2013 Forensic Genealogy Institute

Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy announces its second Forensic Genealogy Institute. The first Institute held in October generated such a large wait-list that CAFG has scheduled an encore for April 11-13, 2013 at the Wyndham Love Field in Dallas, Texas. Public registration is scheduled to begin 21 January 2013 through the 123SignUp link on the CAFG Forensic Genealogy Institute website.

http://www.forensicgenealogists.com/forensic-genealogy-institute.html  
More detailed information about the Institute to follow.

Evidence Explained Available for Mobile Devices

Elizabeth Shown Mills has annouced that Evidence Explained is now available for mobile devices!
 
December 14, 2012

Since April, Evidence Explained  (2d ed., rev.) has been available for desktops and laptops, both Windows and Macs. The delivery software did not, at that time, cover tablets and smart phones. EvidenceExplained.com has just upgraded to software that makes it readable on almost every kind of device-e-readers, droid tablets and phones, iPads and iPhones, etc. (Amazon's proprietary Kindle is an exception. Amazon prefers to play in its own sandbox. :) 

For current users of EE's electronic edition: If you purchased an EE license to use on PCs or Macs and you have one or two downloads left on that license, you have two options:

1. You may still download the version you purchased onto any other desktop or laptop, whenever you need it. Simply use the license file that was attached to the license email you received when you made your purchase. Nothing has changed for you. 

2. An upgrade is available if you have downloads remaining and you want to upgrade to the new software that enables tablet and smartphone devices and eReaders. However: (a) because the more-advanced reader software is totally different software, the conversion process has to be manually performed by the site administrator; and (b) converting to the new super-duper software with expanded capability carries a $5 upgrade fee. For the conversion, email StoreManager@EvidenceExplained.com, supply your original order number and the email address under which you ordered, and he will process the upgrade for you.

If you are a new purchaser of EE or if you purchased the desktop-laptop version and have already used all your downloads, then downloading the electronic edition to work on whatever devices you have is a "Bookstore" transaction at EE's website.

 
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG

www.HistoricPathways.com www.EvidenceExplained.com

2013 Jamboree Extension Webinar Series

I am excited to see the 2013 schedule for the Southern California Genealogical Society's webinars. They are offered free to the public when they are given live, and SCGS members have access to the webinars archived on their website. This is a great lineup of speakers and topics!

Registration is Now Open
for the 2013 Jamboree
Extension Webinar Series 

The Southern California Genealogical Society announces that registration is now open for the popular Jamboree Extension Webinar Series for 2013. The webinar series provides web-based family history and genealogy educational sessions for genealogists around the world.

Jamboree Extension Series webinars are conducted the first Saturday and third Wednesday of each month. Saturday sessions will be held at 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time. Wednesday sessions will be scheduled at 6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time.  

Upcoming sessions are listed below. Click on the link to register for any session you want to attend. For more information on each of these sessions, check out the SCGS website.

Wednesday, December 19 - 6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time.
Schelly Talalay Dardashti

Jewish Genealogy 101 
 
Saturday, January 5 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time  
Lisa A. Alzo
Family History Writing Made Easier: Cloud-based Tools Every Genealogist Can Use  

Wednesday, January 16 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Linda Geiger Woodward, CG, CGL  
Documentation: Never Having to Ask, 'Where Did That Come From?' 

Saturday, February 2 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time.
Eric Basir  
Digital Organization for Documents and Photos   

Wednesday, February 20 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Michael John Neill  
No Will?  No Problem 

Saturday, March 2 -  10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Lisa Louise Cooke    
Time Travel with Google Earth 

Wednesday, March 20 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Michael Brophy  
Erin in the USA: Irish Research on This Side of the Atlantic  

Saturday, April 6 -  10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Denise Levenick   
Break Down Brick Walls with Home Sources 

Wednesday, - April 17 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Janet Hovorka  
Trip the Tree Fantastic: Intriguing Family History Trips for the Whole Family 

Saturday, May 4 -   10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG  
Homespun and Calico - Researching our Foremothers 

Wednesday, May 15 - 6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time.   

Debbie Mieszala, CG   

Options in Post-Adoption Research 

Saturday, June 1 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Jane Neff Rollins  
Is There a Baby Catcher in your Bloodline? 

Saturday, June 1 -  2pm Pacific time / 5pm Eastern time 
Leo Myers and Paula Hinkel   
Sneak Peek at Jamboree   

Wednesday, June 19 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Valerie Brown Elkins, CG 
Interest in Pinterest: Pinning Your Family History 

Saturday, July 6 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Tonia Kendrick   
Transform Your Note-Taking and Remember Everything with Evernote 

Wednesday, July 17 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Nancy Lauer    
Path to Organizational Bliss 

Saturday, August 3 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Jay Fonkert, CG    
Official, but Wrong: Testing the Validity of Genealogical Information in Official Records 

Wednesday, August 21 -  6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Mary Roddy   
Mark Golden: A Case Study in World War II Research 

Saturday, September 7 -  10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
George G. Morgan    
Sidestep Genealogy 

Wednesday, - September 18 - 6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Beth Foulk    
Imported to America - Colonists for Sale 

Saturday, October 5 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Taneya Koonce    
Genealogy News at Your Fingertips: From RSS Feeds to Digital Magazine Platforms 

Wednesday, October 16 - 6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Drew Smith  
Effective Online Queries 

Saturday, November 2 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, CG  
Getting Family History Information through the Back Door 

Wednesday, November 20 - 6pm Pacific time / 9pm Eastern time. 
Leland K. Meitzler  
Mobile Capturing of Your Ancestor's Documents and Pictures

Saturday, December 7 - 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time
Gena Philibert Ortega  
Women in WWII

Please share this notice with your fellow genealogical society members, librarians, cousins and others that share your interest in genealogy.

The initial (live) webcast is offered free of charge and open to the public. "We offer these webinars as part of our educational mission," said SCGS president Alice Fairhurst, "but are always grateful for contributions to offset our costs." Donations can be made through PayPal, online through the SCGS website or by check made out to SCGS and mailed to the address below. 

As a benefit of membership, SCGS members can review archived sessions at any time by accessing the SCGS members-only section of this website. 

To join a webinar, most participants attend via computer with audio speakers or a headset. Those with a fast Internet connection (either broadband or DSL) will have the most satisfactory experience. It is possible to phone in to listen to the presentation. Long-distance charges may apply.  

For more information contact:
Paula Hinkel ( phinkel@pacbell.net ) 
Vice President

Southern California Genealogical Society 

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.