Happy Dance at the Family History Library

I had a successful research trip to the Family History Library yesterday.  Even got to do the HAPPY DANCE a few times.  Found some voter registration cards from the 1930s from my former “brick wall” family down in New Orleans.  Found death and marriage certificates from the Chicago area.  Really got the hang of the microfilm scanners.  Especially the 15 minutes before the library closes.  Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Today I’m off to look at a 1900 Wisconsin Census for a “missing” great-great grandmother on my mother’s side.  Got my fingers and toes crossed.

Family History Library Trip

I am currently in Salt Lake City to attend my first Roots Tech conference. The conference starts on Thursday, but I'm here today so I can get in some serious research at the Family History Library before the conference starts.

Last summer my husband and I drove through Salt Lake and I was able to do some research for a couple of days. I'm hoping to find some answers to some questions I've had for sometime. I wish I had more time to prepare. Time seems to slip away when you're in the middle of research.

Before my in-laws passed away, my father-in-law helped fill in gaps in their family information so I don't usually research my husband's line. But last week, I uncovered my in-laws (and other ancestor's) marriage license applications. [HAPPY DANCE!] I was able to print the document and show my husband and sister-in-law, they were actually impressed. To find more like that would make this trip a success. So glad to be here.

Post - Family History Expo

I had a great time at the Arizona Family History Expo last month held in Mesa, Arizona.  So many knowledgeable speakers and so many classes to choose from.

On opening day, Friday, January 18th, I attended:

Opening Keynote Address, Ancestors & Other Persons of Interest by Barbara Renick

Breaking Through Your Brick Wall by Cathi Weber

Five C's to Success in Genealogy Today by Barbara Renick

Census Techniques and Strategies for Finding Elusive Ancestors by Danielle Batson

Evaluating What You Have Found:  The Third Stage of Research by Barbara Renick

On Saturday, January 19th, I attended the following classes:
Cemeteries Go Digital by Geoff Rasmussen
Coming to America:  U.S. Immigration, 1820-1954 by Danielle Batson
U.S. Naturalization: Navigating the Records by Danielle Batson
Closing Keynote Address by Holly T. Hansen

Sometimes when you choose a class that you know nothing about the subject, or you think you already know the subject pretty well, you get pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed each and every class I attended.  The one that really stuck with me was the class given by Geoff Rasmussen, Cemeteries Go Digital.  The very next day I downloaded the smartphone app of OneBillionGraves.com.  I then got to use it on the following Monday morning.  My sister and I visited the Veteran Cemetery in Phoenix.  We located our uncle's and friends of my sister's headstones.  I took photos of all their headstones with the OneBillionGraves app, uploaded the photos right there in the cemetery to the OneBillionGraves server.  By the time we got home, the headstones were already transcribed on the Internet.

I will definitely be using this app more and more.  I love learning new techniques and strategies.  The Family History Expos are closer to you than you think. Give them a try, you won't be sorry! 

2013 Family History Expo in Mesa, AZ

Tomorrow I'll be attending the Family History Expo in sunny Mesa, AZ. I have two reasons to be glad to be here. My only sister moved here last year. So I flew in on Wednesday and I get to visit while attending the Expo. The second reason is the Expo itself.

I've attending the Arizona Expo several times and always enjoy the speakers, facility and of course the desert weather in winter. I've been trying to figure out which lectures I'm going to attend tomorrow. Such a variety and so many choices. The Exhibit Hall is always fun. New, experienced, and returning vendors, all good. I try and stop at each and every table to hear about their products.

I'll put my good walking shoes on and be ready...can't wait!

VCGS new website

What an exciting month December has been.  On December 1st, my society's new website went live!  We are Ventura County Genealogical Society, now located at www.venturacogensoc.org.  At our society's potluck luncheon the assistant webkeeper and I presented the new website.  He demonstrated the new members only section; how to change their passwords; enter or update the surnames they're researching and other sections of the website.  We'll be changing the content, so stop by, let us know what you think and tell your friends.