Learn About DNA at FGS 2018!

Whether you've just taken your first DNA test or a seasoned genetic genealogy researcher, learn from some of the best in the field at FGS 2018!

The DNA track this year is designed to be progressive. DNA beginners can start with the sessions on Thursday, while intermediate and more advanced researchers might want to start with the sessions on Friday or Saturday. There are also 3 special DNA workshops, allowing you to go even deeper into the subject.

Thursday, August 23

Creating a Research Plan for DNA Testing by Shannon Combs-Bennett
You have tested your DNA, or are you thinking about it? Still not sure how it will help you with your genealogy research? Learn how to integrate those results into a genealogy research plan to unlock more clues to your family’s past.

MyHeritage DNA 101: From Taking the Test to Understanding the Results by Daniel Horowitz (Sponsored by MyHeritage)
MyHeritage's affordable, easy-to-use DNA home testing kit can reveal valuable family history information and tell you more about your origins. MyHeritage’s DNA Matching service enables you to enjoy exceptional matching capabilities for family history research. Review your Matches, contact and exchange information with others, and learn how you’re related.

DNA Baby Steps by Blaine Bettinger
Although DNA testing has been available for 18 years, there are millions of new test-takers every year. Let’s look at some of the first steps that new test-takers should follow when they open their results for the first time. What do you need to know to understand your test results?

Advancing Your Genealogy Research with DNA by Crista Cowan (Sponsored by Ancestry)
You’ve scoured the census, dug through probates, and even visited the county courthouse. What’s left? DNA. It’s the oldest record of your family, and technology and science are coming up with more ways for you to use it. Come and learn what new tools AncestryDNA has to advance your research and get more out of your DNA results.

Friday, August 24

Doing DNA Right: The Ethical Side of Testing by Judy G. Russell
Genealogy has always involved airing family secrets, but DNA testing poses more immediate risks of disclosing the secrets of living people. How do we use this 21st century tool in the most ethical way possible for all those impacted?

No Chromosome Browser? No Problem by Angie Bush
Chromosome browsers are a tool that can be used by genetic genealogists to better understand their matches, but not all testing services provide them. Learn how to make the most of your matches no matter where you tested.

When You’re Not Who You Thought You Were by Pamela Boyer Sayre
If Y-DNA testing identifies a totally different surname or ancestor than the expected one, what path leads to finding your own true biological identity?

Charts and Diagrams: The Genetic Genealogist’s Bread and Butter by Angie Bush
Understand how to read and interpret all of the various charts in diagrams that are so prevalent in genetic genealogy and learn about tools that can be used to create your own charts to share with family members or in client reports.

Saturday, August 25

Using Genetic Communities™ to Tell Your Story by Crista Cowan (Sponsored by Ancestry)
Genetic Communities™ is an exciting innovation in DNA testing that can take you on a journey through specific stories about our past. In this class, you will learn about how Genetic Communities™ are formed, why you get assigned to a particular Genetic Community™, and how to use them in your research.

Genetic Genealogy: Advanced by Diahan Southard
Have you mastered the basics of autosomal DNA testing? There are several advanced tools that can help you glean more information from your DNA test.

DNA Doesn’t Prove Anything by Angie Bush
A common misconception is that DNA testing “proves” things that were not “provable” before. Attendees should come away from this lecture with a better understanding of the concept of proof and how to avoid common mistakes in interpreting their DNA results.

Advanced Third-Party Tools by Blaine Bettinger
We will examine tools like Phasing, Matching Segment Search, Lazarus, and Triangulation tools offered by GEDmatch, DNAGedcom, and others. These tools are almost always excluded from typical third-party tool lectures.

There are also 3 special DNA workshops and a fun Friday evening event!

Try Your Hand at Genetic Genealogy with Diahan Southard (Thursday)
Working in pairs or small groups you will get a chance to take a DNA case step-by-step to learn exactly how to explore your autosomal DNA match list and make family connections. No computer required. Tickets $50 (advance purchase required)

Visual Phasing Workshop with Blaine Bettinger (Friday)
Visual Phasing is the process of breaking down your chromosomes into grandparent contributions using the DNA test results of 3 siblings (and sometimes even fewer than 3 siblings). Although Visual Phasing is challenging, many genealogists find the puzzle-like nature of the method to be extremely rewarding! After studying the basics of the methodology, we’ll launch into some hands-on examples and exercises! Tickets $50 (advance purchase required)

GEDmatch Workshop with Blaine Bettinger (Saturday)
A hands‐on workshop that guides attendees step‐by‐step through many of the third‐party tools available at GEDmatch. Tickets $50 (advance purchase required)

Evening Event on Friday: Speed DNAting: A Hip Haplogroup Happening
Come learn something about your haplogroup through networking, DNA themed cocktails or mocktails, trivia, and other contests. There will be food and lots of fun and information during this hip happening. Tickets $30 (advance purchase required)

Register now for FGS 2018 in Fort Wayne, Indiana August 22-25! 

Learn How to Build Your Family Tree with DNA

FGS2017 has 9 sessions + 2 workshops to help with that!

Genealogists around the world are using DNA to break down long-standing family history research brick walls.

At the FGS National Conference in Pittsburgh, our genetic genealogy experts will help you learn what you need to know — whether you are just a beginner or want to learn more advanced methods of using DNA test results.

On Thursday and Saturday of our 4-day conference, we have devoted a full track to DNA for genealogy learning, and on Saturday, we have two more sessions dedicated to learning all about Ancestry DNA.

If you want a more in-depth experience, then we have two 4-hour workshops that will help you dive deeper into using DNA for your genealogy research. Click here to learn more. 

Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD

Advanced Third-Party Tools

Together we will examine some of the advanced tools from GEDmatch, DNAGedcom, and others. We will also examine some of the new third-party tools that have launched in the past year or so.

Gale French

Why oh Y-DNA for Genealogy— Basics of Y-DNA Testing

Sponsored by Family Tree DNA

This class will introduce you to Y-DNA and how it is used in genealogy. Y-DNA testing is the process of getting your Y-chromosome results for comparing with other testers. The Y-DNA test offers males a clear path from you to a known or likely direct paternal ancestor(s). It is great for genealogists wanting to confirm a paternal line. The course will also show how women can use the test by recruiting a father, brother, cousin, or uncle to do the test. Good genealogy is verified by an accurate paper trail; great genealogy is supported by DNA results.

Janice Lovelace, PhD

Getting Started with DNA

Sponsored by MyHeritage

Autosomal, mitochondrial, Y-DNA— what do these terms mean and where do you start? This session focuses on the basics of genetic genealogy as it takes a beginning look at DNA testing for the genealogist.

Diahan Southard

The Combined Power of Y-DNA and Autosomal DNA: A Case Study

Using a case study, learn how Y-DNA and autosomal DNA testing helped one family to better understand their own past and gave them incentive to reach out and connect with others. We will cover methodology and the sociology of this kind of situation and best practices for you and your family as you strive to forge bonds with others in a non-traditional way.

Three Powerful Ways to Find Your Best DNA Matches

Sponsored by MyHeritage

Anyone with an autosomal DNA test likely has a long list of potential relatives. But how do you make the most of those matches? Which matches are worth your time and effort? Learn to use genetic and genealogical clues to filter and sort your matches to make the most progress with your test results.

Anna Swayne

Making Family Discoveries Using AncestryDNA

Sponsored by Ancestry

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. 

Working with your DNA Matches

Sponsored by Ancestry

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.

Panel Session: Ask the DNA Experts

by Blaine Bettinger PhD, JD, Judy G. Russell JD, CG, CGL, Diahan Southard

Ask DNA experts your questions about DNA testing for genealogy. Angie Bush, MS, will serve as moderator for this panel featuring Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD, Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, and Diahan Southard. What does the future hold? What ethical and legal issues should be considered when DNA testing? What tests, tools, and tricks do these experts use that may help in your research?

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.

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.

Are you ready to dive deeper into DNA?

Using DNA for genealogy can help you break down long-standing family history research brick walls.

At the FGS National Conference in Pittsburgh, we have two special four-hour DNA workshops. The DNA workshops will help you dive deeper into using DNA for your genealogy research. Both DNA workshops are sponsored by Ancestry ProGenealogists and require pre-registration in to attend.

Connecting the DNA Dots

by Blaine Bettinger PhD, JD, Angie Bush MS, Diahan Southard

“Connecting the DNA Dots” is a beginner-to-intermediate level workshop. It will help participants maximize the use of their DNA test results to answer genealogical questions. There will be discussion of types of DNA tests available and examples of genealogical questions they may help to answer.

Participants will also learn how to review and evaluate their own results, join appropriate surname or haplogroup projects, and upload their data to other testing services and websites. Lastly, participants will determine other family members to test and how those tests may benefit their genealogical research.

“Connecting the DNA Dots” will be held on Friday, September 1, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Tickets are $60.

Using Genetics and Genealogy to Smash Through Brick Walls

by Blaine Bettinger PhD, JD, Angie Bush MS

“Using Genetics and Genealogy to Smash Through Brick Walls” is for genealogists with intermediate-to-advanced DNA experience. This is a four-hour, hands-on workshop designed to help participants maximize the use of various third-party tools and websites for autosomal DNA.

We will discuss the in-depth use of spreadsheets for organization, the tools available at DNAGedcom (ADSA, GWorks), Tier 1 tools available on GEDMatch, and Kitty Cooper’s Chromosome Mapper. Workshop participants should have accounts with GEDMatch and DNA GEDcom and have multiple sets of autosomal raw data to work with. Each participant should come to class with a research goal in mind.

Pre-requisites for “Using Genetics and Genealogy to Smash Through Brick Walls”

Since this is an advanced workshop, pre-requisites are required. If you do not meet all of the pre-requisites, you won’t get the most from this workshop and should not register.

• Must bring a laptop to the workshop. (This cannot be an iPad or tablet.)
• Must have a minimum of three close, known family members tested, with access to their resultsT
• The raw data for these tests must be uploaded to GEDmatch.
• For visual mapping, these three family members should be siblings.
• For segment mapping, these close family members should be cousins. Ideally, attendees will have a mix of cousins and siblings tested so they can do both types of mapping, but one or the other is acceptable. 
• Must have the DNAGedcom Client (http://dnagedcom.com/doc/welcome-to-the-dnagedcom-client) installed and working on your computer.
• The DNAGedcom Client works primarily with AncestryDNA tests.
• Attendees should have at least one test at AncestryDNA. 
• Must have a basic knowledge of spreadsheets (e.g., Excel). 

“Using Genetics and Genealogy to Smash Through Brick Walls” will be on Saturday, September 2. Tickets for this workshop are $60. Advance registration is required. 

Workshop Registration

Advance registration is required for both DNA workshops. You can register for workshops when registering for the FGS 2017 conference. 

If you have already registered for the conference and received a confirmation email, then you can use this form to add registration for either DNA workshop to your schedule.

These DNA workshops will likely fill quickly.  Don't delay!

About the Instructors

Blaine Bettinger, PhD (Biochemistry), JD, is an intellectual property attorney by day and a genetic genealogist by night. He authors the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist.

Angie Bush, MS (Biotechnology), is a professional genetic genealogist with Ancestry ProGenealogists and director of Region 1 for NGS.

Diahan Southard, with 15 years in the genetic genealogy industry, instructs at all levels of interest. She has a passion for genetic genealogy and a gift for making the technical understandable.

2017 FGS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Online registration is now open for the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ 2017 National Conference. 

The conference will be held August 30 – September 2, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. This year's local host is the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society and the theme is "Building Bridges to the Past." Register by July 1, 2017 for the early-bird discount at FGSConference.org.

Attendees can look forward to strengthening their research abilities no matter their skill level or area of interest. The program is available online. An 8-page pdf  is also available to download.

Rorey Cathcart, FGS President, shares, “FGS Conferences offer genealogists of all skill levels an incredible learning opportunity as well as a chance to meet others who share their passion. Whether you are beginning your genealogy adventure or have been at it for decades, FGS welcomes all. With a day devoted to programming for society leaders and members, followed by three days of genealogy programming that features world-famous speakers, exciting workshops, a variety of special events and luncheons, FGS 2017 has something unique to interest all attendees. Don’t miss your chance to join the Federation for a fun-filled and informative experience in Pittsburgh!”

Conference Highlights

Keynote Speaker

Rick Sebak makes unusual television programs. His slightly wacky documentaries now celebrate various aspects of modern American life and the unexpected charms of Pittsburgh. In “Take the Unexpected Bridge,” he will explore the idea that when searching for information of any sort, from historic and genealogical to gastronomic and adventurous, often the best route is along unfamiliar roads and across unexpected bridges.

Conference Sessions

Learning opportunities abound in the FGS 2017 program. The program includes four full days of sessions, workshops, and interactive seminars. Learning tracks include Immigrant/Ethnic, Records, Regional, DNA, Methodology, Analysis, Skills, African American, Land & Taxes, Religion, Occupations, and more. Attendees of all skill levels will find new ways to uncover more about their family history.

Exhibit Hall

The large exhibit hall will feature the latest software, books, maps, databases, and gadgets on the market for family historians. Many genealogical organizations will be present to share information as well. Society Showcase will feature representatives of FGS Member Societies to share how their society can help attendees with their family history.

Special Events

Wednesday evening's event is sponsored and hosted by Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. Registrants are invited to a dinner cruise along Pittsburgh’s three rivers on board the Gateway Clipper Princess. Friday and Saturday evening offer a special treat for baseball fans. FGS is partnering with the Pittsburgh Pirates to offer discounted tickets for games against the Cincinnati Reds.

Focus on Societies

Wednesday, August 30 is Focus on Societies Day. Sessions are jam-packed with ideas and tools to help societies promote themselves, develop projects, increase membership, and leverage technology. D. Joshua Taylor will kick off the day with the plenary session. He will discuss ways to package genealogical societies for non-genealogical partners, including local media, donors, charitable organizations, and politicians.

Librarians’ Day

Tuesday, August 29, is the pre-conference event sponsored by ProQuest. Librarians, archivists, and other information professionals won't want to miss this event. It will be a full day of sessions focused on serving family history researchers.

Sponsors

Platinum sponsors include leading family history companies Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage. Bronze sponsors include AncestryProGenealogists and Internet Genealogy/Your Genealogy Today. For the complete list of sponsors and partner organizations, visit https://www.fgsconference.org/exhibits/sponsors/.

Also visit the conference website for details including links to conference hotels, research opportunities, and more. Keep up with conference news and announcements by reading the FGS Voice blog and by subscribing to the FGS Voice Newsletter.

Learn More and Stay Connected

• Like FGS on Facebook.
• Follow FGS on Twitter.
• Learn about events and things to do in Pittsburgh.

2017 FGS Conference Program Announced!

The Federation of Genealogical Societies is pleased to announce that the 2017 FGS Conference program is now available in an 8-page pdf download.

This year’s conference theme “Building Bridges to the Past” references not only the many bridges in Pittsburgh but also the bridges between the old world and new, as well as our journeys to discover our past. The conference program brings you a wide variety of topics presented by many of the nation’s top family history experts. Sessions are aimed at strengthening your research skills no matter what your level or area of expertise might be.

Learning Tracks

A variety of tracks fill the program, including:

•         Immigrant/EthnicRecords
•         Regional
•         DNA
•         Methodology
•         Analysis
•         Skills
•     African American
•         Land & Taxes
•         Religion
•         Occupations

Workshops

Four traditional two-hour workshops:

•     Caring for keepsakes
•     Research planning
•     Storytelling
•     Transcribing and Analyzing

Plus, two special four-hour DNA workshops:

•    “Connecting the DNA Dots”
•   “Using Genetics and Genealogy to Smash through Brick Walls”

Focus on Societies

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 is Focus on Societies day, with sessions that are packed full of  ideas and tools to help societies promote themselves, develop projects, increase membership, and leverage technology. The day kicks off with a plenary session that focuses on “Creating, Packaging, and Sharing Your Society to Non-Genealogists.”

Librarians' Day

The 2017 Librarians' Day, sponsored by ProQuest, is themed “Digital Initiatives in Western Pennsylvania. This-pre-conference event will be on Tuesday, August 29 and will include a full day of sessions designed for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals who serve family history researchers.

Whether you are a novice, an expert, or anywhere in between, the FGS 2017 Conference has something for you!

Online registration will open soon. Stay tuned. We can’t wait to see you in Pittsburgh!

Click here to download the program preview.

FGS 2016: Trying to Build Your Family Tree with DNA?

Need help learning about DNA for genealogy?

Our 8 DNA Sessions Can Help With That

Using DNA for genealogy can get confusing, but once you get the hang of it, you can begin to use it to break down some long-standing family history research brick walls.

At the FGS National Conference in Springfield, Illinois, our DNA for genealogy experts will help you learn what you need to know — whether you are just a beginner or have already tested! On the Friday of our 4-day conference, we have devoted a full track to DNA for genealogy learning, and on Saturday, we have two more sessions dedicated to learning all about Ancestry DNA.

Friday — DNA Track

DIAHAN SOUTHARD












►F-307 Every Surname in Your Pedigree Can Benefit from YDNA Testing

Learn basic and intermediate principles of using YDNA to verify and extend your pedigree chart, including how to make the most of your family project.

►F-323 What Now? Your Next Steps with Autosomal DNA Testing

Overwhelmed with autosomal DNA? I can teach you in 45 minutes tools you can implement and understand today so you can find your ancestors tomorrow.

RANDY WHITED

►F-344 Genograms: Family Medical History and Cluster Research

Learn about genograms and how to adapt them to your research. By providing a different view of relationships, they can make patterns and gaps more easily recognizable.

BLAINE BETTINGER, PhD, JD

►F-315 Using Free Third-Party Tools to Analyze Your Autsomal DNA

Although DNA testing companies provide their own analysis of test results, there are free third-party tools that can benefit genealogists.

►F-352 DNA and the Genealogical Proof Standard

Learn how DNA test results are increasingly an important component of the genealogical proof standard!

►F-336 Genetic Self-Education: Where to Go for Help

You've received your DNA test results, but you have no idea what they mean. Where do you go for more information? How do you educate yourself about genetic genealogy?

Saturday — DNA Sessions

ANNA SWAYNE

►S-412 Finding Family History Discoveries Using AncestryDNA
Sponsored by Ancestry

Come as a beginner to learn how AncestryDNA works and what it is. Come as an intermediate to learn how DNA matching, DNA Circles, and New Ancestor Discoveries technology help validate your research and find new leads.

►S-433 Cracking the Case with DNA
Sponsored by Ancestry

Want to use your DNA results to break down a brick wall in your family tree? In this class we will show you step-by-step how to use DNA to solve mysteries in your family tree and answer your own genealogical questions.

Register Now!

Join us for the FGS 2016 National Conference, "Time Travel: Centuries of Memories," in Springfield, IL, August 31 — September 3, 2016. Learn how to discover your family history with 72 speakers from across the world in over 160 sessions, luncheons, & workshops! Don't delay and register today at the early bird price which ends July 1, 2016.

New FORUM Issue: Tips for Writing Your Family History, Help with DNA Test Results, & More!

Latest issue of FGS' FORUM is now available.

How are you keeping track of all your DNA test results?

DNA Testing for genealogy has become a very popular tool to help you with your family history research. However, handling all the test results that come back for a typical autosomal DNA test can be overwhelming and quickly become unwieldy. In the latest issue of FORUM, the Gadget Guy, Randy Whited, takes a look at a comprehensive research tool for organizing all of your autosomal DNA test results in "Genome Mate: A Comprehensive Research Tool for Autosomal DNA Results."

How to write your family history in an entertaining yet accurate way?

With the holidays comes visits with family and loved ones...and questions about when you are going to get started with that family history you keep talking about writing year-after-year. One particular problem that seems to trip up family historians and delays the process is trying to figure out how to turn your facts into entertaining reads for your loved ones. Walking that line between historical accuracy and telling a captivating story about your ancestors can get tricky. In this latest issue of FORUM, Hazel Edwards gives some great tips to help you out in "Writing a Non-Boring Family History."

Plan for your society's success in 2015 with a webinar program.

Here at the end of the year is a perfect time to be looking ahead to what programs and activities you are planning for your society's success in 2015. A very important area to consider for all societies is educational programs. In today's world, reaching out to members and potential members near and far is growing increasingly important for today's genealogical society. In this latest issue of FORUM, Julie Cahill Tarr takes a look at how a society goes about beginning a webinar program and points out key issues societies need to consider before beginning a successful webinar program.

FORUM Table of Contents

3     From the Editor by Sue Zacharias

6     President's Message by D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FGS President

8     Genome Mate: A Comprehensive Research Tool for Autosomal DNA                Results by Randy Whited

13   Writing a Non-Boring Family History by  Hazel Edwards

16   Implementing a Webinar Program for Your Society by Julie Cahill Tarr

21   Netiquette for the Twenty-first Century by Drew Smith, MLS

25   Family Associations by Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG

27   Developing a Blog Reading List by Amy Coffin

31   Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC) by Linda McCleary

34   Book Reviews by Paul Milner

How to access FORUM:

Current FGS Member Societies: Sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, click on FGS FORUM Archives in the sidebar, scroll down, and click on Vol.26, No.3, to read.) Don't forget to renew your membership in order to keep receiving your 2 complimentary issues of FORUM.

Current FGS FORUM subscribers (individuals): sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, scroll down and click on Vol.26, No.3, to read.)

Who can subscribe to FORUM? Anyone. You don't have to be a member of a genealogical society in order to subscribe.

Not already a subscriber? You can subscribe today to the FGS FORUM and start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device.

Genealogical Societies: If you are not a member society of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, become one today and receive 2 complimentary subscriptions to the FORUM as just one of the many benefits to membership. Read more about what else FGS offers its member societies.