Tag Archives: Fort Wayne Indiana

Conference Packing: What’s in YOUR suitcase?

Genealogical Education, , , , , , ,

suitcase of memoriesThe FGS conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana is about a month away. I am leaving for GRIP this Saturday. I will be going on a research trip to Salt Lake City in September. My summer travel plans are ticking by. Regardless, I do have a checklist for what to bring to any given event that’s genealogy related.

  1. Bring a sweater. I don’t know about you but even though it might be 90 degrees and 99 percent humidity outside, being inside can sometimes be like the arctic. For that matter it can also be 90 degrees and humid. My point being bring a sweater and dress in layers. There is nothing more miserable that being too hot or too cold. Be prepared.
  2. I have a small zipper pouch of essential office supplies: sticky notes, sticky flags, pens (1 ball point and a few colored felt-tipped), pencils, a few paperclips, highlighters (I prefer yellow), etc. I don’t use this as much as I used to, but I am one of those people who write in the books that I buy so I use these items a lot.
  3. Business cards. I will be milling about with fellow genealogists and potential clients, so it’s important to have some cards on hand at all times.
  4. I used to always bring my laptop, but since I got a blue tooth keyboard for my iPad, I am loving the lightweight portability of just carrying around a small bag rather than my backpack or rolling suitcase. (Don’t forget the chargers for all of the electronic devices!) When going on a research trip, I make sure that I have all of my files synced with my iPad, mainly my latest Reunion file. I also put all of my travel itineraries, hotel, air, car reservations in Evernote, which syncs to my iPad/iPhone.
  5. Pre-planned list of the programs I wish to attend. I will copy the syllabus to my iPad to have with me at the lectures. I have a .pdf viewing app that allows me to highlight and make notes right on the syllabus pages. No more need to print them out ahead of time, only to realize you printed the wrong pages, or carry around the giant books they used to give out at conferences.
  6. Leave extra suitcase space for the books you might buy and the free swag you will pick up.

Of course, the above list is in addition to all of the socks, undies, t-shirts, shorts/pants, and toothbrushes needed to have an enjoyable trip. Good reading material is a plus as well. I usually have the latest NGSQ or other genealogy book with me for the plane ride. I hope to see you at FGS or any of the other amazing genealogical conferences and institutes available throughout the year.

My FGS Conference Plans

Genealogical Education, , , , , ,

View of the downtown Fort Wayne skyline, looki...I recently decided to attend the FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) annual conference this year which is being held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, home of the Allen County Public Library, August 21-24, 2013. When I made my genealogy plans for the year, I hadn’t included FGS. I just had so many trips I wanted to take and I had to limit myself. However, several things lined up that allowed me to go. First of all, I have a travel companion that will help cut down expenses (you know who you are). Second, I have never been to the Allen County Public Library. Third, I really have a hard time resisting the chance to listen to wonderful speakers such as D. Joshua Taylor, John Colletta, Elizabeth Shown Mills, Tom Jones, Mark Lowe, Curt Witcher, George Morgan, and that’s just the beginning; there are dozens of great speakers on the schedule. Forth, did I mention the Allen County Public Library?

In addition to attending lectures that are sure to increase my knowledge and skills, I am planning on doing a bit of research at the Allen County Public Library. From their 16-minute Orientation Video I learned that the Genealogy Center in the ACPL has over 340,000 printed volumes including published family histories, county histories, directories and local records from across the United States and Canada as well as holdings for the British Isles, Ireland and Western Europe. Also, they have over 550,000 pieces of microfilm and microfiche. This video also walks you through each of their five genealogy rooms. ACPL is also the creator of PERSI (the Periodical Source Index) which indexes surnames and topics from periodicals.

I had some collateral ancestors in one of my brick walls that lived in Allen County. Carrill Long married Harry Rudd in Michigan. She was born in Missouri abt. 1892 and died in Fort Wayne, 12 July 1967. She is buried in Wood County, where the rest of her family lived. However, I don’t know a thing about her husband, Harry. I will be looking into Harry Rudd and why they moved to Fort Wayne. The couple are not buried together, she died before he did and I speculate that he remarried and is buried with his second wife. But I need to find the proof!

I am also very interested in learning about what other great treasures can be found at ACPL. Much of my ancestry is based in Wood County, Ohio, which is in the northwestern part of the state. Being that close to Allen County, I hope I might find other resources I had not discovered before. Family histories, county histories, periodicals, maps, microfilms, and more!

With all of the time I will be spending at the conference and then at the library, with their extended hours for conference attendees, I wonder if I will get any sleep! But who needs sleep with all of the great genealogy happening?

FGS Conference 2013 – Fort Wayne, Indiana

Genealogical Education,

fgs-conf-logo-2013The Federation of Genealogical Societies is hosting their 2013 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 21-24. You’re invited to attend and see what you think of the updates to genealogy. The theme for this year is “Journey Through Generations” and will have several tracks, one of which is a focus on Midwestern research which I am particularly interested in. I wanted to pass along some really great information about the conference. I have been highly impressed by the amount of online information that FGS has been giving to genealogists. Their conference blog is constantly full of new information about the plans for the conference, tips on planning research days around the conference, lists of repositories in the area, and lots more.

I am very excited by the various tracks being offered:

  • Records
  • Methodologies
  • Military
  • Transportation
  • Online resources
  • Genetics
  • Midwest and neighboring states, including repositories and religious communities
  • Federal records
  • Technology
  • Migration and immigration
  • Writing, speaking, and publishing
  • Ethnic origins and records, including European, German, African American, and British Isles

Check the program on the conference web site for specific presentations.

The exhibit hall, plus evening social programs Wednesday and Friday, round out a full genealogical experience for the next-to-last week of August. And next door to the Grand Wayne Center, the world-famous Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center will be offering extended research hours early and late during the conference. Since I have never visited this library I am excited to be able to at least take a look and learn firsthand what is available and possibly plan a research trip in the future.

Learn More about FGS 2013 and Stay Connected
Visit the conference website at http://www.fgsconference.org
Find the latest news on the conference blog at http://www.fgsconferenceblog.com
Like the conference on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FGSconference
Follow the conference on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/FGSconference and hashtag #FGS2013