UpFront with NGS

The Online Newsletter of the National Genealogical Society
Volume 8, Number 8-1 August 2008

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Today in UpFront

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Articles

-- Philanthropy: Cornerstone of Many Libraries We Use Today by Jan Alpert, NGS President
-- Big News! A Small Town Wedding in the Winter of 1880 by Jan Alpert, NGS President
-- Footnote.com: A Website to Watch by Pam Cerutti, Editor
-- Using a Pictorial County History: More Than Just Names by Jan Alpert, NGS President

NGS News & Events

-- Salt Lake City Research Trip, 9 November through 15 November 2008
-- NGS Luncheon at FGS Conference, Philadelphia, 6 September 2008
-- NGS Publications for Sale at FGS Conference in Philadelphia and Online
-- Research in the States Series Available
-- Save the date for the 2009 NGS Conference in the States in Raleigh NC
-- Librarians' Day Pre-conference Event in Raleigh NC
-- 2010 NGS Conference in the States Planned for Salt Lake City
-- Genealogy Lectures Available on CD ROM

Other News

-- September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

Events Around the U.S.

Family Reunions

About UpFront
- Previous Issues of UpFront with NGS
- How to Submit Items for Publication in UpFront with NGS
- How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe
- Disclaimers and Copyright
- NGS Contact Information
- About NGS

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-- Philanthropy: Cornerstone of Many Libraries We Use Today by Jan Alpert, NGS President

Continuing the theme from last month's article about libraries, I will discuss several libraries that were formed or supported by large private endowments. Since many of us will be attending the FGS conference in Philadelphia 3-6 September 2008, it is appropriate to mention the Free Library of Philadelphia and several of its collections.

Philadelphia had the benefit of Benjamin Franklin's early influence in creating The Library Company, so it is not a surprise that Philadelphia had a public library with six branches beginning in 1892. The Free Library of Philadelphia opened in 1894 because of a $225,000 bequest from George S. Pepper, uncle of the provost of the University of Pennsylvania. The first location was at City Hall. Shortly thereafter, the two libraries merged and took the name the Free Library. By 1898 the Free Library of Philadelphia had 1,778,387 volumes, making it the largest circulation library in the world.

The current location of the Free Library in Logan Square at 1901 Vine Street was opened in 1927. There are 54 Free Library locations across the city, many of which were funded by Andrew Carnegie, who donated $1.5 million in 1903.

The Free Library has a number of outstanding collections, but those of greatest interest to genealogists include the more than 1,000 Pennsylvania German Frakturs (illustrated manuscripts, often documenting family names, relationships, dates, and locations) in the Rare Book Department, on the third floor. The collection also includes books and broadsides produced by early German printers in Pennsylvania. Also in the Rare Book Department are a number of Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, including the Edward IV Scroll, which was probably created to celebrate Edward IV's (1442-1483) accession to the throne in 1461. The Free Library also has an extensive map collection for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Social Services & History Department on the second floor. The library hours are generally 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, but the newspaper and microfilm center is open until 9 PM Monday through Wednesday evenings. You can find more information about th!
e Philadelphia Free Library and its collections at http://libwww.freelibrary.org.

Another philanthropic effort produced the New York Public Library in New York City. This library began in 1849 but was greatly expanded when Samuel J. Tilden, Governor of New York in 1875, bequeathed several million dollars to construct the New York Public Library building on Fifth Avenue to "establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York." At the time, there were two other libraries in New York City, the Astor Library and the Lenox Library. John Jacob Astor provided $400,000 in his will to fund a reference library, and James Lenox donated his collection of rare books, manuscripts, and Americana to form a library for "bibliophiles and scholars." In 1895 all three libraries were combined to form the New York Public Library, an "unprecedented example of private philanthropy for the public good."

The New York Public Library has continued to benefit from contributions. A recent news item announced that the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is contributing its collection to the New York Public Library. The full press release is available at http://www.nypl.org/press/releases/?article-id=165.

Having used the New York Public Library and the NYG&B collections for genealogical research for more than 20 years, I am pleased that NYG&B collection is going to remain in New York City, where it will be accessible to New Yorkers and visitors doing research. As stated in the 21 July 2008 press release, The New York Public Library contains an extensive Manuscripts and Archives Division with 29,000 linear feet of archival materials, including the papers of individuals, families, and organizations with an emphasis on New York from the 18th Century. The NYG&B collection is a wonderful complement, with an emphasis on the early Dutch and English records of the 17th and 18th Centuries, including more than 75,000 published works, 30,000 manuscripts, 22,000 microforms, 1,300 periodicals, and digital computer media. The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy at the New York Public Library is already one of the largest publicly accessible!
collections of genealogical materials in the United States.

Both of these libraries have exceptional collections that are accessible today because of the vision and foresight of successful entrepreneurs of the previous centuries.

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-- Big News! A Small Town Wedding in the Winter of 1880 by Jan Alpert, NGS President

I met Grace Barth in Chicago in 1990. Grace was an avid genealogist in a time before we had access to the many resources of the Internet. She wrote letters to all the living cousins she could find, including my maternal grandfather. He wasn't interested in genealogy, so he mailed her address to me. I was primarily working with my father on our paternal line, so the information was tucked away in my Kopp file for several years. Eventually, I had a business trip to Chicago, and took the time on a Sunday afternoon to visit Grace in a health care facility for the elderly. She was 85 years old.

Grace had traveled with her granddaughter to Stein, the small village in Baden-Baden where the Kopps had lived before coming to America in the 1820's. She had a detailed map of the area and a photograph of the home that had been in the Kopp family for more than 400 years. As she said, she had "ancestors all over her room" in surname piles. She would only let me borrow and copy her Kopp family information that afternoon; so, I had to quickly peruse her materials and take them back to the business center at my hotel and copy them at outrageous rates.

One of the items that caught my attention was a copy of a newspaper article describing my great grandparents' wedding, 19 February 1880, in Henry, Marshall County, Illinois. Although you may not be as interested as I am in all the details below, if you had an ancestor who was married in a small Midwest farming community around 1880, this article may provide you with a glimpse of what their wedding might have been like. As genealogists, we have learned to evaluate our sources. What could be better than a descriptive account by someone who attended the wedding and reported the event in the next issue of the local weekly Henry, Illinois, Republican. Walk through the front door with me and celebrate this important event, the marriage of Amelia Grauer and Simon Kopp.

"About 6:30 o'clock, on the evening of the 19th inst., as per invitation, some 50 or 60 of us, comprising, of course, the "elite" of the neighboring; highlands and lowlands, were ushered into the elegantly furnished parlors of our spacious friend and neighbor, Mrs. Sophia Flaughtner, for the purpose of witnessing the marriage of her only daughter "by adoption," Miss Amelia Grauer to Mr. Simon Kopp, pronounced "cop," of Geneseo. About the time that we might reasonably anticipate the "victims," an appropriate wedding march was telephoned through the minds of the earnest sympathizers during which the happy twain, full of fond hopes and honorable aspirations, with perfect love and confidence in each other, and good will for the rest of us, brightly and plainly stamped upon their happy, youthful faces, entered the main parlor, accompanied by Willy Gray of Whitefield and Miss Josie Richards of Peoria, as groom and maid, wheeling into line in perfect order, and just as the last not!
es of the beautiful "march" were lost to the imagination during what most of us were disposed "though respectfully" without hesitation or reserve pronounce an excruciatingly painful and tedious ceremony, was performed by the Rev. C. David of Henry. The bride and groom performed their part most admirably, proving themselves soldiers of the first water.

"We were sorry the Rev. gentleman had been allowed to pass through the dining room prior to administering the marriage ceremony, the result proving an arrangement, between his reverence and the cooks to postpone congratulations until after supper. Supper not being quite ready, we were allowed a space of some 10 minutes in which to compare ourselves to a lunatic asylum! The bride and groom being entirely ignorant of the arrangement as we all knew, had ample time to be and were, we presume, fully convinced in their own minds of our entire fitness for Jacksonville. But after the Rev. Mr. David and the rest of us had done ample justice to as good a supper as ever minister or card holder, threw themselves outside of, we managed during the course of the evening to deliver ourselves of our little speeches, for the happiness, prosperity and long life of Mr. and Mrs. Kopp.

"The evening was used until a late hour, in a way very satisfactory to all invited. I want to say right here that the ladies who did the cooking and preparing the supper for the occasion, are deserving of the highest praise, for if we may be considered partial to any woman more than another, it is certainly a good cook! We will not attempt to enumerate the good things under which the table legs fairly trembled, but if you will just tone up your imagination to everything you ever saw or dreamed of in the way of breads, meats, pies, cakes, vegetables, quinces, jellies, drinks, except intoxicating beverages, nuts, candies, etc., In quantities sufficient for a whole infantry regiment for a three day's forced march, you will approximate near enough for your purpose.

"While the fifth table were in the act of folding napkins, Capt. Hankison, with his band of "serenaders" arrived upon the scene of action, and treated the house to some of their choicest selections, which were of course pronounced by all extremely grand. After the rendition of which they were cordially invited in, introduced to the bride and groom, and seated around the table, making, we think, the sixth time the table had been loaded down that evening, as described above, and if we may be allowed the assertion, the last was the best. Kopp invited the boys all into the "smoking room" and passed around some of Proctor's choicest Havana, proving that he, like Gen. Grant, is a competent judge of that luxury.

"Owning to the bad condition of the roads and the late arrival of cards, the already entered list of presents is not so generous under more favorable circumstances it would have been, but the presents were very rich and costly, and most appropriately selected, and that they were well received we had not the shadow of a doubt.

List of Presents

Hanging lamp, Miss Josie Richards of Peoria
Silver pickle castor, with tongues, etc., Mrs. Wm. Brown and Mrs. J. B. Robertson
Toilet set, Mrs. Richards, Peoria
White bed spread, nice figures, Mrs. Harsch, Peoria
Pair tidies and motto, Miss Trynes, Peoria
Silver butter knife, Willy Gray
Photo framed of "self," Miss Josie Richards
Set of glass dishes complete, Miss Louisa and Leslie Clawson
Silver butter knife, Wm., Hufuagle
Tidy, self-made and superb, Miss Martha Clift
Glassware, full set, Mr. and Mrs. J. Clawson
Pair Towels, Mrs. F. Gregory
Carving knife and fork, Callie Clawson
Bracket, self-made, Willie Spencer
Silver teaspoons, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Gregory
Glass cake stand, Miss Louisa Kopp, Geneseo
Pair silver napkin rings, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Gregory
Motto, "Home sweet home," in frame, Miss Bertha Tynes
Silver teaspoons, Miss Louisa Kopp
Half dozen tablecloths and half dozen towels, Mrs. Richards, Peoria
Set glassware, Mrs. Hufuagle

"To complete the list, the groom was presented with a nice large healthy girl baby, not by the bride, but by some deeply sympathetic friend from Peoria. Regrets were received from Mr. and Mrs. J. Gregory.

"To Mr. and Mrs. Kopp we extend a hearty welcome as friends and neighbors. Long may they together wave, in the enjoyment of a life of unalloyed happiness, and sterling usefulness in their pleasant sunny retreat at the foot of the hill, and may their lives here prove a worthy example to future generations."

It seems to me that man must have written this, especially given his comment, "...for if we may be considered partial to any woman more than another, it is certainly a good cook!" The writer's appreciation of the Havanas in the smoking room also suggests a male voice.

The two wedding gifts of "tidies" required a bit of research. A Google search yielded numerous instances that defined a "tidy" as a compartment for odds and ends, such as a sewing box. However, given the context, I favor the definition of the American Heritage Dictionary, online at http://www.bartleby.com: "A decorative protective covering for the arms or headrest of a chair." Crocheting and embroidering were skills that ladies of that era might have learned to show their refinement, decorate their homes, or even make presents for newlywed friends. I think of the "doilies" with which my grandmother proudly decorated her living room and den furniture, and I can imagine these easily described as "self-made and superb."

Simon lived to be almost 89 years old, and Amelia died at age 83. They were married 64 years, and as so often happens, she died less than a year after his passing. My mother recalls her grandmother as being so quiet and private that she hardly ever said a word.

Grace's article has spurred me on to further research of the Kopp line. For instance, just over a month after my great grandparents' wedding, two of the attendees were married in Geneseo, Illinois: Miss Louisa Kopp, sister of the groom, and William Hufuagle. This marriage is not recorded in the "Illinois Statewide Marriage Index," so I am missing an important record. In addition, I am still locating and identifying friends and family in the 1880 U.S. Census for Geneseo, Henry, and Peoria, Illinois. Fortunately, thanks to Grace Barth, I have so much more.

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-- Footnote.com: A Website to Watch by Pam Cerutti, Editor

The competition among online providers of genealogy data is a boon to genealogists. As they strive to keep pace with each other, we benefit from the expansion of online records. More and more, we get to search databases from the comfort and convenience of our homes. New websites have joined longtime leaders FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, and it behooves us to watch each site for its latest additions and developments.

In this article I'd like to call attention to one of the newer websites that intrigues me. If you haven't already checked out Footnote.com, this is one site you might want to add to your "watch" list. In fact, if you haven't seen this site in the last couple months, you might find its latest developments worthwhile.

Footnote.com is self-described as "a place where original historical documents are combined with social networking in order to create a truly unique experience involving the stories of our past." Since its launch in early 2007, Footnote has posted over 40 million images of documents that may interest a variety of scholars and hobbyists, including genealogists, history and photography buffs, and students.

Partnering with some rather impressive organizations - including the National Archives (NARA) - has yielded an amazing rate of growth with the addition of some very desirable content. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of data available at no charge, for example, the entire 138 volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives; NARA's FBI Case Files from 1908-1922, a time when normal citizens were subject to great scrutiny for subversive behavior; and the Vietnam Wall, a complete, searchable image of the wall in Washington, D.C., where many people have already added touching personal tributes to the names of lost family and buddies.

Searching this website is another positive experience. The search results show the sources of your "hits" and clearly label those requiring payment as "Premium" items. You can view the free items just as you would a premium item. When you click on a thumbnail image, you see the actual document. Footnote's image viewing software lets you zoom in on any part of that document, pan to different parts of the image, adjust the contrast, and print or save the image on your own computer. If you're looking at a multi-page document, a "filmstrip" across the bottom of the page lets you peruse other pages of the document.

A few weeks ago Footnote made a significant improvement to its Advanced Search, and I wouldn't search any other way. When you click the drop-down arrow beside the Search button, the Advanced Search window offers fields for first name, last name, place, year (or year range), and keyword. Two further drop-down fields let you limit the search to one title/collection and one category of content. Your Search results display with a thumbnail image of each page that matches your search criteria.

In this case, youth seems to be an asset. This website entered on the scene just as social networking was gaining traction, and the public was prime for more collaborative tools for information sharing. Footnote does a nice job of offering users several ways to interact with the content, communicate with others who visit the same pages, and even share their finds from any sources with friends and family.

Footnote lets you add a comment to an item, annotate it, or even upload your own file. Visitors to the page you noted can read your additions and, if you choose, send an email that Footnote will forward to your email address. Even more in tune with this social networking approach, you can add your own text and images by creating Story Pages. This feature lets you share pictures and stories with anyone you choose, such as family members. If you choose to make your Story Pages public, then any visitor to the site can attach a note to your content, just like the content provided by Footnote.

I believe that Footnote has struck a reasonable balance between free and Premium images and services. The free offerings are substantial on their own, and they provide the opportunity to see the quality of the digitized original documents via the Footnote Viewer. In addition, all user-contributed content is accessible free of charge. As for the Premium content, access to everything costs $7.95 for a month's subscription or $59.95 for an annual subscription. These rates seem very affordable, especially compared to some other online subscription data sites. Footnote also offers a free 7-day trial that allows full access to all its content.

The Footnote staff has created a very well-designed, user friendly web site. Even though there's a wealth of content and many tools for manipulating the images, the pages have a clean design, making the content both pleasant to view and easy to use. This website is one that I'm keeping on my watch list. To explore it for yourself, visit http://www.footnote.com.

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-- Using a Pictorial County History: More Than Just Names by Jan Alpert, NGS President

As genealogists, our first instinct when we find a county history is to check the index for the surnames we are researching and, if we don't have a "hit," we put the county history back on the shelf.

I recently purchased the Van Buren County Michigan Pictorial History, compiled by the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, Turner Publishing Company, Paducah, Kentucky, 2003, now in its second printing. I purchased the book because the grandmother I never knew grew up in Van Buren County. I wanted to learn more about the world in which she had lived. Almost all the pictures are dated, and many provide some history about the particular farm, business, church, mill, school or train station. Some of the more interesting chapters include "When Things Went Wrong," such as the storms and other disasters that hit the area, and "How We Organized," which includes pictures of many of the local organizations, many with the members identified.

Although my grandmother's family is not mentioned in the pictorial history, I can recreate the main street of Decatur, Michigan, where she lived. Mildred Waters was born in 1891, and I can imagine her walking down the street to attend Decatur High School and stopping at the Lewis G. Stewart grocery or the O. J. Holcomb bakery to pick up a few items. Mildred's mother died when she was five, and the family story is that her older sister Mabel stepped up to fill the maternal role. Her father never remarried. The youngest daughter, who was only 5 months old when her mother died, was adopted and raised by another relative. The pictorial book also has pictures of the area churches, and I've used obituaries to determine that her father was raised in the Methodist Episcopal church in Ashtabula County, Ohio. Although there does not appear to be an ME church in Decatur, I now have information about the other protestant churches in Decatur for further research.

Her father was Zuinglius Waters. If anyone has ever encountered that given name before, I'd like to hear from you. It appears to be a one of a kind. I've had to search for him in the census indexes by using his parents or children's names since Zuinglius is never spelled correctly. I have found him indexed as Zierugulus, Joringlins and Yuinglius. On Mildred's marriage license his name was Quincy Waters, which is the only nickname I've found. Zuinglius was a farmer in the census, so he may have used the harness shop of Willard Van Antwerp in Decatur. No picture of his farm has been handed down, nor is it in the pictorial county history. Researching deeds, I found that the land was first purchased by his father, Solomon Waters, in 1865 and conveyed to his son in 1905, "reserving half for his use for his natural life." The 1870 U. S. Census tells me the farm was worth $4,500 in 1870. However, I have been able to see what a comparable farm might look like by finding several pict!
ures of Decatur farms that were built about 1880. By looking at the 1870 census, I can find at least two families, Jacksons and Deuels, with pictures of their homes that had a comparable economic status in 1870.

Even though none of my Waters family are identified in the book, I have a lot more information about where they lived and how they might have lived in Decatur, Van Buren County, Michigan, from about 1865 until their deaths in 1920. Using a pictorial county history may not have added to my list of ancestral names, but it gave me much, much more than just names.

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NGS News & Events

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-- Salt Lake City Research Trip, 9 November through 15 November 2008

Each year the National Genealogical Society hosts research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. If you have not been to the Family History Library before, this is an opportunity to do a week of intense family research. Two experienced certified genealogists, Sandra Clunies and Shirley Wilcox, will help acquaint you with the resources available at the library and provide consultation about your specific research goals. If you are an experienced genealogist who has visited the Family History Library before, here is an opportunity for you to consult with our leaders and perhaps take a fresh look at one of your brick walls. Several social events provide an opportunity for camaraderie with other family researchers.

You can register for the Salt Lake City Research Trip, 9 November through 15 November 2008 at http://ngsgenealogy.org. Pricing and trip details are available on the website. Sign up early because space is limited to 30 participants. A second research trip will be available 25 January through 1 February 2009 with Shirley Wilcox and Marie Melchiori as your research hosts.

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-- NGS Luncheon at FGS Conference, Philadelphia, 6 September 2008

If you plan to attend the FGS conference in Philadelphia, the NGS luncheon will be at 12:15 PM on Saturday, 6 September 2008. If you plan to be in Philadelphia, we'd love to have you join us! NGS President Jan Alpert will provide a brief update on the National Genealogical Society, and NGS Past President and national lecturer Barbara Vines Little will speak about "Building a Nation: Trails South and West." The luncheon talk will provide a brief but instructive look at the trails our ancestors may have followed in their trek from colonial Philadelphia or other coastal ports of entry to their final destination in Mississippi or Missouri or points in between. As NGS Conference Chair, Ms. Little will also provide an update on the 2009 NGS Conference in the States in Raleigh, North Carolina. A flyer about the accommodations and program in Raleigh will be distributed at the luncheon.

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-- NGS Publications for Sale at FGS Conference in Philadelphia and Online

If you plan to attend the FGS Conference, you have the opportunity to stop by the NGS booth, where you can purchase recent publications from NGS.

Numbering Your Genealogy, Basic Systems, Complex Families & International Kin, by Joan Ferris Curran, CG, Madilyn Coen Crane, John H. Wray, Ph.D., AG, CG, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, is now available as a soft cover book or as a downloadable e-book. This newly revised favorite clearly defines differences in numbering methodologies between the NGSQ and Register systems. Content also covers numbering adoptions and step-relatives and describes how to number immigrant ancestors in a family history. At the FGS conference, Numbering can be purchased for $12 by NGS members and $15 for non-NGS members.

If you don't plan to attend the FGS conference, you can still purchase Numbering on the NGS website. The cost for the e-book is $8.00 for NGS members and $10.00 for non-members. The printed version is available to NGS members for $13.50 including shipping or non-members for $16.50 including shipping and can be ordered at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/BookStore/ListItems.cfm?CATID=10.

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-- Research in the States Series Available

The following states are available from the National Genealogical Society, Research in the States Series at the NGS website, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org

* Genealogical Research in Arkansas by Lynda Childers Suffridge, 2008
* Genealogical Research in Illinois by Diane Renner Walsh, 2007
* Genealogical Research in Maryland by Patricia O'Brien, 2007
* Genealogical Research in Michigan by Shirley M. DeBoer, 2008
* Genealogical Research in Missouri by Pamela Boyer Porter and Ann
Carter Fleming, 2007
* Genealogical Research in Nebraska by Roberta "Bobbi" King, 2008
* Genealogical Research in North Carolina by Jeffrey L. Haines, 2008,
* Genealogical Research in Ohio by Diane Vanskiver Gagel, 2008
* Genealogical Research in Oregon by Connie Miller Lenzen, 2007
* Genealogical Research in Pennsylvania by Kay Haviland Freilich, 2007
* Genealogical Research in Virginia by Eric G. Grundset, 2007
* Genealogical Research in West Virginia by Barbara Vine Little, 2007

Each publication is 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, slightly larger than our previous Research in the States publications. The average length is 42 pages, but it varies by state. These publications will be available in print at the FGS Conference while supplies last for $12 for NGS members and $15 for non-members.

Also each book can be purchased as a PDF file, an "e-book" that you can download from the NGS web site and then either read on your computer or print. Prices are $8 for NGS members and $10 for non-members. The direct link to the download and purchase page is https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/bookstore/ListItems.cfm?CATID=32

Each publication includes a section on archives, libraries, societies, and other research facilities in the respective state, as well as a discussion of the major family history resources available, such as maps, cemetery records, census, city directories, newspapers, military records, tax records and vital records. In addition each state includes a discussion of which records are available at the local, county, and state level.

Series Editors, Ann Carter Fleming and Kay Haviland Freilich are continuing to work with various authors to complete research on new states, so check the NGS website periodically for new releases http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

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-- Save the date for the 2009 NGS Conference in the States in Raleigh, NC

The NGS Conference in the States, "The Building of a Nation, From Roanoke to the West" will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 13-16 May 2009 at the new Raleigh Convention Center, 2 East South St., Raleigh, North Carolina 27601. The new convention center offers free wireless access in the lobby.

The new Raleigh Marriott City Center, 501 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 (919) 833-1120 or http://marriottraleigh.com is accepting reservations. The conference rate is $124 plus tax per night for a single or double room.

A second conference hotel, just one block from the new convention center, is the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, 421 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 (919) 834-9900, or www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html. The Sheraton has recently been renovated, and the conference hotel rate is $120 plus tax per night, single or double room.

A third conference hotel is the Clarion Hotel State Capital, 320 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603, (919) 832-0501 or www.raleighclarion.com, which is an eight-block walk to the Raleigh Convention Center, but approximately four blocks from the North Carolina State Archives & Library. Rooms at the Clarion are $79 plus tax per night, single or double, and include high-speed internet access.

If you plan to attend the 2009 NGS Conference in the States, we encourage you to make your hotel reservations early because there are a number of colleges in the Raleigh area that will be having graduations the same weekend.

More information about the 2009 NGS Conference in the States program will be forthcoming in future issues of UpFront. However, the North Carolina conference flyer and much more information is available at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/conferences/2009/index.htm.

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-- Librarians' Day Pre-conference Event in Raleigh NC

Librarians' Day is scheduled for Tuesday, 12 June 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina. All librarians who work with genealogical and family history patrons are welcome. There is no charge, but participants much register by mail or online since space is limited. Registration will open in January 2009. Librarians' Day is made possible through the sponsorship of ProQuest,

Speakers will include Susan D. Kaufman, manager of Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, on the collection development; Pam Cooper, winner of the Filby Prize for genealogical librarianship, on working with volunteers; and Jason Toberlin, Special Projects Librarian, North Carolina Collection, UNC Chapel Hill, on the digital resources of the North Carolina Collection and the process of creating digital collections.

Librarians who participate in Librarians' Day are also encouraged to stay in Raleigh and register for the NGS 2009 Conference in the States, which begins the following day.

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-- 2010 NGS Conference in the States Planned for Salt Lake City

Plans are underway for the 2010 NGS Conference in the States to be held in Salt Lake City on 28 April - 1 May 2010. Please note the conference will be held earlier in 2010, so save the date.

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-- Genealogy Lectures Available on CD ROM

If you were unable to attend the NGS conference in Kansas City, 14-17 May 2008, you will be happy to know that over 120 lectures were recorded and can be purchased on CD ROM for $12 each plus shipping. Lectures are available at via a link "Lectures from NGS Conference in Kansas City available for purchase on CD ROM" on the NGS website http://ngsgenealogy.org. by scrolling down the home page to "2008 NGS CONFERENCE." This is an opportunity to hear genealogical experts discuss topics which will help you in your family research. Listed on the website is each speaker by last name, as well as the lecture track and title of each talk. Or you may access the JAMB-Inc. website

Also included on the website are over 100 lectures from the 2007 NGS Conference in the States held in Richmond, Virginia. The tracks and topics vary for each conference.

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Other News

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-- September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

Whether you want to research the current presidential candidates, access citizenship materials or just play a little Nintendo Wii, your local library is a resource for education and fun. Libraries are changing into
dynamic community hubs that offer amusement and education that is invaluable for children and adults.

Your free library card is the ticket to access the rich world of technological and informational possibilities at your local library.

This September, the American Library Association (ALA) kicks off National Library Card Sign-up Month with spokesperson Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest American basketball players of our time. Mr. Adbul-Jabbar was an unstoppable force on the court with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, and now he is using his unmatched passion to champion libraries. As an author of seven books, Mr. Adbul-Jabbar understands first-hand that libraries can provide you with tools you need to be successful.

For resources to publicize Library Card Sign-Up Month, please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/otherinit/card/librarycard.cfm.

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Events Around the U.S.

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August 2008

9 August 2008
Toronto ON - The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the Ontario Black History Society, and the North York Central Library have joined together to sponsor "African Roots in Canada", a day-long summer workshop on techniques and resources for researching ancestors of African descent. With expert speakers from the United States and the West Indies as well as Ontario, this event will offer both new and seasoned family historians an opportunity to gain fresh insights, share stories, and meet others with similar research interests. The workshop will be held in the Auditorium of the North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario. Early registration rates are available until July 15th. For program and registration details, visit http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/africanroots.html. To check availability, call 416-733-2608 (voice mail) or e-mail info@torontofamilyhistory.org.

15-16 August 2008
Indianapolis IN - Midwestern Roots 2008 presented by the Indiana Historical Society will feature more than 30 presentations, covering topics ranging from DNA and genealogy to technology and methodology. An exhibit hall will showcase vendors selling the latest products and tools for genealogists. The exhibit hall is free and open to the public on Friday and Saturday. A pre-conference highlight on Thursday, 14 Aug. will be a panel discussion with some of the pioneers in genetic genealogy on its evolution, potential and present-day uses. The conference is at the Indianapolis Marriott East, located at 7202 East 21st St. The Marriott and La Quinta Inn have special conference rates if you mention Midwestern Roots 2008. Cost for the basic two-day workshop (including lunches) is $150 ($125 for IHS members, $75 for students), and single-day registration (including lunch) is $90 ($75 for IHS members, $45 for students). Additional pre-conference activities and workshops are available f!
or a fee. For conference information, registration forms, exhibitor information, specific pricing or a scholarship application, call (800) 447-1830 or visit www.indianahistory.org/midwesternroots.

17-22 August 2008
Chicago IL - The 28th International Conference on Jewish Genealogy at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile This annual conference is the premier event for Jewish Genealogists. Attendees from around the world gather to learn, share expertise, and find others researching the same surnames, towns, and countries. All are welcome, from beginners to experienced genealogists. The IAJGS is proud to co-host this conference with the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois and the Illiana Jewish Genealogical Society. Please visit our web site at: www.Chicago2008.org

23 August, 2008
Grass Valley CA - The Nevada County Genealogical Society is presenting its 15th annual Digging For Your Roots seminar from 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1866 Ridge Rd., Grass Valley, CA. Speakers will include Stephen P. Morse (One Step Webpages), Susan Jackman (Using County Histories & Maps in Your Research),
Pamela Dallas (Cemetery Records & City Directories), Barbara Leak (Animap Software Demo, Evaluating Evidence & Searching for Soldier Ancestors), and other great presenters and presentations. A full day of techniques to jumpstart
your genealogy research. Cost is $15, optional bag lunch $5. For a registration form or more info, contact jogears@sbcglobal.net, phone (530) 432-7774, or ksauers@colfaxnet.com, phone (530) 274-2362. Registration checks should be payable to NCGS and mailed c/o Judson Gears, P. O. Box 558, Penn Valley, CA 95946-0558.

September 2008

12-13 September 2008
Springfield MO - "Paths To The Past," the Ozarks Genealogical Society's 28th annual Fall Conference, will be held at University Plaza, Springfield Mo. Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck will be the featured speaker. Mini sessions,
vendors, lunch, and a source book are included. Early registration and member discount. For more informatio, visit www.ozarksgs.org.

12-13 September 2008
Cleveland OH - The Fall Genealogy Conference, sponsored by the African-American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, will be held at the Cleveland Public Library, Main Branch, Downtown. The conference will feature nationally known presenters such as J. Mark Lowe (researcher for PBS series "African-American Lives 2"), Tim Pinnick, and Jana Sloan Broglin, and will also include workshops and research time at the Cleveland Public Library. Friday workshops by AAGS members are 1:00-5:00pm. From 6:00-7:30pm is "Five Ways to Jump Start Your Genealogical Research" presented by J. Mark Lowe. Saturday sessions are 9:00am-4:00pm. For details, see the AAGS web site at www.aagsclev.org or e-mail Mary Brothers-Johnson at robmary17@yahoo.com.

12-14 September 2008
Salt Lake City UT - MENSA Colloquium 2008: "Tracking Granny's Granny," presents speakers Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG; Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, CG; Colleen Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.; Stephen P. Morse, Ph.D.; and James W. Warren. Contact Jill Beckham at jillb@americanmensa.org or visit http://colloq08.us.mensa.org

13 September 2008
Pittsburgh PA - Professor Arthur B. Fox discusses his newest book on Allegheny County regiments in the Civil War. Our Honored Dead: Allegheny Co., Pa., in the American Civil War, 10 AM - 12 Noon at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Oakland area). Copies of the book will also be available for sale. Arthur Fox is professor of United States & Canadian Geography in addition to World Geography at CCAC. He also teaches a course on Civil War and Popular Culture at the University of Pittsburgh, and is best known for his 2002/2004 book, Pittsburgh During The American Civil War: 1860-1865. This event is free and open to the public; reservations not required. For more information, visit www.wpgs.org or call 412-687-6811. Parking fee at Carnegie Library is $5.00.

13 September 2008
Richmond VA - The Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia (GRIVA) sponsors their annual event, the "Gems of Genealogical Research" all-day seminar, featuring well-known genealogical researcher, author, and lecturer, Pamela K Boyer, CG, CGL, at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Virginia. Ms. Boyer is the co-author (with Amy Johnson Crow, CG) of Online Roots: How to Discover Your Family's History and Heritage with the Power of the Internet. With a background in corporate computer training and software documentation, she uses everyday language to explain how computers can help genealogists research, record their findings, and then analyze the results. Ms. Boyer is president of Memory Lane, Inc. at www.memorylanegenealogy.com. The four sessions are "Investigating Your Ancestors," describing criminal investigation techniques to search for and identify ancestors, record evidence, analyze and draw accurate conclusions, and write comprehensive but concise reports; "So!
me Real Research Sites on the Internet," examples of reputable, reliable for real research on the Internet, including available information at the National Archives, Library of Congress, and regional state archives; "Rogues & Rascals: Divorced, Litigious, Criminal Relatives," exploring the possibility that unsavory characters add spice to our family stew and actually should be referred to as savory characters; and "Mapping Workshop for Genealogists," practical applications for a variety of mapping tools (both on-line and software).

The cost of the all-day event, which includes a box lunch and drink, is $50 ($40 for GRIVA members). One can join GRIVA for the 2008-2009 year (and take advantage of other membership benefits, such as the nationally-acclaimed newsletter News & Notes and discounts on research trips) by including $15 ($20 for a family) with their registration. Registration opens at 9 am with the program beginning at 9:30. Vendors of genealogical products will be present all day. The Virginia Historical Society is located at 428 North Boulevard. To register or for more information, contact Dolly Pakurar at 804-639-4454 or apak00@comcast.net or go to www.griva.org.

19 September 2008
Butte MT - The Montana State Genealogical Society will host the Annual State Conference in Butte Montana on 19-20 September 2008. Presenters will be noted national speaker Michael John Neill; Ellen Crain of the Butte-Silver Bow Archives, and Christy Leskovar, Montana Writer. For more information contact S Valentine, smv2222@bresnan.net

19-20 September 2008
St. Paul MN - Minnesota Northstar Genealogy Conference -- Minnesota History Center, St. Paul (www.mngs.org). Featured speakers are Christine Rose, CG, CGL, and Paula Stuart-Warren, CG.

19-21 September 2008
Ottawa ON - "Celebrate Your Anglo-Celtic Roots" at the 14th Annual Conference of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. Something for everyone-special focus on England. Program includes: 18 presentations by over a dozen experts in family history research and genealogy; pre-conference course, workshop, and tour of Library and Archives Canada; consultations with experienced researchers; research room with free access to genealogy databases; marketplace of related products and services. Keynote speaker: Sherry Irvine, CG, FSA Scot. Sherry is an author and recognized specialist in English, Irish, and Scottish family history, and a past president of the US Association of Professional Genealogists. Visit http://www.bifhsgo.ca/Conference2008.htm to get the complete program brochure and poster and the registration form for both off-line and secure on-line registering. Savings on registrations postmarked before 15 August. Off!
icial web site: www.bifhsgo.ca.

20 September 2008
Williamstown MA - The Friends of the National Archives - Pittsfield, MA, will present its annual Full-Day Genealogy Conference, Life in the Past Lane V, at the Williams Inn in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The day will include lectures by Jean Nudd, Gregory Pomicter, Horace Waters, and Linda Blaser. The registration fee includes morning and afternoon refreshments, lunch, and a roundtable question and answer period hosted by a panel of experts. Several vendors will be on hand to provide products of interest to genealogists. Complete program details and a printable registration form can be found at www.narafriends-pittsfield.org/calendar.htm Call 413-236-3600 for further information or to receive a registration form by mail.

20 September 2008
Brentwood TN - The Middle TN Genealogical Society features Mr. Charles A. Sherrill, Director of the Brentwood Public Library in a Hands-On Workshop, "Using Original Court Records." Join us to eliminate the fear and confusion of researching court records by learning how to identify record types and understanding their research value. Mr. Sherrill is a librarian, archivist, genealogist, former Director of Public Resources at the TN State Library and Archives, and author of 22 genealogical books. Attendees will receive a 30-page handout packet for further study and reference. The event is at the Brentwood Public Library at 1:00 pm and is open to the public. To reserve your place, call Brenta Davis at 615-661-9775 or email bdavis66@comcast.net

25 September 2008
Nashville TN - The Middle TN Genealogical Society Meeting takes place at the FiftyForward Knowles Center, 174 Rains Ave., Nashville, from 10:30am--12:00 noon. Featured speaker is Ms. Waneta Strickert, Herb Expert. Ms. Strickert has many herb gardens with hundreds of different harbs and is the 2008 Nominee for the "Outstanding Volunteer Service Award" by the TN Master Gardener's Association for her restoation of the Croft Home Heirloom Gardens at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Admission is free to Knowles and other FiftyForward Centers, $5.00 fee to non members.

27 September 2008
Portsmouth OH - Free Workshop: Introductory German Genealogy from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth Ohio Public Library. Robert Rau will present Introductory German Genealogy and Reading German Church and Civil
Records. No registration is necessary. Sponsored by the Ohio Chapter, Palatines to America at http://www.oh-palam.org/

October 2008

4 October 2008
Montgomery AL - Fall Seminar: Using Maps in Genealogical Research presented by Richard G. 'Rick' Sayre. Seminar is 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Archives Building, 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery. Rick Sayre is a veteran researcher, lecturer and author. His areas of research include urban research methodology, mapping for genealogists, military records, immigration, and the regions of the Ohio River Valley and Western Pennsylvania. Rick is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and a variety of other genealogical societies.

6 October 2008

Nashville TN - Middle TN Genealogical Society presents four Advanced Genealogy Classes: "Adventuring Into Advanced Genealogy" with instructor Virginia Gooch Watson, past president of the Middle TN Genealogical Society. Classes will be on Mondays, Oct. 6, 13, 20, and 27, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm at the FiftyForward Knowles Center, 174 Rains Ave., Nashville. Admission is free to FiftyForward Center Members and $20 for non-members for the 4-class series.

10-11 October 2008
Chicago IL - The Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago is presenting their 26th annual conference at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5200 S. University Avenue, Chicago. Events will begin Friday afternoon and resume Saturday morning. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Deborah Abbott from Cleveland, Ohio, who will also provide two first-rate workshops on Saturday. She will be complemented by another nationally-acclaimed speaker, Reginald Washington, from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Conference program ads are still available. Further information on the event or purchasing ads can be found on the website: www.aaghsc.org.

11 October 2008
Seaside CA - "Heritage Harvest Genealogical Conference" will be presented by Monterey County Genealogical Society & the Monterey Family History Center, in Seaside from 8:30 to 4:30. Geoff Rasmussen will be the keynote Speaker: "Timelines and Chronologies, Secrets of Genealogical Success," with four additional sessions during the day. Concurrent sessions by local speakers will present topics such as web sites, federal records, newspaper research, Danish research, Hispanic research, immigration, writing histories, photo touch-up and restoration, hands-on PAF and Legacy training, and more. Registration by 25 Sept. 2008 guarantees syllabus. Web site: www.mocogenso.org. Contact for registration form: genietreasurer@yahoo.com.

11 October 2008
Pittsburgh, PA - Resources at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh. We are pleased to welcome Michael Dabrishus, Assistant University Librarian for Archives Special Collections, and Preservation from the Archives Service Center of the University of Pittsburgh, to give an orientation to collections held at the Archives. This event is from 10 AM - 12 Noon at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Oakland area). . This event is free and open to the public; reservations not required. For more information, visit www.wpgs.org or call 412-687-6811. Parking fee at Carnegie Library is $5.

11 October 2008
Dodge City KS - Kansas Genealogical Society Annual Meeting and Conference, Dodge City, KS, Celebrating 50 Years. Featured speaker is Arlene H Eakle of Tremonton, UT. See www.dodgecitiy.net/kgs for further information.

18 October 2008
Elgin IL - The Illinois State Genealogical Society invites you to celebrate our 40th anniversary at the fall conference, 40 Years of Discovery-Portals to the Future, which will be held at the Fox Valley University and Business Center on the campus of Elgin Community College. There is easy access off Interstate 90 on the far west side of Elgin, IL. Featured speakers are D. Joshua Taylor, Research Services Coordinator at the New England Historic Genealogical Society; Beau Sharbrough, Vice President of Content for Footnote.com and founder of the FGS and GENTECH web sites; and Loretto Szucs, Executive Editor and Vice President of Community Relations for Ancestry.com. Discover and evaluate new web sites, online databases and free tools on the internet. Investigate Footnote, FamilySearch, and NSDAR collections. Jumpstart your research with new techniques, get organized using Word tools and explore easy procedures for scanning and restoring documents. Harness the Internet with a ba!
sic or intermediate hands-on computer session presented by Lori Bessler, Outreach Coordinator for the Wisconsin Historical Society Library. More info: www.rootsweb.com/~ilsgs/

18 October 2008
Brookside OH - Palatines to America, Annual Fall Seminar is 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Brookside Plaza Community Center. Guest Speakers: Carrie Eldridge, Donald Bowman, and Gale Honeyman. Topics: Water and the Pioneer, Early Migration Trails of America, A Brief History of the Brethren: Celebrating 300 years in America and Researching at the Brethren Heritage Center. Tour of the Brethren Museum follows the meeting with the opportunity to research their genealogy records. Your $35 registration fee includes a wonderful October Fest Buffet Lunch. For details, see http://www.oh-palam.org/

18 October 2008
Houston TX - Colonial Virginia by Barbara Vines Little, CG, will be the topic of a seminar by the Houston Genealogical Forum from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet, Houston. Her lectures will be: Records and Repositories; Colonial Land Patents; and Colonial Wars and Militia Service. Lunch will be available onsite. For details, visit www.hgftx.org or email programs@hgftx.org.

18 October 2008
Ventura CA - The Ventura County Genealogical Society Annual Seminar will be on Saturday, 18 October 2008 from 8AM to 4PM at the LDS Family History Center, 3501 Loma Vista Road (at Mills Rd.) in Ventura, CA. Guest speaker Henry "Hank" Jones will present the following subjects:
- When the Sources are Wrong!
- Tracing the Origins of Early 18th Century Palatine and Other Emigrants
- Family Tradition: How to Separate Fact from Fantasy in Genealogical Research
- Genealogy in the New Millennium: Where We've Been and Where We're Going.
Seminar features will include handouts, a syllabus, exhibits, new and used genealogy books for sale, 2 refreshment breaks, and lunch. Registration fees are $35.00 for VCGS members and $40.00 for non-members. All fees include lunch and seminar materials. For more information, visit www.rootsweb.com/~cavegs or call Gwenda Tucker at (805) 485-7930 or e-mail bisbeenme2@aol.com.

18 October 2008
Mesa AZ - Family History Society of Arizona's annual fall seminar will be at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 2540 W. Baseline Road, Mesa. In honor of the society's 25th anniversary, the In Search of Annie Moore video will be the first part of a two-part program. Annie Moore was the first passenger registered as coming though Ellis Island, and the video traces her life after coming to America. The second part will feature Arizona's historian, Marshall Trimble. Registration begins at 8AM and the event concludes at 2PM with lunch included. Member registration fee is $35 until Oct. 11. Non-member charge is $40. For information, contact President Susi Fathauer at gafaz@cox.net or call 480.893.6689.

25 October 2008
Pittsburgh, PA - North Hills Genealogists Fall Conference. In honor of October being Family History Month, the North Hills Genealogists [of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] is hosting an all-day conference on Saturday, 25 October 2008. A great program features speakers Pamela K. Boyer, CG, CGL of Springfield, Virginia and J. Mark Lowe, CG of Springfield, Tennessee. In addition to formal lectures, the conference will give attendees a unique opportunity to interact with these knowledgeable and personable speakers in small group discussions. This will provide a forum for attendees to get their questions answered and to get ideas for further research. The conference will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 5910 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237 where parking is free. A continental breakfast and hot lunch are included in the modest price with early bird discounts until September 16. All are invited! More information may be found at http://www.northhillsgenealogists.org/.

November 2008

1 November 2008
Bowie MD - The Maryland Genealogical Society presents its Fall Seminar, "DNA and Family History - Exploring the "Gene" in Genealogy." The seminar will be held at the Comfort Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Bowie, Maryland, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speakers include: Thomas Shawker ("DNA Testing: The Very, Very Basics"); Donn Devine ("What DNA Can Show: Case Studies of Some Practical Applications to Genealogy"); Robert McLaren ("Managing a Large Surname DNA Project and Some Interesting Results"); and Alastair Greenshields ("Maximizing your Surname Project's Utility Online"). The cost for pre-registrants (which includes lunch) is $50.00 for MGS members and $55.00 for non-members. The deadline for pre-registration is 20 October. Walk-in registrants will be accepted at an additional $5.00 cost. A registration form and further details are available at www.mdgensoc.org.

1 November 2008
Prescott, AZ - Northern Arizona Genealogical Society's annual seminar will feature Geoffrey Rasmussen, Regional Marketing Director for Millennia Corporation; he was also instrumental in creation of the Legacy Family Tree 7.0 software program. The seminar will be held at the Founders' Room, Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin Street, Prescott. The seminar will be based on the Legacy Family Tree 7.0 genealogy software program for people to record and track their family history, but may include other genealogical topics not related to Legacy. Additional information will be forthcoming. Contact person is Marilyn Day, margreenda@aol.com.

7 November 2008
Tucson AZ - Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board hosts a special event featuring John Philip Colletta from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Williams Center, Saguaro and Kachina Rooms 5335 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson. Topic: How to Assemble and Write a Genealogical Work that is both a Reliable Document and a Readable Story. Colletta presentation is $15.00, dinner with Colletta an additional $10.00. Please visit our web site at azgab.org for additional information.

8 November 2008
Tucson AZ - Arizona State Genealogical Society Seminar featuring John Philip Colletta is 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Lunch included-not guaranteed after 1 November) at Christ Church United Methodist, Fellowship Hall 655 N. Craycroft, Tucson. Topics: How to Prepare for Successful Research in European Records; Lesser-Used Federal Records: A Sampling for Fresh Research Ideas Using Original and Derivative Sources: How to Evaluate Evidence; Hacks and Hookers; and Putting Up Pickles: Snares of Yesteryear's English. Seminar cost is $45.00 and includes dinner, discounted cost for members, lunch not guaranteed after 1 November. Please visit our web site at AzSGS.com or email Amy Urman @ heirloomgal@aol.com for additional information.

14-15 November 2008
Raleigh NC - "This Land Was Their Land" sponsored by the North Carolina Genealogical Society will be presented at the Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh. Rick Sayre, CG, Monica Hopkins, Larry Cates, and A. Bruce Pruitt will present the following topics: Topographic and Other Maps for Genealogists, Maps of the Southeast United States, Google Earth for Genealogists (Sayer);Understanding Land Records, Understanding Deeds (Hopkins); Land Grants in North Carolina 1663-1960 (Pruitt); The Law of the Land (Cates). Land research is essential for locating and sorting people in large families and with common surnames. These workshops provide tools for this and much, much more. For information and reservations, see www.ncgenealogy.org or email info@ncgenealogy.org

14-15 November 2008
Mesa AZ - Cyberexchange 101: Learn the tech to trace your roots conference -- Mesa, Arizona Family History Expo 2008 at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa. Doors open at 7AM on Friday and 8AM on Saturday. Early bird cost is only $65.00 for both days. Regular pre-registration cost for both days is $75.00.
At the door cost will be $90.00. Over 100 sessions will be for beginners through advanced researchers. Exhibit Hall will be available to attendees. Website: www.myancestorsfound.com/events/upcoming.php?event_id=43

January 2009

10-18 January 2009
IRISH GENEALOGY CONFERENCE on board the Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International, Eastern Caribbean Cruise. Genealogy conferences held on cruise ships have become very popular. The price is comparable to attending a national conference, and you get a fabulous vacation at the same time! On this cruise you will learn about Irish research, have a fun vacation, and make new friends. We know that the most valuable part of the trip will be the opportunity to meet others with similar interests, share successes, and commiserate about brick walls. You are not alone. Speakers include: Valerie Adams, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland; Mary Ellen Grogan, TIARA, Boston; George B. Handran, Boston (Griffith's Valuation specialist); Michael J. Leclerc, New England Historic Genealogical Society; and Gregory O'Connor, National Archives of Ireland. COST: Pricing begins at $900 per person for the cruise and $75 for the conference. For detailed information on the cruise, go!
to the TIARA (The Irish Ancestral Research Association) website at http://www.tiara.ie. Any questions? Contact Mary Ellen Grogan at megrogan@ix.netcom.com.

February 2009
Secaucus NJ - The Hudson County Genealogical Society meeting features Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak speaking on Trace Your Roots with DNA. The meeting starts promptly at 11:00 am at the Secaucus Public Library. See www.secaucus.bccls.org for directions. For more information, check out www.hudsoncountynjgenealogy.org, or email ebh1776@optonline.net.

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To add your event to this calendar, please send an announcement to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org.

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Family Reunions

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3 August 2008
STROCK - The 129th Annual STROCK Reunion will be held at the Southington American Legion Hall on Warren-Burton Road, Southington, Ohio, on Sunday, August 3, 2008. Anyone interested in the Strock / Bensinger family (or any related family line) is cordially invited to join us. Our theme this year will be the Wild West, so put on your cowboy hat or Indian feathers and join us! (Western attire is optional). The covered dish dinner will begin at 1:00 p.m. Please bring a dish to share and your own table setting. We ask each person attending to bring an unwrapped $1 for a child or adult to be used during game time. There will be door prizes as well! Questions? Please contact Judith McGarvey: judimcg@comcast.net

16 August 2008
HARTLE - The 100th Annual Hartle Family Reunion of the descendants of Socrates Hartle (1818-1877) will be held at the Harrison-Smith Park in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, on Saturday, 16 August 16 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Bring food, beverage, table service and all your family! For more information contact Richard Hartle, President, rhartle@greenapple.com

30 August 2008
STROCK - The 129th Annual STROCK Reunion will be held at the Southington American Legion Hall on Warren-Burton Road, Southington, Ohio, on Sunday, 3 August 2008. Anyone interested in the Strock / Bensinger family (or any related family line) is cordially invited to join us. Our theme this year will be the Wild West, so put on your cowboy hat or Indian feathers and join us! (Western attire is optional). The covered dish dinner will begin at 1:00 p.m. Please bring a dish to share and your own table setting. We ask each person attending to bring an unwrapped $1 for a child or adult to be used during game time. There will be door prizes as well! Questions? Please contact Judith McGarvey: judimcg@comcast.net

23-24 August 2008
HARLOW - The HARLOW Family Association Annual Reunion with be held 23-24 August 2008 in Kingston and Plymouth, MA. On Saturday 23 August from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. we will hold our annual business meeting at the Beal House 222 Main St. Kingston, MA. At 6:00 p.m. the Harlow cousins will gather for an evening meal at the Beal House. followed by a lively fund-raising auction. On Sunday 24 August we meet at our ancestral home, "Harlow Old Fort House" at 119 Sandwich St. Plymouth, MA for a church service at 10:00 a.m. followed by a group picture and a picnic lunch (hamburgers and hot dogs) at noon. We then have an afternoon program which includes a short business meeting, results of our silent auction, and ending with this year's guest speaker, Joan Hiatt Harlow, an internationally known writer for children. Her books include Joshua's Song, Shadows on the Sea, Star in the Storm, and Thunder from the Sea. Joan is an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature of West Re!
dding, Connecticut. She travels often, doing personal book signings and speaking engagements at schools and reading festivals. Born and raised in New England, she lives in Florida and New Hampshire. This year, she will be doing a book sale/signing at the Plymouth Antiquarians Society's Hedge House Lawn during the Waterfront Festival on August 23rd, the day before the Harlow reunion. Be sure to visit her if you're in town before the reunion.

In case of inclement weather, we will move all of the Sunday's festivities to the Beal House in Kingston, MA. For more information please visit http://www.harlowfamily.com/current_events.htm or email Winfield Harlow at harlowfamily@cox.net .

30 August 2008
BINGHAM - The Bingham Family Reunion of Southeast Kentucky will be held in Middlesboro, Kentucky, on the grounds of the Binghamtown Baptist Church. This will be a "pot luck" affair. Everyone attending the reunion is asked to bring a covered dish and non-alcoholic beverage. Lunch will be between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. A sheltered area is available, as is Fellowship Hall. This gathering will begin as early Saturday as you would like to show up. Several people will be there around 9:00 A.M. to prepare for the day's activities. Plan to stay until about 3 or 4:00 or as long as you wish.

We invite all BINGHAMS (descending from John A. Bingham b. 1763 and Deborah Phipps b. 1768), related families, and friends to this reunion. Come meet your extended family, trace your genealogy, or learn about your family history. Please bring any historical information you might have-old photos, books, family Bibles, or whatever information you might have. Please tell as many of your family about this as you can. We want everyone to have the opportunity to attend. Forward names and e-mail addresses to jbing6@yahoo.com and /or robtbbingham@yahoo.com. If you need assistance with lodging, directions or just have a question, contact Robert Barry Bingham at (859) 619-6397, 3232 Tudor Drive, Lexington, KY 40503

10-14 September 2008
SOULE - SOULE Kindred in America, Inc. will be holding our 2008 Reunion in Plymouth, MA on 10-14 September 2008. The gathering will include a day at Plimoth Plantation with a group luncheon prepared in the 17th-century manner and a day centered in Duxbury, MA. Registrants will be near libraries which have excellent resources for Soule (and name variants) family researchers. Registration materials are now available through our web site http://www.soulekindred.org and our quarterly publication, Soule Kindred Newsletter.

20-21 September 2008
HEMPSTED - A HEMPSTED Family Reunion hosted by Connecticut Landmarks at the Joshua and Nathaniel Hempsted Houses in New London, Connecticut, will take place on the 20th and 21st of September 2008. The Hempsted Houses, dating from 1678 and 1759, are two historic sites owned and operated by Connecticut Landmarks, formerly known as the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society. The Joshua and Nathaniel Hempsted Houses were home to family members for three centuries, from the 17th to the 20th centuries. For information about attending the event, please contact Rick Spencer, site administrator, at (860) 443-7949 or by email at hempsted@ctlandmarks com.

3-5 October 2008
DILLION ASHER & HENDRICKSON - Come join in the fellowship and fun of the 28th Annual Dillion ASHER Reunion and the Hendrickson Reunion. Friday, October 3 will be at Pine Mountain State Resort Park Lodge, Pineville KY with a 5:00 pm dinner (buffet or order from menu), followed by 6:30 Business Meeting. Saturday, October 4 will be an all-day "pot luck" picnic starting 11:00 am at the Cardinal Inn (Next to Dillion Asher's Homestead) in Queendale, KY. Please bring covered dish. Entertainment will be the "Asher Jammers" (professionally known as "Mixt Company") featuring Virginia "Monkey" Halcomb Blood and ensemble. At 5:00 pm, come to the Pine Mountain State Park Lodge (Laurel/Azalea Rooms) for a genealogy exchange. On Sunday, October 5, join us at the Little Creek Cemetery, Red Bird (Beverly), KY at 11:00 am for a memorial service, Honoring Deceased Descendants, presided by Rev. Ted Collett and featuring: "Soldiers of the Cross" (Larry & Debbie Green, Adrian and Wes Mason). At 2!
:00 pm, come to the First Presbyterian Church, USA, Fellowship Hall, Kentucky Avenue, Pineville, KY for the HENDRICKSON Reunion. Updated 2008 editions of all Asher, Collett and Hendrickson genealogy books will be available at all events.

Toll free numbers for accommodations: Pine Mountain State Park in Pineville at 800-325-1712; Best Western, Barbourville at 800-528-1234; Holiday Inn Express in Middlesboro at 800-HOLIDAY. Please send your e-mail address to or (606-337-5062).

16-19 October 2008
LEE - The annual reunion of The HENRY LEE Society will be held in the historic district of Pensacola, Florida, at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown. Among events planned is a tour of the National Naval Aviation Museum. A trolley tour of the historic district is also scheduled. Any Lees not on the newsletter mailing list who want to be kept informed should contact Rovena Lee at simfan@cox.net.

October 17-18 2008
BOBO - The 2008 Bobo Family Reunion will be 17 and 18 October 2008 in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and will open with a family dinner (lunch) at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House in nearby Lynchburg and close on Saturday, 18 Oct., with a combined reunion dinner with Bobos from the Middle Tennessee area. For full details, contact Charles H. (Chuck) Bobo, Bobo Family Assn. Coordinator, either by email at FamilyBobo@aol.com or write to him at 3101 Thurman Rd., No. H-22 Huntsville, AL 35805. Interactive Web Site: http://www.Bobo-Family-News.info. The new Bobo Family CD is ready with more than 20,000 individuals. Contact Chuck for details.

5-7 June 2009
QUARLES - The QUARLES Family 200 Years Celebration/Reunion will be in Cookeville/Algood, Tennessee on 5, 6, and 7 June 2009. You are invited to a reunion of the descendants of Lt. WILLIAM PENNINGTON QUARLES, RWA, of Virginia who settled at White Plains, Tennessee, in 1809, present-day Putnam County. Associated families: Burton, Hawes, Hughes, Little, Huntsman, Hyder, Simpson, Lampton and Snodgrass. Please visit our web site often for new information at http://wpquarles2009.info. Questions? Contact Eunetta Finley Jenkins at mmouse@multipro.com or at 931-526-9072 or 931-260-7651 or at 33 Ferguson Avenue, Cookeville, TN 38501

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To add your family reunion to this calendar, please send an announcement to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org

Planning your own family reunion? Read the popular book in the NGS Guide Series by Sandra McLean Clunies, CG: "A Family Affair" https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/BookStore/ShowProduct.cfm?PRODID=402

Family reunion planners can find lots of reunion planning info and can request a free copy of Reunions magazine at www.reunionsmag.com.

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