My Background

Since retiring from a career in law enforcement I have started a career in a field that I have always loved; historical research, writing and teaching. I am a past Chicago Area Representative of the Association for Professional Genealogists. http://www.apgen.org I have over 25 years of experience in historical and genealogical research and have conducted research for other authors, television programs, (Syfy Channel, PBS Ancestors Series) attorneys and private individuals. I was also listed as a genealogy expert on Ancestry.com during their “Expert Connect Program” and have experience researching at virtually every major research repository in the Chicago Area

Click the APG Logo below to be directed to their site

Genealogical Teaching and Lecturing

I currently teach beginning genealogy classes for the Lyons Township High School Program for Adult Education.  The class is called "Investigating Your Family History". The class covers, Getting Started, U.S. Census Records, Newspaper Research, Cemetery Research, Church Records, State, County and Local government records, Immigration and Naturalization records, and Documenting and Organizing your Research.

The Spring 2013 class is registering now

Class info is: Class #7095 3 evenings Tues., Apr. 2- Apr. 16 7:00-9:00 p.m. South Campus Room B107, $40/Gold Card $22

Click the link below to download the Spring Catalog and Registration Forms

Historical Articles

I currently write a blog for ChicagoNow which is owned by Chicago Tribune Media.  The blog is called Chicago's Strange and Haunted History and deals with all the more little known aspects of Chicago History and some little known facts about famous Chicago History.

Click the Banner Below to be directed to my blog. You can subscibe via email from there!

Genealogy Repository Experience

I have ready access to many of the best genealogy related research repositories such as: The Great Lakes Region of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), The Chicago History Museum and Library of the Chicago Historical Society, The Newberry Libary, The Harold Washington Center of the Chicago Public Libraries, The Pritzker Military Library, The Irish Heritage Center, various Family History Centers of the LDS, Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will County governmental and archival offices and various regional depositories of the Illinois State Archives Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD), and various University Libraries including; The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Depaul University and NorthEastern Illinois University.

Areas of Special Genealogical Interest

• Chicago history and genealogy
• Irish, Swedish, Italian and Polish genealogy
• Cemetery Research
• Technology for Genealogy
• Business records used for genealogy
• Military
• U.S. Federal Records