#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.

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.

Researching African American Genealogy?

Our African American Research Track Can Help!

We are pleased to offer a conference track focused on African American research at the FGS 2017 National Conference. 

On Friday, September 1, speakers will present on a variety of specialized topics designed to help family history researchers trace elusive African American ancestors and break through brick walls.

Deborah Abbott, PhD

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.

A Methodical Approach to Slave Research: A Case Study

Identifying slave families and their slaveholders can be challenging, but not impossible. Bridging the gap between the slavery era and freedom requires patience and perseverance. This case study begins with the 1940 census and shows how information from all preceding censuses led to documents that revealed the identity of the slaveholder.

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

Wevonneda Minis

Wevonneda Minis lectures on research methodology, finding African American ancestors, South Carolina, and Georgia. She is ISFHWE president and a Gen Proof Study Group mentor.

Enslaved African Americans in White Church Records: An Overlooked Source

Slaves often attended their owners’ churches. Learn to use records of those churches for details about a slave’s parents, owners, attendance, dismissal, sale, and more.

• Time: 8:00-9:00 AM
• Skill level: Intermediate

James Dent Walker Memorial Lecture: Freedmen’s Bureau Labor Contracts: A Closer Look

Researching Freedmen’s Bureau labor contracts can provide more than lists of ancestors’ names. Analyzing them can yield information with evidence to solve genealogical problems.

• Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Skill level: Intermediate

Judy G. Russell JD, CG, CGL

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, is The Legal Genealogist and provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law, history, and genealogy come together.

“Deemed a Runaway”: Black Laws of the North

Slavery’s force was felt far north of the Mason-Dixon Line, and the Black Laws of northern states created valuable records for tracing African American families.

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

Ari Wilkins

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.

Black and White Southern Families in Plantation Records

Learn about the abundance of genealogical information that can be found in plantation records and how to research the collection.

• Time: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
• Skill level: Intermediate, advanced

Apprentice Records in African American Research

Learn how to research and analyze apprentice records for children of color. 

• Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
• Skill level: 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.

FGS 2016 Repository Spotlight: Sangamon Valley Collection at the Lincoln Library

Sangamon Valley Collection at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, IL

The FGS 2016 Conference, "Time Travel: Centuries of Memories," location — Springfield, Illinois — offers an array of local research opportunities for attendees. 

One such opportunity is the Sangamon Valley Collection located at the Lincoln Library and the "bonus" is its proximity to the FGS 2016 Conference facilities.

Established in 1970, the Sangamon Valley Collection is one of Springfield’s valuable genealogical collections and a must-see when visiting the state capitol. The collection is housed on the third floor of the Lincoln Library, located at 326 S. 7th Street, Springfield, Illinois. It contains copious amounts of information for Sangamon County and its surrounding neighbors.

The collection is open during the following hours:  

• Monday - Wednesday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Thursday, Friday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

The library is within walking distance of the conference and is located at the corner of Seventh and Capitol Streets, next door to the Springfield Municipal Building in downtown Springfield.

What can you find in the Sangamon Valley Collection? 

• Photographs
• City and county directories
• High school yearbooks
• City and county documents
• Histories
• Maps
• Very extensive obituary index to the State Journal-Register (Illinois’ longest running newspaper).
• Genealogical materials from outside the area including histories from Virginia, German immigrant passenger lists, etc.
• Manuscripts (The index is online here. So, prepare before you go.)
• Microfilm resources (A PDF of their microfilm index is available here. Prepare before you go.) 

For more information on the library and collection visit the Lincoln Library website.

Early-bird registration is currently open for the FGS 2016 National Conference which will be held August 31—September 3, 2016, in Springfield, Illinois. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to research locally, to learn how to solve your research problems with methodologies and the latest technologies, and to meet family historians just like you. The discount for early registration ends July 1st, so don't delay. Register today to save!

Register today to take advantage of the early bird discount!

All I Want for Christmas Is…an Alaskan Cruise!

We have all been the recipient of boring or downright bad gifts. Probably not on purpose, but it happens. People have good intentions. They want to remember family and friends with a gift during the holiday season. However, most people either lack the funds or imagination to be a really good gift giver. What can be done about this situation? Communicate! Share ideas with family and friends on what you really want for the holidays—the FGS genealogy cruise to Alaska!

Hopefully most of your family and friends know that you are interested in genealogy (if they don’t know, how and why are you keeping it a secret???). A lot of people have an Alaskan cruise on their bucket list. Why not tell everyone that instead of socks or bath gels what you really want is money towards a genealogy cruise to Alaska (2 for 1!)

::shaking:: Is it an Alaskan Cruise?

How can you spread the word without seeming rude and ungrateful? One way is to use social media. With social media being so prevalent in most of our lives, it is easy to share a wish list with those around us. Many people post the top ten items they want on Facebook or Instagram. Also feel free to tell people face-to-face. Have an open and frank discussion about it.

Another approach would be to agree to not give gifts this year. A few years ago, my in-laws all agreed that it was getting ridiculous spending so much time and money to give gifts that weren’t needed or wanted. We now use the money that we would have spent on extended family to get something that our immediate family really needs or wants. Another year my immediate family pooled our money and went on a trip over Christmas. Best decision ever! Not only did I not have to decorate, there was no shopping, wrapping or extra food to prepare. It really was a great Christmas.  

Hopefully this year instead of fighting the crowds on Black Friday, you find yourself making reservations to join FGS on a fabulous cruise to Alaska!

Visit www.fgsconference.org/cruise to learn more or book your reservation.


—Cherie Bush, Social Activities Coordinator, FGS 2015 Alaskan 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.