Federation of Genealogical Societies

It was another early start this morning. The whole experience of conference is lectures, early and late nights, and catching up with old friends and making new.

My first lecture of the day was “Effective Use of ScotlandsPeople Website” with Paul Milner. As usual, Paul did not disappoint. It was a very informative lecture.

The next lecture was “Mapping the Past: Navigating Your Family History with Maps” with Donald Hubbard, PhD. This was a very interesting lecture and it presented different ways to use maps in your family history.

Then it was on to “Image Organization Made Easy” with Eric Curtis M. Basir. This lecture was full and I was interested in learning more because organizing my digital files is on my “to do list” and I want to do it right the first time.

Now it is time for lunch. I attended the Association of Professional Genealogists Luncheon with John Philip Colletta, PhD. John presented “The Keepers and I: Tales of Accessing Historical Sources.” John always does a great job. His presentation was entertaining and distinctive not to mention his slide show was exceptional. His new version of PowerPoint did the job. You had to be there.

In the afternoon I attended three lectures. The first was “Using Your Word Processor to Create a Publication” with Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, CGL.

The one I really wanted to see was “Evernote for Every Genealogist” with Cyndi Ingle Howells. I am just getting started with Evernote and this helped a great deal. This lecture had an unusual start because just before it was to begin the fire alarm went off in the convention centre and we all filed into the street. Even with that interruption Cyndi did a great job. I really need to start using Evernote more.

The last was “Tips and Tools for Planning and Tracking Research” with Debbie Parker Wayne, CG.

Tonight was the ACPL/ACGSI Evening at the Library and the presentation was “Journey Through the Generations with our Veterans.” This event was sponsored by FamilySearch.

©2013 – Blair Archival Research All Rights Reserved

It was an early start this morning. The Plenary Session started at 8 am. It opened with the Old Fort Color Guard trooping in the colours. They also escorted us to the Marketplace after the Plenary. The session started with awards and news from FGS. FGS and Rootstech will be presented concurrently in March 2015 in Salt Lake City. FGS will also have a smaller conference in the Fall.

We got a four minute sneak peak of the new PBS production Genealogy Roadshow. It looks great and I can’t wait until it starts on September 23rd.

After the announcements it was time for the lecture called “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixty: The Roots of Rock & Roll and 1950s America” and the speaker was Richard Aquilla, PhD. He looked at the messages that were found in Rock & Roll music in the first ten years. Rock & Roll was born sixty years ago this year. He showed a record label for Neil Sedaka’s “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen” and it got a cheer from the audience. It was interesting because some of the topics he pointed out in early Rock & Roll, such as, objectifying women, is a criticism heard about today’s rap songs. I will never listen to the music in the same way again.

FGS is raising money for the War of 1812 Pension Records Project. They are raising money to digitize the documents and make them free online at Fold3. Between now and the end of the conference they hope to raise $20,000 and $9,000 had already be raised by donations at the time of registration. Ancestry will match dollar for dollar any money raised between now and FGS 2014 in San Antonio Texas.

Over 800,000 images are available online and that represents 10% of the documents. They have raised 30% of the fund raising goal to date.

On Thursday I attended two lectures. The first was “DNA Testing for Genealogy: The Basics” presented by Robert D. McLaren and “Going Nuclear: DNA Discoveries to Trace All Lines of Descent” presented by Debbie Parker Wayne, CG. I now feel I know a little bit more about DNA.

At lunch time I attended a lunch sponsored by the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH). Audrey Collins from the National Archives in England presented “There and Back Again: Your British Ancestors on the Move.” Audrey is a great speaker and if you get a chance to attend one of her lectures you won’t be disappointed.

The rest of the day I spent in the Marketplace going around to all the different vendors and seeing what they had on offer. I checked out some societies and asked a question at the Indiana Historical Society. They were extremely helpful and I am hopeful they will help me solve a mystery with a Scottish ancestor.

It was late opening at the Marketplace and there were many draws held during 6:30 and 7:30. Congratulations to all the lucky winners.

Now it is time to get my things together for tomorrow.

©2013 – Blair Archival Research All Rights Reserved

Wednesday at the FGS Conference is focused on Societies and all the lectures are concentrated on helping societies to tweak and improve their services. I find the Society Day lectures to be helpful to anyone running a genealogy business. As a result I attended two lectures on Wednesday. The first was “Creating Master Databases from Local Genealogical Resources” by Dana Ann Palmer, CG. It was very informative and I will be using some of her tips in my local history projects.

The other lecture was “Avoiding the Pitfalls of a Society-Sponsored Research Trip” presented by Billie Stone Fogarty, MEd. This lecture provided societies with tips on whether or not to sponsor a research trip.

In the evening we attended the FGS Opening Social at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory that was sponsored by Findmypast.com. It took a long time to get in but everyone in line was chatting and getting to know each other. There were jazz and country performers in a couple of areas around the conservatory. They served some light nibbles which were very tasty.

Then it was back to our room to get ready for the early start the next day.

©2013 – Blair Archival Research All Rights Reserved