was held on Saturday February 24, 2007
Hilton Garden Inn
St. Charles, Illinois
| Time | Title/Speaker | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Registration & Browsing | Browsing in the Vendor Areas. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase in the morning. |
| 9:00 AM (1A) |
Trace Your Roots with DNA Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak |
With amazing swiftness, "genetealogy" (the marriage of genetics and genealogy) is graduating from pioneering research to standard practice. But what is it exactly and how can we use it to further our genealogical endeavors? Come hear one of the co-authors of Trace Your Roots with DNA discuss her own and others' experience launching and managing a DNA project, including such considerations as test and vendor selection factors, privacy, and convincing others to participate. Covers Y-DNA/surname testing only
|
| 9:00 AM (1B) |
More Than Land Descriptions: Treasures Among the Deeds Linda Woodward Geiger |
Examples and case studies are used to demonstrate how deeds and other records in deed books can surprise us and sometimes prove long sought relationships. |
| 9:00 AM (1C) |
Tips for using a Scanner or Digital Camera Eric Curtis M. Basir (Bond) |
Learn about how to scan and--in some cases--photograph original photos and documents for optimum quality. Using a flatbed scanner, Eric will share helpful tips for scanning single photos, multiple photos, salt-n-pepper photos, newspaper, oversized originals and documents. |
| 10:30 AM (2A) |
Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genealogy Options Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak |
Surname studies using Y-DNA tests are a popular and obvious application of genetic testing for genealogical purposes, but are you aware of your other options? Come learn about mtDNA, SNP, BioGeographical and ethnic tests, as well as the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation and the Genographic Project, and determine if one or more of them is right for you. |
| 10:30 AM (2B) |
When There's Not a Will: There May Be a Way Linda Woodward Geiger |
Extending research beyond the "wills" may help break down brick walls by proving or suggesting relationships. |
| 10:30 AM (2C) |
The Pathways of Our Ancestors: Three Research Trails Patricia Reaves |
Tracing three different ancestors in three centuries will yield quite different research materials specific to certain times and places in German history. Examples of documents, German scipt, and research opportunities will be explored for each century. In additon, basic pronunciation of the German language will be taught. |
| 11:45 AM | Luncheon and Browsing |
Luncheon and time to visit the vendors.
|
| 1:30 PM (3A) |
Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak |
Although genealogy is at its heart the study of long-deceased ancestors, connecting with living relatives has become almost as important to many family historians. Some seek living kin in an effort to track down family photos; others do it to find family history playmates or DNA project participants. A few pioneers have begun exercising their skills to save lives - to locate potential donors or warn of possible medical dangers. Whatever the motivation, one of the most addicting aspects of genealogy is the thrill of finding distant cousins, or in some cases, parents, children, or siblings. But this "reverse genealogy" (working from the past to the present) has its own special challenges and requires the researcher to be part genealogist and part private investigator. This presentation covers proven techniques for tracing 20th century friends and relatives from the past to the present. |
| 1:30 PM (3B) |
Documentation: Never Having to Ask, "Where Did That Come From?" Linda Woodward Geiger |
Tried and True Tips to Assure Successful Documentation. Examples are used to illustrate the importance of documentation and helpful tips are offered to help make the documentation process an excellent habit. |
| 1:30 PM (3C) |
German Research Along the Cook and DuPage County Line Patricia Reaves |
Amazing research trends and history can be explored in the Greater Chicago suburban areas. Historic preservation, the collection of information of early settlers, their legacy, migration, and their German roots and culture are a focus of this workshop. The mass exodus from especially Hannover and north German regions are central to the the key genealogical question: How can one find the town of origin, and where does one go from there? |
| 3:00 PM (4A) |
Jump-Starting Your Eastern European Research Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak |
Certain aspects of Eastern European families - such as the relative rarity of many of our surnames and the timing of our arrival in North America - make particular records and techniques more useful than others for going back to the old country. This presentation covers those records that will help you identify your village(s) of origin and make contact with your European cousins most quickly. The best of the ever-expanding toolbox of Internet resources are discussed, as well port and naturalization records, Social Security applications, and FHL microfilms from Eastern Europe. Real world success stories - and a few potential pitfalls - are also shared. |
| 3:00 PM (4B) |
Getting the Most From Your Records Linda Woodward Geiger |
You've found the document, now put it through the wringer. Consider: genealogical standards; provenance; jurisdiction; possible biases, etc.
|
| 3:00 PM (4C) |
Making Sense of the Census Jeffrey A. Bockman |
Review of the US Federal Census Records. Find out: Who gave the information? Why doesn't it all agree? How to use the Census to find other records. How to use other records to find your ancestors who are "Not in the Census." |
He also has an extensive portfolio of work with advertising agencies, publishers and professional photographers. Eric has met with over a dozen genealogical societies, demonstrating his skills and sharing techniques for restoring and preserving photographs using home computers.
Since 2002, Eric has taught Photo Restoration Basics and Advanced Photoshop courses at the Evanston Township Adult Continuing Education Center in Evanston, IL. He also produces DVD tutorials on the subject. He is the author of "Ask the Retoucher," a column published in many genealogical quarterlies in the United States and abroad.
www.abetterreality.net
Jeffrey A. Bockman MBA, Chairman of the Chicagoland Genealogical Consortium & The Local Arrangements Chair for the 2006 NGS Conference. Past 3-term president of the Du Page County (IL) Genealogical Society, genealogical lecturer, instructor, and writer. Presented at the 2006 NGS, 2003, 2001 and 1998 FGS Conferences. He was a frequent feature writer for Heritage Quest Magazine and he has had articles published in the FGS Forum, Family Tree Magazine (UK), and Missing Links. He is the author of the booklet "A Gift That Money Can't Buy."
www.JeffBockman.com
Linda Woodward Geiger is the principal researcher, author, and lecturer, of Woodward-Geiger.com (a subdivision of Vitaline, Inc.). Although she specializes in Georgia's state and county records prior to 1900 and a variety of federal records, particularly of the southeast region of the United States, she has extensive experience in many other geographic regions of the United States. Her personal research involves New England records. She also specializes in methods for finding elusive ancestors--those mighty brick walls. Her list of lecture topics provides more details on specific records which she regularly researches.
She is an associate of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), holding credentials as a Certified Genealogistsm and as a Certified Genealogical Lecturersm. She is the editor of the BCG newsletter, OnBoard.
Linda and J. Mark Lowe, CGsm, are principals of Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance (RIGS Alliance), a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, the International Webmasters Association, and a member of numerous genealogical and historical societies.
www.woodward-geiger.com
Patricia Reaves has worked as a genealogical consultant, researcher, and professional translator for the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Patricia currently teaches German, History, and English as a Second Language at Riverside/Brookfield High School. In addition, she also researches the history of some of the German immigrants in the Chicago area.
Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, that's her real name), author of Honoring Our Ancestors: Inspiring Stories of the Quest for Our Roots, In Search of Our Ancestors: 101 Inspiring Stories of Serendipity and Connection in Rediscovering Our Family History, and They Came to America: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors, has been an avid genealogist since the 6th grade and is skilled in many aspects of family history research.
As lead researcher for the PBS Ancestors series, she delved into over 5,000 genealogical stories and developed much of the content for the companion website. She has subsequently consulted for other television programs, including PBS's award-winning They Came to America and BBC’s Timewatch (regarding the identification of sailors’ remains recovered from the USS Monitor).
Since 2000, Megan has also been a consultant with the U.S. Army's Repatriation project to trace families of servicemen killed or MIA in Korea, WWII and Vietnam. The intent is to develop a DNA-database from relatives' blood samples so that remains that are now being repatriated can be identified and interred. She has supported this and more than 60 other genealogical initiatives through her Honoring Our Ancestors Grants Program.
www.honoringourancestors.com
