Registration Opens for NGS 2013 Family History Conference

I am excited for the 2013 NGS conference in Las Vegas! My friend Stefani Evans, CG has been working tirelessly to put the conference program together and it is searchable at you can preview it now at

http://members.ngsgenealogy.org/Conferences/Program2013.cfm

As announced in the following press release, registration opens tomorrow.

Registration Opens for the National Genealogical Society's 2013 Family History Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada, 8–11 May 2013

Building New Bridges

Arlington, Virginia, 30 November 2012: 

Registration begins on 1 December 2012 for the National Genealogical Society's thirty-fifth annual Family History Conference, Building New Bridges, which will be held 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.  NGS chose Las Vegas because it embodies the West, where different cultures, nations, and technologies connect. In addition to attending the NGS 2013 Family History Conference, participants will have an opportunity to tour Las Vegas and the surrounding area, including the Hoover Dam.

The conference will open with Marian Smith, the renowned chief of the historical research branch of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Marian will explore the role of national policy changes that affected your ancestors, their records, and your genealogical research.

A few of the wide-ranging NGS 2013 Family History Conference sessions include "The Civil War in the American West," "Finding American Women's Voices through the Centuries: Letters, Journals, Newspapers, and Court Records," "Solving Historical and Family Mysteries with DNA" "When Our Ancestors Met the Law," "Not Quite Right: Recognizing Errors," "Immigration into Western US/Canadian Ports," "Las Vegas in 1910," and "Social Media Tools for Genealogy."

Registration begins Saturday, 1 December 2012.  To register online, visit the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration and complete the registration form.                                                                              

The online searchable program is available at http://members.ngsgenealogy.org/Conferences/Program2013.cfm and the PDF brochure is available at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info. The brochure includes an overview of the sessions, tours, pre-conference events, registration times, and rates, as well as general conference and Las Vegas Hotel & Casino details. 

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists.

Scholarship Available for the National Institute on Genealogical Research

The National Institute on Genealogical Research Alumni Association has issued a press release on the scholarship available for the 2013 institute. The scholarship is open to any experienced researcher employed in a paid or volunteer position in the services of the genealogical community. The deadline is early this year, December 15th, so if you are interested  in the $500 scholarship apply right away.

Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship Available

The National Institute on Genealogical Research Alumni Association (NIGRAA) announces the Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship for 2013.  This scholarship is awarded to an experienced researcher employed in a paid or volunteer position in the services of the genealogical community. The amount of the Scholarship is $500, which covers full tuition for the National Institute on Genealogical Research, attendance at the Alumni Association Dinner, and will partly defray hotel and/or meal costs.

Applications must be submitted in PDF or Word format.  The completed application form and attachments should be e-mailed to Beverly Rice at and received by 15 December 2012.  The application form can be found at the bottom of the NIGRAA website at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~natgenin/

The winner will be notified no later than 15 February 2013. The scholarship winner will automatically be accepted for the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR), to be held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., from Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 19, 2013.  NIGR is an intensive program offering on-site examination of federal records and is intended for experienced genealogical researchers.  Note: an application to attend in 2013 must also be submitted to NIGR.

Membership in NIGRAA is open to anyone who has completed one or more sessions of the National Institute on Genealogical Research or who has lectured at any session.

New IGHR Course on the Five Civilized Tribes

I am excited to feature a guest post by Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL on her new course at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University. This course will be held June 9 - 14, 2013 and registration opens on January 22, 3013.

IGHR Course 9, “The Five Civilized Tribes: The Records and Where to Find Them”

Linda Woodward Geiger, cg, cgl
Coordinator of IGHR 2013 Course 9

Many family historians and genealogists are not aware of the methodology used to document Indian heritage or the steps needed for individuals to apply for citizenship (tribal registration) in a federally recognized tribe. Even when researchers know some of the records, they frequently do not understand the historical background that is needed to interpret the records. This course will introduce individuals to the records, what they mean, and where to find them. 

Few people are eligible for enrollment in a federally recognized tribe, but that does not mean that they do not have Indian Heritage. This course will help genealogists document their heritage in relationship to any of the Five Civilized Tribes—Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole.

As the title indicates the course will focus on pre-removal records available for the Five Tribes but will also discuss some of those created following removal. The week promises to be full of valuable information.

The team of faculty consists of individuals with extensive knowledge of and experience with records the Five Tribes: Rachal Mills, Lennon, cg; Debra Osborn Spindle, cg, Angela Walton-Raji, Craig Scott, cg, and Linda Woodward Geiger, cg, cgl.

For a detailed list of classes in this course click here.

Scholarship Available to Attend IGHR at Samford University

If you work at a library and would like to attend the Institute on Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University, then you may like to apply for this scholarship. The Jean Thomason Scholarship, named for a former director of the institute, covers the cost of tuition and is awarded annually to an individual currently employed at a library.


The 2013 Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) will be held Sunday, June 9 through Friday, June 14, 2013 and registration will open Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.



Beth Ashmore from the Samford University Library sent the following message about this year's deadline:

Applications for the Jean Thomason Scholarship for IGHR are due by December 1, 2012, and will be reviewed by a Samford University Library committee. The winner will be announced in January.

Please include the following in your application:

    * Name
    * Address
    * Email
    * Phone
    * The name of the Library where you are employed
    * The length of time you have worked in a library
    * The average number of hours (monthly) spent working with patrons
    * The name of the course you plan to attend
    * In 500 words or less (1 printed page), a description of how participation in this course will benefit your patrons
    * A letter of support from a supervisor or colleague

Please send your application:

      Via email to: jszurek@samford.edu

      Via regular mail to:  
       Thomason Scholarship
       Samford University Library
       800 Lakeshore Drive
       Birmingham, AL 35229
  
For more information or to submit your application via email, visit the IGHR website at http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/IGHR_scholarship.html.