Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy Photo Album

Course coordinator Josh Taylor and instructors Cathi Desmarais and
Diane Gravel presented five days filled with inside tips for learning more about
New England ancestors in “Digging Deeper: Advanced New England Research.”

 

I’m home from a great week at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and already thinking about “next steps” for research uncovered in the Family History library collections with help from the instructors and course lessons. l  As a native Californian, I especially appreciated the compact New England history timelines, migration lore, and repository background. 

In class, I learned what you need to research Connecticut records (a state genealogy society membership card), where to look for early printed sermons (Worcester, Mass.), and why it’s worth making friends with the Town Clerk (insider tips!). At the library, I narrowed my searches and found new records full of surprises.  

The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) holds a unique place among genealogy courses and institutes — it’s held in Salt Lake City near the extensive collections of the Family History Library and in recent years has been scheduled immediately following the Association of Professional Genealogists’ Professional Management Conference. The result is a busy two-weeks of genealogy meetings and meet-ups for researchers at all levels of experience.

Genealogists have to eat too! Here’s a bunch at 
Sunday Brunch at the Marriott Hotel. 

Blogger meet-up at the Blue Iguana in Salt Lake City with (from left)
Shelley Bishop, me, Susan Clark, and Michelle Goodrum.  

The week-long Institute concluded Friday evening with the traditional Completion Banquet, featuring speaker David Rencher who shared the story of a small bundle of family letters that held the key to a decades-long family struggle with an Arizona land claim. At one suspenseful point, the slide changed to show a name and photo and a voice shouted from the back of the room: “That’s my third times great-grandfather!” It was Josh Taylor discovering something new about his ancestors, and a new connection to David Rencher. Only at a genealogy event!

The evening continued with the Utah Genealogical Association annual awards presentations: Pamela Boyer Sayers and Rick Sayers were named as UGA Fellows, and Judy G. Russell was awarded the Silver Plate Award for excellence in publications. It’s a wonderful acknowledgement of their outstanding contributions to genealogy excellence and education. I feel fortunate to have attended lectures and courses presented by each one.

UGA President Bret Petersen also announced the new courses for SLIG 2016 and introduced the new director Peg Ivanyo as Christy Davies Fillerup retires after four years as SLIG director. Christy was presented with the UGA Presidental Award, and will continue as Managing Editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly.

Paula Williams congratulating cousin Judy Russell (right),
recipient of the  UGA Silver Plate Award.

At the Completion Banquet with (from left) Michelle Goodrum, 
Jamie Mayhew, Susan Clark and Paul Woodbury.