#FGS2017 Conference App Released

The mobile app for the FGS 2017 Genealogy Conference in Pittsburgh is now available!

With the app, you can keep your schedule, maps, list of speakers, and up-to-date information at your fingertips.  Plus, you can easily connect with fellow attendees.

Download the Guidebook App on your iOS or Android mobile device or you can even access it on your desktop or laptop!

Follow these detailed steps to download the app:

1.  Download Guidebook

• Search for "Guidebook" in the Apple, Google, or Amazon app stores, OR
• Navigate to guidebook.com/getit on your device's web browser, OR
• For desktop users or users with Windows Phones or non-Blackberry 10+ devices, navigate to guidebook.com/browse in your web browser (at this time, we only offer a native Guidebook app for iOS, Android, Blackberry 10+, and Amazon Kindle).

Follow the prompts on your screen, and the app will download.

2. Download the FGS 2017 Guide

Now that you have the Guidebook app, it's time to download the guide for FGS 2017! Open up the Guidebook app on your device to get started. Note: Internet access is required for this step.

• Use the Search box to type in "FGS 2017" (without the quotes) in the guide bar at the top.
• Tap the download button.

If you accidentally download the wrong guide, no worries! From the "My Guides" screen, tap the guide you wish to delete until you get a message that says "Unsync [name of guide]?" and press OK.

Note: After you delete the guide, it will appear at the end of the "Guides For You" lineup in case you accidentally deleted it or would like to access it again soon.

Desktop, Windows, non-Blackberry 10 users

On your phone's web browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.), type in guidebook.com/browse/

Click on the search bar below "Select a Category". Type in "FGS 2017" (without the quotes), and tap on "Search" or "Return" in the bottom right of your keyboard. View the results, and click on your event to download!

Note: If you are able to download a native app for your phone, a small "Get the Guidebook app" banner will appear at the top of your screen. Click this to download the native app.

3. Open and explore the FGS 2017 Conference Guide!

For more detailed instructions for downloading and navigating the FGS 2017 Guidebook App, visit: https://support.guidebook.com/hc/en-us/articles/202891364-Using-the-Guidebook-App-for-end-users-.

Online Registration Deadline

Online registration for FGS 2017 ends at midnight EDT on August 21, so don't delay!

Where are the records?

From online collections to libraries to major research centers, the records you seek can be found in a variety of places.  The FGS 2017 “Finding Records” track on Saturday, September 2 will give you ideas for finding the records that can unlock the clues to your past.

Libraries: Getting the Most Bang For Your Buck

by Ari Wilkins

Learn how to save money and time by using libraries’ services and collections to the fullest extent.

• Time: 8:00-9:00 AM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Ari Wilkins is a genealogist and a member of Dallas Public Library’s genealogy staff. She formerly served on the Texas State Genealogical Society’s executive committee.

Why The Genealogy Center? Collections & Services of a Leading Family History Research Center

by Curt B. Witcher MLS, FUGA, IGSF

This presentation will provide an up-to-date and detailed look at an international family history collection that continues to grow and continues to be more accessible to researchers.

• Time: 9:30-10:30 AM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Curt B. Witcher, MLS, FUGA, IGSF, is manager of The Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library, founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society, and a former president of NGS and FGS.

Where Would You Go If You Had Five Days in Washington, D.C.?

by Pamela Boyer Sayre CG, CGL, FUGA

This session provides answers about where to get research results in Washington, D.C., and how to stretch available funds for the best use.

• Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
• Skill level: Intermediate

Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA, is a former NGS director of education and publications. She coordinates/teaches in courses at IGHR, SLIG, and GRIP.

Using All the Features of FamilySearch

by David E. Rencher AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA

Sponsored by FamilySearch

Learn the breadth and depth of the programs and features of the FamilySearch organization and website. The genealogical landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade—learn what FamilySearch has done to adapt.

• Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate, advanced

David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, is the chief genealogical officer for FamilySearch. He has been a professional genealogist since 1977 and is a past president of FGS.

Researching Manuscript and Special Collections in Historical Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

by Deborah Abbott PhD

These institutions hold important documents that give a true-to-life picture of the lives of African Americans before, during, and after slavery. The archives and special collections of these colleges/universities hold manuscripts, photographs, personal accounts, Bibles, genealogical information, etc.

• Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
• Skill level: Intermediate, advanced

Deborah Abbott, PhD, is a genealogist specializing in African American research, genealogy methodology, and manuscript collections. She is an instructor at IGHR and SLIG and a trustee for the Ohio Genealogical Society.

Register Now!

Join us for the FGS 2017 National Conference, “Building Bridges to the Past,” in Pittsburgh, PA, August 30-September 2, 2017.

Improve Your Results with 5 Sessions by Ancestry Experts

FGS 2017 Ancestry Track

Today’s spotlight is on #FGS2017 Platinum Sponsor, Ancestry.com. Part of their sponsorship is Saturday’s Ancestry Track, when Ancestry's experts will be on hand to help you improve your family history research results! 

Crista Cowan

Crista Cowan has worked at Ancestry.com since 2004 and is known there as The Barefoot Genealogist. She frequently speaks at genealogy events around the country.

The Difference Between Searchers and Researchers

There is a difference between searching and researching. We need both skills to climb our family tree. Using the Ancestry search engine as an example learn how these powerful tools can help us be good searchers AND good researchers.

• Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Anna Swayne

Anna Swayne has 11 years of experience in DNA genealogy, with 5 of those at AncestryDNA. Her focus is educating on the power of DNA and the story it can unlock.

Working with your DNA Matches

Do you want to learn more about what you can do with your DNA matches? Get tips and tricks on how DNA matching works and how you can leverage the tools at AncestryDNA to answer your genealogy questions.

• Time: 8:00-9:00 AM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate, advanced

Making Family Discoveries Using AncestryDNA

Learn about how DNA works, what’s new at AncestryDNA, and how to get the most out of your DNA matches. We’ll provide an overview of AncestryDNA and how it can help validate your research and find new leads. 

• Time: 9:30-10:30 AM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate, advanced

Juliana Szucs

Juliana Szucs has worked at Ancestry.com for 18+ years. She is a regular blogger on the Ancestry blog and is a social community manager and staff genealogist on the research team.

Getting the Most from Ancestry

Juliana will guide you through the resources and tools available on Ancestry, sharing strategies that will help you find the best route to your ancestors. 

• Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Street Savvy Discovering Your Urban Roots

Feeling overwhelmed with research in the big city? Juliana will share tips that will help you pin down your ancestors in cities—large and small.

• Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Register Now!

Join us for the FGS 2017 National Conference, “Building Bridges to the Past,” in Pittsburgh, PA, August 30-September 2, 2017. Register now to get the early-bird price which ends July 1, 2017.

Do You Need To Break Through Brick Walls?

Check out the Analysis track at #FGS2017

Analyzing records and information is a key skill for genealogists and family historians.  The Analysis track on Friday, September 1 at the FGS 2017 National Conference offers sessions for researchers of all experience levels.

Tony Burroughs, FUGA

Tony Burroughs, FUGA, is founder and CEO of The Center for Black Genealogy. He is an internationally known genealogist who taught genealogy at Chicago State University for 15 years.

Why You Don’t Find Your Ancestors

Genealogy databases have billions of names. But after searching online you often can’t find your ancestors in the databases. However, they still may be there. Why is that? There are many reasons but many of the answers may surprise you.

• Time: 8:00-9:00 AM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate, advanced

Teri E. Flack MBA, MA, FTxSGS

Teri E. Flack, MA (Public History), MBA, FTxSGS, is a genealogy and historical researcher, consultant, and lecturer. Chair, Texas State Genealogical Society RPAC; VP of administration, FGS; and volunteer archivist, Texas State Archives.

Seeing the Patterns: Organizing and Visualizing the Evidence

We gather lots of information, data, and evidence in our research. Organize and visualize data using timelines, chronologies, charts, and tables to compare, correlate, and analyze evidence; discover gaps and missing information; and uncover new trails for research.

• Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
• Skill level: Intermediate

Cyndi Ingle

Cyndi Ingle is the creator of Cyndi’s List, an award-winning website that is a categorized index to 335,000+ online resources. A genealogist for 36+ years, she is a past NGS board member.

Remedies for Copy & Paste Genealogy

Family trees and the information they contain are easily copied and republished by others online. This means errors are duplicated many times over. We will discuss solutions for dealing with these issues.

• Time: 9:30-10:30 AM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Thomas W. Jones PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, is an award-winning author, educator, and researcher focusing on methods for difficult genealogical problems. He wrote Mastering Genealogical Proof and is co-editor of NGS Quarterly.

When Does Newfound Evidence Overturn a Proved Conclusion?

Even thorough research misses relevant sources. What are the options when useful information or DNA test results appear after a researcher establishes a conclusion?

• Time: 5:00-6:00
• Skill level: Intermediate, advanced

Jill Morelli, CG

Jill Morelli, CG, is a professional genealogist who lectures nationally on methodology, record sets, Nordic research (specialty, Sweden), and her Midwestern heritage.

Making Timelines Work for You

Timelines clarify research problems, provide an outline for family history narratives, or compare similar data across years. Learn how to make them work for you.

• Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Chris Staats

Chris Staats is a Cleveland, Ohio-based professional genealogical researcher, presenter, and writer. He has written articles for Family Tree Magazine, APG Quarterly, and other publications.

How Do You Know What You Know? Moving Beyond Your Genealogy Database

Genealogical databases are a great tool to store and maintain our family tree. However, they don’t accurately reflect the most important thing we do as researchers—think, analyze, and explain. Databases are simply a list of sources and conclusions. Learn to document the reasoning that connects those sources and conclusions.

• Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate

Register Now!

Join us for the FGS 2017 National Conference, “Building Bridges to the Past,” in Pittsburgh, PA, August 30-September 2, 2017. Register now to get the early-bird price which ends July 1, 2017.

Reserve Your FGS 2017 Hotel Room Now

FGS is pleased to announce that hotel reservations are now open for the 2017 Conference to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Plans are in full-swing for the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ 2017 National Conference – “Building Bridges to the Past.” The conference will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 30-September 2, 2017.

Hotel reservations open

Two Pittsburgh hotels are now taking reservations for the FGS 2017 conference. The Westin Convention Center and the Omni William Penn Hotel are offering reduced rates to FGS 2017 Conference attendees from Wednesday, August 23 to Friday, September 8 (subject to availability). Both hotels are conveniently located near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Westin Convention Center (Main Conference Hotel)

1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: Hotel 412-281-3700; For reservations 866-716-8108
Conference Rates: $139 single & double / $149 triple / $159 quad
Reserve your room online: WestinFGS Reservation Page

The Westin is located across the street from the convention center.

Omni William Penn Hotel

530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: Hotel 412-281-3700; For reservations 866-716—8108
Conference Rates: $139 single & double / $149 triple / $159 quad
Reserve your room online: OmniFGS Reservation page

The Omni is located .6 miles from the convention center.

Full details can be found on the FGS website.

Reserve your hotel room today

Conference hotels fill up quickly, so it is not too early to make reservations.  We look forward to seeing you in Pittsburgh!