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by John

Genealogical conferences are something that every researcher should experience at least once. They can be a great opportunity to learn new skills from professionals with a variety of expertise. The vendor hall can expose you to a variety of new books and software (and a fair warning, you may end up spending more than you had planned). You can meet many other genealogists with whom you can form networks and share experiences. And finally, you can get acquainted with the host city as a tourist, learning about its history and attractions and perhaps more about the idiosyncrasies of the record sources for that state. And if you are fortunate, conferences can also be a source of great amusement.

I have been attending national conferences off and on since the 1980s, and I still have memories of these rich experiences, both with my co-workers and with other genealogists. One of my favorites was the National Genealogical Society Conference in Baltimore in 1993. I was working on several Maryland and Virginia families at the time, and the sessions gave me an opportunity to understand several new record sources which greatly aided my research. I remember, as well, being able to ...

by Melissa

A conference changed my life! But it wasn't a genealogy conference, instead it was the American Library Association Conference. As a graduate student, I attended the conference to interview for academic positions though I worked in a genealogy department of a public library. During the conference, I attended a discussion on a new genealogy database. During that hour, I heard conversations that inspired and motivated me. At one point, someone in the room asked my opinion on the subject and I found myself responding with examples and ideas. It was revelatory. I had been so determined to become an academic librarian, I had ignored the possibility of aligning my career path with my passion for genealogy. This was the defining moment for my career aspirations and it took place during a genealogy discussion at a professional conference.

Fast forward several years, and conferences are still leaving their mark. It does not matter whether it is a local, state, regional, or national conference or if I'm a participant or attendee, I always walk away with something new. Conferences are fascinating to me because I enjoy instruction and learn some new technique, methodology, resource, or tidbit every time. As someone ...

by Cynthia

I always enjoy going to genealogy conferences. They are a great way to meet new people and learn about additional resources and records which may help to tear down brick walls.
When I first began my family history research, my grandmother stated that her grandfather, Frank Bosley, was born in New York, along the border of Quebec. Since that was such a large territory, I hadn't begun to check out this information. In August 2009, while I was at a conference in Virginia, I was talking to some people regarding research difficulties. I happened to mention where Frank was born and that the family was French Canadian. One of the attendees stated that I should check Clinton County, New York, that many French Canadians settled there.

Within a few weeks after that conference, I received a letter from my mother's cousin and she mentioned that she found John Bosley in the 1850 New York Census in Clinton County, New York. I quickly reviewed that census and noticed that Frank's older brother was there, too. I found my first break on a brick wall that I thought would take forever to tear down. I ordered a microfilm from the ...

by Delia

I've had the opportunity to attend a number of genealogy conferences through the years, as an attendee and lecturer. And I have wonderful memories of each of them as I learned new research sources and techniques, and visiting cities like Seattle, Dallas and Richmond. But one conference that stands out was my first national conference. It wasn't so much its uniqueness compared with other genealogy conferences, but compared to other non-genealogy conferences.

I had been to conferences concerning other fields before and, although I found them educational, attendees were clique-ish and often arrogant. If someone came alone, he or she stayed alone. If someone was new to the field or just new to that particular venue, that person was considered ignorant. It was not exactly an atmosphere to foster collaboration, encourage mentors, or mutual education.

The first national conference I attended was in 1991, in Arlington, Virginia. The first day, I went out for lunch by myself. As I waited for a table, three people separately wandered up and stood behind me to wait. We started chatting about genealogy and ended up sharing a table, enjoying the company of like-minded researchers when we had each anticipated eating alone. ...

by Dawne

An icon of genealogy, the NGS Quarterly, turns 100 years old in 2012. Those of you who are members of the National Genealogical Society will have noticed a history of the quarterly in the March 2012 issue. NGSQ debuted nine years after the establishment of NGS in 1903, and its early issues were filled more with record abstracts and indexes, as compared to the methodology articles and case studies that are published in later editions. Today’s NGSQ includes a smattering of previously unpublished source material, but primarily features compiled genealogies, case studies and “how-to” articles, along with descriptions of little-known resources and detailed articles about researching specific ethnic groups, record types and geographic regions. Detailed book reviews are another important part of the NGSQ. Whatever the content, throughout the publication’s history, the constant has been an emphasis on “scholarship, readability and practical help in problem solving,” according to the NGS website. The NGSQ is a benefit of membership in the National Genealogical Society, and today’s members may opt to receive the traditional paper copy by mail, or a PDF version. Members may access the NGS website to search or browse full-text issues from 1978 to the ...

by Melissa

We are in the midst of genealogy conference season in the Midwest. There are many wonderful opportunities for genealogists to connect with other researchers and learn new methodologies and sources. Both the Ohio Genealogical Society and Indiana Genealogical Society had their annual conferences in April, while May marks the National Genealogical Society Conference. The summer months are marked with the several regional conferences, ending with the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in August. This is the time of year to dust off the cobwebs from your research projects or plan a research trip and attend a conference in your area. In honor of conference season, Genealogy Center staff will be sharing their personal conference stories in the coming weeks.

Subscribe to Genealogy Gems to learn at which conferences Genealogy Center staff will be speaking. And stop to say hello because conference season is the time to meet other researchers.

Learn the basics of starting your family history research with The Genealogy Center’s Beginners' classes during Summer 2012.

Getting the Most from a Book

Saturday, May 12, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Delia Bourne

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But not all books are the same. Differing formats, different types of information, different indexing systems can actually make evaluating the information a little more difficult, especially for beginners. This class will discuss the basics of using books and how to retrieve and evaluate all possible information.

 

How to Use the Genealogy Center: Basics

Saturday, June 23, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Melissa Shimkus                        

Have you taken a tour of The Genealogy Center and still feel confused? Do you wonder how all the details make sense to other people? Spend time with a staff member who will explain the catalog, microtext area, and how to use the facility. Note: This session is not a beginning genealogy class, but rather an explanation of the collection.

 

Ancestry: The Beginner’s Way to Search

Saturday, July 28, 10:00AM-11:00AM, Meeting Room A, Melissa Shimkus                           

Are you new to genealogy? Have you tried Ancestry.com and felt confused? If so, attend this session to learn the basic steps ...

by Dawne

More than 100 attendees enjoyed two tracks of lectures, snacks, hospitality, networking with other genealogists, and an opportunity to research in The Genealogy Center during Saturday’s Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Meeting and Conference. The day featured lectures dealing with the nitty-gritty “how to” of genealogical research methods, navigating online databases like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, writing a family history, and exploring new sources like patent records. Speakers were Debbie Mieszala, CG, Melissa Shimkus, Michael Hall and Curt Sylvester. Between sessions, the local Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana provided hospitality in the form of conversation, cookies and drinks. During the IGS annual meeting, area residents Charlotte Blair of Whitley County and Judy Richter of Noble County were honored for their contributions to the field of genealogy. Three IGS members were inducted into the Society of Civil War Families of Indiana, having proven direct lineage to a Civil War soldier who served from Indiana. In addition, the first class of IGS’s newest affiliate society, the Territorial Guard Society of Indiana, was inducted. To qualify, five members proved direct lineage from someone who was a resident of Indiana before statehood, 11 Dec. 1816. President Michael Maben gave a “state of the ...

During Fort Wayne Ancestry Day's Ask the Experts Panel, we received so many questions that we were unable to answer them all during the event. The following are questions asked and The Genealogy Center staff's responses.

How do I find records in Poland with just a birth date and possible city?

You don't give the date of the birth, and that is important. Some Polish records have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, including both civil vital records and baptismal records from churches. You should check the online catalog for the name of the town and see what is available for the years you are interested. You should know that for privacy reasons, the FHL was unable to microfilm records after a certain date, usually 1875. You may need to hire a genealogical researcher in Poland to do the research you need. One research firm advertises in the APG Quarterly.

What is the best way to search for family in the "old country?"

This question is difficult to answer because you do not state what country was your family's old country. The research procedures vary widely, depending on the country. It is always wise to ...

It’s not too late! Join your friends and meet some new ones at the 2012 Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Meeting and Conference this Saturday, April 28, at the Allen County Public Library. Professional genealogical lecturer and researcher Debbie Mieszala, CG, is the keynote speaker and will present four lectures, three on methodology topics and one on her work with the U.S. Army attempting to identify the remains of U.S. soldiers located overseas so that they may be brought home for burial. The conference also features a second track with a session on Ancestry.com by Genealogy Center librarian Melissa Shimkus, two sessions on FamilySearch by Michael Hall of FamilySearch, and a presentation on writing a family history using Family Tree Maker and Microsoft Word by Curtis Sylvester, president of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana. Walk-ins are welcome! Registration begins at 9 a.m. just inside the Library Plaza doors of the main library.