MONTHLY RCGS Program Meetings: 6:30 PM on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month
Scroll Down for Future Months' Speakers, Programs, Zoom Links and Zoom Passcodes
Scroll Down for Future Months' Speakers, Programs, Zoom Links and Zoom Passcodes
JUNE 2025 - PROGRAM
THE STORY OF LAVINIA GOODELL
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Jennifer Motszeko is the Chief Archivist at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Area Research Center, which serves as the repository for several souther Wisconsin counties, including Rock County.
Program Summary: Jennifer will describe her research into an important historical figure, Rhoda Lavinia Goodell who was the first woman licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, and the first woman admitted to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
THE STORY OF LAVINIA GOODELL
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Jennifer Motszeko is the Chief Archivist at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Area Research Center, which serves as the repository for several souther Wisconsin counties, including Rock County.
Program Summary: Jennifer will describe her research into an important historical figure, Rhoda Lavinia Goodell who was the first woman licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, and the first woman admitted to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82203973694?pwd=BiIdiyAx0NZBwxo4bzzuHn5hUzSqjb.1
- Zoom Passcode: Family (with a capital "F")
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
JULY 2025 - PROGRAM
USING PHOTOGRAPHY HISTORY IN GENEALOGY
Date & Time: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Vicki Ruthe Hahn is the founder of the IL-WI State Line Genealogical Club, LLC and regularly presents programs to regional libraries, genealogical and historical societies.
Program Summary: Photographs give a direct insight into the past, and into the lives of individuals portrayed in them. They are a perfect way for genealogists to identify ancestors (from 1839 on) by analyzing physical resemblance, the history of fashions worn, backgrounds, and special occasions depicted. Learn how to help narrow the dates by identifying what photography studios and camera/developing/mounting technologies were used through the history of photography. Explore how to combine photography with other genealogical techniques, and organization. Bring a vintage photograph along, and we can try to identify the range of years that it was taken. (A companion program to “Contemporary Fashion Through the Decades, What They Wore When”. Each of the two programs are independent, but complementary.)
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
USING PHOTOGRAPHY HISTORY IN GENEALOGY
Date & Time: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Vicki Ruthe Hahn is the founder of the IL-WI State Line Genealogical Club, LLC and regularly presents programs to regional libraries, genealogical and historical societies.
Program Summary: Photographs give a direct insight into the past, and into the lives of individuals portrayed in them. They are a perfect way for genealogists to identify ancestors (from 1839 on) by analyzing physical resemblance, the history of fashions worn, backgrounds, and special occasions depicted. Learn how to help narrow the dates by identifying what photography studios and camera/developing/mounting technologies were used through the history of photography. Explore how to combine photography with other genealogical techniques, and organization. Bring a vintage photograph along, and we can try to identify the range of years that it was taken. (A companion program to “Contemporary Fashion Through the Decades, What They Wore When”. Each of the two programs are independent, but complementary.)
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88297687592?pwd=JpTrbwSZkbjruUawx2J58xBilqkgQ9.1
- Zoom Passcode: Family (with a capital "F")
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
| photography_history_for_genealogy_handout.pdf |
AUGUST 2025 - PROGRAM
MILTON'S HISTORIC MUSINGS, A BOOK BY DOUG WELCH
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Doug Welch is an accomplished author who has served as curator and administrative director of the Main Hall Museum on Milton College campus since 2019. In 2012, Welch wrapped up a 33-year newspaper career, including 22 years as the editor of Milton’s weekly newspaper. A lifelong Milton resident, Welch garnered numerous awards for column and editorial writing, reporting and photography.
Program Summary: Doug will discuss his book, Milton’s Historic Musings using the vast photo archives of the Milton Historical Society and the Milton College Preservation Society with dozens of stories and profiles from Milton's history. The book and talk take an extensive look at the Milton House, the Goodrich family, early Milton settlers, the abolitionist movement, and the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. The talk includes more recent Milton activity and is complemented by many archival photos.
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
No Audience Handout - though several of Doug's books will be for sale at the talk and online elsewhwere.
MILTON'S HISTORIC MUSINGS, A BOOK BY DOUG WELCH
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Doug Welch is an accomplished author who has served as curator and administrative director of the Main Hall Museum on Milton College campus since 2019. In 2012, Welch wrapped up a 33-year newspaper career, including 22 years as the editor of Milton’s weekly newspaper. A lifelong Milton resident, Welch garnered numerous awards for column and editorial writing, reporting and photography.
Program Summary: Doug will discuss his book, Milton’s Historic Musings using the vast photo archives of the Milton Historical Society and the Milton College Preservation Society with dozens of stories and profiles from Milton's history. The book and talk take an extensive look at the Milton House, the Goodrich family, early Milton settlers, the abolitionist movement, and the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. The talk includes more recent Milton activity and is complemented by many archival photos.
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88656350727?pwd=EcPrtjHUbKbUpU0Cb8m4RHQmwAIkDR.1
- Zoom Passcode: Family (with a capital "F")
No Audience Handout - though several of Doug's books will be for sale at the talk and online elsewhwere.
SEPTEMBER 2025 - PROGRAM
CEMETERY FIELD TRIP - CLEANING OLD GRAVESTONES
Date & Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 2:00 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Field Trip Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at at Ball Tavern Cemetery, NW corner of Tolles & Hwy 14 [near Evansville] (map link)
Program Presenter: Julie Marquardt is a member of the board of both the Milton House Museum and the Rock County Historical Society. She is an active genealogist with an interest in careful cleaning and preservation of cemetery tombstones.
Program Summary: Julie will lead a cemetery tour with instruction and hands-on about best practices for safely restoring cleaning, restoring and preserving old and illegible tombstones.
How to Attend: This an in-person field trip and cannot be watched via a Zoom link. It must be attended in person.
CEMETERY FIELD TRIP - CLEANING OLD GRAVESTONES
Date & Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 2:00 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Field Trip Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at at Ball Tavern Cemetery, NW corner of Tolles & Hwy 14 [near Evansville] (map link)
Program Presenter: Julie Marquardt is a member of the board of both the Milton House Museum and the Rock County Historical Society. She is an active genealogist with an interest in careful cleaning and preservation of cemetery tombstones.
Program Summary: Julie will lead a cemetery tour with instruction and hands-on about best practices for safely restoring cleaning, restoring and preserving old and illegible tombstones.
How to Attend: This an in-person field trip and cannot be watched via a Zoom link. It must be attended in person.
- Zoom Link: No Zoom Presentation - This is a cemetery field trip
OCTOBER 2025 - PROGRAM
RCGS' 7th ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4th, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM p.m. WI time.
Cost: Paid Registration Required - all proceeds go to RCGS' scholarship fund.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: TBA
Program Summary: TBA
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
RCGS' 7th ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4th, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM p.m. WI time.
Cost: Paid Registration Required - all proceeds go to RCGS' scholarship fund.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: TBA
Program Summary: TBA
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
- Zoom Link & Passcode: Provided with paid registration
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
NOVEMBER 2025 - PROGRAM
RESEARCHING YOUR IRISH ROOTS
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Natalie Bodle
Program Summary:
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
RESEARCHING YOUR IRISH ROOTS
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Join us at the Milton House Museum or view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app (see Zoom presentation link, below).
Program Presenter: Natalie Bodle
Program Summary:
How to Attend: This Zoom presentation can be watched live at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included. The Zoom link, and handout link below also allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83880578951?pwd=wax7zb2BZvcVJOjos4G11MINlqfx3t.1
- Zoom Passcode: Family (with a capital "F")
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
DECEMBER 2025 - PROGRAM
HOLIDAY HEIRLOOM AND MEAL PARTY
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Main entrée, plates and utensils are provided, just bring a dish to share.
Location: Join us at the Tomah Room in the Milton House Museum (no Zoom of this event).
Program Presenter: Attendees themselves
Program Summary: Anyone with a family story or heirloom to discuss is invited to briefly address the group.
How to Attend: This event is a live-only (no Zoom) holiday celebration. Members and the public are invited to attend and asked to bring a dish to share and an optional family heirloom to discuss. We meet at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included.
HOLIDAY HEIRLOOM AND MEAL PARTY
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public. Main entrée, plates and utensils are provided, just bring a dish to share.
Location: Join us at the Tomah Room in the Milton House Museum (no Zoom of this event).
Program Presenter: Attendees themselves
Program Summary: Anyone with a family story or heirloom to discuss is invited to briefly address the group.
How to Attend: This event is a live-only (no Zoom) holiday celebration. Members and the public are invited to attend and asked to bring a dish to share and an optional family heirloom to discuss. We meet at the second level Tomah Room of the Milton House Museum, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, WI (map) at the scheduled time. Ample parking, handicap access, elevator, snacks, soft drinks and door prizes are included.
- Zoom Link: (Note - Live Social Meeting - no Zoom Broadcast)
- Password: (None)
JANUARY 2026 - ZOOM-ONLY PROGRAM (No Physical Meeting)
AMERICA AT 250! RESEARCHING YOUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTORS
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 13,2026, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Zoom-only winter program (Jan-Feb-Mar) - view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app.
Program Presenter: Scott Norrick has over 30 years of experience researching his family history, and through his company, Ancestral Past, he assists others with their family history research. His areas of expertise include researching the immigration to America from Britain, Ireland, and Germanic countries. He also has significant experience researching both the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Program Summary: 2026 marks the 250-year anniversary of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the time of America’s independence, the population of the American colonies was about 2.5 million. While 1776 is a pivotal year, the war for independence (the Revolutionary War) was fought from 1775-1783. About 200 thousand Americans served in the Patriots’ cause in some capacity. This presentation will provide a deep dive into discovering and researching your revolutionary ancestors. It will cover the top resources, strategies, websites, libraries, archives, and organizations for learning more about your ancestors at our nation’s founding. Resources and documents available at the National Archives, DAR, SAR, as well as state and local organizations will be included. The presentation will also reveal that many colonists did not support independence and supported the British/Tory cause. It is an exciting time to jump in and learn as much as you can about your revolutionary ancestors!.
How to Attend: This is a Zoom-only presentation and must be watched at the scheduled time. The Zoom link, and handout link below allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
AMERICA AT 250! RESEARCHING YOUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTORS
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 13,2026, 6:30 p.m. local WI time.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Location: Zoom-only winter program (Jan-Feb-Mar) - view live on your Home PC or Smartphone with the Zoom app.
Program Presenter: Scott Norrick has over 30 years of experience researching his family history, and through his company, Ancestral Past, he assists others with their family history research. His areas of expertise include researching the immigration to America from Britain, Ireland, and Germanic countries. He also has significant experience researching both the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Program Summary: 2026 marks the 250-year anniversary of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the time of America’s independence, the population of the American colonies was about 2.5 million. While 1776 is a pivotal year, the war for independence (the Revolutionary War) was fought from 1775-1783. About 200 thousand Americans served in the Patriots’ cause in some capacity. This presentation will provide a deep dive into discovering and researching your revolutionary ancestors. It will cover the top resources, strategies, websites, libraries, archives, and organizations for learning more about your ancestors at our nation’s founding. Resources and documents available at the National Archives, DAR, SAR, as well as state and local organizations will be included. The presentation will also reveal that many colonists did not support independence and supported the British/Tory cause. It is an exciting time to jump in and learn as much as you can about your revolutionary ancestors!.
How to Attend: This is a Zoom-only presentation and must be watched at the scheduled time. The Zoom link, and handout link below allow participation from your home PC, Mac, or smartphone.
- Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88011119318?pwd=8iyELzzhthyBNbWqQarJ09qwLXeSLQ.1
- Password: Family (note the capital "F")
Download the Audience Handout below in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format: Available Soon
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