Education is important for genealogists to undertake. With a vast array of records that we consult to the techniques that we use to solve tough problems, it’s vital that we stay in the know and continually learn. This is a topic that I am passionate about. Had I not taken steps to educate myself from the beginning of my journey, I would not be where I am today with a nicely defined (although still in progress) pedigree and the ability to help others trace their roots.
This is the fourth in a series of posts about genealogy education.
I realize the timing of this particular post isn’t all that great, since many genealogy events for 2020 have been canceled due to COVID-19. BUT, now that you’re aware of these opportunities, you can plan for 2021 and 2022, working toward a budget if necessary. AND, some 2020 events are going virtual so there may be an opportunity here that you can take advantage of without the need to travel! I’ve noted these in blue.
Local Society Events
Many local societies have a variety of options when it comes to educational opportunities. Usually, they host monthly meetings, where a speaker is invited to teach on a particular topic. Some societies hold special workshops or seminars. Most events are open to the public, meaning you don’t have to be a member to attend (but, you should consider supporting a nearby society so they can keep their doors open and the events coming). Look for societies in and around the town or county in which you live and see what their offerings are.
Conferences
Nearly all state and national genealogical societies hold an annual conference. These events can be one or more days, and usually feature a variety of lectures (and sometimes workshops) covering many different topics.
Attendees usually receive a syllabus that includes each lecture’s handout. This is particularly beneficial when you are unable to attend a session because of a conflict with another session. As a bonus, you always have a reference to go back to, even for sessions and topics that did not interest you during the conference.
Here are a few of the “major” multi-day conference that might be of interest to you:
National Genealogical Society Family History Conference – Held in May in various locations throughout the United States.
Federation of Genealogical Societies – FGS will hold their final stand-alone conference this September ahead of the merger with NGS in October. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 conference will held virtually.
RootsTech – Sponsored by FamilySearch, this conference is held in Salt Lake City, Utah, usually in February or March.
Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree – Usually held in Burbank, California, in June, SCGS took the year off in 2020 to regroup. Currently, they plan to hold the 2021 conference virtually.
New England Regional Genealogical Consortium – This conference is held every other year in the spring. They are currently planning the 2021 conference, which will take place in April.
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Annual Conference – Usually held in the fall, this conference is the largest of its kind. Due to COVID-19, they plan to hold the 2020 conference virtually in October.
Institutes
If you are looking for an in-depth study of a particular topic, a genealogical institute is something to consider. Institutes are a week-long, hands-on learning experience. Each institute consists of several courses that are made up of lectures related to a specific topic. You register for one course and that is your focus for the week. This is a great way to learn from and interact with the experts in out field. Below is a list of current institutes:
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) – Held in January in Salt Lake City, Utah; SLIG 2021 will be virtual and registration opens August 8.
Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR) – Held in June or July in Athens, Georgia; IGHR 2020 will be virtual—of the 13 courses, 10 still have seats available. Registration closes July 6, so if you want to take advantage of this opportunity (I did!) head on over and register now!!
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) – Typically, two to three iterations are held in June and July in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. GRIP 2020 will be virtual—there are still a few seats available in two courses for the week of July 5 to July 10, so if you want to take advantage of this, head over there right now!!
Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) – Held in July in Washington, DC, with hands-on experience at the National Archives.
British Institute – Sponsored by the International Society for British Genealogy Research and Family History, this institute is usually held in October in Salt Lake City, Utah. For 2020, it will be held virtually.
Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) – Held in July in Fort Wayne, Indiana; MAAGI 2020 will be held virtually; registration is open!!
Genealogy Cruises
Cruises? Really? Yes! There is such a thing as a genealogy cruise. There are actually quite a few organizations that sponsor a genealogy cruise. You get to travel in style, while mingling with genealogy buddies and learning along the way. This is one of those things that’s on my bucket list. Here’s a look at what’s coming up (of course with COVID-19, these are subject to change):
Ancestry ProGenealogists – A Journey of Genealogy, this is an eastbound transatlantic cruise from New York to Southampton scheduled for June 2021.
Genealogy Cruises – In August 2020, an Alaskan cruise is planned (there is no mention of a cancellation at this time). A Mexican cruise is planned for February 2021, while a New England cruise is planned for August 2021.
Unlock the Past – This company has been running genealogy cruises for years. No news yet on something for 2021.
Genealogy at Sea – Sponsored by Heritage Books, they’ve been cruisin’ for years. I don’t see anything for 2020 or 2021 on their website.
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