It’s not a bad kind of snow day when you can spend the day inside a beautiful convention center attending top-notch genealogy lectures and checking out all the newest tech-toys for genealogists. It’s even better when you can run through the white stuff to spend a few hours surrounded by microfilm at the Family History Center.
Day Two at the National Genealogical Society 2010 Conference dawned cold and white, quite a surprise for the Californians, Floridians, and Hawaiians in attendance. Like Randy Seaver, I too attended Elizabeth Shown Mills’ outstanding presention yesterday, and planned to hear her talk today.
On Wednesday I also attended an excellent lecuture by John T. Humphrey on Understanding the Process that Creates the Records and came away with a plan to outline the probate requirements for the states I am researching. John’s examples demonstrated that knowing the record-making process can speed research and add value to the work.
I also attended the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors Banquet where I sat next to Renee Huskey of Photoloom, and met several family history writers from across the country. Michael Leclerc spoke shared a few Tales from the Editor’s Desk, and gave us all a glimpse at life inside the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Today was a full day of speakers, vendor visits, and library look-ups. I heard Claire Bettag on Research Reports: Meeting the Standards, Elizabeth Shown Mills on What Kind of Document is This: Original? Derivative? Primary? Secondary? or Whatchamacallit? and Kay Haviland Freilich on From Research to Report: How to Write a Proof Summary. Each presenter stressed the Genealogical Proof Standard and BCG standards; it was clear that the BCG Skillbuilding track was well-planned and carefully coordinated among speakers.
I also managed to squeeze in a short look-up at the Family History Library for the probate of James Winsor, died 1801. Now I have a few references and will try to get back to find the “good stuff.” I have been very impressed with the Library staff — helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, and very accomodating. The Library must have added extra help this week because the books are being shelved almost as fast as they are returned to the cart, and the assistants keep the microfilm printer/scanner line moving smoothly.
I finally caught up with Sheri Fenley, The Educated Genealogist, and Donna Pointkowski, What’s Past is Prologue, for dinner and a lilttle SLC field trip. It was great to compare conference sessions and research tips.
Another busy day is slated for tomorrow; I hope the snow holds off until we get inside the Salt Palace Convention Center, and then it can blow a gale!
