California Genealogical Society blog: Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

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10 March 2016

Inspiration, when you least expect it

Posted by Shannon Reese

At the recently completed Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), there was a contest held for the best tagline for attendees. The idea of sharing your experiences via social media was the inspiration.

Guess who the winner was?

Our current president, Linda Okazaki! What did she win? She gets to choose the course she wants for SLIG 2017.

Linda Okazaki, photo courtesy of Ron Madson

What was her winning tagline?

Looking for ancestors, but finding friends #SLIG2016. Linda says, “It was a spontaneous expression that just came to me. I’ve made some wonderful friends through the years at SLIG. Networking is a big component of institute attendance and I’ve developed some amazing long-term relationships!”

Linda's parting thoughts

“Social media really can be a vehicle for developing personal relationships. Also, I hope that people new to genealogy realize that there’s more to this pursuit than just finding ancestors.”

Congratulations to Linda Harms Okazaki!

14 August 2014

Genealogy Institutes: GRIP: Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburg- Pt.1

Posted by Anonymous

Are you considering ways to get advanced training in genealogy? This month we're pleased to present a two part series by Lisa S. Gorrell on her experiences attending a genealogy institute and why an institute is worth going to.

by Lisa S. Gorrell

A great way to learn deeply about one subject is to attend a genealogy institute. There are several institutes that have courses each year:

• Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). This is held in January in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2015, there will be 12 tracks. http://www.gripitt.org/

• Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). This is held in June in Birmingham, Alabama on the Samford University campus. In 2015, there will be 10 courses to choose from. http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/

• Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). This is held in July. This year there are two sections: 6 courses held in Pittsburgh at the LaRoche College and 4 courses held in in August at Orchard Lake, Michigan. http://www.gripitt.org/

I have attended SLIG twice and IGHR once and this year will be attending GRIP in Pittsburgh. I am enrolled in Judy G. Russell and Rich Sayre’s class called Law School for Genealogists. Classes start on Monday morning and run to noon on Friday. I am staying on the campus in a dorm. It’s a great way to attend the institute. Fellow attendees are together living in dorm rooms and sharing meals in the cafeteria which is included in the housing fee. IGHR also has dorms, a beautiful campus, and wonderful Southern hospitality and food.

So why attend an institute? It is a chance to study a subject in more detail than you would get from an hour lecture or an all-day seminar. It is also a chance to take more advanced subjects. Some of the best instructors teach at these institutes.

Here is the lineup for GRIP in Pittsburgh next week: Paul Stuart-Warren, Thomas W. Jones, D. Joshua Taylor, J. Mark Lowe, Deborah Abbott, Debbie Parker Wayne, CeCe Moore, Blaine Bettinger, Judy G. Russell, and Rick Sayre.

The subjects this year include: Intermediate Genealogy, Determining Kinship Reliably with the Genealogical Proof Standard, Becoming an Online Expert: Mastering Search Engines and Digital Archives, Finding and Documenting African-American Families, Practical Genetic Genealogy, and Law School for Genealogist. The last two on the list filled up within 5-10 minutes. I was so lucky to get my first choice.

There are waiting lists and often you can still get a seat when someone cancels.

So I get a whole week of listening to Judy Russell and Rick Sayre speak about how knowing about the law will help me with my genealogical research. We’re going to learn about federal courts and their records, state courts and their records, the legislative process, how to use the Serial Set: The American State Papers and Territorial Papers, estate law, immigration and naturalization law, property laws (federal & state), military pension laws, marriage and divorce laws, and how to use law to prove a case.

I can’t wait! Stay tuned for a follow-up of the class.

Book sales at GRIP. Photo: Lisa S. Gorrell

22 January 2014

Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
Monday, January 17, 2014
Radisson Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah

Julia Redmond, Eva Goodwin, Tim Cox, Linda Okazaki, Patricia Healy, Jeffrey Vaillant. Not shown: Corey Oieson

Photograph courtesy of Heather Choplin, North Carolina Genealogical Society.

Copyright © 2014 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

28 January 2013

Members Gathered after a Week of Teaching and Learning at SLIG 2013

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Thomas MacEntee, Lisa Gorrell, Cath Trindle, Linda Okazaki, Tim Cox, Eva Goodwin,
Virginia Kysh and Julia Redford at SLIG 2013. (Not shown: Diana Powell)

The California Genealogical Society was well-represented at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) this year. They took the time to pose for a group photo and to send me some of their observations.

Our "far-flung" member from Chicago, Thomas MacEntee, coordinated a new offering this year – Course 6 – A Genealogists' Guide to the Internet Galaxy. He described the course as a "boot camp for genealogists who feel overwhelmed by technology and also have a fear of falling behind in terms of their 'tech quotient.'"

Cath Madden Trindle, CG, was an instructor for Course 1 – American Research and Records: Focus on Localities, coordinated by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FUGA, FMGS. Cath has recently retired so this was her last teaching "gig."

Lisa Gorrell attended Course 4 – Germany: Advanced Tools and Methods coordinated by F. Warren Bittner, CG.

I had a great time at my second SLIG, meeting lots of people who do German research. Our class had several certified genealogists which added to the knowledge. We learned about German history and how important it is to know the history of your area. I was able to spend a couple of afternoons at the Family History Library and found an 1807 marriage record for my husband's Wollenweber line in Kusel and went back another generation!

Tim Cox was enrolled in Course 9: Advanced Genealogical Methods coordinated by Thomas Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL.

Linda Okazaki and Diana Powell attended Course 5: Researching in Washington DC without Leaving Home, coordinated by Pamela Boyer Sayer, CG, CGL, and Richard Sayer, CG. This was Linda's first SLIG:

I was a little intimidated going in, but on Sunday night there was a get-together and I was chatting with a lovely woman only to discover she was my co-instructor! The rest of the week was a whirlwind of information. A high point for me was the reception and banquet on the last night. I spoke with Valerie Elkins who has been helping me with my Japanese research. She introduced me to Eric Stroschien, a professional genealogist with expertise in Japanese-American internment camp records. The timing couldn't have been better. I am eager to put into use all that I learned from the Sayres, then consult with Eric before heading to Washington, D.C. in February.

The Utah Genealogical Association's Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy offers a full week of instruction by national experts. Students receive at least twenty hours of in-depth instruction. The 2014 lineup of courses has been published. It's not too early to start planning for next year!

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

16 January 2013

Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Monday, January 14, 2013
Radisson Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah

Clockwise from left: Linda Okazaki, Eva Goodwin, Lisa Gorrell, Tim Cox
(not shown: Virginia Kysh and Thomas MacEntee)

28 January 2012

Three Directors at SLIG 2012

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Three happy California Genealogical Society board members just finished a week of intensive learning at the 2012 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Association. President Jeff Vaillant and Recording Secretary Lisa Gorrell were here with me although we rarely saw each other since we were taking different courses.

Kathryn Doyle, Jeff Vaillant and Lisa Gorrell at SLIG 2012.

We were able to sit together at last night's banquet and compare notes about our courses, instructors, and what we learned. Bottom line: we all need to catch up on sleep but we had a fantastic time and learned so much.

Read Jeff's reports on previous SLIG years at Jeff Valliant's Reports.

Thanks to Kim von Aspern-Parker for acting as our photographer.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

14 January 2011

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy: Jeff's Report #6

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

This is Jeff's last report from SLIG. Thanks, Jeff, for another great series!

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Salt Lake City, Utah
Friday, 14 Jan 2011

The last morning opened again with homework debriefing. The problem was to solve the father’s name of a workbook exercise that we had been looking at off-and-on all week. There were several suggestions. Dr. Jones offered a little hint and a big hint via email for those interested. The little hint did not help me. What helped me, I would say, is a better understanding of analysis.

Today we packed in six lectures starting with Special Problems III: Identifying Landless, Enslaved, Peasant and Other Impoverished Ancestors; Resolving Conflicting Evidence; Correlating Sources, Information and Evidence to Solve Genealogical Problems; Federal Land Records: Analysis, Interpretation and Correlation by Clair Bettag; Writing Genealogy and Continued Advancement.

In Thursday’s report I said I would provide some problem solving examples from the course work. Dr. Jones gave permission to do so; however, in reviewing the examples they would be out of context. Instead, given the internet email discussions about starting a GenWrite class like the GenPro class, here are a few points from the lecture on Genealogy Writing.

Dr. Jones spoke about his own experience. He had written articles in his professional field of special education for journals that were published. He submitted his first genealogy article to the NGS Quarterly when Elizabeth Shown Mills was the editor. As Dr. Jones told the story, he got his work back and looked at the first page, the second page, the third page and then on the fourth page finally found something he had written! He relates this story in great humor to fully illustrate that genealogical writing is a field unto itself.

His definitions of genealogical writing are “essays that describe a genealogical problem, discuss the evidence pertaining to the problem; and—if applicable—present and explain a solution to the problem.” There are a variety of products of writing from articles to books and the use of writing can be to illustrate to oneself what further research needs to be done.

The characteristics of writing are that it is readable, fully sourced, well grounded and structured, honest, precise, logical and comprehensive.

It was one of many great presentations.

I am going to conclude with the points made in Continued Advancement. This was my third SLIG course along with the IGHR in Birmingham along with the FGS and NGS conferences and one day workshops that constitute my continuing education. Dr. Jones’ list is similar – formal courses of study, major conferences, genealogical study groups, participating in support groups and seeking a credential. He went on to encourage reading journals, doing personal research, seeking expert vetting and regularly and routinely writing research with a view to publish.

BOTTOM LINE: The five days were fantastic and intense. The bibliography with each presentation was enormous allowing for further study. I encourage each person reading this to pursue their own professional advancement.

Next I am off to Charleston, South Carolina for the NGS Family History Conference, May 11-14, 2011. Will I see you there?

Jeffrey Vaillant
14 Jan 2011

Read the entire series:
Report #1: 2011 SLIG
Report #2: 2011 SLIG
Report #3: 2011 SLIG
Report #4: 2011 SLIG
Report #5: 2011 SLIG
Report #6: 2011 SLIG

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

13 January 2011

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2011 - Jeff's Report #5

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Jeff's series continues from SLIG.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Salt Lake City, UT
Thursday, 13 Jan 2011

Another morning opened with the homework debriefing. Not a lot of hands went up with solutions. Some students took up to four hours to try to solve the problem. The outcome for all, I would say, is a better understanding of analysis.

Today we packed in five lectures starting with Probate Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation and Correlation, Local Land Records: Analysis, Interpretations and Correlation, Bring Law to Bear on Complex Genealogical Problems, Special Problems I: Finding Immigrant and Migrant Origins and ending with Special Problems II: Identifying Female Ancestors. Each of these presentations by Dr. Thomas Jones included little problems to solve at the end of each lecture. All of his material is copyrighted so I will obtain permission to publish a problem or two here tomorrow.

Yes, there is another homework assignment tonight. One page – which means it will be difficult. So I better get to it.

We are still behind schedule and tomorrow is Friday!

Jeffrey Vaillant
13 Jan 2011

12 January 2011

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy - Jeff's Report #4

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Jeff's series from SLIG continues:

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Salt Lake City, UT
Wednesday, 12 Jan 2011

The morning began as a debriefing on the Tuesday evening homework with Claire Betteg. In general classmates were able to work through the challenging Library of Congress website. The point was made by someone that the Congress funds its own library well, unlike the National Archives and Records Administration. A user of both facilities in Washington, D.C. was of the opinion that the LOC has ten times the staffing of NARA!

We found ourselves a mere 24 hours behind schedule. The mornings topics were Census, Census-Substitute and Name List Strategies: Analysis, Interpretations and Correlation and Tax Roll Strategies: Analysis, Interpretations and Correlation by Dr. Thomas Jones. Jones has a wealth of professional genealogical experience which is brought to each lecture with examples. Of course, this leads into the Wednesday homework.

Richard Sayre, CG, was back in class talking about Rural and Urban Map Strategies: Analysis, Interpretations and Correlation. He pointed to the Library of Congress and its 5 million maps, 80,000 atlases and 6,000 reference works. He encouraged visiting it and the NARA location in College Park, Maryland, where there are another million+ maps. He spoke about the USGS topographical maps and showed how he was able to use them, along with other resources including Google Earth to pinpoint cemeteries. (Course 8 of the Samford Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research this June in Birmingham, Alabama will feature an entire week on maps!)

Then it was time for homework. The homework was a nine page assignment to find the father of a person who lived in the late 1700s in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. I spent a couple of hours hacking away at the problem and I spent a couple of hours at the Family History Library hacking away at my own research. In neither case did I solve any problems – does that sound familiar?

Jeffrey Vaillant
12 Jan 2011

11 January 2011

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2011 - Jeff's Report #3

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Jeff continues with his reports from the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Salt Lake City, Utah
Tuesday, 11 Jan 2011

As reported yesterday we have fallen behind in class. Today we explored the topics of Developing Research Questions and Hypotheses; Planning an Exhaustive Search along with Transcribing, Abstracting, Extracting, Quoting and Documenting Sources in the morning – which were supposed to be Monday mornings topics!

Richard Sayre, CG, presented an informational loaded Military and Pension Records Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation and Correlation. This presentation barely scratched the surface of the subject and offered numerous opportunities for further research. He and I had exchanged emails prior to the Institute so I was able to follow up with a conversation on the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Richard showed me a presentation he made on the GAR in St. Louis a few years ago. There is a concerted effort by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to identify all GAR records and their locations. Another part of his presentation that was useful to me was the section on the War of 1812. While this year we recognize the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, the bicentennial of the War of 1812 is next year. A great deal of planning is taking place in the Midwest.

Claire Bettag blitzed us with her presentation Federal Research: Government Documents. She talks fast and must have said “gov docs” three zillion times!! And she gave us our first homework assignment which was to work with the Library of Congress site and its Century of Lawmaking to determine the outcomes of several citizen requests for government payment due to contracts disputes with the federal government. She allowed as an alternative to pick a private law of our own. I chose to explore the pension request the daughter of Major Charles Fuller, US Army, 4th Regiment, War of 1812 made in 1889. I found it and there is still more work to be done – does that sound familiar?

Jeffrey Vaillant
11 Jan 2011

09 January 2011

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2011 - Jeff's Report #1

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

CGS Director Jeffrey Vaillant is continuing his pursuit of professional genealogical certification and is attending the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, January 10-14, 2011. As he did last year, Jeff is sending reports. Here's his first installment:

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Salt Lake City, Utah
Pre-course Work

As Dick Eastman puts it in his newsletter, I’m “on the road again” to the Salt Lake City Institute of Genealogy. This year’s trip started with pre-class work:

Course 9 Advanced Genealogical Methods Course Coordinator: Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA.   Participants will develop advanced genealogical research, analysis, correlation, and compilation skills. Hands-on activities drawn from original sources will enhance this learning. Examples will be drawn from American states and colonies and European countries. Before the course begins, participants will complete two pre-course reading assignments. Three in-course homework assignments will be optional.
Yes, I have done the pre-course work by reading the case studies several times. I am not too sure about the homework as it is described as one additional hour of class plus up to three hours of in-library research!

There are numerous evening lectures to attend. The Family History Library is open until 9 p.m. This is my third SLIG and I learned from the first time it is important to pace oneself.

A number (28) of this year's attendees have completed or are part of the ProGen Study Group. I was fortunate to be in the first group (April 2008–December 2009).

ProGen Study Groups are organized to encourage professional and aspiring genealogists to put into practice the principles found in Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers and Librarians, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. This program employs an innovative method of collaborative learning focused on developing genealogical research skills and business practices.   Each month group members study one or two chapters of Professional Genealogy and complete a practical assignment relating to the material. They meet online to discuss the topic in small group discussions. Members review each other's assignments and offer constructive feedback. The study program covers all of the chapters in the book, including research procedures and business practices. This program requires time and commitment, but provides a unique opportunity for constructive feedback from colleagues.   Each ProGen group has a BCG Certified Genealogist or ICAPGen Accredited Genealogist mentoring the group. These volunteer mentors participate in the monthly discussions to answer questions and offer guidance.
I would encourage anyone interested in broadening their genealogy foundation to consider ProGen as a means to accomplish such a goal.

I close with the following which outlines the learning for the next five days:

Developing an Evidence Orientation

Developing Research Questions and Hypotheses; Planning an Exhaustive Search

Transcribing, Abstracting, Extracting, Quoting, and Documenting Sources

Archival Research

Census, Census-Substitute, and Name-List Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Military and Pension Records Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Tax Roll Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Federal research: Government Documents

Rural and Urban Map Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Local Land Records: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Probate Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Bringing Law to Bear on Complex Genealogical Problems

Special Problems I: Finding Immigrant and Migrant Origins

Special Problems II: Identifying Female Ancestors

Special Problems III: Identifying Landless, Enslaved, Peasant, and Other Impoverished Ancestors

Resolving Conflicting Evidence

Correlating Sources, Information, and Evidence to Solve Genealogical Problems

Federal Land Records: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation

Writing Genealogy

Continued Advancement

Off to registration...
Jeffrey Vaillant
9 Jan 2011

16 January 2010

Report #6 and a Recap: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Here's Jeffrey Vaillant's last SLIG installment. Great reporting, Jeffrey!

Friday, 15 January 2010
Salt Lake City, Utah

The morning class began with a three-person panel discussing the Uniqueness of International AG Examinations. The panelists were Heidi Sugden, John Kitzmiller and Larry Jensen all of whom are deeply involved in the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) organization and all have positions at the Family History Library. They spoke to the application process for accreditation in a foreign subject, the language needs for the German and French areas and how to prepare. The "how to prepare for the exam" was study, study and study the sources available for the country AND be fluent in the language.

Karen Clifford followed with her presentation on Evaluating and Solving Research Problems and somewhat modified the syllabus by drilling down in some detail on report writing while doing research.

Next was Elaine Helgeson Hasleton (another three named female!) who spoke about The Oral Review: Purposes, Rubrics and Results. For the AG designation the candidate will answer questions about the four-generation report, discuss the latest genealogy project, discuss the written exam and respond to questions from the exam where the answer needs amplification. To demonstrate what might happen in the oral exam a role playing exercise was conducted.

Confession time again: I cut the last session on the AG Renewal Process (which like the CG is every five years). The Library was waiting with its books and microfilms for my attendance. I got some good electronic images on my flash drive of land records in Pottawattamie County, Iowa – aren’t you excited?

The institute ends with a banquet in the hotel and a program of recognitions by both the SLIG organization and the Utah Genealogical Association. The guest speakers - yes, two people - were a husband and wife who gave a great presentation on their 35 years experience doing research in Spain and France. They lead students from BYU on research trips overseas.

In spite of my cutting class I managed to get a completion certificate. What do I think about the week?

The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy is a solid program allowing the student to concentrate on a given subject for five days with guest lecturers throughout the course. I heard rave reviews for the classes Dr. Jones and Dr. Colletta taught. The meeting rooms and hotel (Radisson) were good including a 20% discount on all meals in the hotel Copper Canyon restaurant. I would recommend this Institute for a week partly because it is virtually next door to the Family History Library. I am staying an extra day to take advantage of the FHL.

What did I think about the AG/CG class? There were thirty people who signed up for the class of which eleven are from Utah and the rest of us from coast to coast. Class participation was good and there was the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. The difference between the AG and CG designation was clarified which was one of the reasons I took the course. Personally speaking, I will pursue the CG designation due to its research report writing emphasis over taking a written and oral exam.

Now it is off to Alabama in June for another solid week of learning at the Samford Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Registration opens Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. PST January 19, 2010.

Thank you for reading my reports.

- Jeffrey Vaillant

Read the entire series:
Report #1: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Report #2: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Report #3: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Report #4: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Report #5: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

15 January 2010

Report #5: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Jeffrey Vaillant writes that he is pacing himself and the proof is another report, written after a full day of classes and research, at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Thursday, 14 January 2010
Salt Lake City, Utah

Thursday and Friday are devoted to presentations by the folks from the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) about their accreditation process. This morning began with Kory Meyerink talking about Research Focus and Analysis of Documents. As a minor reminder, the ICAPGen is interested in seeing people qualify based on a geographic specialty via written and oral exams. Kory explained abstracting versus extracting documents and handed out a document for all the students to prepare giving us five short minutes to do so. Nothing like a little early morning pressure. We were looking at a colonial last will and testament. Then he followed with a Document Recognition Exercise where he flashed documents on a screen allowing us 30 seconds to identify the type of record, title/kind/name of record and author/creator/publisher of the image. I got 7 of the 15 shown – ugh.

Next Karen Clifford’s (only two names!) topic was Report Writing Under Pressure; however, technical difficulties with the computer delayed her start. It was the first such case this week. ICAPGen has three reports they expect their candidates to complete. First is a four generation report that covers a family within one geographic region. The second is part of the exam process where students are sent to the Family History Library with a research problem to solve in three hours with a written report and third is the final written report is for supplemental work. There was a great deal of emphasis on telling the client what was done and how it was done.

Karen followed herself with another presentation on Research Planning and how it counts in the accreditation process. She spent time on how to do a plan rather than how the plan fits into the process. She got into detail on the plan.

The afternoon session was by Anne Roach on Digital Resources for Credentialing Researchers which she posted at the Family Search Research Wiki. Well, that sure gave me an excuse to cut class (confession time?) and go to the Family History Library to spend six hours viewing microfilm. My research goal is to find the earliest Pierson line to get to Iowa so I spent time looking at more land plat records for Des Moines, BLM plat maps for Township 77N and 23W as well as the 1846 Iowa census.

The evening was topped off with another Thomas W. Jones lecture on Organizing Evidence to Overcome Record Shortages. He used an Irish family example that resulted in three trips to Ireland for his client to conduct an exhaustive search for records when there are no censuses, deed, probate or vital documents available. The time period of his study was the 1700’s. Then he correlated the findings, established identities from the records available, grouped the identities into generations and proposed relationships using the genealogical proof standard to justify the conclusions. Another spell binding presentation.

Wikipedia Lesson: “Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials or post-nominal titles, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of post-nominal letters.” The designation AG can be used when one becomes "accredited" or CG when one is "credentialed." A few individuals carry both designations. The longest string belongs to Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS!! He shows in his presentations that he has earned each designation. I am betting that he will pass his renewal for the CG designation!

- Jeffrey Vaillant

14 January 2010

Report #4: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Jeffrey Vaillant continues with his series from the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy:

Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Salt Lake City

Today was a full day with lectures during the daylight hours, research at the FHL and two more lectures at night. The morning started with two excellent presentations by Thomas W. Jones on Constructing Case Studies of Complex or Contradictory Evidence and Conventional Formats and BCG Standards for Kinship-Determination Projects – big subjects packed with information. It is almost impossible to summarize a Jones presentation but I will try. Constructing Case Studies literally talked about a study having a beginning, middle and end. The beginning sets up the research subject, the middle proof summary discusses the evidence bearing on the conclusion of the research question and the end is short and to the point summarizing how the evidence supported the finding. The Kinship-Determination Project was about the types of format one can use – genealogy, lineage, pedigree or case study – and the method to achieve the format chosen. In both lectures he amply supports the methodology with examples from his research.

The next presentation was by Jeanne Larzalere Bloom. (I am thinking that three names must be a requirement for women – Elissa Scalise Powell, Elizabeth Shown Mills, etc.) Jeanne spoke on The Family Tapestry: Integrating Proof Arguments Into the Genealogical Narrative. To obtain certification one must show at least two parent-child relationships in different generations. She went into some detail on proof arguments and how to use them effectively.

Elissa Scalise Powell completed the day’s presentations by discussing Selecting Projects for New and Renewal Portfolios. She presented general principles like: do follow the instructions but don’t over think them. She talked about the applicant-supplied documents, the research report, the case study and the kinship determination project for new applications. The information was clear and concise and generated considerable discussion for there are many of us interested in certification.

Then it was off to the Family History Library to look at microfilm of 1846 city plat maps for Des Moines, Polk, Iowa and the ultimate in eye strain. I did find my ggg-grandfather Mitchell Atkinson with property which may explain how his daughter Mary was there to meet her future husband, Galloway Mackintosh, who arrived from Scotland in 1850. Perhaps her father, a blacksmith, and Galloway, a stone mason, brought the trades people together?

Polk County Plat Book Vol. A 1846 Atkinson

Back to the hotel for two more lectures tonight. Thomas W. Jones's presentation on Kinship Determination was amply supported by research examples as he held all in attendance spellbound. Elissa followed with Rubik’s Cube Genealogy: A New Twist on Your Old Data emphasizing organizing data differently giving many examples and good ideas to apply.

- Jeffrey Vaillant

13 January 2010

Report #3: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Here's Jeffrey Vaillant's third report from the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy:

Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Salt Lake City

Today’s emphasis was on the Board for Certification of Genealogists with Elissa Scalise Powell Document Work: Research Focus, Document Analysis, Research Plan – all in 60 minutes. The lecture included an in-class exercise looking at a transcribed document testing our skills in proposing a research problem from the paper, analyzing the document in light of the research problem and designing a research plan. Papers were exchanged and reviewed – no names, no prisoners! The use of a document supplied by BCG and one supplied by the applicant both analyzed with a research plan is one of the requirements for certification.

Next up at the podium was Paula Stuart-Warren discussing Client Reports. Paula discussed the elements of the report along with its format. Client reports are part of the bread and butter for the professional genealogist AND a requirement for certification. Paula handed out a Funeral Record (from San Francisco of all places!) for our use as part of a report. This was a total class participation exercise after we broke into smaller groups to analyze the information.

The third session of the morning was Pamela Boyer Sayre who is in charge of Education at the National Genealogical Society who will be having their annual conference in Salt Lake City in April. Pamela took on Source Citation Principles which is a tough subject to discuss. Come on, we all love to correctly cite the information we have gathered, right? She did a great job and we all bowed down to Elizabeth Shown Mills, the goddess of source citation. Good news is that the new edition of Evidence Explained is out and its PDF version will be forthcoming – easier to carry around that 800+ page book on the computer than in-hand.

A break for lunch and then a heavy duty 90 minute Evidence Analysis Principles for Complex-Evidence Case Studies by Thomas W. Jones. He is a terrific speaker and kept us on the edge of our seats making terminology definitions with a myriad of examples. If you go to a conference where he is presenting get to all of his lectures. Tomorrow we have two more of his insights into genealogy.

Then it was time to escape to the Family History Library even though it is only a 2.5 block walk, it is about 19 degrees F—brrrrrrrr. The FHL is a "microfilm candy store" for one can simply walk up to the cabinet and get the film, unless it is storied in the vault. Of course, one of the reels I wanted was off-site. The FHL has the technology to put the images on one’s flash drive with no charge. For those of you thinking about going to the FHL with the CGS: get prepared.

- Jeffrey Vaillant

12 January 2010

Report #2: 2010 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Jeffrey Vaillant continues with his reports from the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Monday, 11 January 2010
Salt Lake City

The day began with breakfast – a good thing. Actually the breakfast was sponsored by the SLIG as a way to get us all going. It was the typical gathering of hungry genealogists listening to those administrative announcements that happen at every conference. We met all the course leaders and learned where all the classes will be held. Also, it appears we Californians cluster together as I sat with Ron Cannon from the north coast and a couple from Lake Tahoe. We cherish California weather.

The accreditation class began with two presentations/lectures introducing the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) program and application process. In the first presentation Karen Clifford and Ray Clifford spoke to the issue of tests. They pointed out that tests need to have validity, reliability and fairness.

Their accreditation process has three major components – the Application, the Written Test and the Oral Review. The five steps to accreditation are:

Determine which of the 39 accreditation area to apply (or go for all 39!)

Select a family you’ve researched back four generations prior to 1900

Fill out their application form showing your experience

Take the eight hour written exam—proctored

Attend the learning experience of the oral exam

The next two presentations/lectures were the introduction to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Elissa Scalise Powell spoke about why seek certification suggesting the learning process involved, the suggestions from the judges on the work submitted, a validation of skills, the peer recognition and respect gained, an acknowledgement of competence, self satisfaction and presenting oneself to savvy clients and referrals. My personal reason revolves around a validation of skills.

Powell distributed The BCG Application Guide booklet for our use. She went on to point out the seven steps taken for certification by the BCG. They are:

Agreement to a specific code of conduct

A background resume

Document work supplied by BCG

Document work supplied by the applicant

A research report

A case study

A Kinship-determination project

Debra S. Mieszala spoke about the third and fourth elements; namely transcribing and abstracting documents. She went into the standards that BCG applies in reviewing the transcription and abstracting work and pointed out that there were practice examples at their website. (There is a National Genealogical Society course on the same subject. I have taken this course and recommend it.) Mieszala handed out two examples of documents to transcribe which the class did and she pointed out the rubrics used to evaluate the work.

It was a good day of information. The classes let out “early” since the Family History Library is two blocks away. I’ll be heading there.

Later this afternoon those of us who are/were involved in the ProGen Study Groups as well as those part of the transitional genealogists’ email list will be having dinner together. This will be followed by a 7 p.m. Plenary Session presented by Barbara Renick on Overcoming the Perils of Research.

- Jeffrey Vaillant