Summit of Excellence Speaker Highlight: Gena Philibert-Ortega

Have you given up on an ancestral line because you can't find your ancestor's vital records? Have you conducted a reasonably exhaustive search and come up empty-handed? Let Gena Philibert-Ortega explain how the history of vital records in the United States can affect your research. In her second presentation, Gena will turn the boring into a lively story--you won't want to miss this colorful presentation!

Gena will present the following at the Summit of Excellence held virtually, September 15-18, 2021:

Anatomy of Birth, Marriage, and Death Records

Have a genealogy brick wall? What you don’t know about vital records could be part of the problem. Exploring vital records and their history can make all of the difference.

Full session description here.

Your Ancestor’s Life in Color: Social History and Genealogy

What is social history and what does it have to do with genealogy? Adding social history takes your genealogy from boring facts to a story your family will beg to know.

Full session description here.

Learn more about Gena Philibert-Ortega and all of our amazing speakers here.

View the full schedule for the UGA Summit of Excellence here.

Join Us in September!

The 2021 UGA Summit of Excellence celebrates UGA's 50th year. This exciting virtual conference, held September 15-18, 2021, is a four-day event with multiple tracks offering a premier educational opportunity at an extremely reasonable price. Each track features a different record set or research area such as legal records, methodology, technology, or DNA. 

Learn more about the Summit of Excellence or register to attend. Questions may be directed to the registrar: registrar@ugagenealogy.org.

Summit of Excellence Track Highlight: Records-General

Do you know how to wring the most out of U.S. Federal Census records? Are you prepared for the release of the 1950 U.S. Census? Census records provide essential clues leading to productive research in birth, marriage, and death records. Our experts will show you how to build a solid foundation and uncover little-known information about your ancestor's story.

Track Presentations

The following sessions run on Thursday, September 16th:

Prepare for the 1950 Census by Reviewing the 1790-1940 Census Differences with Crista Cowan: The questions asked on the census have drastically changed over time. In this class, we will explore the 1790-1940 census questions and then discuss how to prepare for the 1950 census to be released in 2022.

Anatomy of Birth, Marriage, and Death Records with Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR: Have a genealogy brick wall? What you don’t know about vital records could be part of the problem. Exploring vital records and their history can make all of the difference.

Church Records for Genealogical Researchers with Rev. David McDonald, DMin: Genealogists use records to supply the data on which our family research is built. Church records, across denominational lines, often provide extensive direct and indirect information on the families we research. We'll examine the records researchers should pursue.

Read All About It – A Guide to Online Newspapers with Luana Darby, MLIS, AG: Learn more about the U.S. Newspaper Program and many other exciting places to find stories about your ancestors. 

Your Ancestor’s Life in Color: Social History and Genealogy with Gena Philbert-Ortega, MA, MAR: What is social history and what does it have to do with genealogy? Adding social history takes your genealogy from boring facts to a story your family will beg to know.

The full schedule of all presentations and links to presenter biographies may be found here. 

Join Us in September!

The 2021 UGA Summit of Excellence celebrates UGA's 50th year. This exciting virtual conference, held September 15-18, 2021, is a four-day event with multiple tracks offering a premier educational opportunity at an extremely reasonable price. Each track features a different record set or research area such as legal records, methodology, technology, or DNA. 

Learn more about the Summit of Excellence or register to attend. Questions may be directed to the registrar: registrar@ugagenealogy.org.