chaplin is continuing to expand the genealogy offerings, as well as overseeing the renovations on the new building and the move of the archived material to the new research space.

She is continuing her work with the two ongoing genealogy groups, as well as offering additional classes into the new year on genealogy and DNA.

“Everybody is on fire with DNA,” she said. “Everybody I know is getting DNA kits for Christmas.”

But then they get the results and they’re not sure what to do with them. Then they decide to dig into their genealogy, she added.

For a complete listing of offerings for the coming year, Chaplin said people should refer to the Town and Country Library website, elburn.lib.il.us. She offers individualized guidance sessions, as well as group classes in beginning and more advanced genealogy skills and topics.

The first Genealogy Seekers session on Jan. 3 will include a special orientation tour of the new research center.

“I’ve been surprised by how many research requests we’ve received already – people looking up the history of a house or a veteran or a family member,” she said.

She said that recently a woman came in with a request about a family tree assignment. Her grandson had to look up names and places and dates for two or three generations of family members.

“That’s fairly common now,” she said.

Chaplin said her interest in genealogy was sparked by a love of history and the stories that make it come alive. To find that there is a specific family connection with a historical event, such as the Revolutionary War or the settling of the West, gives people a tangible sense of belonging and ownership.

“It makes it come alive and the DNA just adds that extra spice,” she said.