by Matthew Berry, CG, NGS Sacramento Conference Chair

Matthew Berry, CG

One of the things I liked best the first time I attended a National Genealogical Society Family History Conference was the opportunity to talk about genealogy with other people who understood my passion for family history. They didn’t roll their eyes when I mentioned census records or birth certificates. Instead, they encouraged me to pursue my research. I learned so much not just from the scheduled lectures, but from the other attendees whom I chatted with between lectures, at lunch, and at evening events. After
a two-year hiatus, I’m so looking forward to being in Sacramento with fellow family history buffs again.

This year’s conference will provide similar opportunities to those who are just beginning to build their family tree—as well as those who hope to expand their research to include their great and great-great grandparents. You’ll find the program includes a wide range of lectures specifically intended for you.

On Wednesday, Marissa Louie Lee will speak about “What’s Online at the National Archives and Records Administration,” and Rebecca Whitman Koford will lecture on “Controlling Chaos: Managing a Genealogical Project.” Nineteen other lectures on Wednesday will also be focused for those in the early phase of their family researcher.

“Wild, Wild Research in the Western States” by Dayna Jacobs and Sharon Hoyt’s “’This Worthy Pioneer:’ Bringing a Gold Rush Immigrant’s Story to Life” are just a couple of Thursday’s lectures that will appeal to beginners.

Friday will bring us Steve Morse’s lecture on “One-Step Webpages: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools” and Daniel Horowitz’s “Tales of a Mad Genealogist.”

On Saturday, Kip Sperry talks about “Family History Research in Large Cities in the United States,” and Diana Elder will lecture on “Getting Things done and Family History: Productivity Tips and Tools.”

Throughout the week, there will be lectures specifically for genealogists who are beginning to explore Chinese American, German, Hispanic, Irish, Japanese American, Jewish, and Pennsylvania ancestors, and lectures on many other ethnic and cultural communities.

I will always remember my first time at an NGS Conference. Come to the NGS 2022 Family History Conference on 24-28 May 2022 in Sacramento, California, and experience the unalloyed joy of the best genealogical education available.