Reminder for 2020 Call for Proposals Deadline

Last Chance to Submit Lecture Proposals for

NGS 2020 Family History Conference

Time is running out for speakers—as well as organizations interested in sponsoring lectures—to submit lecture proposals for the National Genealogical Society 2020 Family History Conference, Echoes of Our Ancestors, which will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, 20‒23 May 2020. All proposals must be submitted electronically at https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/call-for-proposals/ by 11:59 p.m. EDT on 1 April 2019.

The study of family history gives greater meaning and dimension to our lives. As the prior generations fade from view, the results of our research illuminate the pale echoes of the past and bring our ancestors back to life to resonate for future generations. The NGS 2020 Family History Conference in Salt Lake City will explore our connections to our ancestors and the vestiges of their lives that we can discover through records that still exist. Conference tracks under consideration include the following:

• Impact of wars, poverty, famine, persecution, and the industrial revolution on movement from ancestral homes in the Americas and abroad
• Immigration, naturalization, and passenger records 
• Historical migrations, trails, and events that affected patterns of settlement
• Hard-to-find ancestors who seem to disappear from records
• Approaches to rural and urban research
• Military records
• Occupations and trades
• Modes of transportation
• Religions and related record collections
• Ethnic resources and research techniques
• Postcards, letters, diaries, and manuscripts
• Immigrant, benevolent, and religious associations
• Specialized collections of the Family History Library and other repositories

NGS also requests proposals that include the integration of DNA and technology into family history research as well as methodology and problem solving. NGS encourages proposals that demonstrate methods to help genealogists accurately identify ancestors through reasonably exhaustive research, proper source citations, analysis and correlation, resolution of conflicts, and sound reasoning and coherent writing.
Speakers who wish to submit lecture proposals may submit up to eight proposals electronically. The speaker compensation is described in detail on the website. Visit the website for details about required speaker information and each submitted proposal. NGS has a free webinar, Becoming a Better Conference Speaker: Proposals and Preparations, which can be found on the National Genealogical Society YouTube channel that can help you prepare your proposal.

If your genealogical organization would like to sponsor a lecture, submit proposals to NGS. If your organization would like to sponsor a luncheon, please contact [email protected]. Do not use the sponsored lecture form.