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- The Summit of Excellence is a multi-track conference (Thursday - Saturday) with more than 50 presentations covering methodology, records types, DNA, professional topics, technology, international and ethnic research, and more. The full conference schedule can be viewed here
Act Now! Registration closes September 11th!To register for the Summit of Excellence, click here
- The Summit of Excellence is a multi-track conference (Thursday - Saturday) with more than 50 presentations covering methodology, records types, DNA, professional topics, technology, international and ethnic research, and more. The full conference schedule can be viewed here
European Research Track
Researching Welsh Ancestors and Relatives
by Penny Walters - 15 September, 9 AM
The migration out of Wales in the 1800s was motivated by the desire for a better life with
better paid jobs and the freedom to express religious views. Many came to America.
This course considers the inspiring stories of immigrant ancestors who closed doors on the
homes they knew in search of something better.
Would you like to know more about how, when and why they sacrificed their comforts to
become pioneers in a new land?
To better understand, we will analyze the mark they left on history by considering records such
as civil registrations of births, marriages and death censuses.
Dr. Penny Walters has been a university lecturer for 30 years, teaching master’s business
studies at Bristol University. Her interest in genealogy started after giving birth to her first child
as she wondered about her own birth parents, who she never knew. She has six mixed-race
children, who have since enjoyed discovering their roots through DNA ethnicity testing.
Penny lectures internationally, writes articles and is much sought-after for her wide range of
webinar topics. She is author of Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy and the Psychology of
Searching.
Researching Ancestral Locations in Prussia
by Nancy E. Loe - 15 September, 10:30 AM
Are your ancestors Prussian, German or both? They may be all three.
This class will help you find ancestors in an area of the world that has changed names and
national borders in the last century. You will become familiar with gazetteers, maps, databases
and records for German-speaking ancestors from former Prussia, including Brandenburg, East
Prussia, Pomerania, Posen Silesia and West Prussia.
Discover where your Prussian ancestors lived and learn the current names of their historic
locations.
Nancy is a professional archivist and genealogist who writes and lectures on US and European
genealogy research and records. She provides guidance on genealogy technology and
organizing genealogical research and family records.
Her website, sassyjanegenealogy.com features a blog, newsletter, and ebooks on US and
European records research. She has appeared at Legacy Family Tree Webinars, National
Genealogical Society, RootsTech, Jamboree, and numerous genealogy conferences and
webinars in the US, Canada, and Australia.
Italian Genealogy 101
by Alec Ferretti - 15 September, 1 PM
Italian research isn’t usually difficult, even if you do not speak this language of the spicy
meatball or haven’t visited the country. This course will provide a brief history of Italy from
ancient Rome to modern day. You will come to understand the divide between southern and
northern Italy, and why most Americans of Italian descent come from the south.
Learn to gather information online without requesting assistance from local dioceses that
sometimes respond but, in reality, typically don’t.
You will learn how records are organized and what the Latin script looks like. Come and explore
this area of the world that abounds in fascinating history and charming culture.
Alec Ferretti is a professional genealogist based in New York City, who works for the Wells
Fargo Family & Business History Center where he researches family histories for high net worth
clients. He specializes in the genealogy of 20th century immigrants to the United States. He is a
regular lecturer at genealogical societies and conferences and serves as president of the New
York Genealogy & Technology Group. He was recently elected to the board of directors of the
Association of Professional Genealogists, and serves on the Board of Reclaim the Records, a
nonprofit dedicated to gaining access to public records from government agencies.
Discovering England Resources in Country Record Offices
by Karen Kowallis - 15 September, 2:30 PM
County record offices hold information that may help track down that elusive ancestor. They
often contain records not found on the big genealogical websites. Records include military lists,
poor records, coroner records, quarter sessions, and more.
Karen Kowallis, MEd, is a professional genealogist specializing in US and UK research. Karen
owns Lineage Tracer and lives in New York City.
Three Free Websites for Researching Your Scandinavian Ancestry
by Savannah Larson - 15 September, 3: 45 PM
Do you have ancestors in Sweden, Norway or Denmark? You’re in luck! Each of these countries
offers robust national archive websites with many tools to help the everyday genealogist. Come
learn how to make the most of these websites and get other “cheat codes” to help you with
your Scandinavian research.
Savannah is a professional genealogist who specializes in Nordic research. She has research
experience in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and all of the Nordic countries. Savannah's
passions are connecting living family members, attempting to stay organized, and playing with
her young children.
- The Summit of Excellence is a multi-track conference (Thursday - Saturday) with more than 50 presentations covering methodology, records types, DNA, professional topics, technology, international and ethnic research, and more. The full conference schedule can be viewed here
