Speaker Spotlight: Julie Miller, CG

Julie is a Kentucky native and has lived in Mississippi, South Dakota, Indiana, Arizona, Texas and has resided in Colorado for the past 19 years. She has been involved in genealogy since she started researching her own family in 1976.

Julie has been active in genealogy society management for over 11 years in various local and national societies. She is NGS Vice President, NGS 2010 and 2012 conference chair, and has been a volunteer at the National Archives, Rocky Mountain Region for 15 years.

Lectures that Julie will be presenting:

W146, Wednesday, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
"Search for Ancestors in Passenger Arrival Records"
This lecture starts with a short review of the passenger arrival records that are available and what information is found in those records. The majority of the lecture covers difficult problems that may be encountered when reaching passenger lists and the importance of dissecting the records and analyzing the information in order to reveal all of their potential worth. This session is for you if you have some experience in passenger arrival list research.
 
T223, Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
"When Grandpa Comes Marching Home Again"
Civil War pension files are filled with genealogical information but are often large and intimidating. This lecture begins with a review of the documents usually included in a Civil War pension file. It then discusses how to make sense of the file by organizing, extracting and analyzing the documents and information. This lecture is for you if you have acquired a pension file (or any large file of documents) and want some ideas about how to find the hidden treasures contained within these files.

F326, Friday, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
"Catholic Church Research in the Southeast"
Catholic Church records can provide information about our ancestors for periods when civil vital records do not exist. These records are well-known for their reliability and value to genealogical researchers. This lecture discusses the different types of Catholic Church records available, what you can expect to find in the records, and how to locate the records with a special emphasis on the locating records in the Southeast United States. No prior knowledge of Catholic Church records is needed to attend this session.

S404. Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Kids' Kamp
This program is for children between the ages of eight and sixteen. The Kamp features a variety of age-appropriate activities that help children gain an appreciation of and a connection to their ancestry. Included in the Kamp are activities focusing on the requirements for the Boy Scout Genealogy Merit Badge and the Girl Scout My Heritage Badge. This  is a fun and unique opportunity to get your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and scout troops interested in their family history.

Speaker Spotlight: Julie Miller, CG

Expand your reach and build your reputation

FREE Presentation Recording Service by FamilySearch

Do you teach a family history class in your society, family history center, or at local conferences? FamilySearch is offering a FREE presentation recording service in conjunction with the NGS conference in Charleston May 9-14. At no cost to you, FamilySearch will record your class and provide you a digital copy, plus post the recording online. All recordings will be done with audio and video included.

Benefits of recording your class:

• Reach hundreds of people online through familysearch.org
• Build your teaching reputation
• Receive a copy of the recording to post on your website
• Share your unique genealogical expertise

Possible family history teaching topics:

• Research in a state or county – especially in SC, NC, GA or FL
• Research tools specific to a state or county
• Record types or collections
• Technology resources

Reserve your recording session today at: tinyurl.com/familysearchonlinelessons

Expand your reach and build your reputation

Speaker Spotlight: Tom Magnuson

W164 - Ground Transportation and Routes in Early Colonial Carolina on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

The Trading Path Association (TPA) has studied muscle powered transportation physics to understand what was possible in land transportation when our ancestors moved about the interior of the continent quite out of sight of government.  Those studies culminated in current projects for the mapping of our common past by mapping our roads, trails and paths.  In fact TPA research uncovered the fact that there are numerous visible traces of Native American foot paths, early colonial horse trails, and 17th and 18th century wagon roads.  The TPA also learned that, until the middle of the 19th century, very few people lived more than a few feet from their main source of information, their road.  With these discoveries the TPA set out on a project to map and protect the landscapes of our common past because those remnants point to the archaeological evidence that will tell us who was where, when, and what they were doing. 

This talk will describe basic pre-modern transportation physics and some of the growing number of internet tools available for coming to grips with how our forbearers got from hither to yon.

Thomas R. Magnuson is Trading Path Association founder and co-founder of the Historic Mapping Congress, which studies muscle-powered transportation and labors for the protection of
colonial landscapes.

Speaker Spotlight: Tom Magnuson

Tips for First Time Conference Attendees

Program highlights

• The conference has a number of tracks or lecture themes. When you register, we ask you to indicate the lectures you plan to attend so we can anticipate the audience size for each lecture, but you can change your selection and attend any lecture in any track.
• If you are new to genealogy, we recommend the Family History Skills Track, which covers the basic records you need to research your family. Experienced speakers will tell you how to analyze each type of record while providing many examples from their research.
• If you have been researching for a while, you might enjoy the methodology lectures in which you will learn how to hone your research skills to help break through your brick walls.
• If you have been researching for some time and want to improve your genealogical skills, then the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Skillbuilding Track may be your preference.
• You are free to move from track to track throughout the day and conference.  However, as a courtesy to the speaker, please do not leave a lecture once it has begun.
• Some lectures will be well attended. The largest lecture rooms will hold 500 people. Some of the specialty lectures will be in smaller rooms with limited space. If there is a lecture you really want to hear, we recommend you find your seat twenty minutes before the lecture begins.
• Many of the lectures will be recorded and available for purchase for $12 each at the conference and after the conference through a link on the NGS website.  If there are two or more lectures you want to hear at the same time, check the program. Lectures not being recorded will have a pen in the lecture square indicating you need to take notes.
• Each lecture has a number assigned: Wednesday lectures begin with a W, Thursday with a T, Friday with a F, and Saturday with an S. The lectures on Wednesday begin with 101, on Thursday with 201, on Friday with 301, and on Saturday with 401. Understanding the numbering system will help you find lectures in the Syllabus and order recorded lectures on CD ROM.

Exhibit hall

• As you enter the exhibit hall you will see the National Genealogical Society booth. Stop by and see our publications, including the Research in the States series, and talk to our staff about education courses. Many conference attendees collect conference pins. The Charleston pin includes a picture by local artist Madeline Carol.
• There will be over one hundred vendors in the exhibit hall. Ancestry.com and FamilySearch will have large booths with computers available to search for your ancestors. There will also be several booksellers and a number of vendors selling family history software. If you have not yet purchased family history software, the exhibit hall offers a great opportunity to compare the features and benefits of each alternative.
• The largest genealogy societies and professional organizations will also have booths.  You will have an opportunity to visit with the officers and staff, view their publications, and ask questions.
• If you make too many purchases to fit everything in your suitcase, UPS will be available in the exhibit hall on Saturday to handle any shipments home.
• Bring return address labels to use when signing up for drawings in the Exhibit Hall. Social events.
• There will be three luncheons each day sponsored by a major genealogical society or organization. Each luncheon includes a speaker. The speaker, title of the talk, and menu are listed in the registration brochure, which is available as a PDF online at http://tinyurl.com/yjhnx89.
• Luncheons provide networking opportunities for you to meet other genealogists. If you prefer to browse the exhibit hall instead, a food concession will be open each day through the lunch hour. The Embassy Suites will also have a daily luncheon buffet for $13.25 plus tax.
• The South Carolina Genealogical Society is our local host. On Wednesday night they will host a wine and cheese reception at the Charleston Visitor’s Center followed by a tour of the Charleston Museum. Details can be found in the registration brochure at http://tinyurl.com/yjhnx89. Register soon because only a few tickets are still available.
• Also on Wednesday night the South Carolina Genealogical Society will host a dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina. This is your chance to see the beautiful Charleston skyline from the water and enjoy the scenic views along the Ashley River. The cost is $70, which includes bus transportation.
• On Thursday night the South Carolina Genealogical Society will host a southern barbeque at the Charleston Rifle Club. Entertainment will include Irish Dancers. The cost is $35, which includes bus transportation.
• Check the registration brochure for more details and departure times and locations. You may register for these events through 26 April 2011 or until they are sold out.

Conference syllabus

We ask each speaker to submit a four-page summary of the highlights of their lecture. We print these summaries in a syllabus. The syllabus is available to all paid conference registrants on CD. About two weeks before the conference, we will make the syllabus available for your review on the conference website. You will be sent an e-mail letting you know when it is available. This early release provides you with an opportunity to print the summaries for the lectures you plan to attend. We will also have syllabus print stations at the conference, but you will be limited to printing 20 pages at a time. When you check in you will receive the CD, and the printed syllabus if you ordered one for $20 before the early bird cut-off, 11 March 2011. 

Networking at the Conference

• Be sure to take business cards or a small pad of paper so you can exchange contact information with people you meet at the conference.
• You may also want to bring your family history database on a flash drive so you can share your gedcom file with any cousins you meet. It is also always good to have a recent back up.

When you arrive at the conference

• If you pre-registered for the conference, you will pick up the conference materials at a booth in the lobby of the convention center labeled “Attendee Check-In.” The booth will be open from  noon until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 May 2011, and will open at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. You will need to show personal identification. Before you leave the booth area, check to make sure you have all the tickets for events you purchased when you registered.
• Your name tag provides you with access to all the lectures and the two general sessions. Be sure to wear your name tag at all times. You will need a ticket to the paid social events. The last day to purchase tickets for the social events is 26 April 2011. However, we recommend you purchase tickets as soon as possible, as space is limited and the events are filling up quickly.
• You will receive a tote bag with your program and other conference materials. Put your name on your program in case you lose it. We only print enough copies for each attendee to receive one. The tote bag will help you carry your program materials as well as purchases you make in the exhibit hall.

What to pack

• Business casual clothes are proper attire for most of the conference. If you have registered for the NGS Banquet, business attire or a cocktail dress is appropriate. You will notice the speakers all wear business attire.
• Convention centers can be cold, so be sure to bring a sweater or jacket to wear during the day.
• Comfortable shoes are a must.
• South Carolina is warm and beautiful in May. However, you may need a sweater or jacket if you go out for the evening, especially if you are taking the dinner cruise on Wednesday night. 
• A shower is possible any day during the week, so you may want to pack a small umbrella.

Where to research

• Review the “Places to Research in Charleston” on the conference blog. Check this area from time to time as more information is being added. 

Sightseeing and dining

• Historic downtown Charleston is twelve miles away. If you are staying at the Embassy Suites you can take a shuttle downtown for $10 each way, or find a friend and share a cab.
• Charleston has wonderful restaurants. Most require reservations, especially on the weekend.
• Charleston barbeque may be prepared with a local yellow sauce or the  traditional red sauce, so when you see it on a menu you should ask how the barbeque was prepared. 
• “The Hospitality Booth” across from “Attendee Check-In” will have a comprehensive visitors guide available.

Airport and parking

• The Charleston Airport is less than five miles from the convention center and hotels.
• All of the conference hotels have a shuttle that will pick you up at the airport. Have their phone number handy and call them as soon as you have your luggage.
• If you leave your hotel in North Charleston ninety minutes before your flight departs Charleston, you should have plenty of time to make your flight.
• If you are driving to the conference, parking at the convention center  is only $5 per day.  Parking is free at all of the seven conference hotels. A trolley will run Wednesday through Friday from the six conference hotels  to the convention center. The Embassy Suites is connected to the convention center by a covered walkway. The trolley schedule is posted on the NGS conference blog.

Tips for First Time Conference Attendees

Join the National Genealogical Society

I have been a member of the National Genealogical Society for two years – and I wish I’d joined years ago.  It’s the best investment in my own genealogical development, research, and information in a long time.  First, the mission of NGS is excellent and they pursue their goals through a variety of different methods.  The NGS Quarterly and the NGS Magazine are published quarterly and are both outstanding genealogical publications.  NGS has also digitized several years of back issues for both publications and, as a member, you can access and download them to your own computer.  NGS also has a large selection of excellent “Research in the States Series” monographs that will guide you in genealogical research for a number of specific states, and many more will be published in the next few years.   

Those are just a few of the outstanding resources I have thoroughly enjoyed using and having at my fingertips through my NGS membership.  Explore their website, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/, and you will find numerous other outstanding educational and informational programs and resources that I have not yet explored.  
One of the best parts of dealing with the NGS is the professional, efficient, and friendly NGS staff.  They have been excellent in every request and query I have made of them during my time as a member.  Meet them while you’re at the conference in Charleston, and you will enjoy dealing with them for months after you go home.  

I encourage you to join the National Genealogical Society while you’re at the conference in Charleston, South Carolina.  You will not be sorry you did. 

Don Rightmyer
Kentucky Historical Society
Kentucky

Join the National Genealogical Society

Exhibitor Spotlight

Coming to the Table, Eastern Mennonite University – Booth 130     
                               
Coming to the Table is inspired by the call of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that "one day...the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." It is a program of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, which is internationally acclaimed for its work in conflict transformation and restorative justice. Our group was launched by descendants of people linked by ancestral slave / slaveholder relationships. Several members are descendants of America's Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The Coming to the Table healing model teaches people how to overcome the continuing trauma of slavery and achieve positive interracial relationships.

Genealogy is an important part of our work. Several of our members have been able to make connections across the centuries to inform relationships that thrive in today's world. Our exhibit booth will be manned by amateur genealogists David Pettee and Sharon Morgan.

David's family has connections to slavery in New England, beginning in 1638. His journey of reckoning took him to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana to follow in the footsteps of an ancestor who sailed in the transatlantic slave trade. He has used genealogical research to connect with a family in Queens, New York whose ancestor was enslaved by David's ancestor in Newport, Rhode Island. More recently, DNA testing revealed that he has multiracial heritage. David is a minister and works for the Unitarian Universalist Association. 

Sharon's ancestors were enslaved in Alabama and Mississippi. She has spent much of her life trying to reconstruct her family history. Her genealogical research led to the discovery of several living people who were totally unaware of their multicultural heritage beginning in the era of slavery. Her work inspired her to create a website to help others undertake their own research and to become involved with Coming to the Table.

Visit booth #130 to learn about the work of Coming to the Table through a visual display, videos and conversation.

Visit http://www.comingtothetable.org/ for more information about our organization and www.emu.edu/peacebuilder to learn more about the peacebuilding programs of Eastern Mennonite University.

JustaJoy.com – Booth 510

JustaJoy.com is a matching service for "orphaned artifacts, antiques and heirlooms" in the possession of thousands of antique dealers around the world.  Each listing on the site is an original, one-of-a kind item associated with at least one identifiable surname.  Items include such things as Civil War letters, yearbooks, newspapers, advertising pieces, engraved trophies and silver, funeral cards, uniforms and other clothing, furniture, art, identified pictures and other images, slave documents, Civil War US Colored troops items, ceramics, weapons, vintage signs, Bibles and other religious articles, books, wanted posters, WWI and WWII commemoratives and medals, and much more.

So often it seems that executors of estates don't value family items and often these items end up in the hands of collectors or antique dealers.  JustaJoy.com attempts to reunite these precious items to the people who would cherish them the most.

Exhibitor Spotlight

Conference Hotel Availability

We have had a few enquiries about the NGS room block availability at the conference hotels. The Hampton Inn Airport/Coliseum and the Crowne Plaza both have room availability at the NGS conference rates. The information about these hotels are listed below and both these hotels are services by the trolley for the conference. For more information about the trolley schedule, please go to http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/trolley

 

Hampton Inn Airport/Coliseum4701 Saul White Blvd.
North Charleston, SC 29418
Website: http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/CHSACHX-NGS-20110510/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Telephone: 843-554-7154

Distance to Convention Center: 0.8 miles

 

Rate: $119
All rooms include free high-speed wireless Internet.
Valid for stay through: 10–14 May 2011
Cancellation: 30 days prior

 

Crowne Plaza4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd.
North Charleston, SC 29418
Telephone: 843-740-7028
Distance to Convention Center: 1.08 miles

 

Rate: $134
All rooms include free high-speed wireless Internet, and breakfast. Valid for stay through: 9–15 May 2011
Cancellation: 6:00 p.m. the day before check in.

 

     

Conference Hotel Availability

Research the Week of the Conference

South Carolina Historical Society

The archives and library of the South Carolina Historical Society will welcome NGS conference attendees on Tuesday, 10 May and Thursday, 12 May from 9 am to 6 pm.  Due to limited seating capacity in our library, we ask that NGS conference attendees make research appointments in advance. Three- hour blocks of time will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Within each research interval, there are slots for 8 researchers.  Please email Mary Jo Fairchild maryjo.fairchild@schsonline.org to set up an appointment. If you plan to visit the SCHS, we also encourage you to visit our website www.schsonline.org and online catalog (a link is provided at the bottom of the website’s homepage) in order to familiarize yourself with our holdings, research guidelines and resources pertaining to your interest(s).

Appointment times are as follows:

Tuesday, 10 May
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
12:00 pm to 3:00
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Thursday, 12 May
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
12:00 pm to 3:00
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Please note that members of the South Carolina Historical Society are free to conduct research at the Fireproof Building as often as they like without charge. Non-members, however, must pay a $5 research fee per day to use our library. Membership forms will be available at the conference.

The South Carolina Historical Society is located in the Fireproof Building at the southeast corner of Meeting and Chalmers Streets (100 Meeting Street). To get there follow Interstate 26 east to the end and take the Meeting St./Visitor Info exit. Turn right onto Meeting Street and continue for approximately 1.5 miles. The Fireproof Building will be on the left at the corner of Meeting and Chalmers Streets. You can also find us using MapQuest or Google Maps.

The South Carolina Historical Society does not have its own parking facility. Metered street parking is available in the surrounding area, and the city operates several public parking garages in the vicinity. Parking is also available in the Charleston County Garage on the right side of Meeting Street just past Hibernian Hall.

The Huguenot Society of South Carolina

The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, established in 1885, is dedicated to the preservation of the history and genealogy of French Protestant refugees who left France prior to 1787.  Membership in the Society is offered to all descendants of such refugees, regardless of where they settled after leaving France.  Membership information is on the website of the Society, www.huguenotsociety.org, or can be obtained from the Society office at 138 Logan Street, Charleston, SC, or by calling 843-723-3235.

The Society maintains a library offering resources for historical and genealogical research.  An archivist/researcher is available for assistance. The research fee for non-members is $10.00.

During the NGS 2011 Family History Conference the Society will be open during its regular hours from 9am-2pm, Monday-Friday.  In addition, to insure that we can provide adequate attention to researchers, the Society will be open by special appointment from 2-5, Monday-Friday.  Pre-registration and payment are required for appointments between 2 and 5 pm and are strongly recommended during regular hours.

Research the Week of the Conference

Research Opportunities in Charleston

South Carolina History and Genealogy Room, Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401, 843-805-6930, http://www.ccpl.org.

South Carolina Historical Society, 100 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401, 843-723-3225, http://www.schistory.org.

The Library Society, 164 King St., Charleston, SC 29401, 843-723-9912, http://www.charlestonlibrarysociety.org.

The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, 138 Logan St., Charleston, SC 29401,  843-723-3235, http://www.huguenotsociety.org, by appointment.

Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture, 125 Bull St., Charleston, SC 29401, 843-953-7609, http://avery.cofc.edu.

College of Charleston Library & Archive, including special collections, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, 205 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401, 843-953-8016, http://spinner.cofc.edu/~speccoll/Main.html.

Diocese of Charleston Archives, 114 (rear) Broad St, Charleston, SC 29402, 843-724-8372, http://www.catholic-doc.org/archives, by appointment.

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Archives, 405 King St., Charleston, SC 29403, 843-723-1611, http://www.smlccharleston.org, by appointment.

Research Trip to the South Carolina Department of Archives & History

There are still a few seats left for the research trip to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia, South Carolina. Motor coaches will leave from the Embassy Suites Hotel at 8:15 a.m., Tuesday, 10 May 2011 and arrive at the Archives approximately two hours later. The buses will return to the hotel at approximately 5:30 p.m. A barbecue buffet lunch is included in the price of $40. Due to limited space at the Archives, the tour is limited to the first 100 people who register at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration.

For more details about the records at the Archives visit http://archives.sc.gov.



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Research Opportunities in Charleston