In our last post, we introduced Spotlight Sessions that will feature some short, focused talks of 25 minutes or less (think “Tik Talks”) that introduce a case, tool, concept, or provocative question. These sessions will feature new voices, intriguing projects, or focused topics tied to the conference theme. Four of these sessions will be presented on Saturday, 30 May 2026 (see the program schedule for times and locations):

SA12 Time & Place: A Genealogist’s Cross-Hairs
Instructor: James M. Beidler
Every record search begins with two coordinates: time and place. Learn how to use this “cross-hairs” approach to pinpoint what records exist for your ancestor—and how shifting boundaries and start dates can change the approach.

SA13 The Other Census: Five Things Tax Records Can Tell You
Instructor: Jennifer Dunn
Think tax records are just dull lists of names and numbers? Think again. Discover five surprising ways these overlooked records uncover family connections, migrations, and stories that don’t appear anywhere else.

SA19 From Broken to Belonging: How Replacing Victor’s Headstone Reconnected My Family
Instructor: April Lynne Earle
What began as a simple cemetery visit became a project of restoration and rediscovery. See how replacing one broken headstone led to new research, new relatives, and renewed family connections.

SA21 Signed, Sealed, and Marked: Clues in Ancestors’ Signatures
Instructor: Cheri Hudson Passey
Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest discoveries. See how ancestors’ signatures and marks can reveal identity, kinship, literacy, and even health—and why a simple “X” might hold the key to your next breakthrough.

Conference registration is now open at conference.ngsgenealogy.org/2026registration/