Nearly Half of Conference Talks Cover Core Skills and Records

The NGS 2022 Family History Conference will again feature four days of premier genealogical education consisting of 165 lectures to choose from. At the core of the conference program are lectures on genealogical methods, tips, techniques, records, and repositories. Some 75 lectures or 45 percent of all the talks cover core topics of interest to all genealogists.

These talks can be found in the Methodology (19), Records and Repositories (14), Technology (10), Writing (8), Eastern States (7), Families (6), and Immigration (4) tracks.

Lectures in these tracks focus on skills applicable to all genealogists. The program identifies whether each level is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, or advanced genealogists, with most lectures being suitable for a range of skill levels.

Several of the most popular and well-known speakers, Judy Russell, Tom Jones, Joshua Taylor, Diana Elder, Kip Sperry, and Stephen Morse are giving talks in these areas of broad interest.

Russell will talk about legal name changes (F325), using court records to link family members (S455) and the impact of Spanish colonial law on early laws and records in California (W117).  Jones will talk about three case studies showing how online research can lead to unique offline sources to solve genealogical puzzles (W155).

Taylor will talk about all the work still to be done after you’ve traced your ancestors back to the 1600s in New England (W142).  Elder will talk about tackling brick walls (F314) and how to organize multiple genealogy projects and stay productive (S415).

Sperry will talk about researching in large US cities (S457) and the types of records useful for research in Midwestern States (T203).  Morse will talk about his one-step webpage compilation of over 300 genealogical tools (F347) and methods for searching the newly released, but unindexed 1950 census (S427).

There are of course another 63 lectures that cover many other topics of general interest.  Lecture topics include:

• Lands and Maps
• Research in the Eastern States
• Federal, State, and Local Archives
• Courthouse Records
• Military Records
• Church Records
• Newspapers
• Census Records, including the 1950 Federal Census
• Immigration Records
• Research in Large US Cities
• Research Planning
• Adoption Research
• Technology
• Writing
• Tracing Female Ancestors

Spotlighted Speakers:

L. to R. Tom Jones, Judy Russell, and Diana Elder

L. to R.  D. Joshua Taylor, Stephen Morse, Kip Sperry

Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, an award-winning genealogical author, researcher, lecturer, and speaker at conferences, institutes, and seminars.  Author of Mastering Genealogical Proof and Mastering Genealogical Documentation.

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, The Legal Genealogist, provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law, history, and genealogy come together.

Diana Elder, AG, is a professional genealogist, accredited in the US Gulf-South Region, ICAPGen commissioner, author of Research Like a Pro:  A Genealogist’s Guide, and podcast host.

Joshua Taylor, MLS, is a professional genealogist specializing in New England and New York families, president of NYG&B and host of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS).

Stephen P. Morse, PhD, is a computer professional with a doctorate in electrical engineering and the creator of the One-Step website for which he has received numerous award

Kip Sperry, AG, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, is accredited for Midwestern states; author of family history books, chapters, and journal articles; retired BYU family history professor.