Last week I attended my third Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. This year, IGHR was held virtually, like many other events, so I was able to take advantage (of a horrible situation) and finally take Advanced Methodology & Evidence Analysis with The Legal Genealogist herself, Judy G. Russell.
First, before I get into the course itself, I want to give a shout-out to the IGHR team, who did everything in their power to bring this week-long event into the digital environment. They did a fantastic job, and if there were any snags, I didn’t know about them. Everything ran smoothly (except for the “you’re muted” phrase that we heard throughout the week—good thing we weren’t playing a drinking game!). So, a big “thank you” to Karen, her team, the Georgia Genealogical Society, ProQuest, and the Zoo(m) Keepers for everything they did to make the experience one to remember!
Now for the course. WOW! This was not my first rodeo—I’ve attended IGHR twice before (2016 and 2018), GRIP in 2018, SLIG in 2014, and the SLIG virtual practicum in 2018. I know how intense these week-long courses can be, but this was a whole different ballgame!
There was so much packed into this course—in a good way! Two-thirds of the sessions were on topics that I was comfortable with and knew a good deal about. This isn’t to say I didn’t learn anything new—I most certainly did (and was reminded of a few things as well!). I love diving deeper into different topics and learning from differing perspectives. It keeps things interesting, and everyone can benefit from a refresher now and then.
The other third was a mixed bag of things I sorta knew and things I in no-way-shape-or-form knew squat about. Such was the case with the sessions on government records. I pretty much got a crash course that left my mind spinning. There were a few things I “knew” but in no way at the in-depth level that I should (but I knew that going in).
Overall, this course reinforced my confidence in many areas, reminded me of my weaknesses in some areas, and provided some great ideas for furthering my own research.
As for the virtual aspect, I found it to be just fine. While I do love hanging out in person with fellow genealogists, it was kind of nice not to have that distraction, especially while taking this intensive course. And again, I think the IGHR team did a great job making up for the lack of in-person interaction by providing some virtual networking opportunities. I was still able to “hang out” with friends and make some new ones along the way.
Kudos to the IGHR team and all of the course coordinators and instructors who made the experience fun and educational despite the challenges of moving the event online.
And, bonus…I won an advanced registration for 2021! Decisions, decisions. Will it be Military Records I with Michael Strauss, or Understanding Land Records (I love land records!) with Angela McGhie? We shall see!
