The 2012 Georgia Family History Expo, Day 2

     I was very excited for the second day of the Georgia Family History Expo and woke up way too early.  The day started at 9am with an hour to visit the vendors.  I bought four books and a CD from three different vendors, then stopped by the Ask-The-Pros table to get some advice on researching my Waters family brick wall.

• The first class:  Records of the War of 1812 by Robert Davis. It's interesting to watch him speak. He doesn't have any visuals or notes, but simply talks. He's very entertaining and amusing and obviously knows a lot about history.  I found out that there are a lot of records regarding the War of 1812, but they are scattered. Some are online and some haven't even been microfilmed! As with any war, pensions are a great place to start. Also, land grants can provide information on soldiers and their families.
• The second class: Thinking Outside of the Box by Drusilla Pair.  Dru had some great ideas for creative ways to share family history with family or in your community. I have a gift idea for my mom for Christmas and also ideas on how to better share my family history at family gatherings. Many of my relatives are interested in what I've found, though they don't necessarily care about the minute details. I think I'm going to write a small booklet about the Albea family to hand out. This will also serve as a template for eventually creating an actual book. A small step that leads toward a bigger step. I was also really inspired by what Dru has done with youth groups in her local churches to help inspire a passion for family history.
• Next up was lunch. We decided to take a long lunch, skip the next class and visit the vendors some more. I chatted with many of the vendors, some of whom had been to previous expos, others who were there for the first time. There's always something to tempt your wallet.  Here's my book haul:

• Final Class: this last class was a panel discussion with Paul Adjei and Bernie Gracy, discussing the importance of Oral history. It was really interesting to hear about the methods being used to record the oral histories that have been passed down for generations in Ghana. They've recorded over 1.5 million names into family trees. This segued nicely into Bernie Gracy's project to help record history with a geographical emphasis.  It was less a class than a discussion, but was still very interesting.
• The final event was the closing session and door prizes. I didn't win anything, but a few lucky winners did win Ancestry.com subscriptions and a stay at the Plaza Hotel in Salt Lake City. 

     I can't say enough how great these Family History Expos are. Every time I go to one I come away with new ideas and inspiration. It's taken me hours to write this blog post because I keep breaking away to start working on something new.  It's also great to meet new people and see familiar faces. I was honored to be asked to be an Official Blogger and enjoyed spending time with the other bloggers. I'm sad that the 2012 Expo is over, but am looking forward to next year. I hope to see you there!

Dru, Me, Tonia, Linda

 

The 2012 Georgia Family History Expo, Day 1

     I just got home from day one of the 2012 Georgia Family History Expo. It was a great day!  Like the last two years, the event was held at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth Georgia (only 10 minutes from home!).  I attended as a Blogger of Honor and have been tweeting throughout the event (@ValerieC84).  Here's a rundown of day one:

• I arrived early and checked in and met up with Linda, Tonia, Dru, Stephanie and Christa. 
• One of the ladies there with Ask-the-Pros had roots in Elbert County. Her (I think) Uncle married a Craft. I'll have to meet up with her again tomorrow - we're probably cousins of some sort.
• The Keynote Speech was by the ever entertaining Robert S Davis. He survived the lights fading up and down twice and his mic going dead. What a trooper!
• First Class: Georgia Land, Maps and Technology by Jennifer Dondero. She gave a lot of great places to find Georgia Maps, some of which I knew, others that I did not. I've used the Georgia Archives' Virtual Vault many times, but after this class I realized that I hadn't even scratched the surface of their Map collection! She also gave tips on using Google Earth that will be very useful.
• Second Class: Recording, Preserving, & Sharing Your Family's Oral History by Harvey Baker. This class was something of an introduction to the website, SavingMemoriesForever.com. I'd heard about this site/app before, but never really looked into it. It looks like just the thing I need to organize my audio files.  
• He also gave a lot of tips on why you should use audio to record your family's history. 
• Consider this: sometimes folks don't want their photo taken, so they certainly don't want you to record a video of them. However, with audio it doesn't matter how they're dressed or if they have a food stain on their shirt from the family reunion picnic. 
• Also think about audio files. They are almost always MP3. What about your video files? The formats vary and are often changing. You can convert them, or you can stick with audio.
• Video is often distracting. Not only are your subjects self conscious, but your viewers might get distracted by the visuals and miss out on the actual content.
• Lunch Break. Mom had picked up some brochures from the Gwinnett Visitor's booth in the expo hall and we had a discounted Chick-fil-A dinner!
• Third Class: "Non-Genealogy" Tools to Help Your Family History Research by Tonia Kendrick.   Boy did I learn a lot! Tonia introduced me to mind-maps and helped me figure out how to better use spreadsheets in my genealogy research. I'd tried some before with little success, but I'm going to try again. She mentioned a website called CensusTools.com that I've just got to check out. She also gave a brief intro to Evernote and OneNote that had me experimenting during the class. She also promised to put up copies of her FAN Club and Research Log spreadsheets on her blog.
• Fourth Class: Crossing the Great Divide: Little Known Federal Sources for Place of Birth before 1850 by Robert S Davis.  This class was just chock full of helpful information on finding information in places you've never heard of. He also explained why the information is there; the original purpose of the record. It was a bit complex, but he explained it well and I have new places to look for my ancestors.
• I bought a book from the Georgia Genealogical Society, "Georgia Research: a Handbook for Genealogists, Historians, Archivists, Lawyers, Librarians, and Other Researchers," by Robert S Davis and Ted O Brooke.
• I talked to the gentleman at the booth for GenealogyWallCharts.com. They have some great conference prices and I'm planning to take a Gedcom file tomorrow and see about buying a (few?) chart(s).

     Today was over much too quickly and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. If you didn't attend today, and you are in the area, I recommend you attend tomorrow. The first class is at 10am and a one day registration is $60. 

Me, Mom, my sister, Sarah

Speaking at the Georgia Family History Expo: Mr. Paul Adjei

     I'm excited about the upcoming Georgia Family History Expo this November 9th and 10th. I received the following press release in conjunction with my role as an Official Blogger.  As my parents can attest, I'm always trying to get them to record stories, so I'm excited about the oral history discussion presented by Paul Adjei and Bernie Gracy.  Read more about it below:

____________________________________________________________

Kumasi-Ghana Oral Historian Speaks At Georgia Family History Expo

     DULUTH, Ga. -- Paul Adjei of Kumasi-Ghana, Africa will present at the 2012 Georgia Family History Expo Nov. 9-10 at the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, Ga. Following is a schedule of his presentations.

     Friday at 6:30 p.m. Adjei will present, “Africa the Root of Our Ancestors.” This class will help family historians understand Oral histories to be key resources on both sides of the ocean. “Oral genealogy is the systematic collection of living people's testimony about their own experiences. Oral history is not folklore, gossip, hearsay, or rumor. It is the passing of information from one generation to another for preserving the root,” Adjei said.

• Saturday at 10 a.m. Adjei will teach class participants to discover the records available for African research. The class is titled, “Echoes from Africa.” 
• At 2:30 p.m. Saturday Adjei will team up with Gracy for a panel discussion to highlight the importance of DNA and oral history in genealogical and family history research. 

     An advanced reservation is recommended for this event. Register at www.familyhistoryexpos.com prior to the Expo for significant savings. Individual courses can be ordered for $20 each.

Georgia Family History Expo, 9-10 Nov 2012

    The following press release regarding the upcoming Georgia Family History Expo is courtesy Family History Expos:

Your Family History Starts in Duluth, GA

Georgia Family History Expo Nov. 9-10

     Alabama genealogy professional and author Robert S. Davis, M.Ed, MA will reveal the “Secrets to Research in Georgia” at the Georgia Family History Expo Nov. 9-10 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.

     Davis is director of the Genealogy Program of Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, Ala. The historian has more than 1,000 publications on records and research to his credit. He will kick off the Expo at 2 p.m. Friday in the Gwinnett Center Ballroom.

     “We’re so lucky to have such an experienced historian address us at this Expo,” Family History ExposFounder and President Holly T. Hansen said. “We’ve got a spectacular lineup at this event and I couldn’t be happier.”

     On Friday, 6:30 p.m., Davis will lecture on, “The Secrets to Research in Alabama.” At 7:50 p.m. he will present a course titled, “Crossing the Great Divide: Little Known Federal Sources for Place of Birth before 1850.”

     Davis will return on Saturday to teach Expo participants about “Research in the War of 1812 in the Deep South.” At 11:20 a.m. he will discuss “The Thirteenth Colony: Exploring the Colonial Georgia Records.”

     Featured speaker Paul Adjei, CEO at Worldbiz Business, lives in Kumasi-Ghana. He collects and preserves oral genealogical data and is currently preserving the history of one of the most powerful tribes in West Africa called the Akan. He manages 20 field staff members performing research on this tribe. Adjei will address the topic of African roots at 6:30 p.m. Friday for all levels of family historians. The course description of “Africa the Root of Our Ancestors” notes, “As you begin your journey back to the root of your ancestors you will find oral history is one of the key resources on both sides of the ocean.”

     On Saturday at 10 a.m. Adjei will offer a lecture titled “Echoes from Africa.” This course will help participants discover the kinds of roots available to assist researchers of African Roots.

     At 2:30 p.m. on Saturday Adjei will team up with Bernard E. Gracy, Jr. for a panel discussion titled, “Unlock Your Ancestry with DNA and Oral History.” The discussion will focus on DNA research and oral history highlighting new strategies to discovering ancestral roots.

     Gracy is the external chief technology officer and vice president of business development at Pitney Bowes. He has a master’s degree in computer science and a master’s in e-commerce. In addition to his work as a Fortune 500 executive, he is an accomplished genealogist.

     Expo participants will also be treated to lectures from a wide variety of other professional genealogists and family historians including (but certainly not limited to) the following:

“Where Do I Start?” by Billy Dubois Edgington for beginning family historians
“Georgia Land, Maps and Technology,” by Jennifer Dondero
“Reading Old Style Handwriting,” by Sharon D. Monson
“German Church and Civil Records,” by Fritz Juengling, Ph.D.
 “Using the Neighbors to Find Your Ancestors,” by Monica L. Hopkins

     Hansen will share her personal research magic during a closing keynote address in the ballroom on Saturday at 3:50 p.m. She will also draw for door prizes offered by sponsors and supporters of the event.

     “At a time when the Georgia Governor has decided to close state archives to the public, it is more important than ever before that we come together in numbers and talk about the importance of the preservation of records and public access to them,” Hansen said.

     The cost to attend this two-day event is just $89 with pre-registration and $110 at the door. Pay only $60 for one day. Onsite registration will begin and the exhibit hall will open at 1 p.m. on Friday. The event will close at 9 p.m. Exhibits and registration will re-open at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The exhibit hall will close at 4 p.m. Prizes donated by exhibitors will be given away both days and Grand Prizes donated by sponsors will be given away at the closing ceremony. This event is sponsored by Family History Expos and supported by FamilySearch.

     Register now at www.FamilyHistoryExpos.com or call 801-829-3295 for telephone registration.

Upcoming: Georgia Family History Expo

     I'm getting excited about the upcoming Georgia Family History Expo this November 9th and 10th. This will be the third year this event will be held at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. I've been invited to be an Official Blogger this year, which is very flattering.

     Let me tell you why I'm so excited about this year's expo:

• The Keynote speaker. Robert S Davis.  This guy is smart and entertaining. I sat in on one of his classes last year and I plan to do so again this year. 
• Low Price. For only $69 (before October 9th) this two day event is very affordable. Both my mom and sister are planning to attend.
• Socializing.  It's fun to get out and meet other genealogists. They have ideas, tips and stories to share. Who knows, maybe we're related? You might find that you miss a class when you get caught up chatting.
• The Classes.  It's going to be hard to pick classes. Topics range from geologically or ethnically specific to organizational tips. From new technology to old handwriting analysis. From source citation to DNA for genealogy. Each year there are new classes on new topics.  I might have to split up my group to cover multiple classes in the same time period.
• The Exhibitors.  This year I really need to find time for the Ask-the-Pros booth. There will also be big companies such as expo sponsors Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, as well as local societies and businesses. Interestingly, the soon-to-be closed to the public Georgia Archive will have a booth there. 

     And that last note, about the Georgia Archive, is one reason why I think that it's important for anyone who can attend to do so.  It looks like, despite our best efforts, that the Georgia Archive is going to close at the end of October.  We need people to turn out to the Expo this year to show that Genealogy = Money for the state of Georgia.  The higher the turnout, the more we show our government that access to the Georgia Archive is important to the citizens of Georgia.

     I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again this year!

Georgia Family History Expo 2012, Nov 9-10

     I'm starting to get excited about this year's Georgia Family History Expo.  Just like the previous two years, it's being held at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia.  I attend in both 2010 and 2011 and the Expo is well worth the price.  Here are the details:

• When:
• Nov 9th: 1pm - 9pm
• Nov 10th: 9am - 4pm
• Where: 
• Gwinnett Center: 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, Georgia 30097
• How Much:
• $69 through Oct 9th
• $89 through Nov 8th
• $110 at the door
• $60 per day at the door

     I'm excited to see that Robert S Davis is giving the opening Keynote. I took two of his classes last year and really learned.  I also see a number of classes being offered on a variety of interesting topics for both beginners and advanced genealogists. I don't see any classes on DNA though... I find this surprisings considering the ever growing interested in autosomal DNA for genealogy. Regardless, I'm looking forward to this year's expo and am looking forward to seeing my fellow bloggers there. 

Talking to Family Tree DNA at the Family History Expo

     On the second day of the expo, during the third class session, mom and I visited the vendor booths.  I wanted to visit the Family Tree DNA booth when it wasn't being overrun by other attendees so that I could ask a few questions. Also, I heard they had a coupon :)

     I got to the booth just as the only other person there was leaving and picked up a flyer (sure enough: coupon).  The woman in the booth came over and greeted me, saying that she recognized me from blogging. She introduced herself as Elise Friedman and I immediately knew who she was. I've taken her webinars at RelativeRoots and learned a lot. If you are at all confused about DNA you should take her webinars! The introductory course is free and subsequent ones are only $10. Trust me, it's well worth the price.

     We sat down and talked and Elise was able to answer some questions and provide information on what's new at Family Tree DNA (much of which has already been reported in blog posts about the recent ftDNA conference).

• I had been confused when I tested two of my mom's brother's at different companies and they came back in a tiny bit different. One was listed as R1b1a, etc and one was R1b1b, etc. Elise explained that this wasn't due to an error, but simply different versions of the Haplogroup Tree. Each company was using a different version of the tree. When there was a change in naming tree branches, one company updated their information and another didn't. This makes sense because the haplo tree is being updated all the time. Users don't want to log in and find a different haplogroup name every other month (or however often). What really matters are the markers. The uncle I tested with ftDNA is haplogroup R, U152+.  One company may call these results one name and the other may call it something else, but the markers remain the same (unfortunately 23andMe does not show these markers, a reason I prefer ftDNA)
• In a few weeks (a month or two? I forget), 23andMe users will be able to upload their Autosomal test results to ftDNA for $50. Users will not be able to upload their Y-DNA or mtDNA.
• There is a sale coming very soon, maybe this week. Elise wasn't sure what the prices would be, but it is coming.
• We talked about pedigree collapse (see my previous post). I have a lot of it on my Dad's side due to colonial ancestry and Elise has it due to her Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. FtDNA is aware of the problems caused by pedigree collapse and is constantly working on updates to help with this.
• I talked about how I would like to be able to compare my results directly with someone else who doesn't show up in my matches. It turns out Elise had suggested something like this to ftDNA already. The main holdup on something like this is privacy concerns.
• Our personal pages at ftDNA will be updated soon - even as soon as this week. The new 2.0 version should roll out first to project admins (that includes me!) and will be much more user friendly. I'm not sure if this update is part of the new 2.0, but there will be a way to compare your  mtDNA, Y-DNA and FF matches against each other.
• I talked about how I was trying to pick out my next DNA "volunteer" and which tests I had already had relatives take. Her main recommendation was to test the older family members first. You never know when you might loose a family member and the older generation have DNA that can often be more helpful. 

     I'm really glad that Family Tree DNA came to the Expo this year and I was able to talk to Elise. I'm also very grateful for the coupon. In fact, I've already used it.  I was brainstorming with my mom, trying to figure out whose DNA would be most helpful with my research. We came up with a few people, but nothing that struck me as "yes, I must buy a test immediately!"

Our Waters Cousin DNA volunteer

     Out of the blue, mom asked "what about the Waters side of the family?" We have a male cousin who descends directly from my Great-Great Grandfather, Leverett Waters. Who was Leverett's father? Possibly John or James Waters; possibly from Cobb or Cherokee or Milton County, Georgia; possibly born around 1850; possibly the son of Elizabeth whose father was from England.  This is one of my earliest brick wall ancestors and I need something new to jumpstart this research.

     We hadn't spoken to these cousins in a while and had to track down a phone number. We called a female cousin who is involved in genealogy herself. After a few minutes of greetings she asked "have you found anything new about the Waters family?" Unfortunately we had to say no, but said that we'd like to try DNA. She quickly called her brother and he agreed to the test. We're all very excited that DNA might help us progress in our research.

Day 2 of the 2011 Georgia Family History Expo

     Yesterday was day two, the final day, of the 2011 Georgia Family History Expo. Mom and I got there bright and early, only a few minutes after 9am. We made our way down to the end of the exhibits where DearMYRTLE had already set up her own "mini booth" to talk about blogging. I chatted with other ladies there, talking about the expo and other genealogy topics, then headed to the first class.

     First up was "Special Sources for Confederate Research in the National Archives and Records Administration" by Robert S Davis. I learned so much from this class! I had no idea how many different resources there were for civil war soldiers. I've got a lot of ideas for researching my GGG-Grandfather, Frank E Leaphart, who died in the war and who's parents are unknown. If you have the chance to sit in on Mr Davis' lecture, I highly recommend that you do so. He was very knowledgeable and very funny!

     Next up was another class from Anna Swayne of GeneTree. I learned that a DNA test I'd taken a long time ago from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogical Foundation (SMGF) was now online at GeneTree. I can upload my test results from other companies to this site for free and look for matches. They'll work to connect my information with others in order to try and create a sort of universal DNA tree. I'm going to look into this and see what they can do for me. (Also, check out the GeneTree site, like them on Facebook, and be entered to win a Kindle Fire)

     After this, was the lunch break. Then, instead of sitting in a lecture for the next session, mom and I decided to visit the vendors. Mom bought some scrapbook supplies and we picked up brochures and free swag from many other booths. When there was no one else at the Family Tree DNA booth I visited there - but that conversation deserves it's own post!

     The last class of the day was Lisa Louise Cooke's "How to Create Awesome Interactive Family History Tours with Google Earth." This was yet another class that drew in a number of bloggers (see the photo).  I was very interested in this class. I'd tried to do a Google Earth tour on my own, but couldn't really figure out how to do it. Well, now I know and I'm really excited to try it out. And it very easy to do too!

     Finally, we headed back in for the closing keynote and door prizes. I really appreciate how Holly Hansen, the FHExpo organizer, solicited our feedback. It's nice to know that she's taking our opinions into account.  And to top things off, Mom won a door prize! She got the printed syllabi from the previous three Expos, which amount to the class outlines for the California, Arizona and Colorado Expos. There should be some really great stuff in there.

     I had a ton of fun this year, probably more than last year. Attendance seemed to be down this year and let me tell you: if you could have come but didn't, you missed out. There's a lot to learn and a lot of great people to meet. I'm not necessarily a social person and often find conversations with new people difficult, but I still managed to make a few new friends. Where else can you launch into a random story about your great-Grandparents and have people actually willing to listen to you? I'm looking forward to next year and hope I see you there.

Bloggers at the Expo

     The Georgia Family History expo is over. It was a really great event and I'm grateful that the organizers choose to come to Georgia.  I'll write up a post about day two tomorrow, but wanted to share this photo. These are a group of some of the bloggers who attended this year.

     Left to Right: Jenny, Ruby (my mom, who blogs about scrapbooking), me!, DearMYRTLE, Linda, and Tonia.

Day 1 of the 2011 Georgia Family History Expo

     Day one of the 2011 Georgia Family History Expo is over and I'm home eating a late dinner. I love how close the expo is to my house!

     Today was a lot of fun, especially meeting fellow bloggers in person. I saw Linda of Documenting the Details, Jenny of Are My Roots Showing, DearMYRTLE, and Tonia of Tonia's Roots. I saw tweets from other bloggers, Free Genealogy Resources and Southern Graves, but I didn't see the bloggers themselves.

     I attended four classes today: The Power of DNA by Anna Swayne, 8 Simple Steps for Self-Help Genealogy by Ann Osisek, Georgia Land Records by Arlene Eakle, and The Clothesline Approach to Documentation and Analysis by DearMYRTLE.  I really enjoyed all of the classes and learned something in each one. Even when I already knew some of the information, the presenters were able to give new perspectives. I tweeted a few interesting quotes:

"Over 1 Million people have tested their DNA for #genealogy purposes" - Anna Swayne

"Can't be said enough: Don't just go "up the tree" - you also need to go "out the tree" and research siblings and cousins" - Ann Osisek 

"So says @DearMYRTLE: Explain how you came to your research conclusion, "leave an audit trail"" 

     I did not get a chance to visit any of the exhibit booths today, but I plan to do so tomorrow. There doesn't seem to be enough time for booths between classes! I think I'll skip a class tomorrow to make time.

One Week Away: Georgia Family History Expo 2011

     We're only one week away from this year's Georgia Family History Expo. Can I just say, I think the hours are much better this year? I'm not a morning person, so having the first day start at 1pm is great! Also there's a great list of classes to chose from. Most of the classes are different from last year, so there's a lot to choose from.

     I'm going to play each day by ear instead of over planning. During many hours there are multiple classes that look interesting. I'm not going to pick now, but will decide day of. However, there are a few classes that I am planning to attend: 

• Georgia Land Records by Arlene Eakle at 6:30 pm on Friday 
• Bringing the past to life using video biography by Susan Kiernan-Lewis at 7:50 pm on Friday 
• The Campaigns Forgotten: American Wars after the American Revolution and before the Civil War Records in NARA by Robert S Davis at 11:20 am on Saturday
• How to Create Awesome Interactive Family History Tours With Google Earth by Lisa Louise Cook at 2:30pm on Saturday

     For those planning to attend, I recommend attending classes by Tamra Stansfield on Germany genealogy and Biff and Nancy Barnes on writing family history books. 

     Other bloggers will be there as well. I'm looking forward to seeing them and reading their posts as well. They include:

• Ancestrally Challenged
• Finding Our Ancestors
• Free Genealogy Resources
• Tonia's Roots
• Documenting the Details
• Are My Roots Showing
• DearMYRTLE

     I know there are more bloggers attending, so leave a comment and I'll add you to the list!

2011 Georgia Family History Expo

     I received an email this morning, reminding me that early registration would soon be ending for the Georgia Family History Expo.  We have until September 20th to purchase a $75 ticket for the two day event in Gwinnett County on November 11th and 12th.  This is a deep discount compared to paying for each day at the door ($60 per day, $120 total).  If you're short on cash, the exhibit hall is free and open to the public, full of local and national vendors.

     So what are you getting for your money? You'll have the chance to attend 8 different class sessions, with titles such as "Researching in Atlanta, the Gate City of the South," "Tips and Tricks for Using FamilySearch," "The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships," "Finding your English/Welsh Ancestors," "How to Plan and Organize a Family History Book," and "Social Media Panel." As you can see, there will be a wide variety of classes available for any experience level or specific type of interest. There will be keynote addresses and door prizes, as well as the previously mentioned exhibit hall.

     The expo runs Friday, November 11th from 1pm to 9pm and November 12th from 9am to 4pm. (This is later than last year's 7am starts, which I'm very happy about!) The location is the Gwinnett Center, just off of I-85, about 30 minutes north of Atlanta. Parking is free and hotels are plentiful. Hope to see you there!




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