Today, was day two of a two-day conference of the FGS Regional/WSGS
2017 Gene-A-Rama held at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Here’s
the sessions I attended.
Speaker: Curt B. Witcher
“Fingerprinting our Families: Using Ancestral Origins as a Genealogical
Research Key”
He has a way of stating facts differently than any other speaker would.
Instead of “bread crumbs,” he used “fingerprints.” Really makes you think outside
the usual box. Thanks Curt!
Speaker: Antje Petty
“Max Kade Institute: Resources to help with your German-American Family
Research”
Ms. Petty’s talk was an eye-opener. I’m researching my mother’s line of
Germans the Rammingers’ of Sheboygan County, WI. Date range 1852-1900. The institute
is in the Wisconsin State Historical Society at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
I happen to have some German church records that need to be translated. She
said to contact her this coming week at the library to take a look at what I
have. Good info, handout and talk!
Speaker: Grace Dumelle
“130 Years of Genealogy Gems: Delve into the Newberry Library’s
Treasure House.”
As many times as I’ve been back to Chicago, I’ve never had the research
time to visit this library. Glad I was able to hear Ms. Dumelle’s talk. An
extra handout was passed out spotlighting the Curt Teich Postcard Archives
Collection. She walked us through the special collections; how to register
online; what type of ID you’ll need; how to get a Reader’s card; what you can and
can’t bring into the library, like personal scanners. I’ll definitely try and
carve out some research time for this library.
Last and final speaker of the day: Rorey Cathcart
“After the Fire: Research Strategies for Besting Burned Counties”
Good examples of what could destroy county records, not just fire.
Floods, tornados, loss, theft and malfeasance to name a few. Look elsewhere,
use substitute records. What exactly was destroyed, what survived? Maybe the
records you need were in another building and not in the courthouse after all. Determine
if substitute or abstracted records were created. Ms. Cathcart’s handout,
suggestions and tips are priceless.
My husband and I drove five days from California so I could attend this
conference. The trip was well worth the trek.
© 2017, Gayle Ficarra Wolcott
No comments:
Post a Comment