Let's Connect at NGS 2022!

The National Genealogical Society Family History Conference is back in person this year! And y'all I am so ready to meet face-to-face! 

I've had the profound blessing to make many new friends and colleagues in the genealogy community over the last couple of years. We've had countless opportunities for online education, conferences, workshops, and institutes - all from the comfort of home. But there's something special about being together, in person, to meet for coffee or lunch, and to feel the buzz of excitement in a classroom. That's why I can't wait for this year's NGS 2022 Conference - Our American Mosaic in Sacramento, California!

This year, I'm presenting two lectures at NGS 2022 Conference on topics that I absolutely love: Greek and Virginia research! And if you're not able to make it in person, I also recorded these two talks for the On-Demand section of the conference. 

Chancery Records in Virginia

On Wednesday, 25 May at 10am, I’ll present “Your Ancestors on ‘Judge Judy’: Using Chancery Records in Virginia.” 

Virginia family history research is particularly rich in its availability of chancery records. In this presentation, we’ll learn what chancery court was, the information these records contain, and how to find them (hint: many are online!) Last, we’ll discover the amazing ways chancery can fill in your timelines and break down your brick walls! 

This course is listed under Eastern States and you'll find me Wednesday morning in room A2.

Greek Genealogy

On Thursday, 26 May at 9:30am, I’ll present “As Greek as Feta and Spanakopita: Finding Greek Roots in DNA and US Records.” 

I love researching Greek families and working with Greek DNA results. Many Greeks are surprised by their ethnicity results and get lost in how to interpret them. What’s more, if you’re unfamiliar with the Greek language or Greek naming conventions, you might start to research the wrong family! In this presentation, we’ll look at Greek identity through the lens of history. We’ll discuss Greek Orthodox Church records and how to use them in the US. Then we’ll explore naming conventions and how to use US records to track Greek American families.

You can find this course listed under DNA, and Europe & Middle Eastern. Don't miss this talk in room A4!

More information

You can find the entire schedule - with the ability to sort lectures by speaker, track, and more - at this link. Don't forget to download the Whova app and add my courses to your schedule!

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The goal for both of my lectures is for participants to walk away feeling energized and excited to put the information to use! These are two topics I'm passionate about, and I hope some of this enthusiasm proves helpful to your research.

Are you attending NGS 2022? Let's connect!

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Planning a Family History Trip

The weather is cooling down, the Fall decorations are going up, and the Pumpkin Spice fairies have returned turning lattes everywhere a shade of orange. It's also the perfect time for a short road trip, a chance to stretch our travel legs after a long year and a half cooped up since COVID took center stage. So what's a genealogist to do, but plan a family history trip!?

I've been meaning to visit Halifax County, Virginia, for years now. It's the place a quarter of my family lived for generations, and yet it remains something of an enigma to me. So I went ahead and made a plan, and I'm heading to Halifax this weekend for a short but much needed trip. 

How can you plan a family history trip? Come along with me as I share what I've done to prepare to visit the land of my ancestors!

Get your bearings

Before we can plan any trip, we have to get our bearings - to discover the place we're going to see. There are several ways we can do that, but I start with Google Maps. 

When you search for a county on Google Maps, the county outline will appear on the map. This is great because it helps us see the boundaries of the county. In the case of Halifax County, there's a lot to see and explore! So to make it more manageable, I've saved important spots as I've discovered them.

Here, you can see where I've selected an important location in my family's story, Ingram Christian Church. To save a location to your map, you just select "save" next to directions. I've made a list called "Halifax" for myself, which you can see above.

You'll want to figure out how far your destination is from home - Halifax is a 3 hour drive - so I'll have to leave early in the morning. I found a convenient (and super affordable) place on airbnb, which I would definitely recommend. Next, it's planning where to go!

Taking time for research

For Virginia research, I'm spoiled with the Library of Virginia whose resources are seemingly endless. But there are special sources that are only available on the ground in local courthouses, community archives, libraries, and museums. So before any genealogy trip, we need to discover where these locations are, their hours and accessibility, and what can only be discovered on site. We need to check out what we already have on our ancestors and where there are holes in our research. 

Along with getting our bearings for our trip, we should discover the history and resources available for the place we're going. Wikipedia is a great first stop for history and context of a new place. For example, I can learn that Halifax County had just barely 36,000 people in 2010. It's still a very rural place! 

Next, we should always look at the FamilySearch wiki. For Halifax County, we can see what records are available for research there as well as history that's relevant for our search. It's always important to check out the parent county from which our focus location was formed. Halifax was formed in 1752 from Lunenburg County, which had been formed in 1745 from Brunswick County. You can track the genealogy of Virginia counties (or any state's counties for that matter) over at the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Project from the Newberry Library. Aside from being an amazing resource, it's tons of fun to use their interactive maps.

My plan includes stopping at these important locations:

• Halifax County Circuit Court
• Genealogy and Research Center at the South Boston – Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History
• Chaffin House at the Halifax County Historical Society

There's only so much I can do in one day, and I also want to see all that Halifax has to offer. So I have to make a plan to see the places my ancestors would have known!

Seeing the sights

A family history trip is much more than a research trip. We can do research in so many places these days, but its a rare treat to walk where our ancestors walked. I have a few places I know I have to visit while I'm in Halifax.

I love cemeteries, y'all! I've written before how we can seek ancestors in cemeteries, so no family history trip would be complete without a cemetery trip (or two or three!) With ancestors from two sides of my family from Halifax, I have a lot of cemeteries to seek out. We can find cemeteries on Find a Grave but we can also discover these important places in our ancestors' records. Death certificates are the easiest place to find cemetery names and locations for our family members since the 20th century.

If your family lived in cities, you can find their addresses in city directories and on the U.S. census. This is a fun way to visit our ancestral homes and to see the places that cultivated our family in the past. My mom's grandfather was from South Boston in Halifax, a quaint town of about 8,000 people. My grandmother remembers her great-aunts and great-uncle who lived together unmarried into old age in South Boston. I found the home on Google Maps, saved it to my list, and I'm looking forward to sending a photo to my grandmother. 

I'll also visit the location where my ancestor Meades Anderson formed Meadville in 1787. The town diminished over the years, but the name still can be found on street, church, and school names in the area. 

And don't worry, y'all! I'll try to have some fun too. The Halifax Chamber of Commerce has a list of things to do, and Halifax County tourism has a list too! If only I had a few weeks to see and do it all...

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Planning a family history trip should be fun. It's a chance to discover what we know and what we don't yet know about our ancestral homelands. In this case, my homeland is a three-hour drive from home. It's a place filled with the sights and sounds my great-grandfathers knew well and which I have yet to discover for myself. Well, that all changes this Friday! Stay tuned for the story of Sam in Halifax!

Have you planned a family history trip before? Will you be planning one for this Fall or Winter?

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Digging Deeper to Find Missing Records

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do outside was to dig holes. Deep holes! Holes that might eventually lead to China, even! In my backyard, my friend Ben and I would compete to see whose hole was deeper. During elementary school, I would dig in the playground sand until I hit that beautiful Virginia clay I could make things out of. And when I went to the beach, I would dig until I hit water.

As determined as I was as a child, am I as determined with the holes in my genealogy research? Have I left any research question shallow and forgotten? Where might I return to take my research just a bit deeper?

Well, guess what, y'all? I found a hole in my research recently and it was a great learning opportunity for me. I was *so* sure that a marriage record for a particular couple simply didn't exist. Or, if it did, it was in a different state. 

But then I found that marriage record! How could it be so? I had written *two* research reports about this couple, and still hadn't found that elusive record. What changed?

When we are working on a research question, our goal should be to search in all the available places to find the evidence we need to answer that question. We need to nurture a critical eye, we need to be thorough, and we need to know WHERE to look.

In my search for a particular marriage record, I had a few pieces of information that could help me:

• The man was single in 1920 and a widower in 1930.
• The woman died in 1926 in Richmond, Virginia.
• The man lived in Powhatan County, Virginia, in 1920 and in Chesterfield County, Virginia, in 1930.
• The woman was born - according to her husband as the informant on her death certificate - in North Carolina.
• I had both people's whole names - but the surnames are unfortunately very common.

Where would you search first for the marriage record? Here were my thoughts:

• Powhatan or Chesterfield County, Virginia - where the man lived before and after.
• Richmond City, Virginia - where the woman died.
• North Carolina or even South Carolina (where the woman's parents were possibly from).

Where had I looked?

• In person - Powhatan County marriage register book
• Online - Ancestry databases
• U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999
• Virginia, U.S., Extracted Vital Records, 1660-1923
• Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940

Helpful resources that wouldn't help this case because of years covered:

• Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1700-1850
• Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014

I searched all of these databases, but they are only that - databases. The marriage record images for later years are available on Ancestry, but not for the years between 1920 and 1930. Where might I find a marriage record in Chesterfield or Richmond? The Library of Virginia lists available records on their microfilm. These microfilm are accessible at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, and they're viewable on computers. This helps researchers who can then save images to a flash drive. 

• Chesterfield marriages 1853-1935 on Reel 12
• Richmond City marriages for the 1920s are in three reels at Library of Virginia
• Reel 71, 1916-1920
• Reel 72, 1920-1925
• Reel 73, 1925-1934

Great news, right!? They're available at LVA! But guess what, folks? I didn't search these microfilm. I made the mistake we might all fall into sometimes in earlier stages in our research. We assume if we didn't find it before, we must have searched all of these resources. 

The researcher we are today isn't the same researcher as we were yesterday. Today, we have more experience!

So what did I do? I first checked to see if those marriage records were accessible online at FamilySearch. There I found this database collection:

• Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935

But that must be the same database as the ones available on Ancestry right? I mean, they share so many records with Ancestry... Don't assume, y'all! Just don't do it. Because guess what I found after a simple search in that collection? The index to their marriage in 1922 in Richmond, Virginia! 

We should never stop at an online index. We need to view the actual record - if at all possible. In this case, the Richmond City marriage register is on microfilm and is digitized by FamilySearch; it's accessible, though, only at a Family History Center or an Affiliate Library. Luckily, I have an Affiliate Library 10 minutes from my work. 

So I took a trip to that library and now I have a digital image of their entry in the Richmond City marriage register from 1922! I just need to see if the original marriage certificate is available. That might have additional details not available on the marriage register.

Lessons

1. Dig deeper. Think you already looked there? Well, you should have a research log that tells you if you looked there already. If not, start keeping a research log of where and when you looked for a record.
2. Discover what's out there. You can't know what you don't know. If you don't know the available databases, available microfilm, or digitized records...you can't know where to search or browse for records.
3. Sometimes records DO exist. Sometimes they don't. But the fact that you haven't found them *yet* doesn't mean they're not waiting to be found.
4. Don't ASSUME. Just don't do it, y'all! I assumed in this case and it cost me time and frustration.

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Family history and genealogy research takes determination. It takes the focus and concentration of a 6-year-old boy from Chesterfield County on a quest to make it to China. It takes the humility of a child too to know when to admit that we haven't looked everywhere, just yet. 

In your research, have you left a research question with a shallow search? Have you dug everywhere you can? 

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

*Photo by Jeremy McKnight on Unsplash

TIGR 2021 is coming soon!!

Can you believe it's already mid-May!? If you're anything like me, time might feel like it's flying these days. I wanted to make sure you've gotten the chance to register for TIGR 2021 before it's too late!

This June 13–18, 2021, you have a great opportunity to further your family history at the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) hosted by the Texas State Genealogical Society!

But as you might imagine – with an event coming up in less than a month – there aren't many spaces left. So this is the heads up that there are SOME spaces left in the following courses:

• From Spanish Rule to Republic: Research in the Lone Star State
• African Americans in the South
• DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy

Click on the links in each of the course titles above to learn more about the amazing course content, the instructors, and the schedule for each. 

You can learn more about all of the faculty at TIGR by clicking here.

Registration 

Each course is limited to 40 participants; registration is $475 and is open until May 31, 2021. 

To register, click here.

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Have you attended a genealogy institute before? I hope you'll consider registering for one of this year's TIGR courses! But don't forget – time is running out! So register today!

If you have any questions about TIGR this year, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll do my best to help you find answers to your questions.

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash.

Discover DNA Fundamentals at TIGR

DNA testing for genealogy has become one of the most popular topics today in family history. As with any new tool or newly discovered record set, there's a learning curve as we work to most fully utilize all that this can offer our research. There are conferences with a variety of classes on using DNA, there are weekend conferences dedicated to the subject, and there are even institutes on DNA as well. 

This summer, from June 13–18, 2021, you have the opportunity to explore the various uses of DNA to further your family history at the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) hosted by the Texas State Genealogical Society! 

DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy

The institute on DNA this year at TIGR is called DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy.

Over the course of one week, this institute will cover Y-DNA (paternal line), mtDNA (maternal line), autosomal DNA, X-DNA, and how to use these types of DNA for your research. There will be an emphasis on hands-on learning, and using DNA tools to answer your brick wall research questions. Daily homework will allow you to put these skills to work and the instructors will guide you to better understand the newest and most useful DNA resources.

You can explore the full schedule here.

Course Instructors

This course is coordinated by Patti Lee Hobbs. Additional instructors are Dana Leeds, Jennifer Stone Randolph, and Debbie Parker Wayne. 

Patti Lee Hobbs, CG, this TIGR course coordinator, has a BA in biology and instructs on the use and analysis of DNA testing for genealogy. She is a professional genealogist, assisting at the Springfield-Greene County Library in Springfield, Missouri, and is a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She has taught at IGHR and GRIP and has published an article in the March 2017 issue of the NGSQ.

Dana Leeds, has a BS in Biology Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and later taught middle school science. She is known for her DNA match cluster organizational tool, the Leeds Method. She has taught her method of working with DNA matches at numerous conferences and various societies.

Jennifer Stone Randolph, MSc, has a BA in Anthropology and an MSc in Epidemiology. She is a professional genealogist focusing on New England and using DNA for unknown parentage. Additionally, she is a Research Scientist at Dartmouth College and is a genealogy lecturer. 

Debbie Parker Wayne, CG, CGL, co-authored Genetic Genealogy in Practice with Blaine T. Bettinger in 2016 and is the author of the online course through NGS Continuing Genealogical Studies: Autosomal DNA. She has lectured on forensic genealogy and genetic genealogy at various conferences and has coordinated institutes on DNA at IGHR, GRIP, and SLIG.

You can learn more about all of the faculty at TIGR by clicking here.

Using DNA in Genealogy

I am so excited that TIGR has this course on DNA this year! It is such an important topic, and the instructors are fantastic! You can learn more about this institute by watching the introductory video by Patti Lee Hobbs at the TIGR YouTube channel. 

You can learn more about using DNA for genealogy by reading some of my past blog posts:

Organizing DNA Matches

Using Descendancy Research and DNA to Scale a Brick Wall

A DNA Inspired Family Reunion - Part 3

Cracks in an Impossible Brick Wall

Registration 

The course is limited to 40 participants, so register today! Registration is open now, and if you sign up before April 30, 2021, the cost is $425 for non-members of Texas State Genealogical Society. 

Registration after May 1,2021 is $475 and is open until May 31, 2021.

To register, click here.

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I love using DNA in my research. In fact, it's part of my daily research - using autosomal DNA as well as Y-DNA research to work on some of my hardest-to-crack brick wall cases. I'm sure this insititute is going to be vital to breaking down the brick walls in the research of those who attend it.

Have you attended a genealogy institute before? I hope you'll consider this year's TIGR course on DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy!

If you have any questions about TIGR this year, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll do my best to help you find answers to your questions. 

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Texas Roots before 1845

Do you have ancestors or relatives who live(d) in Texas? Have you wondered how to research Texans before Texas became a state in the union?

I've written about TIGR before, giving an overview of the institute, and I also detailed the TIGR course on "African Americans in the South". This post will highlight another of the excellent course offerings this year.

Dive into Texan genealogy with "From Spanish Rule to Republic: Research in the Lone Star State," the week-long course at the virtual Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) this June 13–18, 2021!

Texas became a state when the Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States on 29 December 1845. Power was formally transferred to the new state from the Republic on 19 February 1846.

Once a part of the United States, Texans would appear in U.S. Federal records like any other state. But where does one go to find those very same Texans before this important date of 1845? How does a researcher find a Texan during the Republic of Texas or in the time of Spanish Rule?

From Spanish Rule to Republic: Research in the Lone Star State

"This course will provide a foundation for researching ancestors in pre-statehood Texas. Students will learn how to find and analyze key record collections from the Spanish, Mexican, and Republic eras, and gain an understanding of what life was like for their ancestors in those time periods."

Highlights of the course

• Hispanic Research Fundamentals
• Spanish Colonial Texas 1703-1836: Jurisdictions and Migration
• Catholic Records
• Language techniques
• Land records
• Colonial censuses
• Civil registrations
• Tax and military records

To read the full schedule of this institute course, including all of the sessions during the week, click here.

Faculty

There are excellent faculty at TIGR, bringing a breadth of research experience, professionalism, and teaching skills. This course is coordinated by Kelvin L. Meyers and Colleen Robledo Greene who are joined by six other instructors from various disciplines. 

Kevin L. Meyers - Co-Coordinator - Kevin is a fifth generation Texan, a professional forensic genealogist, and is the director of TIGR. He specializes in southern brick wall problems, and has taught at IGHR and SLIG.

Colleen Robledo Greene - Co-Coordinator - Colleen is a librarian, genealogist, and educator especially focused on methodology and Hispanic research. Her personal research is focused on Mexico, California, and Texas. 

Henrietta Martinez Christmas - Henrietta is a native New Mexican - with deep roots documented to 1598 with soldiers coming with Oñate. She is a researcher, author, and historian whose work has appeared in books, exhibits and other historical points of interest in New Mexico.

Frank de la Teja, PhD - Frank is a professor emeritus, the past Chief Executive Officer of the Texas State Historical Association, and is a published author and editor. He has served and worked in numerous organizations in Texas from the archives to the State Board of Education to genealogical societies.

Kevin Klaus - Kevin is a researcher in the Texas General Land Office Archives and Records Program Area. He focuses on the German settlers in Texas and has a background in anthropology, archaeology and public history.

John A. Sellers - John is a native Texan, a researcher since 1985, and a nationally recognized speaker. He has conducted extensive research in Texas and Louisiana. John is also Mayor of Sulphur Springs.

Brian A. Stauffer, PhD - Brian is from Wyoming and has a PhD in Latin American History. His focus is on religious and agrarian history of Mexico and Mexican Texas. He is a published author, and is the Translator and Curator of the Spanish Collection at the Texas General Land Office.

Ari Wilkins - Ari is an experienced genealogist and speaker specializing in African American research and migration. She is the owner of Black Genesis, a genealogical consulting company, and is a Library Associate at Dallas Public Library. 

Registration

The course is limited to 40 participants, so register today! Registration is open now, and if you sign up before April 30, 2021, the cost is $425 for non-members of Texas State Genealogical Society. 

Registration after May 1,2021 is $475 and is open until May 31, 2021. 

To register, click here.

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Texas history reaches back much further than statehood. Researching Texans before 1845 requires different skills, knowledge, and tools for success. "From Spanish Rule to Republic: Research in the Lone Star State" is a great way to dig deeper into Texan genealogy!

Have you been to an institute before? Are you ready to take the dive deeper into one of these great topics? Register today!

If you have any questions about TIGR this year, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll do my best to help you find answers to your questions. 

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Connect at RootsTech Connect

RootsTech Connect goes live next week! I hope y'all are as excited as I am! In this post, we'll look at what will make this conference unique and how you can connect at RootsTech Connect.

RootsTech is the largest genealogy conference there is. And this year, it'll be FREE and accessible wherever you live! It's a three-day event from 25–27 February 2021 with both live content as well as access to content all year long. Think of this year's event as the kickoff for a year's worth of amazing online content.

How it all works

The first thing y'all need to know is the way this year's unique event will function. There will be four sections of the conference: Main stage, Expo Hall, Sessions & Guide Me, and Connect. 

Main stage events have a schedule - which you can view here - but if you miss any of the keynote sessions, they all have other times that they'll play as reruns. The Expo Hall will be your chance to view all of the great innovation in the tech and family history field. Also, you can live chat with exhibitors from their booth and watch demos. The sessions are the meat of the conference so we'll talk more about those below. Connect is your chance to connect with others - both speakers and your long-lost family!

A global event

This year, RootsTech Connect will be a truly global event. Keynote speakers will be from around the globe, sessions will be in multiple languages, and there will be localized content for participants. 

RootsTech Connect by the numbers (as of 16 February):

• 314,908 registered (so far)
• 224 countries and territories represented
• 89% of registrants have never been to RootsTech before
• 11 languages represented in sessions 
• 18 languages represented in the ExpoHall

RootsTech connections

Not only is RootsTech going to bring people together from around the world, but there are many ways to connect with family history.

• 72 exhibitors in ExpoHall
• 746 classes: Click here to see the full list
• 280 tips and tricks
• Chat rooms and direct message with cousins

There is a lot to do at this year's conference, so click here to learn what organizers want you to know. And if you'd like to learn more about Jen Allen - the woman behind the RootsTech magic - you can read about her here. 

How to participate

When you register for RootsTech, you're essentially sending your RSVP for the conference. This way, the conference knows to expect you. Anyone can view the sessions and content, but only registrants can take full advantage of the RootsTech Connect experience. 

If you register - and use your free FamilySearch login - you'll be able to create a playlist for all the sessions you'd like to watch. Think of this as your Netflix or Prime watch list. As you create your list, RootsTech Connect will give you suggestions for other sessions you might want to attend based on your added content. Isn't that amazing, y'all!?

If you're using your FamilySearch account, you'll also be able to Find your relatives at RootsTech Connect! So far, I have 300 cousins going to RootsTech! But I'll have to wait until the conference starts on February 25 to connect with them. So far, of those who have registered, there will be 991 Williamses at RootsTech Connect: 824 from the United States, 67 from the United Kingdom, and 34 from Australia. That's a lot of people! How many people attending have your surname?

When you can get started

Since this is such a global event, the timing might be confusing for some. But don't fret! You have three days to connect with family and other participants, but you get to enjoy the content all year! You can begin to add content to your playlist at 11pm EST on Wednesday February 24. The new RootsTech website will also go live Wednesday morning so you can get acclimated to how it'll look. The ExpoHall will have a preview at 7pm EST - four hours before the livestream starts at 11pm EST. 

Don't forget to register today for RootsTech Connect and share what you're learning on social media with #RootsTechConnect wherever you connect with your family and friends!

*****

I'm just a LITTLE bit excited about RootsTech Connect this year, y'all! I hope you'll join me in what is sure to be an amazing experience. I look forward to learning, connecting, and sharing with all of you.

This conference has a vision to become a globalized learning library. Be part of genealogy history and connect at RootsTech Connect!

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Black History Month in June

Every February, we celebrate the profound impact of African Americans in the United States and around the world. But for genealogists tracing African American family history, every month is Black History Month. Each and every day is about encountering and celebrating the strength of grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, ancestors and kin whose varied experiences together form the chorus of American history.

While we lift up the stories of African Americans every February, genealogists and family historians have a unique opportunity this June to experience Black History during a week of intensive study of African Americans in the South.

African Americans in the South - TIGR

Texas State Genealogical Society hosts a week-long institute for anyone looking for a more intensive experience to improve their genealogical skills. This year, Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) is going virtual and will be held June 13–18, 2021. Last month, I wrote about all of the courses available, but I'd like to share more about a new course available this year!

This June, TIGR has its first course focused on African American research in the South. Coordinated and taught by Ari Wilkins, along with five other instructors, this course will cover records and tools for researching African Americans from the antebellum South through the 21st century.

The full course schedule is available here. According to Ari Wilkins, the "curriculum has been carefully crafted to aid in a methodical research of African American genealogy." 

Instructors

As if the course description weren't enough, the opportunity to work with these great instructors should have you searching for the registration button! Ari Wilkins is "particularly excited about TIGR’s inaugural African American course and our line up of faculty with diverse expertise" including "members with library backgrounds and academic research."

Ari Wilkins, this TIGR course Coordinator, is an experienced genealogist specializing in African American research and migration. She is the owner of Black Genesis, a genealogical consulting company, and is a Library Associate at Dallas Public Library. She's a well-known genealogical speaker and brings her passion to this awesome collaboration at TIGR.

Deborah A. Abbott, PhD specializes in African American research, manuscript collections, and genealogy methodology. She is a retired professor of Counseling, a lecturer at IGHR (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research) and SLIG (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy), a published writer, and is active in the genealogy community in her native Ohio and around the country. 

Sharon Batiste Gillins has a 40+ year career in education including as an Associate Professor, genealogy lecturer, and adjunct faculty at IGHR. She is currently a Research Associate at the Mary Moody Northern Endowment in Galveston, Texas.

Tim Pinnick has taught at IGHR and MAAGI (Midwest African American Genealogy Institute), is the author of numerous articles and the book, "Finding and Using African American Newspapers." In addition to being a national speaker and being a member of numerous genealogy societies, he also served on the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Shamele Jordon is a professional genealogist, producer, writer, and lecturer. She is an award-winning producer and instructor, and researched for the PBS series Oprah's Roots: African American Lives I and II. She is a board member and faculty at IGHR, and is involved in societies in Philadelphia and in New Jersey. 

Franklin Carter Smith is a DNA specialist, a licensed attorney, genealogist, and is currently a Senior Library Service Specialist at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research of the Houston Public Library. In addition to several published articles, he co-authored "A Genealogists Guide to Discovering your African-American Ancestors" with Emily Anne Croom.

To read more about each faculty member, you can click here.

Juneteenth 2021

This year, Juneteenth falls on the Saturday at the end of TIGR. With Juneteenth's roots as Emancipation Day in Texas, TIGR will have a special celebration!

TIGR faculty member Sharon Gillins will be giving a special Juneteenth presentation that will be open to all institute students! Just another great reason to join this course at TIGR this year!

Registration

The course is limited to 40 participants, so register today! Registration is open now, and if you sign up before April 30, 2021, the cost is $425 for non-members of Texas State Genealogical Society. 

Registration after May 1,2021 is $475 and is open until May 31, 2021.

To register, click here.

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Black History is American History. Genealogical research in the South necessarily involves African American genealogy, along with its unique challenges. African Americans in the South, the inaugural institute course at TIGR, is your opportunity to dive deep with renowned lecturers and experienced researchers.

Have you been to an institute before? Are you ready to take the dive deeper into one of these great topics? Register today! 

If you have any questions about TIGR this year, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll do my best to help you find answers to your questions.

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus

Shwmae! Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus!

That's Welsh for, "Hello! Happy St. Dwynwen Day!"

Who's St. Dwynwen and why am I writing this in Welsh? Let's take a journey to Wales where we'll discover the story of a Welsh saint named Dwynwen. And from there, we'll meet the fastest growing language on Duolingo and the freshest Welsh language music!

Saint Dwynwen

Welsh culture has a particular appreciation for the arts. The Welsh are known for their music and their singing. Part of their native folk tradition involves a rich culture rooted in Christian history. One of the early Christians there was a Welsh girl named Dwynwen who is now known as the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

The story of Saint Dwynwen is one of a love that could not be. She and a man named Maelon Dafodrill were in love, but Dwynwen's father forbade the marriage. You see, her father had already promised her to another man. Distraught, she prayed that she could fall out of love with Maelon - then maybe the pain would ease. 

As with any ancient story, there are mythical components to this story as well. For instance, an angel appears to Dwynwen with a potion to help her fall out of love; her beau, Maelon, is turned into a block of ice. Dwynwen was given three wishes and she asked that: Maelon be thawed, that she would never have to marry, and that God would help those in love. In thanksgiving, she became a nun and settled on an island off the coast of Anglesey, now known as Ynys Llanddwyn - Dwynwen Church Island.

Dydd Santes Dwynwen

Saint Dwynwen's Day - Dydd Santes Dwynwen in Welsh - is celebrated on 25 January each year as a day to celebrate love. Think of it as the Welsh version of St. Valentine's Day. 

The Welsh give and receive cards and go out to celebrate with their loved ones at dinners or concerts. Here's an article about St. Dwynwen's Day for context. To learn more about how Welsh people celebrate this special holiday, here's a great article from the BBC.

The Visit Wales site has a page about today's celebration as part of their discussion of Welsh culture and traditions. Included is the image above for a free greeting card you can print out and give to that special someone - whether a love or a friend - in your life. 

Welsh language

In a special way, St. Dwynwen's Day is also something of a Welsh language day too. Today sets the Welsh apart from everyone else celebrating 14 February as the day of love. Greeting cards come with Welsh language phrases and there's even something else that makes today a day for Welsh language learning!

Five years ago today, Duolingo put out their free course to learn the Welsh language. The Welsh government has a goal of 1 million Welsh speakers by the year 2050, and partnering with new programs like Duolingo's is helping people around the world - like me - to learn some of this ancient language. Read the Guardian's article about the surge in Welsh learning here. 

Why does Wales have a goal to increase Welsh learning? Less than 29% of their population speaks the Welsh language. But after centuries of decline - often by systematic suppression in the education system - there is a resurgence of the language in Wales. 

Back in October 2020, I wrote about the beginnings of my Welsh language journey.  I was on a 23 day streak then, and today I'm now on my 139th day in a row of studying Welsh! I'm loving it! Besides using Duolingo's free app each day, I also listen to Welsh music and try my best to find videos on Welsh culture. 

Welsh Music

The Welsh are a singing people. Known for generations for their choirs, their modern music is not to be ignored.

For traditional Welsh songs, I love Cynefin, for folksy songs, Calan is a must listen. Eve Goodman has a beautiful mix of original and traditional songs. But if you're looking for contemporary Welsh music from all styles and from various artists, check out Lwp's YouTube channel for the newest popular music out of Wales. 

For a fun combination of Welsh language learning, some comedy, and fresh music too, go over to Miss O'Hare's channel. That reminds me, you can't forget Eadyth Crawford, whose bilingual electro-soul will captivate you!

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Genealogy isn't always about specific people - it's also about encountering a culture along with its language and music. On this St. Dwynwen's Day, I hope you'll take a moment to show your love with those around you. Share a smile, give a cwtch (Welsh for a hug), or give some encouragement to someone who needs it.

Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus! Happy Saint Dwynwen's Day!

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

International Greek Ancestry Conference

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in family history and genealogy. While some cultures have more challenges in this pursuit than others, Greeks often assume the task is an impossible one. But it's not! If you'd like to learn more about researching your Greek roots, I have great news to share!

From Friday January 29th through Sunday January 31st, there is a FREE and virtual event to discover more about Greek history and genealogy! As this will be an international event, the times vary over three days:

• Friday, Jan. 29: 7:45pm-10pm EST
• Saturday, Jan. 30: 12:15pm - 3pm EST
• Sunday, Jan. 31: 2pm-5:30pm EST

For the full schedule including times, presentation topics, and speaker bios visit Greek Ancestry's page for the International Greek Ancestry Conference.

I will be presenting on two topics:

• “Why Orthodox Christians Should Do Their Genealogy”, at 8:45pm on Friday
• “Using DNA in Greek Genealogy” at 4pm EST on Sunday

Why Orthodox Christians Should Do Their Genealogy

While Greeks come from a variety of faith backgrounds, the majority have ancestors who were Greek Orthodox Christians. Learn some Orthodox reasons to study one's family history.

Using DNA in Greek Genealogy

Have you taken a DNA test only to be shocked by your ethnicity results? Discover common ethnicity estimates for Greeks from different regions, why they're different, and why your results are perfectly normal!

To watch live for free, you can join us at Greek Ancestry's YouTube channel.

We're in the news, too! You can read more as reported by the National Herald and Greek Reporter.

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I hope you'll join us for the first ever International Greek Ancestry Conference! 

Σας περιμένουμε! We await you!

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!

Texas Institute of Genealogical Research

Do you have ancestors who lived in the South? Are you interested in learning more about using DNA for your genealogical research? Then you need to hear more about the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research!

Texas State Genealogical Society hosts a week-long institute for those of us looking for a more intensive focus to hone our genealogy skills.

This year, Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) is going virtual and will be held June 13–18, 2021. And I'll be helping all of y'all learn more about this great opportunity as a TIGR Ranger!

What's an institute?

An institute is like a going to a conference but is more narrowly focused. Instead of taking various classes on different topics, an institute allows students to focus on one course with various classes every day for a week. It's also more intensive so it allows you to get as much out of a topic in your limited time. 

This is the ideal next step for anyone interested in taking a more serious dive into a particular genealogical subject. If you want a course that is already designed, with one primary instructor - but also including other great teachers - then an institute is for you!

Courses at TIGR

At TIGR 2021, there are four courses from which you can choose. Click on the course title to go to the full schedule for that course.

• DNA Fundamentals for Genealogy
• Patti Lee Hobbs, CG
• Advanced Southern Research: Western Expansion and Families of the South
• J. Mark Lowe, CG
• African Americans in the South
• Ari Wilkins
• From Spanish Rule to Republic: Research in the Lone Star State
• Kelvin L. Meyers and Colleen Robledo Greene

Registration

Each course is limited to 40 participants, so you certainly want to register soon! Registration opened on Friday, January 8th, so don't wait too long either!

If you sign up before April 30, 2021, the cost is $425 for non-members of Texas State Genealogical Society. 

Registration after May 1,2021 is $475 and is open until May 31, 2021.

To register, click here.

*****

Have you been to an institute before? Are you ready to take the dive deeper into one of these great topics? Register today!

If you have any questions about TIGR this year, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll do my best to help you find answers to your questions.

Your ancestors deserve the best researcher, the most passionate story-teller, and the dignity of being remembered. So let's encounter your ancestors through family history and remember the past made present today!