Genealogy: All Politics is Local

These words, spoken by former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil, still ring true. Whether your ancestor was elected to public office or just aspired to serve in a public capacity such as precinct committeeman or election judge, each generated records and artifacts. Former four-time political candidate, Tina Beaird, will guide you through the political process and explain what records may exist and where to find them.

Tina Beaird, MLIS, is a local history librarian and owner of Tamarack Genealogy in Oswego, Illinois. As a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists, Tina lectures extensively on topics including military research, Scottish genealogy resources, and archival preservation. She serves on the board directors for the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, the Illinois State Genealogical Society, the Northern Illinois Historic League, and the Oswego Heritage Association. She has been researching her family's history, as time permits, for over twenty-five years. A rabid baseball fan, Tina has visited 24 of the 30 Major League Baseball ballparks across the country.