October meeting -- immigration and naturalization

Pat Harris and Harold Henderson will discuss immigration and naturalization records and research at the October 11 meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society, including illustrations of fantastic misspellings, why you shouldn't focus only on Ellis Island, how naturalization laws and forms changed over time, and other pitfalls and potentials of this important part of genealogy research. Bring your questions!

The society's business meeting will begin at 7:15 pm, followed by the immigration and naturalization program -- all at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte. The society meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Swanson Center, weather permitting. The public is welcome at all meetings.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/ has information for those who believe they have La Porte County ancestors (and can prove it!). There's information on how to apply for First Families of La Porte (before December 1840), Pioneer Families (1841-1860), Settler Families (1861-1880), and Civil War Families (1861-1865).

You can also read or search back issues of the society's newsletter, December 2005 through December 2009, including genealogical and historical information from members' research and abstracting work in local records, on our blog at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.