The Journey: Mapping Your Ancestors

The Journey: Mapping Your Ancestors

by Carla Zimowsk

Come trace your ancestors’ journeys across oceans, rivers, or along city streets using modern mapping tools like Google Earth, ArcGIS, and genealogy software. This talk explores powerful mapping resources—including Chicago-specific collections—and demonstrates how to overlay historical and current maps to visualize ancestral neighborhoods, migrations, and the landscapes that shaped your family’s story.

Carla Zimowsk, a native Chicagoan, has been researching family history for over 20 years. A graduate of Rutgers University, she holds a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. Carla has 25 years as technology manager for the history department at Princeton and is published in the Chicago Genealogist.