Events

NGS- Call for Papers- Raleigh -May 2017

~ Georgia Gen

GIG_National Genealogical Society Logo

Arlington, Va. 1 January 2016- The National Genealogical Society (NGS) will open the call for proposals for the 2017 Family History Conference, Family History Lives Here, on 1 January 2016.  The conference will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 10-13 May 2017.

Throughout its history, North Carolina has been home to a diverse population including Native Americans and those who trace their heritage back to Europe and Africa. During colonial times, it was one of a few colonies that embraced religious diversity, welcoming Quakers, Huguenots, Methodists, and Moravians. It is a land rich in cultural traditions. From the lighthouses on the outer banks to the falling waters on the Piedmont, to the dramatic overlooks in the mountains, this land calls us back to take a closer look. The Tar Heel story is vibrant, shared through the words of each family, and recorded in the wonderful records, manuscripts, and artifacts preserved in the numerous North Carolina archives, special collections, museums, libraries, historical sites, and societies.

Among the topics being considered by NGS for its 2017 conference are presentations on North Carolina history, including available records, and repositories; land grants, and other land records; court system and laws; ethnic and religious groups; military, farming, and other occupations; neighboring states; and migration to, from, and within the Carolinas. The Society will also consider other topics of interest reaching from the Colonial era to the 21st Century. In addition, NGS encourages the submission of proposals for broader genealogical categories, including methodology, problem solving, and technology.

Speakers who wish to submit lecture proposals, and organizations interested in sponsoring tracks or individual lectures, should follow the published guidelines at the NGS website page: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/call_for_proposals.

Speakers may submit up to eight proposals electronically via https://goo.gl/wCs8wn.

Organizations wishing to sponsor a lecture may submit proposals via https://goo.gl/6SYFcc.

All proposals must be submitted electronically through the NGS website by 11:59 p.m. EDT on 1 April 2016.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, and guidance in research. It also offers many opportunities to interact with other genealogists.

 

Genealogy Class- Marist- January

~ Georgia Gen

Where did I come from? The Joy of Genealogy

Marist School- 3790 Ashford Dunwoody Road, N.E. Atlanta, Ga. 30319

Instructor: Mrs. Kelley M. Likes

Do you have an interest in family history or genealogy and just did not know where or how to start? Do you have stories to share or boxes of pictures of distant relatives and you do not know what to do with them?’

Session 1: From letters to postcards, marriage certificates to deeds, as a family historian you’ve accumulated plenty of genealogical documents in your research. Then there are family photos: They are among the most precious genealogical treasures—yet you probably have old family photos stuffed in shoeboxes or stored in those “magnetic albums” with the sticky pages (who doesn’t?). Learn to preserve and protect your precious items. Learn how to write and preserve family stories and pictures, including creating Family History books, websites, and blogs.

Session 2: This session cover many aspects of the genealogy spectrum, including research strategies, ethnic heritage, genealogy technology, and U.S. records. Where to look for and find ancestors. Free and not so free places to look. Resources you may or may not have thought of.

Session 3: This session includes ways to keep family history in the family. Family activities to encourage sharing stories and memories. Any remaining time will be dedicated to working on and finishing projects.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Ms. Likes was a professional genealogist. She conducted research in the United States and abroad. She also helped publish family histories with her grandmother. Ms. Likes has been a computer/business education teacher for the past 13 years, and she has taught at the college, high school, and middle school levels.

Registration Required

Early bird registration ended January 15th

Session 1: Monday, January 25    7-9 p.m.

 Session 2: Monday,  February 1  7-9 p.

Session 3: Monday, February 8  7-9 p.m.

Regular registration: 100.00 per person

For more information and to register- Click HERE  

NIGR becomes Gen-Fed

~ Georgia Gen

The Board of Trustees of the National Institute on Genealogical Research has announced that the institute’s name was changed to the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) on December 22, 2015. The institute, held annually at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1960 as a three-week general course on genealogy. In 1987, it narrowed its focus to federal records.

The institute was incorporated in 1989 as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. Trustees are representatives of the American Society of Genealogists, Association of Professional Genealogists, Board for Certification of Genealogists, Federation of Genealogical Societies, National Genealogical Society, and the institute’s alumni association. The National Archives, a non-voting member, provides strong support.

“Given the growth in genealogical education, it made sense to choose a name that clearly identifies the institute’s mission,” said Malissa Ruffner, JD, CG SM, director. “A new website, www.gen-fed.org, offers a closer look at the program, which is scheduled for July 11–15, 2016.  You can also follow the institute on Facebook and Twitter (@GenFedInstitute).”

Diane Dimkoff, coordinator of research customer support at the National Archives, stated, “We are pleased that the institute’s new name reflects the significance of federal records and look forward to continuing our traditional collaboration.”

Gen-Fed is for experienced genealogists, and for archivists, historians and librarians interested in using federal records for genealogical research. It is designed to instill a methodological framework and foster creative thinking about relevant records. Online registration for the 2016 session will be held in late February.

 

Gwinnett- Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

~ Georgia Gen

Gwinnett County Historical & Genealogical Society

Beat the winter blahs! Great family activity!

 Explore Gwinnett History by visiting cemeteries!

Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

February 6 2016

Prizes Awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers!

Participation fee- $10.00 per family

On the day of the hunt you will be emailed your scavenger hunt paperwork.  You will have from 9am-3:00pm to return your answers by email, text or insta-gram.

To register or find more info   Call our office at  770-822-5174, see our website visit our Facebook page at Gwinnett Historical Society

This is a fundraiser to enable the Gwinnett Historical & Genealogical Society to make small repairs and otherwise preserve neglected cemeteries in Gwinnett County.

AAHGS- January meeting and 2016 dates

~ Georgia Gen

Atlanta Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society will meet January 23rd 10:00 a.m. at the Georgia Archives– 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Ga.

State of the Chapter and introduction of Officers for 2016-2017

February:

No chapter meeting, AAHGS will particiate in special programs commemorating Black History Month

Special Program:

Feb 27-Symposium:The Continuing Chronicle: Reconstruction- The Promise of Freedom    

 Special guest speaker: 

Dr. Edna Greene Medford, Chair, History Dept, Howard University, Washington, D.C.

 In partnership with the National Archives at Atlanta

March:

(Time & Locaton TBA)- Hands-on genealogy actvity.

 

Gwinnett- Genealogy Study Group

~ Georgia Gen

The next meeting of the Gwinnett Genealogy Study Group will be January 20th at 10:00 a.m. The group meets at the LDS Family Life Center 3355 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA.

The meeting topics are varied but each meeting typically has a speaker, a volunteer overview of a website, and a volunteer book review.

The topic of the January meeting is -An Introduction to Autosomal DNA-  Sarah Burns will present.

 

 

 

Lecture, The Firebrand and the First Lady

~ Georgia Gen

4 February 2016

Russell Special Collections Library, University of Georgia, Athens

Patricia Bell-Scott will discuss her new book, The Firebrand and the First Lady at 5:30 p.m. in the large event space (Room 285) of the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries. The book focuses on the friendship between civil rights activist Pauli Murray and Eleanor Roosevelt. This event is co-sponsored by the UGA Libraries and the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Georgia.

Drawing on letters, journals, diaries, published and unpublished manuscripts, and interviews. Dr. Bell-Scott gives us the first close-up portrait of this evolving friendship between activist Pauli Murray and Eleanor Roosevelt, how it was sustained over time and how their friendship changed the cause of American social justice.

The lecture will be followed by a light reception and a book signing.

The book The Firebrand and the First Lady is also available through Amazon.com

Firebrand

Yes, Virginia, the Georgia Archives is open..and thriving!

~ Georgia Gen

In case you missed it:

Georgia Archives thriving under new management-

Kristina Torres- The Atlanta Journal – Constitution -24 Dec. 2015

Morrow —

James Evans sat tucked away in a back room at the Georgia Archives one recent rainy weekday, head down in concentration, nearly oblivious to the staffers buzzing nearby.

For Evans, an independent researcher, this is normal. He has work to do, digging into family history and genealogy on behalf of people who hire him. For those staffers, however, every day is a reminder to take nothing for granted.

Three years after the Archives almost closed for regular public business, a new era has begun for the state’s premier keeper of government records and treasure trove of history. Since 2012, the Archives’ staff has tripled, seen its budget grow by more than 20 percent and welcomed a 30 percent increase in the number of visitors coming through the doors.

New computers and monitors now greet Evans on his visits. He’s also noticed the increase in warm bodies there to help him do his job.

“We need to understand our past, and the information they have here needs to be accessible to everybody,” Evans said. “We need to understand our past. The access to that here is great.”

Archives supporters are hoping to build on that momentum. Students from the building’s neighbor, Clayton State University, are helping organize an effort for the Archives to market itself better and grow. Bigger and better workshops and other events — such as a recent workshop on the War of 1812 — are being organized to draw more people in. Efforts are underway to broaden programs such as the Archives’ partnership with the Georgia Humanities Council for its annual statewide awards program related to National History Day.

“For years, it was, ‘how do we keep programs from shrinking?’ ” archives Director Chris Davidson said. “It’s a big change from being close to closure to, ‘what projects can we grow and improve?’ ”

Lawmakers in 2013 took control of the Georgia Archives away from the Secretary of State’s Office and gave it instead to the University System of Georgia. The move, worked out by Gov. Nathan Deal, came seven months after Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced layoffs at the Archives and the cancellation of public hours, a decision that surprised the governor and led to several public protests.

Because of those budget cuts, the Archives had offered the fewest public hours in the nation. The management change made it the first archives to be run by a state university system. By all accounts, the move has been a success.  Read more HERE 

Georgia Archives thriving under new management

Kristina Torres

AJC.com

 

 

Yes, Underground Tells Slaves’ Stories, But It’s No Historical Snooze

~ Georgia Gen

Malcomn Veneble for TV Guide – 8 January 2016

Yes, WGN America’s Underground is about the Underground Railroad, the term given to the network of people and safe stations that allowed slaves to escape bondage in the South for the northern part of America and Canada. Although it’s a topic often explored in American history textbooks, the show’s writers and producers want you to know that this is decidedly not an educational exercise. “We didn’t want it to feel stuck in the period,” says John Legend, an executive producer. “We didn’t want people to feel like they were in a museum. We wanted it to feel fresh.” That begins with the musical direction. Although Kanye West was previously attached the project as a musical director, it’s Legend who’s the head honcho of the show’s sound (is you listen closely, you can hear his background vocals on the show’s theme song, “Heaven’s Door,” by Alice Smith)….

Read more HERE

George C. Morgan speaks at March Conference!

~ Georgia Gen

Alabama Genealogical Society Spring Seminar- 12 March 2016

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Samford University- Birmingham, Alabama

The Alabama Genealogical Society Spring Seminar will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Samford University in Birmingham.  The speaker will be George G. Morgan presenting It’s All in the Details.

The first topic, “The Genealogist as CSI”, will set the foundation for the day with the research process.

Next will be  “Bring “Em Back to Life – Developing an Ancestor Profile”.  This topic addresses evidence types and analysis; helps the thought process for writing a biographical profile, a family history or a lineage application; and helps identify research gaps.

“Clues in the News” will address the often neglected newspaper research and focuses on online newspaper sources.

“Getting Past Brick Walls” concentrates on the best approaches for addressing brick walls and research impasses.

For more information on George G. Morgan and to REGISTER. You may also contact Caroline Horton, Program Chair, at carolineh@knology.net .