The 1940 Census and the Greatest Generation

 

 Genealogist and author, Stephen Szabados presents his popular program on Sunday, Apr. 29, 2-3:30 pm at the Niles Public Library. The newly released 1940 census affords a closer look at the Greatest Generation who survived the Great Depression, won World War II, and laid the basis for America's prosperity.

The 1940 U.S. Census provides such unique information as where people lived 5 years before, highest educational grade achieved and detailed income and occupation. This census also included questions about  participation in the New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and National Youth Administration (NYA) programs.

Until the 1940 census is indexed by name, one needs an idea of where people lived in 1940 to determine the Enumeration District. Steve will explain how to use a number of sites to browse the images of the ED to find the entries for one’s relatives.

 

The Niles Library subscribes to the popular Ancestry.com Library Edition database for use in the library. Patrons can research their ancestors using this valuable resource from any of the library’s public computers. Ancestry does provide access to the 1940 census.

Terror in Tuscany: World War II Atrocities

Terror in Tuscany: World War II Atrocities will be shown at the Niles Public Library on Wednesday evening, May 2, at 7 p.m. when Gia Marie Amella, an award-winning producer, presents her latest film.

The 2011 documentary recounts one of the forgotten chapters of World War II. On June 29th, 1944 German SS troops stormed the remote Tuscan village of San Pancrazio brutally murdering 73 people. By the war’s end an estimated 15,000 Italian civilians would become the unwitting targets of the Nazi campaign of violence.

Produced in collaboration with CNN International, Terror in Tuscany., features remarkable eyewitness stories of San Pancrazio’s massacre survivors and their decades-long quest for healing and justice.

Ms. Amella is a director, writer and producer based in Chicago and Montevarchi, Tuscany. A former Fulbright Fellow, she is the recipient of the 2011 Public Service Award from the National Immigration Council and the 2007 Impresa Award from the Joint Committee of Italian Americans. She is the co-managing partner of Modio Media, LLC.

Admission to the program is free but advance registration is required either in person at the library’s Information Desk or via the Niles Library web site at www.nileslibrary.org or by calling 847-663-1234. Registration closes on May 2 at 7 p.m.

The Niles Public Library, 6960 Oakton Street, is located at the northeast corner of Oakton Street and Waukegan Road. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m.