Friday, February 1, 2008

IGS Welcomes New Newsletter Editor

The Indiana Genealogical Society is proud to welcome Cynthia Ogorek of Calumet City, Illinois as the new editor of its bi-monthly newsletter, IGS Newsletter. Cynthia was born in Hammond, Indiana and raised "across the line" in Calumet City, Illinois. For many years she was a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, including for the Northwest Indiana Times. After authoring an entry for Women Building Chicago, 1790-1990, A Biographical Dictionary, she realized she was really a historian at heart and she returned to school, earning a Master's in U.S. History from Purdue University as well as a certificate from the Seminar for Historical Administration at Colonial Williamsburg.

Cynthia is currently self-employed as a public historian, focusing on enhancing the activities and supporting the goals of historical institutions such as the Indiana Genealogical Society. She consults on a variety of issues facing societies in Indiana and Illinois, from newsletters to grant proposals to National Register of Historic Places nominations.

She also continues to produce historical publications. Most recently, she authored an article about the Century of Progress houses located in Beverly Shores, Indiana for the Indiana Historical Society's Traces magazine. Her first book, Along the Calumet River, was published in 2004. It is a photo essay about the history of the river in Indiana and Illinois. This spring her second book, The Lincoln Highway Around Chicago, will be published. It is another bi-state, regional history, focusing on the Lincoln Highway between Schererville, Indiana and Geneva, Illinois.

Last year she launched a four-part series of programs called “The First Ladies from the Midwest.” Part One described the personalities and contributions to the presidency made by Mary Todd Lincoln, Lou Henry Hoover and Bess Wallace Truman. This year she will describe the talents, ideas, and quirks that Anna Symmes Harrison, Caroline Scott Harrison and Hillary Rodham Clinton brought to the White House. Along with her presentation, Cynthia provides a table-top exhibit featuring a portrait of each First Lady, plus objects and other photographs that highlight her unique role in American history.

Cynthia is a long-time member of the Calumet City Historical Society, the Hammond Historical Society, the Historical Community of Northwest Indiana and the South Suburban Heritage Association.

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