FGSCruise2015: Last Call…All Aboard!

The FGS Alaskan Cruise cabin block is only guaranteed available through May 15. If you want to sail on a floating genealogy conference with four of the best national speakers in the industry, don’t delay in booking your cabin now.

The cruise sets sail on August 28, departing from Seattle.  After a full day of cruising, the ship will reach the Alaska Inside Passage on August 30 for a morning of sightseeing aboard the ship. In the afternoon the ship will be in port at Juneau for over 8 hours, and on August 31, the old gold-rush town of Skagway can be explored.  On September 1 the ship will pass through the picturesque Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier.  After a full day at sea, the ship will arrive in Victoria, British Columbia on September 3 for a day of on-shore activities, before returning to Seattle on September 4.



The genealogy conference will take place during times when the ship is at sea.  Over 20 educational presentations will be given by featured speakers Elizabeth Shown Mills, David Rencher, Judy Russell and Josh Taylor.  On-board social activities, exclusive group excursions, and private dinner seating will make this a personal experience with plenty of time to get to know the speakers and fellow cruise mates.

This cruise will be an experience that you’ll never forget!  Check off Alaska from your bucket list while enhancing your genealogical knowledge in the process.

To book your cabin, visit the FGS Cruise Conference web page for all the details, or contact Susan Smith of Cruises Inc. at 866-713-9662 or ssmith@cruisesinc.com.

FGSCruise2015: Cabin-Booking Contests

FGS is sponsoring its first ever floating genealogical conference with the FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise, August 28 to September 4, 2015.  The cruise will offer the perfect combination of sightseeing and excursions, coupled with genealogical education during sea days by four of the most respected genealogical speakers:

FGS is running two contests for all cruise attendees who have (or will) book their cabins by May 1.

Contest 1
All attendees who have booked their cabins by May 1 will be included in a drawing for a free conference registration (a $195 value).  The drawing will take place on May 1, the day conference registration is scheduled to open.

Contest 2
Twelve cruise-goers will win private consultations with the conference speakers to be scheduled during the cruise.  The sooner you book your cabin, the more chances you have to win!  The first two lucky winners are Denise O. and Selden G.  Winners will be contacted in the summer with more details about scheduling the consultations.

FGS has a block of cabins with the best rates guaranteed through May 1. Reserve your cabin by contacting Susan Smith at Cruises Inc. 

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Destination Seattle

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise sails from the port of Seattle on August 28 at 4:00pm. But just because Seattle is the starting and ending point for the cruise, doesn’t mean that cruise-goers can’t arrive a few days early or stay a few days after the cruise to explore Seattle and the surrounding areas.



Seattle is known as the Emerald City because of its omnipresent evergreens.  Its Washington Park Arboretum with Japanese gardens houses over 5,000 plants from around the world.  Seattle is often characterized by its rainy climate, but it also offers the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.



The city is a charming and welcoming metropolis with a small-town feel and laid-back attitude.  Seattle offers one-of-a-kind architecture and a unique urban sophistication. The modern architecture such as the newly designed downtown library create a visual contrast with the turn-of-the-century buildings such as the Historic State Building in Pioneer Square.



Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the United States for over 100 years and accommodates millions of visitors a year. Sample freshly-baked goods or watch the salmon flying as the market workers put on a show.



And of course, there's Seattle's most famous landmark, the Space Needle, created for the 1962 World's Fair, which changed the city's skyline forever.  Dinner at the SkyCity restaurant atop the Space Needle offers a 360-degree-view of the city in a 47-minute rotation.

Other tourist attractions include the Pacific Science Center, EMP Museum (formerly Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum), Seattle Aquarium, Chihuly Garden and Glass galleries, and Woodland Park Zoo.  These attractions, and more, can be visited with discounted rates with a Seattle CityPass.



The cruise disembarks the morning of Friday, September 4, and with Monday, September 7 coinciding with the Labor Day holiday, you’ll have plenty of time to take an extended weekend to fully explore all Seattle has to offer!

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: On the Ship

So, you’ve never been on a cruise and you’re wondering what it’s all about.  Yep, I had to drag my husband on his first cruise, and now we’ve taken over forty in twenty years, so how bad can it be?  You want to come on the FGS cruise but wonder if your spouse will be bored.  Hmmm.

First of all, it’s really hard to use the word “cruise” and “bored” in the same sentence.  When you wake up in the morning you’re either “at sea”, a great place to be, or in “port” – another great place.  Let’s pretend that today we’re at sea.

Is your spouse or you an exercise person? If so, there is usually a stretch class on the deck.  If not, head to the gym and jump on the machine of your choice, or go to one of the many pools and swim a few laps.  If you’re a walker, you can walk miles on the Promenade deck, or you can jog on the jogging track.  No excuses!

Exercise is not your way to start the day?  You could have breakfast ordered from room service (no extra charge, but a small tip is nice.)  You can sit on your balcony and sip your coffee.  Or, if you want to find your genealogy friends, head up to the Windjammer for a breakfast buffet that will blow you away.  You can even get a “made to order” omelet, or just stick to your fruit and yogurt.  NAH!  Go for the gold – eggs, bacon, waffles, coffee, juice – you know what I mean.  You came on this cruise to be waited on!  Okay, go to the dining room for breakfast and that will happen!  (Meanwhile your room steward is making your bed, cleaning your bathroom, and he’ll be back later in the evening to check on things again.)

In the morning show, the cruise director will tell you all about the ports.  You both can find out what you’ll see and what you can buy.  This is always a fun event to attend.  If you prefer, there is a card room where you can beat your friends at the game of your choice.  They have games on the ship, but I like to bring a few of my own.  Anyone for Five Crowns or Sequence?  How about Canasta or Scrabble?  If you like Trivia, there are three or four trivia games a day on the ship and they give very exotic prizes – like key chains and highlighters – but hey, it’s fun.  Get together your team of six or just go to the game and join someone needing more team members.  It’s a great way to make friends.

You might catch a movie or if you’re into the slots or other gambling, the casino is open when we’re at sea.  This applies to the gift shops, too--we have to be in international waters for them to be open, so they are not open when we’re in port.  SHOPPING – yes, there is shopping!  Have fun!

The spa!  AHHHHHH!  Need I say more?  It’s rather pricey, but oh-so-decadent.

On Port day you’ll be able to see all the beautiful stops in Alaska and how lucky we are to stop in Victoria!  We will soon tell you more about our private excursions we are putting together just for our group.



But wait – you’re going to genealogy lectures while we’re at sea.  I’m sure your spouse will be very bored.  Be sure to bring him or her a good book! :)

--Pat Oxley, Cruise Coordinator

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Speaker David Rencher

The Federation of Genealogical Societies has been in the conference education arena for over three decades. In 2015, FGS extends this tradition by offering its first opportunity to combine a terrific educational opportunity while aboard an Alaskan cruise.


I am honored to join my colleagues, Elizabeth Shown Mills, Judy Russell and D. Joshua Taylor in presenting this exceptional program to those who join us on this first-ever cruise offered by FGS. There is still time for you to sail with us for this exciting event and I hope that you will bring your toughest genealogical problems with you to apply a number of creative solutions to them from some of the top instructors in the genealogical field today!

--David Rencher

David will be delivering six lectures and workshops during the cruise:

• Documenting a Nation’s History Using the Resources of FamilySearch
• Framing the Problem for Overseas Research
• Tracing Immigrant Origins for Irish Ancestors
• Reconstructing the Neighborhood for Rural Dwellers in Ireland
• Reconstructing the Neighborhood for City Dwellers in Ireland
• How Will Our Society Survive?

David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA, is employed by the Family History Department in Salt Lake City as the Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch. A professional genealogist since 1977, he is an Accredited GenealogistCM with ICAPGenSM in Ireland research and a Certified GenealogistSM with the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. He is the Irish course coordinator and instructor for the Samford University Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR) in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1980 with a BA in Family and Local History.

David is a past-president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 1997-2000, a national genealogical society umbrella organization, a past-president of the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) 1993-1995 and a Fellow of that organization. He is a fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society, London and is a vice-president of the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU). He is currently serving as the Chair of the joint Federation of Genealogical Societies and National Genealogical Society committee for Record Preservation and Access and serves as the Secretary for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and as trustee for the Umpstead, Jr. and Elizabeth Jemima Philpott Rencher and the Winslow Farr, Sr. Family Organizations.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Destination Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia

Wrapped around the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a gentle blend of colonial England and contemporary Western Canada. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, and its grand Parliament Buildings, with 150 years of British history.



Victoria was originally founded in 1843 when the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post there.  By 1849, Vancouver Island had become a British Crown colony.  Today the city is part of British Columbia, with Victoria as the administrative capital and Vancouver (75 miles northwest on the mainland) being the industrial center.

Most of the attractions center near the harbor, although the walkable inner-city streets foster cordiality. The city is probably best known for its mild climate and active outdoor lifestyle, and Victoria is lauded as one of the most walkable Canadian cities.



Among the many attractions are the world-famous 50-acre Butchart Gardens.  The gracious Fairmont Empress Hotel dominates the Inner Harbour—originally built as a resort by the Canadian Pacific Railway, it has been restored and offers afternoon English tea.



The city also invites gourmet dining, fantastic shopping, nearby lighthouses and whale watching of the resident pod of orcas.  Other excursions include pub tours, horse-drawn trolleys, and a tour of Craigdarroch Castle.



The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Speaker Elizabeth Shown Mills

Strategies are the key to solving most genealogical dilemmas. Sure, we love to find new records, more records, unique records. But the reality is that really tough problems aren’t solved by a lucky find and, even when we find a record that makes an assertion about an identity or kinship, it might be wrong.

Elizabeth Shown Mills

What we need most are strategies for testing assertions. We need strategies for teasing out the identities of wives and mothers when no record gives us her name. We need strategies for proving name changes when illegitimacies, informal adoptions, and other “off-record” situations create a broken limb on a family tree.

In five sessions this week, I will teach you enough strategies to see you through a lifetime of successful research:

• Finding Females: Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours 
• Okay, I Got the Neighbors: Now What do I Do with Them?
• Margaret’s Baby’s Father & the Lessons He Taught Me: Illegitimacy, Name Changes & More
• Smith & Jones: Problem-Solving with Families of Common Name
• Using Evidence Creatively: How to Spot Clues and Demand Answers from Run-of-the Mill Records

--Elizabeth Shown Mills


Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA is a historical researcher and writer who has spent her life studying American culture and the relationships between people. A popular lecturer and author, she has represented genealogy in the media on three continents—including ABC, BBC, CNN, PBS, and featured roles in BBC’s 20th Anniversary and 30th Anniversary specials on Alex Haley’s Roots. She has been widely cited as “The person who has had the most impact on family history in the post-Roots era.”

Across her career, Elizabeth spent sixteen years as editor of the peer-reviewed National Genealogical Society Quarterly, blogged for the New York Times, and been interviewed by Time, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other major print media. She served as president of both the American Society of Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and created the groundbreaking Advanced Research Methodology track at Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research.

As an educator and writer, Elizabeth focuses on research methodology and social history. She is the author, editor, or translator of fourteen books and over 500 journal and magazine articles. Of all her publications, her favorite work is her 2004 reality-based historical novel, Isle of Canes. As a genealogist, she is best known for two essential reference works: Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers & Librarians and Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace.

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: Destination Tracy Arm Fjord

Nestled between 3,000-foot-high granite walls, the narrow, twisting slice of ocean called Tracy Arm Fjord weaves through the Tongass National Forest for roughly 35 miles. The shoreline is spotted with waterfalls created by melting snowcaps and trees sprouting at odd angles from rocky outcroppings.



Tracy Arm, a classic fjord, has it all: snow-capped peaks, shear rock palisades, rainbows and tidewater glaciers. Some of the rock formations are shiny smooth from years of glacier wear, plunging almost vertically into the water that is a thousand feet deep.



Drift among icebergs and waterfalls that cascade thousands of feet for the most close-up view of Sawyer Glacier. Watch for bergs shearing off the snout of the glacier, creating dramatic waves that travel for miles.



You'll see incredible mountains and emerald green water, and be able to watch for whales, bear, eagles, mountain goats, and seals. These are the sights you don’t want to miss!

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions. Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Speaker Judy Russell

The 2015 FGS Alaskan Cruise, August 28-September 4, is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A genealogy cruise is like getting the best of everything:

• A sightseeing vacation (Alaska! The inner passage…glaciers…whales…eagles!)
• A learning experience beyond compare (Elizabeth Shown Mills, David Rencher, D. Joshua Taylor and me, up close and personal, with a wide variety of topics to choose from)
• A chance to mingle with like-minded folks (who are guaranteed not to roll their eyes when you start talking about genealogy) -- all wrapped up in one package. 

Throw in the food, the entertainment, plenty to keep the non-genealogist spouse or travel companion busy and happy, and it simply doesn't get much better than that.



We'll be able to take a careful look at court records at all levels -- federal, state and county -- and how to make use of them in family history. We'll have lots of time to do some hands-on work with those records, and even learn about some of the judges who created them:  the justices of the peace.  And I'm particularly looking forward to the chance to help cruisers really understand autosomal DNA testing and how useful it can be in breaking down brick walls.

Hope to see you onboard in 2015!

--Judy Russell

Judy will be delivering four lectures during the cruise:

• Beyond X and Y: The Promise and Pitfalls of Autosomal DNA Testing
• Order in the Court: Hands-on with Court Records (2-part workshop)
• Making a Federal Case Out of It 
• The Gentlemen Judges: Justices of the Peace

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. She attended the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and was a Walter Lee Sheppard Jr. prizewinner in Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis at the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University. Now on the faculty of IGHR as well as the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist℠ and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, the National Genealogical Society Magazine and BCG’s OnBoard newsletter. Her blog, chosen as one of the American Bar Association’s top 100 in 2013, appears at The Legal Genealogist website http://www.legalgenealogist.com.

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: Destination Juneau

The FGS Alaskan cruise sets sail on August 28, 2015, departing from Seattle, and will reach Juneau, Alaska at noon on August 30.

Juneau is often described as America's most unusual state capital.  It is the only center of U.S. government with no roads leading into or out of town. The city, which was founded during a gold rush in 1880, is completely surrounded by nature.

In 1880, Tlingit chief Kowee led prospectors Joe Juneau and Richard Harris up Gold Creek, which runs through present-day downtown Juneau.  Once at Silver Bow Basin, gold nuggets were found, and the gold rush began.

After the gold nuggets were exhausted from the streambeds by individuals working with hand tools, industrial underground mining began.  After the high-grade ore was exhausted, stamp mills were built to extract gold.  The crushed rock tailings were dumped along the shore, creating the flat land where Juneau was built.  These old mines are now closed, although 21st century mining operations continue north of Juneau in a manner that has minimal visual or environmental impact.

The gold made Juneau the economic capital of Alaska, so the state capital was also moved there from Sitka in 1906.  The stamp mills of the Alaska-Juneau mine are still visible above the cruise ship docks.

Today, the former gold-mining town counts among its riches some of Alaska's most spectacular scenery. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Juneau in the Alaska Panhandle, it faces the water from the mainland side of Gastineau Channel.

Several magnificent fjords are located along the channel coast, and the majestic Mendenhall Glacier, a favorite of visitors, is nearby.  A vast ice field to the north of Juneau is larger than Rhode Island, making the Juneau winters colder than other nearby cities in Alaska.

The Mt. Roberts Tramway operates from near the cruise ship docks and offers scenic views of the surrounding area.  North Franklin Street that passes the docks is the main shopping district.  Juneau offers a peaceful pace of life out of the downtown commercial district.

Some of the nearby excursions include the Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching, salmon hatchery tours, zip-lines, dog sled adventures, the Last Chance Mining Museum, and working fisheries and ice houses along the docks.

Don’t miss out on seeing these unique sights!  The cruise will also offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on cruise-goers time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise.

FGSCruise2015: Cruising the Alaska Inside Passage

The FGS Alaskan cruise sets sail on August 28, 2015, departing from Seattle.  After a full day of cruising, the ship will reach the Alaska Inside Passage on August 30 for a day of sightseeing aboard the ship.

Millions of years ago, southbound glaciers carved out the Inside Passage, leaving majestic fjords, islands and bays in their wake. Icebergs that have drifted from the Tracy and Endicott Arms can be seen floating in Stephens Passage.

Alaska's Inside Passage is awash with pristine water mountain views. From the lush greenery of Tongass National Forest—the world's largest and northernmost temperate coastal rainforest—to the brilliant blue glaciers, you'll see jaw-dropping beauty everywhere you look.

A cruise among the fjords and islands takes you into prime habitat for bald eagles and sea lions.  There is a major sea lion rookery on the mainland, and they can often be seen sleeping on buoys.  Humpback whales like to breach in the passage, so keep an eye out for them, as well as orcas.

The Inside Passage is home to the totem poles of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Indians. This area has seen many Russian setters, prospectors, lumberjacks, and fishermen in years past—all have added to the tapestry of this area's history.

Don’t miss out on seeing these beautiful sights!  The cruise will also offer a full genealogy conference at times during sea days when there are not sights to be seen.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise.