Most Popular Posts from 2013

Well, the big event on my blog this year was the release of Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones and the accompanying Gen Proof Study Groups. The posts about the book and the study groups were three of the most popular posts on this blog in 2013. This is fitting, as I think this book is excellent and one of the best genealogical education tools available this year.

Two of the other most popular posts were about the Virtual Genealogy Fair at the National Archives, and Preparing for a Research Trip to Washington, D.C. The National Archives and Federal records are among my areas of specialization, and I think I will write more about them in 2014. I will also write more about my favorite genealogy educational opportunities for 2014 tomorrow. Here are links to the most popular posts of 2013:   "Gen Proof" Groups to Study Mastering Genealogical Proof

Gen Proof Study Groups – How To Get In

NARA Virtural Genealogy Fair Schedule

Mastering Genealogical Proof - The Newest "Must Have Book”

Preparing for a Research Trip to Washington D.C.

British Institute Registration Discount Extended

Five Gen Proof Study Groups Open for Registration

Unexpected Lessons from Tom Jones - Part 1

Legacy Family Tree Announces 2014 Webinar Series

I am excited about the announcement of the 2014 Legacy Family Tree Webinar Series. I have participated in a number of the previous webinars and find them to be an excellent learning opportunity. These webinars are free if you watch them live, or for the first seven days. There is also a membership if you want access to all the webinars at your convenience. 

Here is the press release on the 2014 schedule:

Millennia Corporation and FamilyTreeWebinars.com are pleased to announce that registration is now open for its 2014 Legacy Family Tree Webinar Series. Choose from 52 classes from genealogy's leading educators (nearly 80 hours of free genealogy education) on topics ranging from genealogy technology to in-depth research methodologies and evidence analysis. Legacy Family Tree Webinars was awarded the Best Genealogy Education or Learning Experience by the About.com 2013 Genealogy Readers' Choice Awards.

Sign up for one or for all of them today (so you don't forget later) and you will receive a reminder email both one day and one hours prior to the live event. Brand new - sign up for multiple webinars at the same time by clicking here or visit www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com.

January 2014

• What's New in Legacy Family Tree 8 by Geoff Rasmussen. 1/3
• Are You a GOON? What is a One-Name Study and Why Do One? by Kirsty Gray. 1/8
• Too Many with the Same Name by Karen Clifford. 1/15
• Irish Research 101: Learning the Research Process by Judy Wight. 1/22
• Ten Reasons Your Ancestor Was in Canada by Kathryn Lake Hogan. 1/29

February 2014

• Family Stories: Using Newspapers to Reconnect with the Stories of Your Family's Past by Tom Kemp. 2/12
• The Ties That Bond by Judy Russell. 2/19
• Searching for Surnames: Challenges, Pitfalls and the Downright Ridiculous by Kirsty Gray. 2/26

March 2014

• Genealogy and Technology - State of the Union by Barbara Renick. 3/1
• Using Google Earth for Genealogy by Lisa Louise Cooke. 3/5
• Sources and Citations Made Simple, Standard, and Powerful by Geoff Rasmussen. 3/7
• Some Lesser Known Irish Resources by Judy Wight. 3/12
• 50 Most Popular Genealogy Websites by Kory Meyerink. 3/19

April 2014

• 7 Habits of Highly Frugal Genealogists by Thomas MacEntee. 4/2
• Get Organized Using the FamilyRoots Organizer Color-Coding System by Mary Hill. 4/9
• Estate Records - More Than Just Wills by Linda Woodward Geiger. 4/11
• Genealogy Evidence and Online Family Trees by Karen Clifford. 4/16
• The Homestead Act of 1862 by Thomas MacEntee. 4/23
• Google Glass and Family History by Devin Ashby. 4/30

May 2014

• Legacy Family Tree - Virtual User's Group Meeting by Legacy Family Tree Panel. 5/2
• 50 Year View - What I've Learned Climbing My Family Tree by Tom Kemp. 5/7
• Photo Apps for Android, iPhones or iPads by Maureen Taylor. 5/14
• I Had My DNA Tested - Now What? by Ugo Perego. 5/21
• Using Tax Lists to Solve Genealogical Problems by Linda Woodward Geiger. 5/28

June 2014

• German Internet Research: A Launching Place for Your Research by Kory Meyerink. 6/11
• 10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Family History Narrative by Lisa Alzo. 6/13
• Copyright Mythconceptions by Judy Russell. 6/18
• Documenting Native American Families in 19th and 20th Century Records by Angela Walton-Raji. 6/25

July 2014

• Thinking About Becoming a Board-certified Genealogist? by Elissa Scalise Powell. 7/9
• Legacy Family Tree - Virtual User's Group Meeting by Legacy Family Tree Panel. 7/11
• When Freedom Came - Documenting the Family's Freedom Story by Angela Walton-Raji. 7/16
• Researching Your Illinois Ancestors by Thomas MacEntee. 7/23

August 2014

• Researching Your Tennessee Ancestors by J. Mark Lowe. 8/6
• Research Recharge - Turning Old Clues into New Leads by Lisa Alzo. 8/8
• Find A Grave - The World's Largest Cemetery Database by Russ Worthington. 8/20
• Researching Your Italian Ancestors by Ruth Merriman. 8/27

September 2014

• Researching Your Jewish Ancestors by Jennifer Alford. 9/3
• Legacy Family Tree - Virtual User's Group Meeting by Legacy Family Tree Panel. 9/5
• Success with Manuscript Sources by Barbara Renick. 9/10
• Evaluating Evidence and Resolving Discrepancies by Kory Meyerink. 9/17
• A Library at Your Fingertips - the Internet Archive by Maureen Taylor. 9/24

October 2014

• The Fair Court: Records of Chancery Courts by Judy Russell. 10/1
• Overcoming Destroyed or Missing Records by Karen Clifford. 10/3
• Welcome to FamilySearch Indexing! by Devin Ashby. 10/8
• Researching Your War of 1812 Ancestor by Thomas MacEntee. 10/15
• Tracking Migration Using the Draper Manuscripts by Mary Hill. 10/22

November 2014

• Legacy Family Tree - Virtual User's Group Meeting by Legacy Family Tree Panel. 11/14
• Using Evernote for Genealogy by Lisa Louise Cooke. 11/19

December 2014

• Family History for Kids by Devin Ashby. 12/3
• Look Ma, No Hands! Using Dragon Naturally Speaking for Your Genealogy by Ivan Baugh. 10/5
• Researching Your North Carolina Ancestors by J. Mark Lowe. 12/10
• Bagging a Live One - Connecting with Cousins You Never Knew You Had by Mary Kircher Roddy. 12/17

Webinar Brochure
Print the webinar brochure to share with your friends, genealogy society, or Family History Center.

FamilyTreeWebinars.com memberships
All live webinars are free, and their recordings are free to watch for the next 7 days. If you missed a previous webinar you can now have access to the entire archives (now more than 200 hours) and instructors' handouts (more than 500 pages) through a monthly or annual webinar membership. Click here for more information or to subscribe.

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See you online in 2014!

IGHR Registration to Open on January 21, 2014

Every year I get excited for the Institute of  Genealogy and Historical Research. In my opinion it is one of the best genealogy education options available.There are ten courses to choose from and registration is set for Tuesday, January 21, 2014. Mark your calendars, as some courses will fill within minutes.

In order to accommodate the high level of interest in this institute, there is a rolling system of opening registration for two courses at a time. This will begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Central, 9:00 a.m. Mountain, 8:00 a.m. Pacific). A link will be provided on the IGHR Registration page (http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/IGHR_registration.html) to the online registration at that time. If this is your first time registering, or if you just want a refresher on what to expect, please consult the downloadable online registration guide (http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/IGHR101_online-reg-2014.pdf).

Here is the registration schedule for January 21st:

Opening at 10:00 AM CST:
Course 1: Techniques & Technology
Course 7: Researching African American Genealogy: 20th Century Research

Opening at 10:30 AM CST:
Course 2: Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies
Course 9: Advanced Library Research: Law Libraries & Government Documents

Opening at 11:00 AM CST:
Course 4: Writing and Publishing for Genealogists
Course 8: The Trans-Mississippi South

Opening at 11:30 AM CST:
Course 5: Military Records I
Course 6: Irish Genealogical Research
Course 10:  Virginia: Her Records and Her Laws

Every year, some courses fill up in a matter of minutes, so be sure to be wherever you have your fastest internet connection at registration time.

The Institute itself will take place on June 8-13, 2014.

For more information, including the courses being offered and how to register on Jan. 21, visit the IGHR website at http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis (formerly Course 4) will not be offered in 2014. For more information about this and other changes see the IGHR homepage at http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/index.html.

Scholarship for the National Institute on Genealogical Research

As a member of the National Institute on Genealogical Research Alumni Association (NIGRAA) I am excited to let you know about a scholarship available to attend the institute. I attended in 2008 and have loved working with federal records ever since. Beverly Rice, the current president of NIGRAA, has asked me to publicize this scholarship. Apply quickly if you are interested, as the deadline is January 15, 2014.

16 December 2013

The National Institute on Genealogical Research Alumni Association (NIGRAA) announces the Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship for 2014. 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 January 2014. The application form can be found at the bottom of the NIGRAA website at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nigraa/. 

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 14 through Friday, July 18, 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 2014 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.

APG Virtual Professional Management Conference

If you are interested in the Professional Management Conference (PMC) hosted by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), but are unable to travel to Salt Lake City in January, you may like to participate virtually. Thanks to Family Search, five of the sessions on Saturday, January 11, 2014 will be available for live streaming.

The 2014 Virtual PMC offers the following 5 classes streamed to your computer or mobile device:

• "Good Name in Man or Woman" -- Protecting a Professional Reputation, by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
• Networking for Genealogists: Making Connections Online and in Person, by Angela Packer McGhie
• The Pursuit from Genealogy Hobbyist to Professional, by Claire V. Brisson-Banks, AG
• Discovering and Communicating Your Unique Value: Personal Branding for Professional Genealogists, by Melissa A. Johnson
• Gaining Recognition in the Genealogical Community: Climbing the Professional Ladder, by Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, CG 

Visit www.apgen.org/members/2014virtualpmc.html to register for the Virtual PMC and to view class times. Registration for the Virtual PMC closes on 6 January 2014.
 
Registration Options
Option 1: Live streaming of all 5 classes
Cost: $100
This option includes live access to all 5 Virtual PMC classes on Saturday, 11 January 2014, a downloadable PDF of the full conference syllabus, and 3 months of access to recordings of all 5 sessions.

Option 2: Recordings of individual sessions
Cost: $25 per session
Register to view recordings of individual sessions you're interested in and receive 3 months of access to online recordings of individual sessions and syllabus materials for the individual classes.

Would you like to participate in person?
With 10 expert speakers, 8 classes, and 3 hands-on workshops, this is the largest PMC yet:

• Personal Branding for Professional Genealogists -- by Melissa Johnson
• It’s a Genealogical Narrative! (Workshop) -- by Mary Penner
• Networking for Genealogists -- Angela Packer McGhie
• Protecting a Professional Reputation (Saturday Keynote) -- Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
• The Making of a NGSQ Article (Workshop) -- Harold Henderson, CG
• Working for Entertainment and Corporate Clients (Friday Keynote) -- D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS
• Gaining Recognition in the Genealogical Community -- Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, CG
• Advanced DNA for Professionals (Workshop) -- CeCe Moore
• Writing a Genealogy Business Plan -- Angela Packer McGhie
• The Pursuit from Genealogy Hobbyist to Professional -- Claire V. Brisson-Banks, MLIS, AG
• Will Genealogy-Based TV Improve My Business? -- J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA

The PMC will be held 10-11 January 2014 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. Prices begin at $50 for Friday's classes. Early-bird registration and pricing ends 6 January 2014.

Register for the PMC and view full pricing details at www.apgen.org/conferences.

Tom Jones Compares Editions of Genealogy Standards Manual

With all the excitement over the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) releasing Genealogy Standards, an updated version of their standards manual published in 2000, there have been inquiries about the differences in the two editions. Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG^SM, CGL^SM , the editor of the book, answered questions on a private mailing list and gave me permission to share his response here:

"The revision is both longer and shorter. Five appendixes (86 pages) in the 2000 edition show examples of different kinds of genealogical compilations and reports, all fictitious. The 2014 edition replaces that section with a 3-page list of online and print resources for non-fictitious examples. The new edition also contains a 17-page glossary, which the prior edition does not have.

Not only does the newer edition have fewer pages, they are smaller in size. The font size is not smaller. The new edition's 83 standards fill 41 pages, where the earlier edition's 72 standards fill 25 larger pages. The standards in both editions cover the same principles, but they are reorganized in the new edition, as well as updated to reflect relevant advances in technology and science since 1999. The reorganization includes separating multi-part standards, combining related concepts into one standard (thus minimizing repetition and redundancy), and grouping standards to reflect more clearly the structure of the genealogy discipline's skill set. Each standard now bears a title/descriptor. The new edition aims for greater clarity, stronger connections to genealogists and their work, and closer ties to the Genealogical Proof Standard. Watch the Website for charts showing the correspondence between the two editions' standards numbers."

Pre-order the book:

SAVE 20%! To place a specially-priced, pre-publication order with delivery in the first part of February 2014, visit http://www.bcgcertification.org/catalog/index.html. Regularly priced at $14.95, the pre-publication price is $11.95 before January 27, 2014.

To read the press release from the Board for Certification of Genealogists on Genealogy Standards see this post:

New Genealogy Standards Manual

New Genealogy Standards Manual

I was excited to hear this morning that the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) is releasing Genealogy Standards, an updated edition of The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual (2000). This new manual is issued in honor or the 50th anniversary of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

Details from the press release:

“Accuracy is fundamental to genealogical research,” writes editor Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG^SM, CGL^SM, in the introduction. “Without it, a family’s history would be fiction. This manual presents the standards family historians use to obtain valid results. These standards apply to all genealogical research, whether shared privately or published.”

 

The 83 specific standards cover the process of researching family history and the finished products of the research. Based on the five-part Genealogical Proof Standard, the standards cover:

* documenting (standards 1–8);
* researching (standards 9–50), including planning, collecting, and reasoning from evidence;
* writing (standards 51–73), including proofs, assembly, and special products;

* teaching and lecturing (standards 74–81); and
* continuing education (standards 82 & 83).  

The 100-page book includes appendices: the genealogist's code, a description of BCG and its work, a list of sources and resources where examples of work that meets standards are regularly published, a glossary, and an evidence-process map distinguishing the three kinds of sources, information, and evidence.

“We are delighted to provide this new edition, which is meant for all genealogical researchers and practitioners as a way to recognize sound genealogy,” said BCG president Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL. “We appreciate the many hands that helped bring this new edition to fruition and look forward to its widespread usage in the field.” 

Pre-order the book: 

SAVE 20%! To place a specially-priced, pre-publication order with delivery in the first part of February 2014, visit http://www.bcgcertification.org/catalog/index.html. Regularly priced at $14.95, the pre-publication price is $11.95 before January 27, 2014. 

Board for Certification of Genealogists. Genealogy Standards, 50th anniversary edition. New York: Turner Publishing Co., 2014. 100 pp., paper, ISBN 978-1-63026-018-7, $14.95.

NGS Conference Registration Opens December 1st

I am excited for the National Genealogical Society 2014 conference. Registration opens tomorrow and I will sign up not only for the conference, but for the BCG Education Fund Workshop on Tuesday as well. I hope to see many of you there.

  

Press Release from NGS:

Registration will open on Sunday, 1 December 2013, for the National Genealogical Society’s thirty-sixth annual family history conference, Virginia: The First Frontier, which will be held 7–10 May 2014 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and the Marriott Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia was home to an ever-changing frontier. From Jamestown to Kentucky its people moved ever forward looking for new frontiers and it is this spirit that the conference celebrates as we move to new frontiers in research. The conference will open with Sandra Treadway, Librarian and Archivist of Virginia, who will address the issues that research institutions face as they enter the digital frontier and how they are working to meet the ever-changing needs of their patrons. 

Continuing its goal of providing quality educational opportunities to its participants, the conference will again feature the Board for Certification of Genealogists’ Skillbuilding track, which focuses on research techniques useful to both the beginning and the advanced researcher. Among the eighteen lectures in the migration track are David Rencher’s “From Ulster to Virginia and the Carolinas,” Eric Grundset’s “The Chesapeake and New England: Colonial Connections and Migrations,” and J. Mark Lowe’s “The Migration Triangle: Virginia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.” A two-day German track features lectures on German research in both the United States and Europe. Single-day tracks focus on DNA, NARA, military, and African American research and include tracks sponsored by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society and the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. Technology and its increasing role in research is addressed in a variety of presentations including a full-day track on ways to use technology to help you share your family’s story. And, last but not least, for those who have Virginia ancestors, we promise at least one session every hour of every day.

To register online, visit the NGS website at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/event-registration/ and complete the registration form.    

                                                                      

The online searchable program is available at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/agenda/ and the PDF brochure is available at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/. The brochure includes an overview of the sessions, tours, pre-conference events, registration times, and rates, as well as general conference and hotel details. Attendees are urged to visit the conference blog, which will feature tips on local and regional research facilities as well as things to do in and around Richmond and updated information on hotel availability and local restaurants.

NGS 2014 Family History Conference Program Announced

I am excited that the program for the 2014 NGS Family History Conference has been released. I have started to look it over, and it looks like it will be a great conference! I already have to choose between four topics I am interested in, in just the first session. I can see that I may need to purchase some of the other lectures on CD. I will include the NGS press release with all the details below, but if you just want to jump right to the program brochure then click here.

[Yes, yours truly will be giving a presentation at the conference on Friday, May 9th at 8:00am. Get up bright and early and you can come and see me talk about Tract Books.]

NGS is pleased to announce the program for the 2014 Family History Conference is now available in a sixteen-page Registration Brochure, which can be downloaded at

http://goo.gl/KwHTix. The online version of the program is also available on the conference website at conference.ngsgenealogy.org. Conference registration opens on 1 December 2013 at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/event-registration/.  A number of special events have limited seating, so register on 1 December or as soon as possible thereafter if you plan to attend these events.

The conference will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and Marriott Hotel located in downtown Richmond, Virginia, 7–10 May 2014. Conference highlights include a choice of more than 175 lectures, given by many nationally known speakers and subject matter experts about a broad array of topics including records for Virginia and its neighboring states; migration into and out of the region; military records; state and federal records; ethnic groups including African Americans, German, Irish, and Ulster Scots; methodology; analysis and problem solving; and the use of technology including genetics, mobile devices, and apps useful in genealogical research.

The first few pages of the brochure provide details about conference logistics and describe several special events. The daily conference program includes the name of each speaker, the lecture title, and a brief description of the presentation. A number of social events and workshops are also offered during the conference. If 2014 will be your first NGS Family History Conference, check out http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/tips-for-first-time-conference-attendees/ for additional information about what you might experience at the conference. 

An exhibit hall with more than seventy-five vendors will be free and open to the public Wednesday through Saturday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, directly across from the Marriott Hotel. Exhibitors will include genealogy database and software providers, booksellers, genealogy societies, providers of genetic testing, and much more.

Up-to-date information about the availability, amenities, and rates for conference hotels can be found at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/attend/accommodations/.

Sign up for the NGS Conference Blog at http://conferenceblog.ngsgenealogy.org so you do not miss conference news or announcements.

New Family History Activity Books for Kids

I am so excited about these new books for children learning about their family history. I have read the

first Zap the Grandma Gap book by Janet Hovorka, and it is excellent. Now she and her sister have created activity books for youth that will help them learn about their ancestry. Here is the press release on the new books:

New Activity Book Series Brings Youthful Fun To Family History

Cedar Hills, UT – November 6^th, 2013

Studies have shown that greater knowledge about family history especially strengthens and empowers youth by creating self-esteem, resilience and a greater sense of control over their lives.  Learning about the family’s past also strengthens the relationships between living family members by creating a shared experience and core identity that no one else in the world can duplicate. 

To help families achieve these great benefits authors Janet Hovorka and Amy Slade have developed a new series of “Zap The Grandma Gap--My Ancestor” activity books.  The first four books, My British Ancestor, My Civil War Ancestor, My Swedish Ancestor and My German Ancestor are 52 page activity books designed for 6-14 year olds with puzzles, activities, games and recipes combined with questions and learning opportunities about specific ancestors and the culture that surrounded them.  Timelines, paper dolls, coloring pages, maps, fairy tales, music, dot to dots and crossword puzzles combine to give youth the full picture of what their ancestors’ lives were like.  When pre-ordered now, the books will arrive in time to prompt questions around the Thanksgiving table.  Or they can become the perfect Christmas gift for children and grandchildren that will create stronger bonds in modern families by encouraging the whole family to learn about their ancestors together.  Sample pages from the books can be viewed on the website and blog at ZapTheGrandmaGap.com where they join other online and print resources to help families connect to each other by connecting to their past.   

With the My British Ancestor Activity Book youth can:

•     Discover online and offline resources for finding more information about your British roots
•   Compare British Schools to today’s schools
•    Solve puzzles about different British homes
•    Complete a crossword puzzle about British words your ancestors used
•    Learn about and participate in a British holiday
•    Plan a proper British family history tea party
•    Play British games your ancestors may have played
•    And explore many other activities

With the My German Ancestor Activity Book youth can:

•     Record how you are related to your German ancestor
•     Try some German recipes
•     Read a German Fairy Tale your ancestors might have known.
•     Color and cut out German paper dolls to tell the stories of your ancestors
•     Collect documents about your German ancestor’s life
•     Make a Schultute School Bag like your ancestors may have received for school.
•     Explore some of the qualities you share with your German Ancestor
•     And explore many other activities

With the My Civil War Ancestor Activity Book youth can:

•     Discover online and offline resources for finding more information about your Civil War ancestors
•     Follow a dot to dot about an important Civil War landmark
•     Try some of the food eaten by the Civil War soldiers
•     Learn some Civil War songs and bugle calls
•     Create a military band with homemade instruments
•     Record the battles in which your ancestors were involved
•     Write a eulogy for your Civil War ancestor
•     And explore many other activities

With the My Swedish Ancestor Activity Book youth can:

•     Place your Swedish ancestor in the context of broader Swedish history
•     Complete a crossword puzzle about Swedish words your ancestors used
•     Learn about and create items for a Swedish holiday
•     Color and cut out Swedish paper dolls to tell the stories of your ancestors
•     Write a letter to your Swedish ancestor
•     Design and color a drawing of a Dala horse such as your ancestor might have played with
•     Involve your whole family in the fun of learning about your Swedish ancestors
•     And explore many other activities

The “My Ancestor” activity books are designed to give kids ownership of their own family history.  “These books help young kids take the lead in learning about their family history for themselves,” says Hovorka.  “As they accomplish the activities together with the help of their parents and grandparents, they strengthen modern family bonds while they are strengthening their identity with the past.”  Parents and grandparents who teach children who they are and where they came from give youth a secure identity from which to draw courage as they encounter the challenges in their lives. 

The authors, sisters Janet Hovorka and Amy Slade grew up in a family history oriented home, but didn’t realize how much they were learning about their family history until later in life.   Throughout Janet’s 12 years as a popular genealogy speaker, co-owner of a family history company, genealogy instructor at SLCC, and as past president of the Utah Genealogical Association, she has witnessed over and over again how family history can heal the relationships in a family.  Her books Zap The Grandma Gap: Connect To Your Family By Connecting Them To Their Family History, and Zap The Grandma Gap Power Up Workbook have helped families connect with their roots through the real life examples drawn from Janet’s own experiences with her teenage children.   Over the last 8 years, Amy has traveled studying folklore, dance and food and culture around the world and recently received her Masters Degree in Folklore from George Mason University.  Together, they are living proof that exploring your family history helps strengthen relationships with living family members.

My German Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888-548-5-7), My Swedish Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888-548-4-0) My Civil War Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888548-3-3) and My British Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888-548-2-6), (Family ChartMasters Press, $9.95, 52 pages, 8.5x11, paperback) are available for pre-order at zapthegrandmagap.com.

Registration Opens for APG PMC 2014

Join me in January 2014 for the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Professional Management Conference (PMC). Registration opened today, and yours truly will be giving two presentations.

The APG PMC will be held right before the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) so you can participate in both educational opportunities for the cost of traveling once. If that is not enough to entice you, then I will also mention that the Family History Library is just two blocks away and so you can learn during the day and research in the evening if you choose.

Here is the press release from APG with all the details on the PMC:

Registration for the 2014 Professional Management Conference (PMC), "Embracing Innovation and Opportunity," is now open online at www.apgen.org/conferences. The two-day conference will be held at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City on 10–11 January 2014.

PMC offers interactive, relevant guidance in advanced genealogical research skills and in business practices relevant to today's professional and advanced genealogists. Featuring 8 classes and 3 hands-on workshops, PMC offers a wide variety of fresh ideas about how professionals conduct genealogy:

• Brand and business building
• Professional-grade DNA studies
• Working with entertainment and corporate clients
• Writing for a variety of audiences
• And many more

 
Register Today for APG PMC 2014
PMC attendance is open to APG members and non-members. Attendees may choose to attend the full conference or a single day. Early-bird pricing ends 6 January 2014. Registration is now available at www.apgen.org/conferences as are pricing and program details. Details about Virtual PMC will come later this year.

Speakers and Topics
Ten genealogical speakers with wide-ranging expertise will cover topics in keeping with this year’s theme of "Embracing Innovation and Opportunity":

• D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS -- Friday Keynote -- New Industries, New Worlds: Working for Entertainment and Corporate Clients
•  Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL -- Saturday Keynote -- "Good Name in Man or Woman": Protecting a Professional Reputation
• J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA -- Lights! Camera! Connection! Will Genealogy-Based TV Improve My Business?
•  Claire V. Brisson-Banks, MLIS, AG -- The Pursuit from Genealogy Hobbyist to Professional
• Harold Henderson, CG—Workshop -- The Story of Jethro's Story: The Making of a NGSQ Article
• Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, CG -- Gaining Recognition in the Genealogical Community: Climbing the Professional Ladder
• Melissa Johnson -- Discovering and Communicating Your Unique Value: Personal Branding for Professional Genealogists
•  Angela Packer McGhie -- (1) Writing a Genealogy Business Plan and (2) Networking for Genealogists: Making Connections Online and In-Person
•  CeCe Moore -- Workshop -- Advanced DNA for Professionals
•  Mary Penner -- Workshop -- It's Not a Report. It's Not a Summary. It's a Genealogical Narrative!

Visit www.apgen.org/conferences for full lecture details and speaker biographies and to register to attend PMC 2014.

Hotel and Airfare Discounts
PMC attendees can receive special hotel pricing at the Radisson and up to 10% off Delta airline tickets. Visit www.apgen.org/conferences for further discount details.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
PMC 2014 is being held two days before the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), held 13-17 January 2014 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. SLIG offers a full week of genealogy instruction with national experts. SLIG program details and registration are available at www.SLIG.ugagenealogy.org.

SLIG Early Bird Registration Ends October 31st

There is still time to get in to the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy for January 2014. I will be there coordinating the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum course, and you are welcome to join me as we have opened a second section of the course. There are five other courses that still have a few seats remaining, so select which one is most appealing to you and sign up in the next ten days.

Press Release from Debra Hoffman, SLIG Publicity Chair:

Sign-up for SLIG before October 31st and you will save over 10% off your registration. Become a member of UGA and increase your savings even more. The registration page can be accessed here. More information on each of the tracks can be accessed here.

The following courses still have seats left:

American Research and Records: Focus on Families
This intermediate level course covers 19th-21st century U.S. records and strategies beyond the basics with a specific emphasis on researching families and individuals. Don’t miss a chance to spend a week with nationally known instructors Josh Taylor, from the Genealogy Roadshow; Debra Mieszala, CG; and Paula Stuart-Warren, CG. This course is certain to help you break down those brick walls!

Credentialing: Accreditation, Certification, or Both?
Accreditation or certification? This course will explore both options. The topics will guide you through the processes of applying and determining which one (or both) are right for you. Spend a week with credentialed instructors who provide expert guidance and advice and who are available to answer your questions.

Researching in Eastern Europe
Millions of people immigrated to North America leaving family and generations of ancestors behind in Eastern Europe. Descendants find it hard to trace their origins due to foreign languages, difficult records and multiple changes in the political landscape. This course brings together several of the most successful Eastern Europe genealogists to teach you the important information you need to succeed in such complex research.

Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum (2nd section)
This hands-on course is an opportunity for advanced genealogist to put their research skills into practice. Participants will work on at least five complex genealogical research problems—a new one each day. There is nothing like directed case studies and practice to further your genealogical knowledge and expertise.

Problem Solving
Have a brick wall in your research? This unique course is tailored to your individual research needs! Enhance your problem solving skills while working on your personal research project for a particular ancestor or ancestral couple. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend a week dedicated to researching your family!

Utilizing Social History
This exciting new course--offered for the first time in 2014--is designed to help you put the flesh on the bones of your ancestors and bring them to life. No longer is genealogy about simply listing the begets, it is about telling your ancestor’s story.

Immerse yourself in a specific genealogical topic for a week-long educational opportunity that is unparalleled. Many of the courses are interactive and highlight on site research at the Family History Library (FHL) as well as one-on-one consultations with the course coordinators and instructors. These individuals are genealogical experts and provide guidance and insight that may help you overcome those brick walls and move forward with your research.

Attendees have time to explore Salt Lake City’s many attractions as well as spend time outside of the course researching at the FHL. The library is a short walk from the Institute’s location and, if available, the Radisson often provides shuttle service to the library.

Another benefit of joining SLIG this year is the ability to attend the Association of Professional Genealogist’s Professional Management Conference (PMC), which will be held the Friday and Saturday before the Institute begins. You can experience two great events being held back-to-back at one location!

BCG 50th Anniversary Celebration Free Lectures

Okay, it is times like this that I wished I lived near Salt Lake City, Utah. Not only do they have the Family History Library (where I could spend every day for a month and feel like I was in heaven), but they also have many opportunities for genealogical education. This month is the annual British Institute as well as the annual meeting of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG). This is the 50th anniversary of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and they are celebrating with free lectures and a banquet. See the details in the notice below from BCG President, Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL.

50th Anniversary Celebration Free Lectures, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 10-11, 2013

Everyone is welcome to attend these lectures held in the auditorium of the Church History Museum (located next to the Family History Library). Pre-registration is suggested by emailing FHLClassReg@ldschurch.org or calling 801-240-4950.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

10:45 a.m. to noon: BCG Certification Seminar with Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL and F. Warren Bittner, CG

1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: It Takes a Human: Genealogists and Writing by Jeanne L. Bloom, CG

2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Should You Believe Your Eyes?: Sizing Up Sources and Information by Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG, FGBS.

4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.: Write While You Research: Let the Joy of Research Infect Your Writing by Barbara Mathews, CG.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS, Thursday, Oct. 10th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  "Kinship Determination" with Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

Friday, October 11, 2013

9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Complex Evidence: What it is, How it works, Why it Matters by F. Warren Bittner, CG.

10:45 a.m. to noon: Proof Arguments: For the Next Generation by F. Warren Bittner, CG.

1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: Reach for the Power Tools: Record Transcription & Analysis by Rev. David McDonald, CG.

2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Bringing Josias Home: Using Circumstantial Evidence to Build a Family by Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG, CGL.

4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.: Baker's Dozen Steps to Research Reports by Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL.

The public is also welcome to a banquet to Celebrate 50 Years of Standards, Saturday, October 12, 2013, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Judy Russell, J.D., CG, CGL, aka The Legal Genealogist, will speak on "We've Come A Long Way, Baby" - Standards for the 21st Century. From no formal standards to the Genealogical Proof Standard, the field of genealogy has come a long way in establishing criteria by which excellence can be measured. And we face a long and perhaps even more daunting road ahead as we consider the 21st century challenges posed by technology, DNA and more. For more information on where to send your banquet check ($40 per person), please see http://bcgcertification.org/blog/2013/08/bcg-activities-in-salt-lake-city. Deadline Oct. 8.