I am researching to create 3 new programs on the Underground Railroad, the History of Photography, and a genealogy program for young children ages 3 – 10.) These will be ready late this year / early next year.
I am also adding information to 2 of my existing programs:
“Slavery and the ‘Colored Troops’ that fought for the Union” to find more of the family background for my “Honoring Laurence Ousley of the Beloit Public Library, Wisconsin” program. I will rename it to “Slavery, Civil War Service, and Success – the Beloit Wisconsin Ousley Family.”
Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal– huge database of indexed learned articles on every aspect of Illinois, Lincoln, and United States history. (I am finding lots of information.) (also under BLOG tab Genealogy Links and Helps > States > Illinois.)
And “ready-cut house kits/ Sears Craftsman, etc.” for my “How to find the Genealogy of a House, and those that lived in It”. I will be presenting this program at Harvard Community Library, Illinois tonight at 6 p.m. and also on Zoom/In Person Hybrid for town and Country Public Library in Elburn, Illinois on June 17 at 7 p.m. I will add the Zoom link on my 2024 Programs tab and on my Facebook Page. to My SLGC Events when I get it.
I grew up in Loves Park and North Park (before it was incorporated and renamed Machesney Park). I worked at the North Suburban District Library as a teen Page (shelver).
I remember selling the newspaper at Lenz Pharmacy, and a months long strike in about 1970-71 when the only local newspaper available was a weekly advertisement newspaper that temporarily increased their publication times and news coverage to fill the gap. People waited in line to buy it, and learned the value of local newspaper coverage. This is one reason for one gap in the Post Journal issues. The Park Post Journal covered the whole region – including some articles on Roscoe and Rockton. Illinois.)
Nicole Johnson, Adult Services Department Head of North Suburban Library District states,
“Thanks also for putting the link to the digitized Post Journal issues on your blog. This was a multi-year project and we spent A LOT of money to have these digitized from the microfilm, so we want them used!”
Getting printed items – books, maps, photographs, newspapers, digitized is expensive. I got a (LSTA) Library Services and Technology Act grant of $5,000 in 2014 that covered the expense of getting 28 early Beloit, Wisconsin historical books (City Directories, etc.) digitized. Read my BLOG Posting announcing “Beloit History Lives at Beloit Public Library” on that University of Wisconsin collection here: https://wordpress.com/post/statelinegenealogyclub.wordpress.com/135
The expense and long digitizing process is why only about 25% of printed historic items have been digitized and are on-line. The rest of the about 75% items are still only available on-site at libraries, genealogy centers, attics, government offices, etc.
You can now search digitized past issues of the Post Journal newspapers covering the Loves Park and Machesney Park communities. The on-line collection includes editions of the Monday Morning Mail, 1964-1997. Years 1997-2021 will be added to the collection in 2023 or 2024.
You can “search by title” for “Loves Park Post”, “The Loves Park Post Machesney Park Pilot”, and “Monday Morning Mail” OR search by the County on the map at Illinois University Library’s “Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection” on-line site –
Solving a Photograph Mystery – How to Find the Family it Belongs To
14Jul2021 later
by Vicki Ruthe Hahn
UPDATE- Success and very quick turn-around reuniting a family with it’s photograph! (Social media made it happen in less than 2 hours!) I have put the person “Memry Lane” in touch with sisters Sally and Julie by IM/PM so that she can arrange to get the photo to them.
She has an interest in history/genealogy and reaches out to families when she finds their family photographs. She contacted me as Stateline Genealogy Club LLC because I specialize in southern WI (Beloit) and northern IL.
So glad I was able to find the 2 sisters – one thru “Beloit WI Remember When” Facebook page, and 1 thru the “You Are From Beloit If” page.
Sally shared this photo of the older Etta with me. I think that the photo is about 1910-1912 from the clothes in the older Etta’s photograph and because she was born in 1893. Probably her high school graduation photo. I’m glad that it was shared, as It makes the story complete. What a beautiful, composed young woman.
See the original Posting below:
Any family descendants that want to claim this family photograph?
More identifying information is included below.
Please get in touch with me (by IM, personal message or email) so that I can connect you to the person who shared this with me.
Original PhotographReverse of PhotographCropped, enhanced copy of photograph
I received a private message asking me to share this photograph of what she said is a “Beloit” WI family and information that I have researched shows that it is. The person would like to get it to the family’s descendants and asked me to share it here.
I am posting this photograph on the (private, ask to join if you have Beloit connections) “Beloit Wisconsin, Remember When” Facebook Page, the “You Know You are From Beloit If” Facebook Page, as well as on my “statelinegenealogyclub.wordpress.com” BLOG, and my Stateline Genealogy Club LLC Facebook Page .
((SP?) are my additions.)
Written on the back of the photograph is:
Left to Right:
Phoebe
Stoneburnes(SP?)
Shureman Aunt(SP?) “Live” Yagla Anderson
Etta Yagla Hartman
^ My Mother
I am including the original photo, as well as a copy that I enhanced to get more clues. It appears that the woman has a cleft in her chin.
My best educated guess is that the photograph was taken anywhere from 1898 -1911. (In 1900, Etta was age 7.)
Here is how I came to this conclusion from the clues that I observed on this photograph and further genealogy search results that I found. It is hard to get many visual clues, as the photograph is not near full length.
The wireless rim eyeglasses have too long of a popular history to date.
The woman’s dress (Shureman Aunt? “Live”) is distinctive with the high collar and puffed upper part of the sleeves. The high collar style was popular from 1880s – 1914.
The sleeves of the girl’s dresses show this puffiness even more. Puffy sleeves were popular from 1895 until 1914. The upper puffed sleeve appearing to be made in 2 parts ( with a tight lower part) was especially pronounced 1905 – 1907. But many people continued to wear fashions long after they were popular.
It appears that the woman’s dress has large epaulets(?) studded with rivets or buttons. This might be from an earlier period, or from the later 1910 – 1914 period.
Phoebe, on the left, seems to have a dress/over dress/apron made from fabric of small gingham checks. Etta is wearing a dress made with dark colored fabric. Children before 1910 mostly wore delicate white muslin (for innocence). The sturdier, colored fabrics (worn from 1910 on) allowed girls to play with more abandon. The girls appear to be between the ages of 4 – 8.
The woman’s hairstyle is softer than the padded pompadour style of 1900 – 1910. It could have been from before, or after. Individuals did not always follow the fashions strictly, but kept to their personal preferences.
I did a brief genealogical search of the names on Beloit City Directories, and Ancestry.com. Although it is harder to track women as their names change, the writing on the reverse of the photograph include married names.
In the 1906/1907-1908 Beloit City Directories and 1910 US Census, there was an elderly “Elizabeth” (“Live”‘s namesake?) (widow of Godfrey) Yagla on 817 9th St, Beloit who had a son named Frederick W.
In the 1917 Beloit City Directory there was “Miss Etta Yagla” who worked at Yates Machine Co. and resided at 215 W Roosevelt Ave where Curtis M. (who worked as a mechanic at Fairbanks Morse Co.) and his wife Martha Yagla also lived. Curtis and Etta were siblings as shown below.
The 1900 US Census lists Etta F. Yagla, born 1893 (age 7) living at 834 Oak, Beloit, daughter of Carl and Jessie A Yagla, and shows her brother Curtis M (age 8) and Lester B (age 12).
The 1930 and 1940 US Censuses, and birth/marriage/death indexes show Etta F Yagla marrying Peter C Hartman and living in Chicago with their children Robert, and Helen Etta. Etta F died in 1949.
More sources show daughter Helen Etta born 1921, married Roy Linn (deceased) and then a Mr. Johnston. Helen died in 1978.
That’s as far as I was going to research this family. Hopefully it is enough information that someone will know some of the descendants of the people in the photograph so we can get it back into the family’s possession.
Contact me through Facebook IM/PM or by my email directly “statelinegenealogyclub@yahoo.com”, as the email link through my BLOG goes to public comment.
Vicki’s note- things are looking up for the re-opening of in-person opportunities for genealogists after Covid 19. As more people get vaccinated, it becomes safer for institutions to open to unrestricted access to genealogical and historic records.
The Covid 19 pandemic is in constant flux so these re-openings across the country/world are dependent on how it develops. Hopefully enough people in the US get vaccinated asap to refute the variations that keep spreading to those not vaccinated, and so that we can share those very efficient vaccines with the rest of the world.
I just noticed that (BHS) Beloit Historical Society, Beloit Wisconsin, will be reopening to the public on September 10, 2021. The staff have been working meanwhile, and you can leave a voice message on their telephone for them to get back to you.
And if you can’t wait to see BHS, I am adding a link to their Facebook Page announcing an outside June 13 Car & Mechanic Show below.
“Beloit Historical Society Plans Re-Opening
The Beloit Historical Society is preparing for a re-opening of its Lincoln Center facility at 845 Hackett St. for general visitation starting September 10th. We will be open Tuesdays – Thursdays noon – 4:00 and the 1st Saturday of the month (starting October 2nd) 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Appointments continue to be available. Contact us by phone to the BHS office (608) 965-7835 or email info@beloithistoricalsociety.com.
This summer we are planning a few events that will be outdoors on the Lincoln Center lawn.
June 13 is a Car & Mechanic Show. Registrations of vehicles and display pieces are still available.
July 23 and 24 is a Thrift Sale fundraiser. Donations are being accepted now of items that need a new home. See the Events page for more details.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone in-person again!
The Beloit Historical Society is hosting the Car and Mechanic Show this Sunday on June 13th! Join us with your friends and family, in person, to experience the world of cars and mechanics this summer. There will be a variety of different displays and speakers to interact with to learn more about cars and help you explore Beloit history. We are so excited to share this event with you so come stop by! Call our office, view our Facebook events page, or our website for more info.
Vicki’s note – I saw that the PBS recording of this program was just posted on the Beloit Public Library Facebook page. This was a program last summer that I had not seen in time to go to.
I am glad that PBS recorded it, so that all of us can view the Program. I have given directions below on how to get to the recording. There was no direct link, so we have to do gymnastics, but it is worth the effort to get to the viewing.
And click to go directly to the link from the Library Page to PBS. Facebook shares more easily than I could get the link to share to my BLOG here.
I briefly sampled the recording, enough to see that Linda Fair touches on the Ousley Family, which I have presented in detail in my program, “Laurence Ousley of the Beloit Public Library – Researching an African-American (OR any) Family Life Story and Their Community”.
Recorded on PBS University Place
June 25, 2019 | Rating: TV-G | Length: 00:40:33
Beloit’s African-American History
Linda Fair, academic advisor at Blackhawk Technical College, explores the contributions of African-Americans in Beloit from 1839 to the present.
Directions to view the recorded Program : Open the green “WPT Video” link below by right clicking and “Open Link in New Tab” to go to PBS, Click “Watch”, at “Search by Show Name” and Type in “University Place”; Click on the “University Place” logo; “SEARCH UNIVERSITY PLACE EPISODES” – type in “Linda Fair” at “By Keyword”. Click on “Beloit’s African-American History” to watch the June 25, 2019 Program.
“Reminiscing – Life Writing Your Story for Posterity to Share With Your Family” AND “Soda Fountains to Robots” Program Oct. 11
2Oct2019
by Vicki Ruthe Hahn
A special Stateline genealogy Club at the Beloit Public Library double program on Friday October 11, 2019 from 10 a.m. – noon.
“Reminiscing – Life Writing Your Story for Posterity to Share With Your Family”, by Vicki Ruthe Hahn
Hands on exercises and suggestions on how to reflect your own life through words, photos, and mapping. Bring a memento, photo or picture from your past that you want to write about.
Part 2 – AND “Soda Fountains to Robots” – how to create a Family History book, by the author Connie Sveum.
Amusing stories and vignettes of local personalities in local (Beloit WI) family-owned pharmacies with the author.
June 2019 Stateline Genealogy Club – Two Programs and
Vicki Ruthe Hahn will be Back!
15 May 2019
I retired from the Beloit Public Library in March, and I am forming a personal Genealogy business. More information later.
The Staff gave me a fabulous farewell celebration with:
Lots of the best cake I ever ate (and I am a pie person) – cake (made with TLC by Debbie Haun) and meal catered by The Blender at the Beloit Public Library.
Lots of praise for 26 years worth of a job well done. (Even a video from my former supervisor!)
Lots of memories.
And lots of camaraderie and kind words from about 60 City employees, Library staff and trustees, former employees, volunteers, friends, and well-wishing library patrons who were able to attend. Several emails from those who couldn’t make it.
It was a lot of fun. I will miss them all, and I’m not even sharing all the photos of me hugging, cause I am crying in most of them.
But it was time to retire, for many reasons.
Thanks for letting me do my ideal career. I grew up wanting to work at a job where I could be a detective, read, write, think, teach, and help people. It was called “Librarian”, especially “Reference Librarian”, and as I discovered (continuing) “Local Historian” and “Genealogist”.
I have not been attending the Stateline Genealogy Club, or been at the Library. I live in a different community, but adopted Beloit WI 26 years ago. (See if you can see the subtle joke I did with this statement.)
Gosh, it sure takes a lot of paperwork to retire.
My extended family think it is great to expand the amount of time that I used to help them while working. Lots of need lately, so I am looking forward to having genealogy fun with like-minded people.
And I will see you at these two events soon.
June 14 “Crossing the Border, French Canadian Ancestors”, by speaker George Findlen. The steps, resources & aids that one needs to successfully identify the parents of an immigrant who settled in the U.S. from Quebec.
June 28, 2019 – Bonus 2nd Friday Tour & Research at WHS Wisconsin Historical Society. Van Galder Coach Bus So Beloit IL FastMart/McDonalds 8 a.m. boarding to Madison WI/UW Campus Langdon/Park. Return early evening.
I was very happy and honored to be given the photograph below (as the Beloit Public Library genealogist and historian), so that it could be preserved and more people could see it. After researching the photograph, I donated both the photo and the research to the BHS Beloit Historical Society, Beloit Wisconsin to fulfill their request for more Beloit African American photographs and artifacts.
“…your gift (photo) to the BHS…wow! what a piece of history for us to have! Thank you!”
That photograph has the best chance of being preserved and properly displayed at BHS, (especially after it’s rough physical history – story below) .
1925 Prince Hall Masonic Lodge African American Conventionin Milwaukee Wisconsin
I had to scan the 36 x 8 photograph (and back) in 2 sections on the Library photocopier (free for the public). The panoramic picture above is after I “stitched” the 2 overlapping photographs/scans into one on my computer. I used the free Microsoft App Image Composite Editor (more information and download here) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/search?q=image+composite+editor
There is an initiative to gather and to archive more materials from Beloit families related to the Black Great Migration to Beloit 1910-1970, and the history of the black community in Beloit. BeloitCollegestudents under Professor Beatrice McKenzie and the BeloitHistoricalSocietyare collaborating to find items that can be digitally photographed and returned.
There was a History Harvest Community Collection event on March 22, 2019 at New Zion Baptist Church Beloit, Wisconsin. Attendees shared letters, photos, objects, and/or stories of their own or their family member’s migration from the South to work in Beloit’s factories. Students digitally captured the artifacts that community members brought to the harvest and are making a digital exhibit that will be housed on the Beloit College and Beloit Historical Society websites.
The 1925 Prince Hall Masonic Lodge African American Conventionin Milwaukee Wisconsin photo (copy) and research will also be filed in the Beloit Public Library Local History Collection Pamphlet File under – GEN – Organizations and Clubs (The Prince Hall Masonic W.B. Kennedy Lodge No. 106 (later #3)
Here is the story of that photograph, which was ironically found in a Beloit African American church!:
Beloit African American Organization Convention Photograph
May 9, 2018
“This photograph comes from the estate of Richard J Walsh, delivered by his trustee and sister Bridget Walsh (to Beloit Public Library.)
Richard found the photo in the rubble of a church being torn down, the old Emmanuel Baptist Church, at Athletic and E. Grand in Beloit. The photo had slid down a wall.
James Caldwell copied this photo when his family visited our farm (Walsh Family Farm, was Walsh Brothers Farm). His wife Cheryl Johnson was related to the Ben Gordon family, who lived and worked on our farm for decades. The Gordon’s had moved here from Alabama.” Bridget Walsh
Further notes:
– Ben Gordon’s son Jerry Gordon, California, has done his family’s genealogy, per Bridget Walsh. The Walsh children played with the Gordon children on the farm.
Bridget Walsh identified Ben in the photographs from the Beloit Oral History Project by Louis Koch – African American Up North – Fairbanks Flats (1976). (Note – the photograph numbers on the on-line Index don’t seem to match the numbers on the photographs now.) Photographs are available world-wide on-line on the Beloit Public Library homepage https://beloitlibrary.org/edgewater/ , and in two Blue notebooks in the Library Local History Collection:
Bridget Walsh told me the story of Ben Gordon’s first wife Etta May. Etta May died from a chicken scratch infection that the doctor mis-treated. . They lived (in a house provided by) and worked on Walsh Brothers Farm. Ben moved to Fairbanks Flats and worked for Fairbanks Morse after Etta May died. He remarried later.
The 134 photo caption says, “Ben Gordon holding photograph of himself & his first wife from Ross Hill 1921” (near Houston, Mississippi)
– On the back of the panoramic 1925 Prince Hall Masonic Lodge African American Convention in Milwaukee Wisconsin photo is written in pencil – an O symbol with 2 lines through it, the number “380”and “Mr. Creighton”. (Hint – look at the back of historic photographs for clues to their origin or identification.)
-The Prince Hall Masonic W.B. Kennedy Lodge No. 106 (later #3) Beloit Wisconsin was chartered by the Grand Lodge in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 1, 1925. Maybe the 1925 Prince Hall Masonic Lodge African American Convention photograph documents the men that attended that charter ceremony. Bridget mentioned that she had been told that there were men from several states at this convention.
– Beloit Oral History Project by Louis Koch – African American Up North – Fairbanks Flats (1976) photographs show a similar (later?) Beloit African American Organization photograph with fancier aprons and vestments in photograph 110.
The caption is “Odd Fellows Lodge, including Revered Ogiss Dillon; ca 1940. (AB) This looks like Prince Hall Masonic Organization (see the aprons & white gloves), rather than Odd Fellows, added by K. Simmons 08-01-2006”
I looked at both the 1925 and the 1940 photos to see if I could see any men that were the same, but could not see any resemblances. The clothing for each year does match the fashion for that year. (Hint – look at people’s eyes, ears, noses, foreheads, other facial features, and stances to see the same person of a different age.)
How about this for a little known fact? – “In March, 1775, Prince Hall and fourteen other free Negroes of Boston Massachusetts were made Master Masons in an Army Lodge attached to one of General Gage’s regiments, then stationed near Boston.” (This was the beginning of of the Masonic organization that led to the Beloit Chapter.)
MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE F. & A. M. OF WISCONSIN, INC
-James Caldwell may have used the panoramic Organization Convention photograph in their DVD. “Through their eyes: the history of African Americans in Beloit, WI from 1836 – 1970”, [videorecording (DVD)] Author Caldwell, Jim. Caldwell, Cheryl. Harris, Paulette Ivy. Lamont, Tony. Publisher Jim and Cheryl Caldwell Foundation, Publication Date 2011; Shelf Location – Beloit Public Library Non-fiction DVD 977.588 THROUGH
Hot off the presses. These are the programs for 2019. I am excited to learn more at these programs next year.
There will be a 2019 Programs tab on the BLOG in 2019 when I move the 2018 programs to the “Previous Programs” tag. I will have copies printed as bookmarks available soon at the Library, and next week at the December 14 Program:
December 14, 2018 – “Laurence Ousley of the Beloit Public Library – Researching and Writing an African-American Family Life Story”, by Vicki Ruthe Hahn
I hope to see you there.
2019 Programs for Stateline Genealogy Club
@ Beloit Public Library
605 Eclipse BLVD, Beloit WI 53511
2nd Fridays of the month 10 a.m. – noon.
All are welcome. Free resources and support to those learning or doing research on their family history.
BLOG – “statelinegenealogyclub.wordpress.com” for Contact Information, Links & Helps
January 11 – “NEHGS New England Historic Genealogical Society – ‘Get the Most from AmericanAncestors.org”, Legacy Family Tree webinar by Claire Vail. In Classroom.
February 8 –”Using Maps in Genealogy”, various webinars from BYU:
Understanding Maps, Land Ownership Maps, Locating Ancestors from Maps and Gazetteers, Sanborn Maps, U.S. Land Records
March 8 – “You Use WHAT for Genealogy? Wonderful Uses for Unusual Tools” Legacy Family Tree webinar by Thomas MacEntee – How to Use Google, Copyright, Dropbox, Evernote, Facebook, Blogging, Dropbox, Social Media for genealogy.
April 12 – “Research Your Swedish Heritage in Living Color Using ArkivDigital”, by speaker Kathy Meade from https://www.arkivdigital.net/. Swedish Church Records and other Historical Records online. In Classroom.
May 10 “Genealogy Clues Found in Obituaries and Funeral Home Records”, by speaker Jarod Williams, , Rosman Funeral Home (rescheduled from 2018.) In Classroom
June 14 “Crossing the Border, French Canadian Ancestors”, by speaker George Findlen. The steps, resources & aids that one needs to successfully identify the parents of an immigrant who settled in the U.S. from Quebec.
June 28, 2019 – Bonus 2nd Friday Tour & Research at WHS Wisconsin Historical Society. Van Galder Coach Bus So Beloit IL FastMart/McDonalds 8 a.m. boarding to Madison WI/UW Campus Langdon/Park. Return early evening.
July 12 “Finding the Genealogy of Houses, and Those that Lived In Them” by speaker Vicki Ruthe Hahn
August 9 “An Introduction to WikiTree, the Free Global Family Tree” by speaker Marty Acks. A community of genealogists growing an accurate single family tree using DNA & traditional genealogical sources.
September 13 – “NARA; Introduction to Genealogy at the National Archives and Records Administration” on-line Slideshow by Claire Kluskens (presented by Vicki Ruthe Hahn)
October 11 – “Reminiscing – Life Writing Your Story for Posterity to Share with Your Family”, by speaker Vicki Ruthe Hahn. Hands-on exercises & suggestions on how to reflect your own life through words, photos, and mapping. Bring a photo or picture from your past that you want to write about. Part 2 -“Soda Fountains to Robots”, amusing stories and vignettes of local personalities in local family owned pharmacies with author Connie Sveum. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing.
November 8 – “Stateline Travelers – Chicago Gangsters Connections to Northern Illinois & Wisconsin”, by speaker Vicki Ruthe Hahn
December 13 – “Lineage Groups – Proofs for DAR, SAR, Colonial Dames, Etc.” A group presentation by local experts, and using FamilySearch.org ->search>Wiki> lineage societies
1925 Prince Hall Masonic Lodge African American Convention in Milwaukee Wisconsin
The caption is “Odd Fellows Lodge, including Revered Ogiss Dillon; ca 1940. (AB) This looks like Prince Hall Masonic Organization (see the aprons & white gloves), rather than Odd Fellows, added by K. Simmons 08-01-2006”
statelinegenealogyclub, LLC 