UpFront with NGS: March 2018

30 March 2018

NGS Magazine Volume 44, Number 1

The January–March 2018 issue of NGS Magazine has been mailed to members and is available online in the Members Only section of the website.

EDITOR’S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

In celebration of the fortieth NGS Family History Conference in May in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this issue explores the history, people, resources, and repositories of the Great Lakes region.

A large concentration of Dutch immigrants settled in this area in the nineteenth century, and the conference features eight sessions on Dutch genealogy. In this issue, Yvette Hoitink delineates their reasons for emigration, methods for researching Dutch immigrants in American records, and resources for research in Dutch records.

The Archives of Michigan is the repository for Michigan state and local governmental records and the home of the Abrams Foundation Historical Collection, one of the larger genealogical collections in the United States, with many materials beyond Michigan’s borders. Kris W. Rzepczynski describes the Archives and the Abrams Collection as well as the digital resources on the Seeking Michigan website.

Created by a federal ordinance in 1787, the Northwest Territory included all of the land in the current states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and part of eastern Minnesota. Kathy Petlewski’s column explores the settlement of the area and genealogical resources for the early period.

Registration is now open for NGS’s guided research trip to Madison, Wisconsin, in August. Pam Stone Eagleson shares some of the discoveries she and others made as participants in the inaugural trip last year, in the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Max Kade Institute.

Two articles continue the search strategies theme featured in the last issue. Kimberly Powell provides a guide to unusual and sometimes complicated indexing systems used in many courthouse records. Many of these indexes have been digitized, and an understanding of their organization can help with locating records. Mary Kircher Roddy reports on the reasons names may be spelled differently in newspaper databases, ranging from reporters’ misspellings to inaccuracies resulting from optical character recognition systems. Searching for incorrect spellings can lead to relevant articles.

During World War I, fifty-three thousand men with a connection to the United States enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including both Canadians and Americans living in the United States and American-born residents living in Canada. Michael Strauss outlines the numerous records that survive.

In their columns, Jordan Jones discusses the benefits of note-taking software, Diahan Southard gives tips on communicating effectively with DNA matches, and Claire Prechtel Kluskens presents an example of unusual records in the National Archives.

Table of Contents

Features

Reasons to Attend the NGS Family History Conference by Janet A. Alpert, FNGS

Notice of 2018 NGS Annual Meeting, Nominations, and Election for Officers and the Board of Directors

Researching Nineteenth-Century Dutch Immigrants by Yvette Hoitink, CG

Family History Gold at the Archives of Michigan by Kris W. Rzepczynski, MLIS, MA

The Newest NGS Research Trip: Madison, Wisconsin by Pam Stone Eagleson, CG

Navigate Courthouse Indexes Like a Pro by Kimberly T. Powell

Goodspelliarmus! Wizardry for Effective Newspaper Searces by Mary Kircher Roddy

Brothers in Arms: Americans in the Canadian Expeditionary Force by Michael L. Strauss, AG

Departments

President’s Message by Ben Spratling

Editor’s Note by Deb Cyprych

NGS News

Reference Desk The Northwest Territory and Its Settlement by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS

DNA Demystified Effective Communication with DNA Matches by Diahan Southard

National Archives No Horsing Around! Unusual Records in the National Archives by Claire Prechtel Kluskens

Technology Note-Taking Software by Jordan Jones

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to [email protected]. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

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27 March 2018

NGS to Live Stream Ten Genealogy Lectures During the Family History Conference in May

NGS to Live Stream Ten Genealogy Lectures During the Family History Conference in May

FALLS CHURCH, VA, 27 MARCH 2018 — The National Genealogical Society (NGS) will live stream ten lectures by nationally recognized speakers on some of the most popular topics in the field of genealogy during its 2018 Family History Conference. These lectures will be among more than 175 offered at the conference, 2−5 May 2018, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On 3 May, three live stream lectures will focus on DNA’s role in supplementing genealogical research. Two other talks will discuss African American and Loyalist research. The selections on 4 May feature lectures by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) that emphasize research, analysis, and problem-solving skills. NGS members and non-members across the United States and overseas, who are unable to attend the conference in person, are invited to sign-up for these live stream broadcasts.

Registrants for live stream can sign up for a one-day or a two-day pass.

Thursday, 3 May 2018: Viewers will be able to stream five lectures from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., including:

Reasonably Exhaustive Research of African American Ancestors who came out of Slavery—LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG®
The Price of Loyalism: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary War—Terry Koch-Bostic
The Y-DNA Test Should be Your Favorite—Diahan Southard
Your Cousins are Your Secret Weapon—Angie Bush
Native American DNA: Separating Fact from Fiction—Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD

Friday, 4 May 2018: Five BCG Skillbuilding lectures will be live streamed from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., including:

History, Records, and Context: Researching the Locations Your Ancestors Lived—Angela Packer McGhie, CG
Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same-Name Soldiers, War of 1812—Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL^SM, FASG, FNGS, FUGA
Using Indirect and Negative Evidence to Prove Unrecorded Events—Thomas Wright Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA
A Matter of Standards: DNA and the GPS—Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
Deeper Analysis: Techniques for Successful Problem Solving—Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL

Details about the live stream program, plus additional conference recordings, can be found on the PlaybackNGS Website.

Registration for the live stream will close at midnight on 2 May 2018, to watch the sessions in real time and as they happen. NGS will offer all ten lectures as video recordings after the conference. Special value pricing for conference packages of video and audio recordings will be available for purchase only from 2-5 May. After 5 May, normal pricing will resume for video and audio packages. Live stream, conference specials, and post conference packages are available to order on the Conference Recordings page of PlaybackNGS.com. All registrants of packages will receive an electronic version of the NGS 2018 Family History Conference Syllabus.

Instructions for viewing the live stream will be sent to registrants a week prior to the conference.

PRE-CONFERENCE & ON-SITE LIVE STREAM PASSES
*Delivered live; Access live streamed videos for one year through 5 May 2019

Live Stream Passes	Live Stream Details	Pre-Conference & On-Site Sale	Lectures
One Day Pass	5 Video Sessions —Choose either day	$95	DNA (three), African American, and Loyalists. Five lectures on Thursday, 3 May 2018, or BCG Skillbuilding. Five lectures on Friday, 4 May 2018.
Two-Day Pass	10 Video Sessions–Both Days	$149	DNA (three), African American, and Loyalists. Five lectures on Thursday, 3 May 2018, *and* BCG Skillbuilding. Five lectures on Friday, 4 May 2018.

NGS has selected Playback Now to broadcast the live sessions and to provide the recorded sessions for later viewing. Conference participants can benefit by selecting different presentations while attending the conference and expanding their overall conference experience. Purchasers will have one year following the conference to view and repeat the video sessions (through 5 May 2019).

Reminder: If you are attending the 4-day event in Grand Rapids, online conference registration will close on 20 April 2018. Registration by mail must be postmarked by 20 April. Registration in person opens at noon on Tuesday, 2 May at the DeVos Place Convention Center.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Falls Church, 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.

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The words Certified Genealogist and its acronym, CG, are a registered certification mark, and the designations Certified Genealogical Lecturer and its acronym, CGL, are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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26 March 2018

Call for Proposals Deadline Extended for NGS 2019 Family History Conference

Call for Proposals Deadline Extended for
NGS 2019 Family History Conference

FALLS CHURCH, VA, 26 March 2018—NGS has extended the submission deadline for speakers—as well as organizations interested in sponsoring lectures—to submit lecture proposals for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2019 Family History Conference. All proposals must be submitted electronically at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/call_for_proposals 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, 6 April 2018.

The conference, Journey of Discovery, will be held in St. Charles, Missouri, 8-11 May 2019. Typically, this annual conference attracts between 1,800 to 2,000 family historians and genealogists as well as more than eighty exhibitors and sponsors. NGS promotes its conferences nationally and in regional markets as well as through online social media.

The conference program for the Journey of Discovery will focus on our ancestors’ records and the knowledge, skill, and tools family historians and genealogists need when they embark on a new journey of discover with each family they research.

Our American pioneers experienced their own journey of discovery as they migrated to the Louisiana Purchase and the Northwest Territory, thus opening the Midwest and the Plains states to migration and new settlements. Over time, the rivers, trails west, and the railroads were vital to this expansion. Bounty land warrants, the Homestead Act, and the land grants provided many opportunities for settling the Midwest and points west. Native Americans, French fur traders, and Spanish soldiers preceded these settlers, discovering the beauty of the geysers, mountains, and plains years earlier.

Migration from the east and south included Americans formerly from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, often traveling with those enslaved or indentured. The end of the Civil War provided opportunities for African Americans to leave the plantations and travel north. The Germans and Irish as well as Eastern Europeans, all seeking new opportunities, poured into the country, establishing new towns and cities, schools, and businesses while maintaining their own customs and religions.

NGS invites proposals on all aspects of the journey of discovery. Conference tracks under consideration will address a wide range of topics and include: courts and laws, DNA, emigration, ethnic records, government documents, heirlooms, immigration, maps, migration, military, organizing, regional, repositories, technology, and transportation.

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.

All proposals must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, 6 April 2018.

Speakers may submit up to eight proposals electronically by completing all the requested information at https://goo.gl/QBXXQA.

Organizations wishing to sponsor a lecture may submit proposals at https://goo.gl/zzA8bM.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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15 March 2018

Explore the Renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah

Explore the Renowned Family History Library
in Salt Lake City, Utah

FALLS CHURCH, VA, 15 MARCH 2018—The National Genealogical Society (NGS) opens registration today for family historians to participate in on-site orientation and consultations with experienced, BCG certified genealogists, as you pursue genealogical research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The trip is planned for 27 January to 3 February 2019. Registration is limited to forty-five participants. Tickets sell out quickly for this guided research trip to the world’s largest genealogical repository. Be sure to reserve your space today.

The Family History Library offers genealogists vast and rich resources of genealogical data on individuals from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The library includes 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records, 727,000 microfiche; 356,000 books, serials, and other formats; more than 4,500 periodicals, and 3,725 electronic resources. The electronic records are available on numerous computer databases accessed in the library.

Research consultants Patricia Walls Stamm, cg^®, cgl^sm*, , and Shirley Langdon Wilcox, CG, FNGS, FVGS, insure that your introduction to the library is both productive and enriching while conducting your personal research.

The research trip package includes:

Online orientation to prepare for your research trip to Salt Lake City;
Guidance from experienced genealogists familiar with the library;
Tour of the library;
Individual research consultations with group leaders throughout the trip;
Six days of research at the Family History Library;
Seven nights at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, including free Internet and airport transfers;
Meet and greet on Sunday evening at the hotel;
Wednesday evening pizza party;
Saturday evening dinner;
Fees, taxes, and gratuities for all planned events.

This popular research trip fills up quickly. To make your reservation or to learn more, visit http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conferences_events/research_trips/slc_research_trip

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Falls Church, 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.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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12 March 2018

Early Bird Discount Ends 20 March for 2018 Family History Conference

Time is running out for family historians to get a discount on registration for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family History Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2-5 May 2018. After 20 March 2018, the price of registration for NGS members will increase from $215 to $250 for all four days. Non-members will pay $285, up from $250. Genealogists also will no longer be able to order a printed syllabus or flash drive version of the syllabus. To qualify for the early bird discount, your registration must be received online or postmarked by 20 March.

The conference, “Paths to Your Past,” will showcase more than 175 lectures with some focused on immigration and migration, ethnicity, and paths, trails, and waterways our ancestors may have followed. The program will include all levels of genealogical skills from basic to advanced, including four days of the Board for the Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Skillbuilding lectures. The DNA track will feature twenty presentations on DNA discoveries, science, and methodology. Friday and Saturday will offer lectures on topics such as African American, Native American, religion, and organizations. Other tracks will include resources in Michigan, New York, midwestern states, Canada, and some European countries. With more than twenty tracks, participants will have a wide variety of lectures from which to choose.

The Family History Expo will include more than eighty exhibitors and be open to the public Wednesday through Saturday. Check the website for a list of exhibitors and the hours.

The NGS Conference will be held at the DeVos Place Convention Center and will run from 2-5 May. For conference information and to register, go to the 2018 NGS Family History Conference.

Social Events, Luncheons, and the NGS Banquet
Participating organizations sponsor several luncheons at which guest speakers will entertain and educate the audience, including:

“Good Migrations in the Midwest”
“My Infamous Ancestors”
“Genealogical Mis-adventures from New York”
“Paths to Your Past: Storytelling to Bring Us Together”
“The Family Reunion”

The NGS Banquet is an event not to be missed. Guest speaker Ric Mixter, will be speaking about “Great Storms of the Great Lakes.” Mixter is a shipwreck researcher and historian, diver, photographer, explorer of more than 100 shipwrecks, and producer of more than thirty programs for PBS and the Outdoor channel.

Registration for all meals and social events closes on 20 April 2018. Tickets for social events will not be sold on-site. Be sure to sign up as quickly as possible. The Western Michigan Genealogical Society Host Event at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is $25; luncheons are $30; the Exhibit Hall Barbecue Luncheon on Friday is $25; and the banquet is $45. Menus are in the registration brochure.

Local Area Tours
Space is still available on all tours. Check the conference website for more information, please see Local Area Tours. Registration for the tours closes on 20 April 2018.

Add Items to an Existing Registration
To add meals, tours, and pre-conference events to your current registration, log on to the NGS website, click on My Account, select My Events, and then click to Add Sessions.

We hope to see you in Grand Rapids in May!

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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01 March 2018

Sign Up Today for a Guided Research Trip to Washington, D.C., with the National Genealogical Society

Sign Up Today for a Guided Research Trip to Washington, D.C.,
with the National Genealogical Society

FALLS CHURCH, VA, 1 MARCH 2018—The National Genealogical Society (NGS) opens registration today for family historians to join experienced, BCG certified genealogists in on-site genealogical research at the National Archives (NARA), the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library, and the Library of Congress (LOC), 4–10 November 2018, in Washington, D.C. Let our experts help you prepare for your trip and guide you during six days of research. Registration for this popular trip is limited to twenty-five participants, so don’t wait; sign up today.

At the National Archives, you can track ancestors through immigration records, US passports from 1795 to 1925, the US Census, nineteenth century military records, homestead applications, and so much more. Perhaps most exciting is the ability to hold in your hands original records of your ancestors such as a Civil War pension file.

The DAR Library houses a wealth of genealogical and historical manuscripts and publications, including special collections on African American, Native American, and women’s history, genealogy, and culture.

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world with more than 164 million books, photographs, recordings, maps, manuscripts, etc. and 838 miles of bookshelves. Without guidance from an experienced researcher, it can be both intimidating and overwhelming to compose an effective research plan for your visit.

Research consultants Charles S. Mason, Jr., CG^®; Darcie Hind Posz, CG; Craig Roberts Scott, CG, FUGA; and Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL^SM insure that your introduction to these institutions is both productive and enriching while conducting your personal research.

The trip includes:

Guidance from experienced genealogists familiar with the repositories;
Online orientation to help you prepare for your research trip to Washington, D.C.;
Orientation at the repositories;
Six days of research with individual research consultations with group leaders throughout the trip;
Six nights at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn, including daily continental breakfast, free internet in rooms, and parking;
Meet and greet on Sunday evening at the hotel;
Friday evening dinner;
Fees, taxes, and gratuities (unless otherwise stated).

Take your genealogical research to a new level and register today for this exciting research trip. Each year, it sells out within days, so act quickly to reserve your place. To sign up or to learn more, visit http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conferences_events/research_tips/dc_research_trip.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Falls Church, 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.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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