March 7, 2026 - DCGS 48th Annual Conference
 | "Piecing Family Together" on March 7, 2026 with a full day of program sessions onsite at the NIU Conference Center in Naperville, Illinois. You choose from 10 topics including DNA/genetic genealogy, methodology tactics, writing, publishing, organization tips, and Norwegian research. There are topics for everyone, beginners to advanced. The Attendee conference fee includes a hot lunch, syllabus, and chances to win door prizes. There are additional opportunities to win through purchased raffle tickets. |
Early Bird deadline is February 7, 2026
The Attendee early bird conference fee, $65 for DCGS members, $75 for non-members, includes 10 sessions to choose from, a hot buffet lunch, pdf handouts, and chances to win door prizes. There will also be great raffle items and several genealogists' favorite exhibitors. After February 7, the regular conference rate for members and non-members will be $80.
You will receive a confirmation when payment is received. Please keep it for your records; if you do not receive a confirmation within 14 days of remitting payment, please contact us ASAP at conference@dcgs.org.
No refunds allowed after February 7, 2026.
Online registration closes on February 21, 2026 or when we reach capacity, whichever comes first.
Advanced online registration is required, we cannot accommodate walk-ins. When you register online, you'll have the option to pay by credit card or print an invoice to remit by mail with your check. Confirmation emails are sent when payment is received. You can expect to receive the syllabus and additional details the week preceding the conference.
Only registered conference attendees are invited to visit our exhibitors.
Public Health Policy
Revised 8 January 2023
The DuPage County Genealogical Society has followed and will continue to follow, the requirements of the State of Illinois and the DuPage County Health Department.
Mask-wearing in our events is optional in the public areas and the lunchroom. Some speakers may require that their attendees wear a mask, or they will not be able to attend their session. Please see the conference day schedule for details.
As we’ve learned, this very well may change in the future. We will continue to follow the state and local guidance and adapt our procedures accordingly. If you have any questions, please contact us at webcoordinator@dcgs.org.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are very important and help the Conference run smoothly. We are looking for volunteers in several areas:
- Planning - Join the Conference Planning Committee to help with planning and coordinating the upcoming conference.
- Facilitators - Introduce a speaker of their choice or of a lecture they intend to attend. Assist the speaker, if necessary, and let the speaker know when their time is almost up to help keep the speaker on schedule.
- Guides - Welcome attendees during morning check-in and guide attendees to meeting rooms, lunch, and the exhibitor’s tables
- Logistics - Help set up on Friday and take down on Saturday.
If you are interested in helping, please indicate your interest when you register or contact Rhea Hunter at webcoordinator@dcgs.org and indicate your preferences.
Program
Speakers
Michelle Bray Wilson
Michelle Bray Wilson has been active in the genealogy community for more than a dozen years. She speaks throughout the Midwest, most frequently on genetic genealogy, French Canada, ancient ancestry, and creating family history books. Michelle’s lectured for Illinois State Genealogy Society, Franco Fete in Minneapolis, for UW’s Early Music Festival in Madison, for MSPCE (Midwest Security and Police Conference) and at numerous area conferences, genealogy groups and libraries, including being a featured speaker for Chicago Public Library, DuPage County and Lake County societies. She is a former president of CAGGNI, the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois, and served many years as Registrar at a local DAR chapter. She has led or co-led CAGGNI's DNA Special Interest Group since founding it in 2015.
An engineer by training, Michelle consults for the medical device manufacturing industry, and has recently begun accepting a limited number of clients in the genealogy space.
Jenny Warner
Jenny Warner has been doing genealogy for 44 years. Her mother started her and her sister early learning about where their family came from and how to research family history. She is a member of many Lineage Societies and Genealogical Societies. Warner also holds offices in several genealogical societies and lineage groups.
She is well known and has given many presentations at public libraries, historical societies and genealogical societies. Just recently she presented at Family Tree University. Warner loves sharing her knowledge of family history and helping people learn about their heritage.
Pamela Nila
Pamela Nila, MSLIS is an independent researcher and author who transforms fragmentary historical records into vivid, well-sourced narratives. She has co-authored several articles for the Illinois State Genealogical Journal and writes the monthly “Resource Review” column for the DuPage County Genealogical Society Newsletter. Drawing on years of genealogical experience, she specializes in blending direct and indirect evidence to reconstruct lives and events often overlooked in the historical record. She recently published The Mental Scientist: A Biography of Genevieve Behrend and is currently working to bring to light the life of Elizabeth Antoinette Stahl, a Civil War nurse and frontierswoman born and buried in Illinois.
Luncheon
A hot buffet lunch is included in most tickets.
If you have dietary restrictions that aren't met by this menu, please note them in your registration.
Conference Exhibitors Note: The list will be updated as Exhibitors register.
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CAGGNI, Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois, https://caggni.org/
Illinois State Genealogical Society, https://ilgensoc.org/
Michiana History Publications, https://www.ebay.com/str/Michiana-History-Publications, michianahistory@gmail.com
Only registered conference attendees are invited to visit our Exhibitors.
If you wish to register as an exhibitor, select one of the Exhibitor ticket options when you register.
If you have questions, email webdcgs60187@gmail.com.
Raffle Prizes Raffle tickets can be purchased at the DCGS desk during the conference.
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Door Prizes
The final list will be available at the door prize tables. Tickets for the door prizes will be included in your registration packet at check-in.
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ArkivDigital (Arphax Publishing Co) – Specifics TBA
Carole Magnuson - Nokbox light kit including folder and file labels, instructional checksheets, and zippered bags.
Northern Illinois University, NIU-Naperville is located at 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563
Parking is FREE; no permits are needed.
The NIU Conference Center - Naperville is located on the south side of Diehl Road
just west of Freedom Drive and across from the Hampton Inn - Naperville.
Directions:
From I-88 (East-West Tollway): Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From O’Hare Airport (Approx. 25 miles from O’Hare): Exit on I-190E. Take the I-294 S exit, exit number 1D, towards Indiana. Merge onto I-294 S (portions toll). Take the I-88 W exit towards Aurora. Merge onto East/West Tollway (portions toll). Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From Chicago (East) (Approx. 29 miles from downtown Chicago): From I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, take the I-294 S/I-88 W exit, exit number 15A, on the left towards Indiana/Aurora. Merge onto East/West Tollway (portions toll). Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From I-294 (Tri-State Tollway north/south): Merge onto I-88 west (East/West Tollway) towards Aurora. Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.
From I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway north/south): Merge onto I-88 west (East/West Tollway) towards Aurora. Exit at the Naperville Road/Freedom Drive exit. Then head south (right, about .3 mi.) to Diehl Road, turn right (west) onto Diehl Road. Campus is almost immediately on the left, across from the Hampton Inn.