Registration Opens for the National Genealogical Society’s 2017 Family History Conference
ARLINGTON, VA, 1 DECEMBER 2016— Registration is now open for the National Genealogical Society’s thirty-ninth annual Family History Conference, Family History Lives Here, which will be held 10–13 May 2017 at the Raleigh [NC] Convention Center. To register on or after 1 December 2016, visit the NGS website at http://conference.
Throughout its history, North Carolina has been home to a diverse population including Native Americans and those who trace their heritage back to Europe and Africa. During colonial times, it was one of a few colonies that embraced religious diversity, welcoming Quakers, Huguenots, Methodists, and Moravians. It is a land rich in cultural traditions. From the lighthouses on the outer banks to the falling waters on the Piedmont, to the dramatic overlooks in the mountains, this land calls us back to take a closer look. The Tar Heel story is vibrant, shared through the words of each family, and recorded in the wonderful records, manuscripts, and artifacts preserved in the numerous North Carolina archives, special collections, museums, libraries, historical sites, and societies.
With a focus on records, repositories and methodology, the conference program offers family historians numerous topics to help them advance their research. Other genealogical subjects featured at the NGS Family History Conference will include US Reconstruction, maps and locations, historical context, and research tips and techniques. Some highlights of the sessions are Deborah Abbott’s “Stories from the Back Door of the Swannanoa-Berkeley Hotel: My Family History,” Rick Fogarty’s “The Moravians and the Cherokees: From Piedmont to Tahlequah,” and Angela Packer McGhie’s “Using Identity Characteristics to Locate Your Ancestors.” A four-day DNA track features lectures on interesting developments and uses of DNA tests, and thorough analysis of the results. A workshop on chromosome mapping and a workshop on creating DNA citations and proof arguments are also planned. Single-day tracks focus on church records, military topics, and Native American research. Technology and its increasing role in research is addressed in a variety of presentations including a two-day track on tools and methods to use technology to enhance your family history research. A Skillbuilding track will again be sponsored by the Board for the Certification of Genealogists (BCG) for intermediate to advanced researchers interested in improving their research skills.
A number of special events have been planned with limited seating, so be sure to register on 1 December, or as soon as possible thereafter, if you plan to attend these events. To register online, visit the NGS website at http://conference.
Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, and guidance in research. It also offers many opportunities to interact with other genealogists.
