NGS 2011 Family History Conference: April 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

Stay Connected

Stay connected before, during and after the NGS 2011 Family History Conference with Social Media tools dedicated to sharing information and connecting individuals around the conference.

Tools to follow at the NGS 2011 Family History Conference:

NGS Facebook Connect with members and attendees at the NGS 2011 Family History Conference	NGS Conference Blog Keep the conversation going, check out the NGS Conference blog
Twitter NGS 2011 Conference (#ngs2011)	NGS YouTube

Social Media Policy

NGS does not permit the recording of presentations at the NGS Family History Conference under any circumstances or in any form or media, including but not limited to audio recordings, video recordings, or literal transcripts, except by specific written permission. JAMB, Inc. contracts with NGS to audio record the lectures of speakers who provide their written consent to be recorded. CD's may be purchased at the conference or ordered after the conference for $12 per CD.

NGS does permit and encourage the use of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and blogging at the conference as a way to summarize, highlight, excerpt, review, critique, and/or promote the presented materials, syllabus materials, or the conference in general, provided that (1) the material is not shared in full and (2) the author/speaker is referenced and cited appropriately in each case. Please keep in mind that our presenters have invested many hours into the development of this material and copyright laws apply.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Plan Ahead

Before you leave home, decide which lectures you would like to attend. Click here, to download the daily schedule for the conference, which includes information on whether the session is being taped or not, room location etc.

To view and download syllabus pages for those lectures from the NGS website, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/2011syllabus. Many speakers will refer to these pages in their lectures.

Note: Due to the large size of the file, please follow the instructions on the page to download and view the file successfully.

Visit the NGS Booth #201

Hot off the Presses!

Research in the States Series

Research in South Carolina

Research in Georgia

Stop by the NGS booth and browse our new publications, novelty items, educational courses, and more!

Meet the NGS Quarterly Editors

Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS
Melinde Lutz Sandborn, CG, FASG
Friday, 13 May 2011, 2:30 p.m.—3:30 p.m.

New Educational Offering

Daily Raffle at the NGS Booth

Wednesday, 11 May 2011: Free conference registration to the NGS 2012 Family History Conference
Thursday, 12 May 2011: American Genealogy Special Topics Series—Combo CD
Friday, 13 May 2011: Choice of two Research in the States Series publications
Saturday, 14 May 2011: Annual NGS membership

All winners will be announced at 4:45 p.m., except for Saturday when the drawing will be held at 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

NGS Booth - New Educational Offering, Introduction to Civil War Records

The National Genealogical Society proudly announces the release of its newest educational course, Introduction to Civil War Records, developed by renowned military expert Craig R. Scott, CG at the NGS Family History Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

Craig R. Scott is a nationally recognized lecturer, educator, and genealogical and historical researcher with more than thirty years experience. He is a member of the Company of Military Historians and specializes in the diverse military records at the National Archives.

Now Craig brings his military expertise to NGS with the Introduction to Civil War Records. In this course, he focuses on current genealogical practices of research.

In this six-chapter course, he will teach you strategies to identify and locate information on an ancestor living at the time of the Civil War. You will learn about numerous records created for, during, and after the war, such as compiled service records, prisoners of war record, pension files and indexes, and post-war records to name a few.

This course is available on CD-ROM as a PDF file for $35.00. Craig will make a personal appearance on Saturday, 14 May, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for questions and autographs.

Ancestry — Focus Group Participation

Do you have a lot to say about Family Tree Maker? Then we want to hear from you. As part of the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, Family Tree Maker will be holding a focus group at 12:30 p.m, on Thursday, 12 May 2011, to find out what you think about the product. If you are attending the conference—or are in the area—and are interested in being considered as a participant in the discussion, please email us at conferences@ancestry.com and include this information:

The version of Family Tree Maker you are currently using
How long you've used Family Tree Maker
Genealogy skill level: beginning, experienced, expert

We look forward to hearing from you!

Monday, April 25, 2011

26 April 2011 - Pre-Registration Deadline

Countdown to the NGS 2011 Family History Conference - only 15 more days!

There are over 186 lecture sessions at the NGS conference ranging in topic from technology skills; to military records; to ethnic research; to methodology and skillbuilding! Read more.

There will be nearly 90 different exhibitors in this year's exhibit hall -- just about anything you want or need to help you with your genealogical research. Read more.

Location

Charleston, South Carolina has a very interesting history. Did you know that Charleston's cobble stone streets were built built from the ballast (stone weights) of ships? Did you know that the Western Hemisphere's longest cable-stayed bridge, the Arthur J. Ravenel Jr bridge, spans the Charleston Harbor? The bridge connects Charleston and Mount Pleasant. Visit Charleston in May and share your love of family history with over 2,000 other family historians.

Registration

Pre-registration for the NGS 2011 Family History Conference ends 26 April 2011. So be sure you register today! You can also register on-site at the North Charleston Convention Center beginning 10 May 2011. Location details and hours are listed below.

Announcement: National Genealogical Society Banquet Speaker will be Patrick McCawley

We regret to inform you that Stephen B. Bacon, Maj. USAF (Ret), will be unable to deliver the National Genealogical Society Banquet talk Friday, 13 May 2011, due to circumstances beyond his control. We have been fortunate on such short notice to find Patrick McCawley, who is also an expert on many aspects of the Civil War in South Carolina.

Patrick McCawley, Archival Processing Supervisor at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, will talk about “The Destruction of Records in South Carolina during the Civil War.” His talk will provide an overview of recordkeeping in South Carolina on the eve of the war, a review of military operations during the war, and the effect those operations had on the survival of local and state records. In particular he will discuss the march of General Sherman’s army through the state and the courthouses and records destroyed as a result.

McCawley began his career with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in 1986 as Reference Archivist. His interest in military history led him to become familiar with the department’s military records and, in his twenty-five years with the Archives, has become an expert on its Civil War holdings. His current duties include assessing and accessioning all incoming records from the state or local governments, preparing the records for research use, and maintaining the electronic guide to the archival collection, all within a restricted budget in a recessionary environment.

McCawley’s interest in history began at an early age, fostered by the Time-Life books his father collected and family trips to Manassas and Antietam battlefields. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a BA in American History in 1984. His focus during his college years was World War II military history with an emphasis on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. McCawley also attended the Applied History graduate program at the University of South Carolina. More recently he has attended the annual Southeastern Archives and Records Conference and has participated in panels for the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators.

In 1991, McCawley wrote a small pamphlet on Confederate records which led to a more complete Guide to Civil War Records: A Guide to Records at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History published in 1994. In 1997, the department published the Selected Civil War Bibliography, a 44-page list of South Carolina related Civil War books and articles. In 1999, McCawley co-edited, with Alexia J. Helsley, The Many Faces of Slavery, a reader of selected slave related documents from the department’s collection geared towards use in the classroom. McCawley has also written several articles for historical journals and several Civil War related entries for the Encyclopedia of South Carolina. He has also had two “guest appearances” on PBS’s The History Detectives.

Patrick McCawley resides with his family in Chapin, South Carolina.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

"A Meeting of Souls" - Madeline Carol

Charleston's High Battery has welcomed generations of locals and tourist alike to experience our historic city. To embrace the experience, one only has to imagine the echo's of the souls of previous generations whispering the past is still present. In "A Meeting of Souls", Madeline Carol creates the reality of the past meeting the spirits of the future. Experience the magic of the past colliding with the future and face the Charleston Harbor, our gateway to the world, heighten your senses and let the magic begin. Click here to read more.

Monday, April 18, 2011

The Variety Store

It’s not what you think. It’s a lot more!

The Variety Store is one of the best restaurants in Charleston for breakfast, lunch or dinner and anything in between. They also cater parties and outings of all kinds, as much or as little as you want.

The Variety Store has been a family run business for three generations of “Altines.” The Variety Store was started by the first Mike Altine at the Charleston City Marina as a place you could purchase snacks, soft drinks, fishing gear, etc. Over the years it was expanded into a full restaurant but it has remained a variety store selling some groceries (bread and milk), newspapers, magazines, and providing use of a washing machine and dryer for marina residents.

The best thing about the Variety Store is the food! I highly recommend the club sandwich or she-crab soup for lunch and the fresh fish of the day for dinner. Breakfast is up to you. I like them all!

Marguerite Bishop
Local Host Chair

[The Variety Store is located at the Charleston Marina on the Ashley River and is one of the sponsors of the South Carolina Genealogical Society’s Wednesday evening Wine and Cheese and Museum Tour event at the NGS Conference.]

Friday, April 15, 2011

Affordable Sustenance in Downtown Charleston

Let me add a few thoughts to Jan Alpert’s Charleston restaurant perspective. As a local, living in the Charleston Historic District, I surely agree with her that lunch is a great, economical alternative to the prices (and crowds) of evening fine dining. And while Charleston has its share of James Beard award winners and Iron Chef competitors, if you aren’t a ‘foodie’ and just want tasty, affordable sustenance, there are other places to go. None of these need reservations.

Whether you are looking for lunch or dinner, my first suggestion is to head up King Street (north of Market). On the 4 blocks between Wentworth and Calhoun you’ll find an abundance of budget--friendly casual dining choices. This area is one of Charleston’s primary shopping streets, but it also adjoins the College of Charleston campus. You can have barbecue at Jim N Nick’s, burgers at any number of places, a great appetizer sampler at the King Street Grille (sports bar), chicken at the Kickin’ Chicken, pizza at Mellow Mushroom or Pop’s New York Pizza, Mediterranean at Sermet’s (they also offer smaller portion alternatives on their dinner menu) and several Mexican choices. And if you venture off King Street by ½ block in either direction, you’ll find some other choices including Chopsticks House (Chinese on Society Street) and the ever-popular lunch spot, Jack’s Café (a limited menu, extremely affordable basic lunch only choice on George Street).

If it’s upscale casual you seek, try Caviar and Bananas on George Street (½ block west of King). They have made to order upscale sandwiches (e.g. duck confit), sushi, and lots of wonderful prepared foods for takeout or very limited dine in seating.

Now, let’s talk desserts. Bread pudding, my husband’s favorite is available at many places. He likes the version at Poogan’s Porch on Queen Street. If you want ice cream, try Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry’s in the Market area or Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe on King Street. There are also several new frozen yogurt places on King. If you’re looking for pies and cakes, you’ll love Kaminsky’s on North Market.

And when you want an afternoon iced tea or other social beverage, try the rooftop at Market Pavilion hotel (Market and East Bay) for a great view, the Mills House Hotel courtyard (Queen and Meeting) or the very casual Blind Tiger Pub (on Broad Street between Church and State) where you walk through the bar to an enclosed courtyard out back.

There’s no shortage of places to drink, dine or socialize. Charleston’s social past is still present. Enjoy!

Pat Kruger
Charleston, South Carolina

Monday, April 11, 2011

Speaker Spotlight: Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL

An article in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported on a fire at the Military Personal Records Center in July 1973. On prophetic line said that the fire “created an administrative nightmare which may torment the U.S. Military establishment for years to come.”

Beginning in 2005, the Archival Division of the Military Personal Records Center, St. Louis began opening the military files to the public. Now they receive approximately 5,000 requests per day.

For years, rumors were circulated about the fire, records found, and files destroyed. What records are in St. Louis? Ever wondered what records were burned? How they preserve the remaining files? What you might find in a file? What determines if the file was archival or a regular restricted file?

On Saturday at 4:00 p.m., the genealogical community will hear about the fire, the resulting aftermath, and the records one can obtain in a lecture by Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL, a local St. Louis researcher, who uses the St. Louis NARA Military Personal Records Center.

Friday, April 8, 2011

One person’s perspective on Charleston restaurants

I’ve visited Charleston many times and each trip usually includes several meals. At the upcoming NGS 2011 Family History Conference, the Hospitality Booth, across from Attendee Check-In, will have copies of the 2011 Official Visitors Guide for Charleston (Guide). The Guide is almost 200 pages and includes “what to see” and “where to dine.” My preference is to have lunch in Charleston because the servings are smaller, the prices are lower, and the quality is the same. If you are in Charleston over the weekend, several of the restaurants mentioned below have a brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

One of my favorite restaurants for Lowcountry cuisine, including fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits, is Magnolia’s, 185 East Bay St., Charleston, 843-577-7771, http://www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com/.

Poogan’s Porch, 72 Queen St., Charleston, 843-577-2337, http://www.poogansporch.com/, is another choice for southern hospitality and Lowcountry fare in the historic area.

Virginia’s on King, 412 King St., Charleston, 843-735-8500, http://www.virginiasonking.com/, has great barbeque sliders, pimento cheese sandwiches, and cornbread.

If you want to eat seafood on the water, the choice is Fleet Landing, 186 Concord St., Charleston, 843-722-8100, http://www.fleetlanding.net/.

Another tourists’ favorite is Hyman’s Seafood, 215 Meeting St., Charleston, 843-723-6000, http://www.hymanseafood.com/. They don’t take reservations and there is usually a line at peak meal times. The specialty is crispy flounder which fills your plate and the sides are served in separate dishes. When you think you’re done you turn the flounder over and eat the other side. My husband always orders something else because he knows he’s getting about half of my flounder.

If you are a vegetarian, I would recommend the Hominy Grill, 207 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, 843-937-0930, http://www.hominygrill.com/, which has a vegetable plate entre in addition to its other southern fare. The Hominy Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you are looking for an upscale restaurant and an outstanding dinner you will remember, my choices are Anson’s, Fig, and McCrady’s which are only open for dinner: Anson’s, 12 Anson St., Charleston, 843-577-0551, http://www.ansonrestaurant.com/; Fig, 232 Meeting St., 843-805-5900, http://www.eatatfig.com/; and McCrady’s, 2 Unity Alley, Charleston, 843-577-0025, http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/.

There are many great restaurants to choose from and I have only listed those in which I have personally dined in the last couple of years. If you have others you would like to recommend to conference attendees, send you recommendations to conference@ngsgenealogy.org for posting on the blog or simply post back under the comments section at the end of this post.

Jan Alpert
Conference Chair

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Speaker Spotlight: Don Rightmyer

Don Rightmyer, editor, Kentucky Ancestors (quarterly genealogical publication of the Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, Kentucky), writer, and lecturer. Following a 24-year U.S. Air Force career, Don worked as a reference librarian for eight years before taking over Kentucky Ancestors. He has spoken on a variety of genealogical, Civil War, and Kentucky historical topics at national, regional, and local levels.

Migration Routes into Kentucky

Traveling to the trans-Appalachian region of colonial Virginia in the late 1700s? Over 200,000 people made that trip in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. The two primary routes were down the Ohio River or through the Cumberland Gap by way of the Wilderness Trail. Don Rightmyer will describe what the experience was like for ancestors who made that trip and began a new life “on the western waters.”

Monday, April 4, 2011

Surname Catalog - Network at the NGS 2011 Family History Conference

We are pleased to announce a new feature for conference attendees this year. Follow this link http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/surname_search to a Surname Catalog where you can list surnames you are researching as well as information about the years you have researched each name. You can also show the migration pattern for each surname using a list of state and country abbreviations. The instructions for submitting surname listings are on the “Surname Catalog Entry” page. Since this feature is only available to conference attendees, you must log in to submit surnames.

If everyone who is interested in participating can list their surnames by 20 April 2011, then conference attendees will have time to search the list to see if another conference attendee is researching the same surname. The Surname Catalog provides an e-mail link so you can make contact with the person who listed each surname. NGS is providing this service so conference attendees can exchange information and hopefully meet a new cousin at the conference.

You can only enter surname listings until 4 May 2011. We will keep the surname catalog available to search through the conference. If there is sufficient interest, NGS may expand the Surname Catalog to all NGS members later this summer. We would appreciate your feedback as to the ease of using the catalog as well as any successful connections made.

If you have difficulty accessing the page, contact gkher@ngsgenealogy.org. If you have any feedback on the Surname Catalog, contact conference@ngsgenealogy.org.

Ancestry Day

Are you getting the most out of your Ancestry.com subscription? Need ideas to help you grow and organize your family tree? If so, don’t miss Ancestry Day on Saturday, 14 May 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Exhibit Hall C of the North Charleston Convention Center.

Register Today

Schedule

The following is the schedule of this fun and exciting day:

8:00 a.m. Ancestry Day check-in opens
9:00 a.m. NGS Exhibit Hall Opens
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Getting the most of Ancestry.com search
11:00 a.m. – noon Overlooked Secrets in Census Records
Noon – 2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Searching Your African-American Roots on Ancestry.com
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Getting the Most from Family Tree Maker

How to Register

Click here to register today.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Speaker Spotlight - Claire Bettag, CG, CGL

Claire Bettag, CG, CGL, lecturer, writer, and editor, has served as trustee for BCG, APG, and NGS; director of NIGR; and co-editor of the NGSQ.

BOUNTY-LAND RECORDS AT NARA

Looking for an ancestor who might have had bounty land? You might learn something in this presentation, as bounty-land research can be puzzling, sometimes involving multiple search paths to various records. Researchers working in the bounty-land records of the National Archives (NARA)—whether on site or online—frequently fail to consult all available records. At least two NARA record groups are involved: Record Group 15 for the bounty-land applications, and Record Group 49 for the surrendered bounty-land warrants. In general, the applications are more valuable for genealogical purposes, but researchers should always consult both, as some surrendered warrant files can provide a great deal of information. Various indexes to both applications and surrendered warrants are available. Some indexes, however, are incomplete. Especially for applications, unproductive index searches must be complemented by searches in unindexed record series at the National Archives. This discussion will guide researchers to all available records, and will look at many examples along the way.

RESEARCH REPORTS
If you’re like most researchers, you love the excitement of the chase, the search, the quest. You are not so excited by the prospect of writing a report about that quest. While this discussion can promise no “easy way out” and no way to avoid writing reports, it will present the essential elements for written reports—whether written for clients, for friends and relatives, or for your own files. There may be no way to make writing a research report fun for everyone, but perhaps developing a template and reporting habits can make the task less onerous.

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