"Coming to America: The Immigrant Experience"

Sat., Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.: “Coming to America: The Immigrant Experience” with Laura Street Chaplin

Attend in person or on Zoom.

Starting with a fascinating historical perspective on what the experience was like for our immigrant ancestors, this presentation then leads into the types of immigration or emigration records kept and where to find them. Where were the ports of embarkation? Where did people go, depending on the year, when they arrived in America? What about naturalization – never simple, especially if you were female. As time permits, some of the best immigration record search engines will be demonstrated.
Although raised in southeastern Iowa, Chaplin has moved all around the Midwest, and currently lives in Sugar Grove, a rural “far western” suburb of Chicagoland.
Laura and her husband became interested in family history in college (around 1978). After the miniseries “Roots,” thus began years of research, education, and research trips. Luckily, her set of Quaker grandparents (Street family line) were genealogists who left copious notes, mostly on their numerous Quaker ancestors. Laura compiled a book on her mother’s Gerst family.
She is a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. For a number of years she was employed in a variety of roles by midwestern Catholic parishes. She holds a BA from the University of Northern Iowa (in Interior Design) and a Masters of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University (New Orleans).
She launched Willowtree Research Genealogy Services in 2013, and in 2014 completed Boston University’s Certificate in Genealogical Research program. Laura has also worked as the History & Genealogy Manager at a local library and has served on several genealogical boards, including as a Director and Newsletter Editor for the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

Laura will present in person at SSGHS. Those who wish to participate via Zoom must register at [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/HdQsNBlOQ6ufu15DjnaMKA ](https://zoom.us/meeting/register/HdQsNBlOQ6ufu15DjnaMKA)after which they will receive a link via email.