The November 13, 2008, meeting of the Madison County Genealogical Society was held at the Edwardsville Public Library in Edwardsville, Illinois.

President, Robert Ridenour, called the meeting to order.

Reports:

Treasurer LaVerne Bloemker presented the financial report for the period ending October 31, 2008.

• General Fund - Beg. Balance $1,553.40- Income $5.87 - Expense $116.83 - End Balance $1,442.44
• Publications Fund - Beg. Balance $10,644.07 - Income $0.00 - Expense - $10.00- End Balance $10,634.07
• Life Membership Fund - Beg. Balance $5,397.28 - No Change - End Balance $5,397.28
• Total Assets as of October 31, 2008 - $17,473.79

Recording secretary Barbara Hitch reported that since there would be no meeting next month, she would be accepting next year's dues at this meeting. Dues for 2009 are due on 1 January and delinquent on 31 January.

Librarian Elsie Wasser reported that we had received several new books:

From the Illinois State Grange Secretary, Lynette Schaeffer, three books concerning the Lindley Grange #1927 that met in the 1950s and 1960s in the St. Jacob, Illinois, Community Building. The contents of these books will be summarized in a future issue of The Stalker. The books will be turned over to the Madison County Historical Society for safekeeping.

Shirley A. Daiber donated a volume titled John Hess, Sr. and His Family.

The last book received is St. Peter's Cathedral Census 1888-1895, Belleville, Illinois. This volume can serve as a partial replacement for the missing 1890 Federal Census if your ancestor attended this church.

Judy Thompson, Reference Librarian at the Edwardsville Public Library, made a very short presentation and status report on Internet access to the items digitized through the Illinois State Library's LSTA grant program. These items are part of the data selected and donated by the Edwardsville Public Library, the Madison County Historical Society, and the Madison County Genealogical society.

Tom Pearson, Reference Librarian in the Rare Books & Special Collections Department of St. Louis Public Library, made a presentation titled Not Just For Obits Anymore: Mining Newspapers for Genealogical Nuggets.

Mr. Pearson's presentation covered the many types of items, other than obituaries, which might contain genealogical information. The handouts given to the eighteen members and five guests attending the meeting showed that St. Louis has had almost 100 different newspapers published between 1818 and today. The St. Louis Public Library has some copies of all the different newspapers.

This presentation was very enlightening and well received.