2016 Virtual Genealogy Fair

The National Archives has announced the presentation topics for the 2016 Virtual Genealogy Fair which will be held Wednesday, October 26th and Thursday, October 27th, 2016. 

In this annual two-day event archivists and employees of the National Archives give presentations on records NARA holds that are of interest to genealogists. The fair is free, and can be viewed online. You can download the handouts and follow along with the presenters.

You do not need to register. Just go to the link 2016 Virtual Genealogy Fair on October 26th & 27th and watch the sessions live. If you are unable to make it to the live sessions, they will be recorded and available for viewing later on YouTube. The Virtual Genealogy Fair page has links to the web pages for previous years, if you are interested in the presentations.

Schedule for Wednesday, October 26th (Eastern Time)

10 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero
10:05 a.m.	Introduction to Genealogy at the National Archives by Claire Kluskens
11 a.m.	The Best National Archives Records Genealogists Aren't Using by Lori Cox-Paul
12 p.m.	National Archives Innovative Online Resources and Tools to Help with Your Genealogical Research by Sarah Swanson and Kelly Osborn
1 p.m.	You too can be a Citizen Archivist! Getting the most out of the National Archives Catalog by Suzanne Isaacs and Meredith Doviak
2 p.m.	Department of State Records for Genealogical Research by David Pfeiffer
3 p.m.	American Battle Monuments Commission by Ryan Bass

Schedule for Thursday, October 27th (Eastern Time)

10 a.m.	Nonpopulation Census: Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Social Statistics by Claire Kluskens
11 a.m.	The Morning After – Changes as Reflected in Morning Reports by Theresa Fitzgerald
12 p.m.	The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers – Chaos, Controversy and World War II Marine Corps Personnel Records by Bryan K. McGraw
1 p.m.	What's New in the Lou: A Look at the Latest Accessions at the National Archives at St. Louis by David Hardin
2 p.m.	The Faces of the National Parks Service by Cara L. Moore
3 p.m.	Closing Remarks by Acting Executive for Research Services Ann Cummings

Family History Library Hosts Free Classes

The Family History Library Announces Free Classes for September 2015

These classes and workshops are designed to help individuals and families find their ancestors and teach others family history techniques. 

Sep 3              11:00 A.M. British Resources on findmypast

                         1:00 P.M. British Resources on Ancestry.com

Sep 5                1:00 P.M. Recursos en línea además de FamilySearch.org
Sep 10              1:00 P.M. United States Civil War Records
                          6:00 P.M. Descendancy Research Webinar
Sep 17            11:00 A.M. British Resources on FamilySearch.org
                       11:00 A.M. Czech Online Church Records Webinar
                         1:00 P.M. Key Websites for British Research (Besides the “Big 3”)

Sep 19             10:00 A.M. Boy Scout Genealogy Merit Badge (1½ hours)

                         1:00 P.M. Conozca el sitio PARES
                         2:00 P.M. Protocolos notariales
                         3:00 P.M. ¿No hay otros registros?
 Sep 22             1:00 P.M. Newspaper Research
 Sep 24             6:00 P.M. United States City Directories Webinar

Click on this link to access the Live Online Classes.  Or go to FamilySearch.org; click on Search; select Wiki. Type Family History Library andchoose the top entry. Click on 2.2 Live Online Classes for details; scroll to find the desired class.

ABOUT FAMILYSEARCH
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Guests may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

New Certificate Program Available for British Research

The following announcement was written by the Society of Genealogists:

Friday 26th June, 2015:

 

The Society of Genealogists & Pharos Teaching & Tutoring today announced a new joint programme of education, the distance learning Certificate of Family History Skills and Strategies (Advanced).

The Society of Genealogists, in conjunction with Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd has been running its popular Intermediate distance learning programme since September 2010. The Advanced Certificate builds on this. It brings a two-year programme of assessed education online starting on 1 October 2015, consisting of taught modules and special stand-alone tutorial sessions. Pharos and the Society are working with the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) to enable students to reach the standards necessary for membership application should they wish to work as professional genealogists in the future.

Taught modules are:

• Old Handwriting – An Introduction to Secretary Hand
• Manorial Records for Family and Local Historians
• Church & Community 1540 – 1800; Selected Records
• Researching Online for Advanced Genealogists
• An Introduction to Medieval Genealogy
• Researching in Archives for Advanced Genealogists
• Land and Legal Records
• Advanced Reports and Methods

Each module is monitored by the Society to ensure excellent standards of content and teaching.

The Advanced Skills and Strategies Certificate course is open to those who have successfully completed the Intermediate programme and are now looking for advanced instruction and the chance to undertake a family history project under supervision and in an early time period.

Students who have not completed the Intermediate course may, alternatively, choose not have work assessed and may take any module as a stand-alone option. Courses taken individually without assessment cost less.

To find out more or sign up for this great learning opportunity, visit http://www.pharostutors.com/fhssa.php. Information abut the course and a link for bookings can also be found on the Society of Genealogists’ website at www.sog.org.uk.

Family History Library Sponsors Free Webinars on U.S. Research

The Family History Library is offering 15 free webinars as part of it's week-long seminar on U.S. research. The event will be held October 12 - 16, 2015. The classes at the Family History Library are full, but the webinars are free and open to the public. The focus of the sessions is on U.S. research including different types of records and various FamilySearch resources. For full details on the seminar you can download the brochure. There is no need to pre-register for the webinars, just use the links below to attend. 
(Photo credit: Claudia Heaston)

Webinar Schedule and Links

12 October, Monday: (Times listed are Mountain Time Zone)

• 1:30pm-2:30pm, Tips and Tricks for Using FamilySearch's Historical Records Collection
• 2:45pm-3:45pm, FamilySearch Research Wiki
• 4:00pm-5:00pm, Using the Family History Library Catalog

13 October, Tuesday:

• 8:30am-9:30am, United States Census
• 9:45am-10:45am, United States Census Techniques and Strategies for Finding Elusive Ancestors
• 11:00am-12 Noon,Finding Your Ancestors in Vital Records

14 October, Wednesday:

• 8:30am-9:30am,United States Court Records
• 9:45am-10:45am,Immigration Into the United States
• 11:00am-12 Noon, United States Naturalization

15 October, Thursday:

• 1:30pm-2:30pm, United States Newspaper Research: News You Can Use
• 2:45pm-3:45pm, Overview of American Indian Resesarch
• 4:00pm-5:00pm, Beginning African-American Research: Post 1865

16 October, Friday:

• 8:30am-9:30am, Descendancy Research
• 9:45am-10:45am, Solving Tough Research Problems
• 11:00am-12 Noon, Some People Really Need to Get a Clue! Document Analyzation and Evaluation

Instructors

Danielle L. Batson, AG, MLS spent 13 years working as a U.S. and Canada Reference Consultant at the Family History Library and her current assignment is working on content projects in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. Her research experience includes African-American research, the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic States. She has also taught genealogy research classes at the Family History Library as well as various genealogical conferences including FGS in San Antonio and BYU’s Conference on Family History and Genealogy.

David Dilts, AG has been employed with the Family History Library since September 1975 first as a cataloger of German, Austrian, Swiss and Polish records then reference consultant. He earned his Master’s degree in Library Science from BYU and completed three years of doctoral work in history at the University of Utah. He is accredited in German and LDS research and has great experience in researching, writing and lecturing on genealogical topics.

Jason Harrison, CG is Supervisor of the Family History Library’s United States & Canada Research Specialists. He received his B.A. in Family History from Brigham Young University, is a Certified Genealogist, former New England Historic Genealogical Society intern, and National Genealogical Society conference lecturer. His research specialties include New England, Mountain states, and LDS research.

Joan Healey, AG is a native of Salt Lake City and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah. Joan worked with the U.S./Canada/LDS Reference of the Family History Library since 1976, taking a short break to be the record attendant supervisor in British and European Reference She nurtures an interest in American Indian and African American research, and has contributed information to the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Joni Kesler, BS, AG has been with the Family History Library for 30 years She has worked in the United States, British, Hosting and VIP units. Besides spending personal time on her own family history, Joni helps individuals in her ward to find ancestor’s names to take to the temple. She also enjoys spending time with her family of four daughters, four granddaughters, and one grandson. She loves reading and spending time with her family.

Nathan W. Murphy, MA, AG a United States and Canada Senior Research Consultant at the Family History Library, has been quoted by History Detectives, How the States Got Their Shapes and The Generations Project have sought his expertise for their TV shows. He has completed four years of Ph.D. studies in Colonial American and English history at Leicester and the University of Utah. Nathan is passionate about tracing immigrant origins and promoting DNA. He has published articles in scholarly genealogical journals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Ken Nelson, AG is a collection manager for FamilySearch, and member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Society of Civil War Historians.

Tim Bingaman, AG has worked at the Family History Library since 1990 acquiring his AG in Mid-Atlantic States in 1991. A member of the Historical Society of Berks County, Pennsylvania and the Berks County Genealogical Society, Tim has made numerous trips to Pennsylvania where he spends a great deal of time visiting societies, courthouses, cemeteries and the neighborhoods where his ancestors lived.

Free Live Streaming of the SCGS Jamboree

The Southern California Genealogical Society has announced the sessions that will be streamed live on the internet next week. Thanks to diamond level sponsor Ancestry.com these sessions will be available for free. The email I received stated that session descriptions, speaker bios, and schedule details are provided on the registration site and will soon be posted on the Jamboree website. Click here to register. 

Here is the lineup of presentations that will be broadcast:

Friday, June 5

FR007: Be Prepared with a Genealogy Disaster Plan - Denise May Levenick.

FR018: Five Tips for Successful Research in a New Location - J. H."Jay" Fonkert, CG.

FR019: Genetic Genealogy and the Next Generation - Blaine T. Bettinger, PhD, JD and Paul Woodbury.

FR032: Finding and Utilizing German Church Records - Dr. Michael D. Lacopo.

 

Saturday, June 6

SA007: Google Tools and Procedures for Solving Family History Mysteries - Lisa Louise Cooke.

SA014: Tho' They Were Poor, They May Have Been Rich in Records - Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA.  

SA021: No Easy Button: Using Immersion Genealogy to Understand Your Ancestors - Lisa A. Alzo, MFA.

SA033: Plotting, Scheming and Mapping Online - Cyndi Ingle.

SA035: Midwestern and Plains States Level Census Records - Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA.

SA047: Update: Google! Everything New that You Need to Know for Genealogy - Lisa Louise Cooke.

 

Sunday, June 7

SU005: Family History Adhesive: Science and Simple Tech 4 Binding Families - Janet Hovorka, MLIS.

SU015: The Hidden Web: Digging Deeper - Cyndi Ingle.

SU022: Who, What, When, Where? Using Journalism Techniques to Write Your Story - Anita Paul.

SU030: Get to Know Your Geezers - Matthew Hovorka.

Drawing for a Free Course at the Virtual Institute of Genealogy

I am excited to share the press release from the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. In honor of Memorial Day they are having a drawing for a free course, and everyone that registers this weekend will be entered in the drawing. There are some excellent courses that have just opened up for registration (Disclosure: I will be teaching one of the courses).

Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research Announces Upcoming Courses and Offers Memorial Day Drawing for Free Course  

RALEIGH, North Carolina, 22 May 2015. 

Registration is currently open for six upcoming courses offered by the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research.

“We are very excited about these new courses, covering genetic genealogy; English, German and Native American research; and U.S. federal land and Revolutionary War records,” said co-administrator Michael Hait, CG. “The response to our courses has been outstanding! The Virtual Institute is an excellent option for in-depth genealogical education, especially for those with limited travel options.”

In celebration of Memorial Day, the Virtual Institute is also offering a drawing for everyone who registers for a course between Friday, 22 May 2015 and Monday, 25 May 2015 at midnight (U.S. Eastern). Each registrant will be entered into the drawing to win a free additional course ($69.99 value). Those registering for multiple courses will receive multiple entries. Three winners will be drawn. The prizes can be applied to any standard course prior to 31 December 2016, not including the original course registration.

Registration for the following courses is currently open:

●      Paul Milner, “An In-Depth Look at the Big Four Records of English Research,” 30 May–6 June 2015

●      F. Warren Bittner, CG, “Reading German III: Practice Reading German Church Records”, 8 June, 15 June, 22 June, 29 June 2015

●      Bille Stone Fogarty, MEd, and Rick Fogarty, “Verifying the Family Legend of Native American Ancestry,” 20 June–27 June 2015

●      Craig R. Scott, CG, “A Day in the Revolution: Researching Your Soldier,” 1 August–8 August 2015

●      Angela Packer McGhie, “Digging in Federal Land Records,” 19 September–26 September 2015

●      Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD, “Genetic Genealogy for the Professional Genealogist,” 7 November–14 November 2015

About the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research

The Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research offers year-round online education on a wide variety of genealogical subjects. Each course consists of six hours of live instruction, extensive syllabus material, and practical exercises. Limited class sizes and a Plus course option allow for a higher level of class participation and instructor feedback than typically offered by genealogy webinars. For more information visit www.vigrgenealogy.com or email vigrgenealogy@gmail.com.

BCG Webinars Now Available Online

I was excited about the announcement this week that the webinars hosted by the Board for Certification of Genealogists are now available on demand. I attended most of these webinars thwen the were offered live, but have been waiting for the one I missed to become available as a recording. 


These presentations are excellent, and I recommend them to others interested in these topics. Two of the presentations are available to view for free, and the others are available for a very reasonable price of $2.99. You can watch a review of each presentation to be sure you like it before making a purchase. For more details, or to watch the recorded presentations see 
http://bcgcertification.org/blog/bcg-webinars/ 

Here is a listing of the topics and presenters:

Baker, James A., “Elementary, My Dear Watson! Solving Your Genealogy Puzzles with Clues You Already Have”

Bittner, F. Warren, “Complex Evidence What it is, How it Works, Why it Matters”

Hait, Michael, “‘Of Sound Mind and Body’ Using Probate Records in Your Research”

Hibben, Jean Wilcox, “Certified or Certifiable? Why a Genealogist Would Go Through All that Trouble”

Jones, Thomas W., “Fine Wine in a New Bottle: Guidelines for Effective Research and Family Histories” (FREE)

Russell, Judy G., “Kinship Determination: From Generation to Generation” (FREE)

Minnesota Genealogical Society Webinar Series

The Minnesota Genealogical Society has a great lineup of webinars for 2015! These are FREE and begin at 7:00pm on the dates listed below. For more information, or to register, visit the Minnesota Genealogical Society website at http://mngs.org/ . The press release below is shared courtesy of GeneaPress.

Minnesota Genealogical Society announces its 2015 Webinar Series:

• February 4th – Genealogy Do-Over™: A Year of Learning from Research Mistakes – Thomas MacEntee. It isn’t often that we get a “do-over” when it comes to stuff that matters in life. When you first got started researching your family history, did you do some things that now are just plain “embarrassing” such as name collecting, not citing sources and more? Well, now there’s hope since genealogists from beginner to advanced are employing new research methodologies and documentation practices. Follow genealogist Thomas MacEntee as he basically starts his genealogy research from scratch but includes sound research practices and methodologies as well as new templates, tools and the latest technology to create a better body of family history research.

• March 4th – Midwestern & Plains State Level Census Records – Paula Stuart-Warren. Many Midwestern and Plains states have superb state census records. Learn about the indexes, the many personal details these censuses include, locating the censuses, and alternate sources. The lecture includes many specific examples from these enumerations, provides an overview of state censuses for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and indicates where they may be found. The personal details vary but may include names of children, maiden names, military service, religious denomination, mother of how many children, occupation, value of real estate, and other helpful details.

• April 1st – Find Your American Ancestor Using Canadian Records – Kathryn Lake Hogan. When you can't find your ancestor's birth, marriage or death registration, or their name on a ship list or immigration record at Ellis Island, then it's time to consider your ancestor may have been in Canada. Whether your ancestor was here for a day or for many years, he/she left behind records. When you hit a brick wall in your research, it's time to consider Canada. Even if you think your American or immigrant ancestors were never in Canada, discover eight reasons why they actually may have been there. Learn how and where to find the Canadian or provincial records that will help you fill in the missing pieces of your ancestors' lives.

• May 6th – Researching Your Swedish Ancestry in the 21st Century – Ginny Sharp Sommarstrom. Researching your Swedish-American ancestors has become much easier in the last ten years, thanks to the availability of numerous Swedish and American resources in digital format, all accessible from the comforts of your home. This presentation will provide a framework for tracing Swedish- American ancestry that is based on four essential questions that must be answered. Resources for answering those questions are illustrated and discussed. With answers to those four questions in hand, we will delve into U.S. immigration, Swedish emigration, and Swedish church records. Clear step-by-step examples will help the listener find their own ancestors in these records.

• June 3rd – Genealogy and GIS: A Beginner’s How-To – Jennifer Alford. When you dig into genealogy, a repeated lesson is to know your location. We’ll uncover how using GIS can connect geospatial history with your family history research. In this session, we’ll cover the exciting historical geospatial information that is now available for use in Google Earth and the many other tools available online. I’ll present the many options and databases that could be an invaluable tool in your research. We’ll discuss the importance of historical context and the kinds of data that can be used to further your genealogical research.

• August 5th – A Guided Tour to Cyndi’s List 2.0 – Cyndi Ingle. This begins with a brief history of Cyndi's List, followed by an overview of how to navigate the site and how to tell when the site is updated. Learn how to effectively use this valuable resource tool as your jumping-off point onto the Internet.

• September 2nd – Genealogical Research Using Facebook’s 4,000+ Genealogical Pages & Groups – Katherine R. Willson. Facebook is quickly becoming a favorite resource among genealogical researchers for its vast networking capabilities. With many thousands of regional and surname-specific genealogy groups, researchers are discovering relatives, sharing photos, finding obituaries and breaking down brick walls that have blocked them for years - often within 24 hours of posting a query! This presentation introduces members to Facebook as a genealogical research tool and guides them through the process of efficiently utilizing Facebook for specific genealogical needs. Participants are also given the link to the 120-page PDF file listing 4,000+ genealogical pages & groups on Facebook.

• October 7th – Engaging the Next Generation – Shannon Combs-Bennett. The youth are our future is stated many times through different organizations. Genealogy is no different. Today there are children and young adults you know who want to learn more. Most people, however, do not know how to do it. In this presentation, I will go through ways to engage, interact, and teach the youth in your life about family history. Not all of them may grow up to be professionals but through education they will develop an appreciation for what their ancestors did and where research can take them.

• November 4th – Research Logs and Plans for Every Genealogist – Lisa Alzo. Whether you’re a beginner, or an experienced genealogist, learn how create and maintain research plans and logs to maximize your research time and increase success. Through examples, you will discover how simple it is to develop easy-to-use research plans and logs you can access no matter where you are. Session will demonstrate key steps such as deciding on a format (Excel spreadsheet, Google Drive, or Evernote), creating the columns you'll need, designing the document, entering information, and using and maintaining the database.

• December 2nd – Passenger Lists: A Boat-Load of Records, 1565–1954 – Valerie Eichler Lair. There truly is a “boat-load” of records on passenger lists! Learn what you need to know before searching, how to find these valuable records and available resources, and really cool information you’ll get about the ancestors who took the journey across the “Big Pond.” In addition to researching for passenger lists, we’ll cover a bit about immigration records.

All webinars are held at 7:00 pm Central. Visit the Minnesota Genealogical Society website at http://mngs.org/ for more information.

Is the Virtual PMC on Your Holiday Wish List?

If you are not able to travel to Salt Lake City in January you can still participate in the APG Professional Management Conference from home. You may want to suggest to a loved one that you would enjoy a Virtual PMC registration as a holiday gift, or treat yourself to some professional development. I hope to "see" you in-person or online for this event! Here are the details from the APG press release:

Is Virtual PMC on your holiday wish list? With individual sessions beginning at just $20, a special $45 DNA bundle, or access to the full virtual conference for $145, Virtual PMC is a gift that fits every budget. Let your friends and family know which classes you want to attend, and they can purchase a registration for you at https://virtualpmc2015.eventbrite.com.

Virtual PMC 2015 offers TWO full days -- 9 total sessions -- of PMC classes streamed live to your computer or mobile device. All registrations include 3-months' access to recordings of the same sessions!

Plus, Virtual PMC attendees are automatically entered to win a 1-year Ancestry World Deluxe subscription. The door prize winner will be selected and notified a day or two after Virtual PMC.

The Virtual PMC line up is:

Thursday, 8 January 2015
"Taxes and the Professional Genealogist," James M. Beidler
"Finding the Law," Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL
"Mind Maps for Genealogy," Ron Arons, MBA
"DNA and Genealogical Proof," Angie Bush, MS

Friday, 9 January 2015
"Get Paid for Your Passion: Setting Fees," Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL
"Finding Your Niche: Matching Passion, Professionalism & Pecuniary Interest," James M. Beidler
"How to Have Difficult Conversations with Clients and Colleagues," Christina Grover
"Time Management: Successfully Balancing the Demands of Our Many 'Clients,'" Angela Packer McGhie
"Genealogy Professionals Needed: Help Adoptees Discover Their Genealogical Roots with DNA" (2-hour workshop), CeCe Moore

Visit www.apgen.org/conferences/classes.html for class descriptions and speaker bios.

Register now for Virtual PMC 2015 at https://virtualpmc2015.eventbrite.com

STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR PMC
It’s not too late to register for the full, live PMC. Held 8-9 January 2015 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, the 2-day conference is designed to help professional genealogists achieve success. The event includes:

- 15 breakout sessions taught by industry experts
- $139 in sponsor gifts for each attendee
- Discounted FamilySearch lunch on 8 January. (Seating is more than 85% filled.)
- Keynote by Ancestry CEO Tim Sullivan
- The first-annual PMC Poster Sessions
- Valuable door prizes, networking opportunities, and much more!

Register for PMC 2015 at www.apgen.org/conferences. Online registration ends 30 December 2014.

NEW! Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research

I am excited to be a part of this new virtual genealogy institute! This will a unique program in genealogy education, as it be will in-depth instruction the quality of established genealogy institutes, but will be available online. No need to travel! For more information on the Institute I have included the press release below, or you can visit www.vigrgenealogy.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research to Offer Unique Opportunities in Genealogical Education

RALEIGH, North Carolina, 9 September 2014. Professional genealogists Catherine W. Desmarais, CG, Michael Hait, CG, and Melanie D. Holtz, CG, are pleased to announce the formation of the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. The Virtual Institute is a unique educational opportunity for genealogists of all skill levels.

The Virtual Institute will offer courses on a wide variety of genealogical subjects, providing “Vigorous” year-round education for the genealogical community using a virtual platform. Each course will consist of a total of four 90-minute lectures, two each presented on consecutive Saturdays, extensive syllabus material, and practical exercises. Limited class sizes of only one hundred registrants per course allows for a higher level of class participation and instructor feedback than typically offered by genealogy webinars.

Courses are currently planned around the topics of genealogical writing, advanced methodology, DNA testing and analysis, and cultural, regional, or record-based research strategies.

Many of these subject matters—as well as the depth of instruction—have never before been offered in a virtual format and are ideal for genealogists around the world. “The Virtual Institute will allow genealogists who work a full-time job or have limited travel budgets to more easily advance their genealogical skills,” Institute co-administrator Melanie D. Holtz stated.

Registration for each course will cost $69.99 and includes digital video recordings of all four lectures, available within two weeks of the close of each course.

For more information on the Institute and to register for upcoming courses, visit www.vigrgenealogy.com and subscribe to the mailing list for updates on future courses.

UPCOMING COURSES

Michael Hait, CG, “Writing Logical Proof Arguments,” 1 November–8 November 2014

J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, “Preparing the Field: Understanding the Agricultural Records of our Ancestors,” 17 January–24 January 2015

Maureen Taylor, “Family Photographs: Identifying, Preserving, and Sharing Your Visual Heritage,” 21 February–28 February 2015

Donna Moughty, “Strategies for Finding Your Irish Ancestors,” 7 March–14 March 2015

Blaine Bettinger, “(Finally!) Understanding Autosomal DNA,” 21 March–28 March 2015

Billie Stone Fogarty and Rick Fogarty, “Verifying the Family Legend of Native American Ancestry,” 18 April–25 April 2015

Melanie D. Holtz, CG, and Melissa Johnson, “Genealogical Applications of Dual Citizenship by Descent,” 2 May-9 May 2015

Paul Milner, “An In-Depth Look at the Big Four Records of English Research,” 30 May - 6 June 2015

Angela Packer McGhie, “Digging in Federal Land Records,” 19 September-26 September 2015

CG, Certified Genealogist, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluations by the Board and the board name is a trademark registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

NARA Hosts Second Virtual Genealogy Fair

The National Archives is going to host it's second Virtual Genealogy Fair on October 28 - 30, 2014. These presentations are designed to teach genealogists about federal records and their use in genealogy research. The presentations will be given by National Archives experts from around the country and from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service. The live broadcasts begin at 10:00am Eastern time each day and will be available for free on the internet. The live broadcast format will allow participants to ask questions at the end of each presentation. Click here to see the schedule.

Free Archived Webinars and Lectures from NEHGS

Would you like to learn research skills from some of the experts at he New England Historic Genealogical Society? Did you know they have how-to videos, archived webinars, and recorded lectures available free on their website? NEHGS is expanding their online educational programs and have a variety of presentations on research subjects as well as using the NEHGS website.

Look for the the following programs available at http://www.americanancestors.org/watch/

Archived Webinars:

Find Your 17th-c. New England Ancestors with NEHGS
Presented by: David C. Dearborn

Ten Steps to Writing & Publishing Your Family History
Presented by: Penny Stratton

Get the Most from NEHGS . . . from Home!
Presented by: Jean Maguire

Maximize Your AmericanAncestors.org Search Results, Parts I & II
Presented by: Andy Hanson-Dvoracek

Expand Your Research Using NEHGS Online Databases
Presented by: Ellie Spinney and Sam Sturgis

Video Lectures:

Getting Started: Genealogy with Rhonda R. McClure

Searching AmericanAncestors.org with Ryan Woods

Getting Started: Irish Genealogy with Marie Daly

Identifying Civil War Ancestors with David Allen Lambert

How-To Videos

Number an Ahnentafel with Penny Stratton

Number in Register Style with Penny Stratton

Use Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700
with David C. Dearborn

Search Journals on AmericanAncestors.org with Andy Hanson-Dvoracek

Save Searches on AmericanAncestors.org with Andy Hanson-Dvoracek

Print Records on AmericanAncestors.org with Andy Hanson-Dvoracek

RootsTech Sessions to be Streamed Live

I am excited about the RootsTech announcement about 15 of their sessions being streamed live over the internet. I just returned from Salt Lake City last week where I attended the APG Professional Management Conference and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. As much as I would like to attend RootsTech in person, I cannot leave my family again so soon. I will be watching some of these sessions from home, and hope that you are able to as well. Thank you FamilySearch!

SALT LAKE CITY - January 29, 2014  

RootsTech, the world's largest family history and technology conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6-8, 2014, announced today that 15 of its popular sessions will be broadcast live and complimentary over the Internet. The live broadcasts will give those unable to attend in-person worldwide a sample of this year's conference content. Interested viewers can watch the live presentations at RootsTech.org. The fourth-year conference has attracted over 10,000 registered attendees in-person, and leaders expect over 20,000 additional viewers onli

 
The streamed sessions include a sampling of technology and family history presentations. Following are the broadcasted sessions and speakers. All times are in mountain standard time (MST):
 
Thursday, February 6
10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Top 10 Things I Learned About My Family from My Couch by Tammy Hepps
1 p.m. to 2 p.m., FamilySearch Family Tree: What's New and What's Next by Ron Tanner 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Intro to DNA for Genealogists by James Rader 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Genealogy in the Cloud by Randy Hoffman
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sharing Your Family with Multimedia by Michael LeClerc
 
Friday, February 7
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Storytelling Super Powers: How to Come Off as Your Family's Genealogy Hero by David Adelman
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tweets, Links, Pins, and Posts: Break Down Genealogical Brick Walls with Social Media by Lisa Alzo
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Getting the Most Out of Ancestry.com by Crista Cowen
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Finding Family and Ancestors Outside the USA with New Technologies by Daniel Horowitz
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Do It Yourself Photo Restoration by Ancestry Insider

Saturday, February 8
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Become an iPad Power User by Lisa Louise Cooke
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Information Overload: Managing Online Searches and Their Results by Josh Taylor
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., A Beginner's Guide to Going Paperless by Randy Whited
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., How to Interview Yourself for a Personal History by Tom Taylor
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Five Ways to Do Genealogy in Your Sleep by Deborah Gamble

About RootsTech
RootsTech is a global family history event where people of all ages learn to discover and share their family stories and connections through technology. The first annual conference was held in 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by leading genealogical organizations, the conference includes hands-on demonstrations and forums to provide a highly interactive environment and accelerate learning. Content is geared to young and old, beginner to advanced levels.

Free APG Webinars

The new lineup of webinars hosted by the Association of Professional Genealogists looks great! In fact, I just registered for all of them. Come and join me in learning about Autosomal DNA, marketing, database terms and conditions, and what it is like to be on a genealogy TV show. The best part is these live webinars are FREE -- for members of APG and the general public.

The press release from APG is included below with details and links to register for each webinar. I would like to express thanks to Kimberly Powell and the APG Professional Development Committee for organizing these webinars for us!

Mark your calendars! APG has a great lineup of webinars and speakers planned for the next several months, brought to you by the APG Professional Development Committee. Register soon to reserve your spot.

Working with Autosomal DNA: Intermediate/Advanced Applications
Saturday, 21 September 2013 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: CeCe Moore
Autosomal DNA offers virtually unlimited potential for discovering more about your roots, but learning to work with the vast amount of data that comes with autosomal DNA research is challenging. CeCe will demonstrate the methods that the experts use to get the most out of their results, including chromosome mapping and applications for African American genealogy. Examples from her own research will be shared.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/115297512

Duct Tape Marketing for Genealogy Professionals
Tuesday, 22 October 2013 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Thomas MacEntee
No fancy charts or analytics here; no theories or complicated MBA stuff either. Participants will learn how to build an effective genealogy marketing campaign using free or low-cost resources, many of them online. The focus will be on resources as well as tips and tricks to pull together a solid marketing initiative for your genealogy business.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/474456273

Behind the Camera: Professional Genealogists & TV
Thursday, 14 November 2013 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: D. Joshua Taylor
When the production company calls, how do we as professionals react? Learn the behind the scenes tips to working with television production companies, including examples of real life situations and the "pros" and "cons" of taking on these important clients. Topics covered will also include setting expectations, reporting, delivery, and ethics.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/604017544

"Terms and conditions may apply" -- Contract Law and the Internet
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Judy G. Russell, CG
Websites have fine print too. And it's the fine print that answers questions like: Why can I use this newspaper clipping from this service, and not that clipping from that service? What happens if I allow someone else to use my account on that website? If I get into a dispute with a genealogical service provider, can I sue them? This webinar will review the basics of website terms and conditions ("terms of use" or "terms of service") and what they mean for the genealogist.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/460655793

Please share this invitation on relevant mailing lists, with your local society, or with anyone else who might have an interest. These webinars are available and free for APG members and non-members to attend live. Webinars are also recorded, and the recordings made available to APG members on the Members Only section of our website for any member who is unable to attend the live session or just wants to review the material again. If you have any questions, or would like to suggest a topic and/or speaker you would like to see for future webinars, please feel free to email me anytime.

Kimberly Powell (lovegenealogy@gmail.com)

APG Professional Development Committee
Kimberly Powell (Chair), Melanie Holtz, and Beverly Rice

National Archives to host Virtual Genealogy Fair

I was at the National Archives in Washington D.C. today and was excited to learn that they will be hosting a Virtual Genealogy Fair! I was disappointed when the annual NARA Genealogy Fair was cancelled last spring, but now that it is a virtual event many more people across the country will be able to participate. This will be a FREE event and if you miss the live webcasts then you can view them later as they will be archived on the National Archives YouTube page. The schedule has not yet been released (I will post it as soon as it is available), but you can mark your calendars for September 3 & 4, 2013 if you are interested in participating.


Here is the information that is currently on the NARA website:

National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair

WHAT:  National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair

• For the first time ever, the National Archives will host a virtual Genealogy Fair via webcast using the Internet.
• This two-day program will showcase tips and techniques for using Federal records at the National Archives for genealogy research. Lectures are designed for experienced genealogy professionals and novices alike.
• Lecture topics include Native American and African American history, immigration, Civil War pensions, U.S. Colored Troops, and Navy Deck logs.
• “Help! I’m Stuck” Call-In Consultation: National Archives staff will be available to answer research questions during the Fair.

WHEN:  Tuesday and Wednesday, September 3–4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. EST

WHO:  Speakers include genealogy experts from the National Archives and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.

HOW:  The National Archives will make this event available via webcast. The webcast will include options for the hearing-impaired. Recorded sessions will be available online after the event.

Background:  The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the Federal government. These include records of interest to genealogists, such as pension files, ship passenger lists, census and Freedmen’s Bureau materials. For information on National Archives holdings see www.archives.gov.

For more information about the fair, e-mail KYR@nara.gov. Join the Genealogy Fair conversation on Twitter using #genfair2013.