Allen County Public Library Genealogy Research Tour 2013

Fort Wayne, Indiana Research Tour

Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

August 11-18, 2013

Join CGS President, Jeffrey Vaillant for the sixth California Genealogical Society research tour to the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Whether you have visited before or this is your first time, you will enjoy your week at the best public genealogy library in the United States.

Jeff will provide individualized attention in Ft. Wayne to help you with your research problems. Planning meetings can be arranged by phone or in person prior to the trip.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Seven days, double occupancy, at the Marriott Courtyard Fort Wayne
• Free shuttle service to and from airport
• Two group dinners (Monday and Saturday)
• Breakfasts each morning
• Library orientation and a lecture, TBA

Register online.

Space is limited to fifteen participants. For full information, please download the tour flier. Questions? Email Jeffrey Vaillant.

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is the home of PERSI (PERiodical Source Index), searchable on Ancestry.com or HeritageQuest. ACPL has over 513,000 rolls of microfilm and 55,000 compiled genealogy volumes, an impressive collection of state and territorial censuses, and many other resources unique to this library. Be sure to browse the Genealogy Center's online databases and search the library's online catalog.

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

Report Two from NGS 2013

I had a chance to sit down with 2013 Conference Chair Stefani Evans to talk about the collaboration with local genealogical societies.

NGS 2013 Conference Chair Stefani Evans, CG

Stefani explained that "normally" the NGS Annual Conference partners with one or two large groups to serve as "local host societies" who are asked to provide more than 400 volunteer hours to help staff and run the four-day event. Since none of the local Las Vegas groups were large enough to supply that kind of woman/manpower, a new model had to be created.

Evans put out a call to several organizations and for the first time a coalition of six "hosts" was formed, representing "a really good demographic in genealogy."

Centennial Las Vegas Genealogy Society
Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society
Jewish Genealogy Society of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas FamilySearch Library
Nevada African American Genealogy Society
Nevada State Society Daughters of the American Revolution

One positive outcome for the local societies is a new spirit of cooperation and collaboration going forward. Stefani calls it "cross-pollinating" since host members are joining each other's groups. She sees it as a positive example for groups across the country who sometimes exist in isolation from each other.

Well done, Las Vegas area societies! And thank you, Stefani Evans.


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

First Report from NGS 2013

Every genealogy conference is jam-packed with learning opportunities and this year's National Genealogical Society Family History Conference is no exception. I've been using the handy Conference App to organize my schedule and exchange information with old friends and new acquaintances.

Marian L. Smith, chief of the historical research branch of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

The conference started Wednesday morning with a lively Opening Session. Marian L. Smith, chief of the historical research branch of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), delivered the keynote address, "People, Policy, and Records: The Importance of Historical Background. Smith told the fascinating story of her quest to solve the mystery of the origins of the Morton Allen Directory of European Passenger Ship Arrivals. She summed up her tale of dogged perseverance with this advice: "Some questions take years to answer. Be prepared to be surprised. Question your sources."

Mariachi Los Bravos

After welcoming speeches, awards, memorials, the talented Mariachi Los Bravos, from the J. D. Smith Middle School of Las Vegas, serenaded attendees from the auditorium to the exhibit hall.

Mariachi Los Bravos

On Day one I took the opportunity to hear lectures by two giants of genealogy research methodology. 

Dr. Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS    

Dr. Thomas Jones presented "Debunking Misleading Records."
 

Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

Elizabeth Shown Mills' first lecture was "The Genealogical Proof Standard in Action! Case Building When No Record States an Answer!"

For members who aren't able to attend the conference, NGS contracts with JAMB-Inc to record sessions and provide CDs (price: $12) which can be ordered online. It will take about a week for the 2013 recordings to be uploaded to the website. Also available are recordings from the previous annual conferences back to 2007.



Photographs (C) 2013 by the National Genealogical Society, Inc. Used by permission of the National Genealogical Society and the photographer, Scott Stewart. [Thanks you, NGS and Scott Stewart!]

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

Wordless Wednesday

Members at the National Genealogical Society

2013 Family History Conference

Las Vegas, Nevada

Photograph courtesy of Caroline Pointer.


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

Off to the NGS 2013 Family History Conference

Are you attending this year's NGS Family History Conference? It's relatively rare for the national societies to host their annual meetings in the western states so this is a great opportunity for genealogists on the left coast.

In fact, before the Salt Lake City meeting in 2010, the annual conference was last in the West in 2004 (Sacramento) and in 2001 (Portland). The Federation of Genealogical Society (FGS) was in Salt Lake City in 2005 and in Ontario, California in 2002.

I've been designated one of the conference "official bloggers" so I'll be posting reports and Tweeting (#NGS2013) from the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Among the other bloggers are fellow California Genealogical Society members Sandra Benward and Denise Levenick. Our board member Kim Cotton will also be attending.

It's become a tradition for CGS members to meet at conferences for a group photo, so if you are going and you haven't let me know yet, email me or send a message via Twitter. I've got our blue ribbons (thanks, Tim Cox!) so be sure to find me.


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