International Tribes, Scribes and Vibes Meet in
Boston
======================================================
August
30 through September 2, 2006, the Hynes Convention Center will be
hosting the
largest genealogy conference ever held, celebrating Boston
as "The Birthplace
of American Genealogy". The New England Historic
Genealogical Society,
founded in 1845, will be the local host society
for the 2006 Federation of
Genealogical Societies Conference.
This landmark conference offers more
than 500 lectures, exhibits and
events across a spectrum of ethnic and
country origins, as well as
signifigant historical eras. The Hynes center
capacity provides a
comfortable multi-block seamless indoor complex with
numerous features.
Program Outline
http://fgs.org/2006conf/FGS-2006.htm
Exhibitors
http://fgs.org/2006conf/conf-exhibitors.asp
Hynes
convention Center http://www.advantageboston.com/HCC
Conference Blog http://www.fgsconference.blogspot.com/
Attendees have the
advantage of moderate sized lecture audiences with so
many choices spread
amongst the attendees, as well as the sprawling
vendor exhibits, attached
Prudential Center and Sheraton shopping and
eating complexes, for convenient
forays and respites or protection from
inclement weather.
For those
having trouble deciding which lecture to attend across 20
simulataneous
tracts there is also the option of downloadable digital
recordings for the
ones they missed - augmented by the four volume
syllabus of supporting
material.
The program tracks provide choices for both beginners and
advanced
researchers, including several professional training
programs.
Opportunities abound for researching numerous tribes and clans of
ethnic
and country origin along with the latest news in records
access
advancements and the extraordinary synergy of matching the
right
researcher or resource for family historians.
Advance
registration is available online at
http://fgs.org/2006conf/FGS-2006.htm or
at the Hynes, beginning on
Tuesday August 29, 3PM-7PM and each day through
September 2.
Transportation, lodging, touring, special conference events,
additional
meal reservations and other logistical tips are being updated
daily at
http://www.fgsconference.blogspot.com/
Quick Reference and
Planning
Sheets
http://www.fgs.org/2006conf/gridbrochure.pdf
Notable and
Infamous Kin, Politics and
Connections
==================================================
Boston's
own George Cheevers, a 6 foot ten Abraham Lincoln reenactor and
Greater
Boston Civil War Roundtable contributor, will be greeting
registrants during
the August 29 pre-registration from 3PM-7PM at the
Hynes. Lincoln's colonial
roots in Hingham, Massachusetts and his
campaign visits to Dorchester and
other parts of New England are one
small example of how the history of each
of our families create a fabric
of connections over time between the common
man and the notable.
This 2006 FGS Boston tribute to Lincoln's ties will
expand in 2007 when
the FGS conference is hosted in Fort Wayne, Indiana - the
home of one
Lincoln Museum, leading up to the 2009 Lincoln
Bicentennial
commemoration of this pivotal era in US history.
Find out
more about "New Discoveries in Royal Descent, Presidential,
Mayflower, and
Notable Kin Genealogy" from Gary Boyd Roberts, "Untapped
Resources: Your
Ancestors' Political Affiliations" from D. Joshua
Taylor, as well as
opportunities to learn more about the Civil War
resources with Greater Boston
Civil War Roundtable president David L
Smith and numerous other individual
lecture topics.
If you are interested in learning more about how to
evaluate your
family's infamous connections, "Witches, Rakes, and Rogues:
Scandals
from Boston's Colonial Past" by D. Brenton Simons and many other
fine
lectures may help you sort out such "family secrets". Seaman
and
military deserters, Revolutionary War Loyalist "traitors" or
even
divorces and scandalous newspaper articles, are better understood
when
you know more about the historical context.
International
Digitization Projects
======================================
Millions
of family history researchers have created a grassroots army of
independent
scholars fueling the digitization of original source
documents and revealing
fresh insights into the growth of our nation
through it's people.
Dr.
Allen Weinstein, the Archivist of the US, will speak about the US
National
Archives digitization plans followed by New England Historic
Genealogical
Society President and CEO D. Brenton Simons' presentation
of the Society's
digitization
plans
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/07/opening-session-archivist-of-united.html
Specific
resources and research opportunities will be addressed by
delegations from
the National Archives of Canada, Ireland, England,
Wales, Scotland as well as
the US. The British Isles, Canadian and Irish
research tracks also include
experts from many other organizations.
New England and New York Regional
resources are featured in the tracks
sponsored by the New England Historic
Genealogical Society, the New
England Regional Genealogical Conference and
the USGenweb project.
Readex, a Newsbank Company, will preview the public
release of their
"America's GenealogyBank" collaboration with the
American Antiquarian
Society, providing digital images and advanced search
techniques for
unprecedented access to 17th through the 20th century
publications,
documents and maps.
Pedigrees and
Potpourris
========================
Concentrations also include
experts in research methodologies and group
migration patterns for the US
Northeast and the eastern Provinces of
Canada. Four centuries of intertwining
origins and families has created
a multi-dimensional and complex family
forest for many researchers.
Sandra Devlin, the late award-winning
Canadian journalist, wrote many
inspirational articles to help readers who
felt "hopelessly caught up in
the undergrowth" of their family trees. A 1979
excerpt includes Devlin's
characteristic imagery and humor:
"Perhaps
it is fitting that as the Gathering of the Clans was drawing to
its
conclusion — quite by chance I discovered that some of my roots are
steeped
in rich Scottish heritage. All the while I thought I had been
absorbing
by osmosis the distinct romance and zeal of the Scottish
appeal — when
actually my wee drop of Scottish blood was floating on the
top and revealing
in the skirl of the bagpipes and the swish of the tartan.
If the truth be
known, I am one of the lucky ones who is able to join,
by virtue of blood
lines, in many ethnic festivities. ...
For Oktoberfest, I can don the
dirndl or leiderhosen, polka to the wee
small hours and stuff myself with
weiner snitzel and sauerkraut and feel
just wunderbar.
I can spread
the blarney with the best of my Irish kinsmen and by
wearin’ of the green on
St. Patrick’s Day can brandish my shillelagh at
anyone who would deny me my
share of Irish luck, (and temper)!
With a stiff upper lip, I can claim
the protection of good old St.
George, patron saint of England and circle on
the calendar Guy Fawkes
Day, St. Swithin’s Day and Shrove Tuesday for
commemoration."
Devlin also proposed a alternate clan gathering where
members must prove
"uniformity of their heritage has been jumbled by no less
than three
generations of ancestors who reproduced without a second thought
to the
resultant conundrum. We will rally about a crazy quilt flag. Our
flower
will be a hybrid tea rose and our ethnic fare will be hodgepodge
stew."
The 2006 FGS Conference in Boston promises to fulfill Sandra
Devlin's
1979 exhuberant prophesy.
Rediscovering Lost
Heritage
============================
Each historic era also includes
grim revelations about those who
suffered and were severed from their
families by wars and prejudice.
Survivors of the Holocaust and the
researchers who help them find their
roots and other living relatives, have a
particularly poignant task.
Marika Barnett of Stow, Massachusetts is a
Hungarian child survivor and
will introduce Avotaynu's Gary Mokotoff when he
presents "How to
Document Victims and Locate Survivors of the Holocaust",
including a
vignette of Evelyne, a Belgian child survivor.
Many
African American research experts are providing opportunities
for
interlocking puzzle pieces of heritage that may no longer be
lost.
Portmouth, New Hampshire's Valerie Cunningham, an award-winning
historic
preservationist, author and railroad enthusiast will introduce
Tony
Burroughs' presentation on "Researching Pullman Porters:
Railroad
Records for African Americans", and Cherry Bamberg's "People of
Color at
Warwick, RI in 1774". Paul Bunnell, American Revolution
Loyalist
researcher and author, has identified many Black Loyalist records
and is
just beginning to track one grandaughter's Mississippi family in
20th
century records. Paul Bunnell will introduce Tony
Burroughs'
presentation "Southern Blacks in New England Records" and listen
for
clues in such post Civil War records.
Irish researchers who
believe it is impossibie to ever find their "Mary
Kelly" or "Michael Murphy"
will find four complete program tracks and an
Irish Pavillion in the exhibit
hall with an astounding number of
resources and experts. Of particular note
is the Irish Ordnance Survey
release of an online service for access to the
19th century detailed
maps of more than 60,000 townlands in Ireland, as well
as the Griffith's
Valuation workshops where owners and renters of 19th
century property
can be found and linked to their American
descendants.
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/07/irish-pavilion-exhibit-irish-lectures.html
Researchers
who are struggling to follow the Family Medical History
recommendations made
by the US Surgeon General to explore collateral
family health histories may
be particularly interested in the
Massachusetts Genealogical Council
sponsored panel discussion "Keeping
Public Records Open for Genealogical
Research: What Do We Need to Do?"
Professional Training, Advanced
Methodology, Library and Society
Education
===========================================================================
Several
comprehensive professional development tracks are offered
throughout the
conference by the Association of Professional
Genealogists, the Board for
Certification of Genealogists and the
International Commission for the
Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.
Additional tracks focus on
speaking and writing skills, as well as
concentrations in researching women
and creating youth programs.
Various advanced methodology and problem
solving topics are available
every day. Land platting, Griffith's Valuation
of Ireland and Photo
Identification workshops provide in depth workshop
sessions.
Individual researchers may also sign up for a consultation with
an
expert during the two day Ancestor's Road Show sponsored by
the
Association of
Professional
Genealogists.http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/08/do-you-have-research-brick-wall.html
The
Librarian's Day track provides tips and resources for librarian's to
better
serve their family history
patrons.
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/08/librarians-day-at-fgsnehgs-conference.html
Six
tracks address the management and organizational needs of societies
and
archives, while several others provide topics for online
collaborations with
the USGenweb project.
Fun Stuff for
Genealogists
===========================
Luncheons, Banquets and
special events provide entertaining and
educational opportunities to
socialize and have the kind of
serendipitous discoveries that conference
goers rave about when a
stranger turns into a long lost
cousin.
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/07/already-registered-need-to-add.html
GoBoston
has provided a special discount for conference attendees who
want to take
advantage of Boston's famed Duck Tours and more than 60
other local
attractions.
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/08/go-boston-card-special-pricing-for-fgs.html
The
queen bee of more than 500 fun and useful items for genealogists is
Indiana's
Bev Petersen who's www.funstuffforgenealogists.com booth
provides just one of
the many conference exhibitor shopping
opportunties.
http://www.fgs.org/2006conf/conf-exhibitors.asp
You
don't have to be Irish to join the Irish Ancestral Research
Association's
Thursday night Genealogy Table Quiz
event
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/08/you-dont-have-to-be-irish-to-join.html
Actors
from the Boston History Collaborative will be presenting
vignettes about
famous Boston inventions at the FGS
banquet
http://fgsconference.blogspot.com/2006/07/one-more-conference-highlight-fgs.html
You
can also help out as a volunteer for the 2006 FGS/NEHGS
Conference
http://www.fgs.org/2006conf/FGS-2006_volunteer.htm
Need
additional info?
Contact FGS National Publicity Chair Paula Stuart Warren
at
[log in to unmask]Or check the Conference Blog for more late
breaking
news
http://www.fgsconference.blogspot.com/