Author name: Ruth Blair

The NGS conference is getting closer!

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I have received my attendee information from the National Genealogical Society. The conference is getting closer and there is lots of preparation going on.

WiFi Hotspot

NGS wants you to stay connected! In order to offset the expense of in-room Internet fees, the NGS has partnered with Platinum Sponsors Findmypast.com and FamilySearch to provide conference attendees with free WiFi Internet access. A password-protected Internet café (WiFi Hotspot) just for NGS attendees will accommodate up to 300 users at a time, 20 minutes per session, 24 hours per day, Monday through Saturday the week of the conference. The free WiFi Hotspot will be located in Pavilion 5 and in the Pavilion Foyer between the Pavilion and the Paradise Event Center Foyer.

Thank you Findmypast.com and FamilySearch!

Conference App

Our conference app this year includes a daily schedule, personal schedule, speaker and exhibitor information, floor plans, and more. To identify sessions that will not be recorded, the app includes a separate line below the lecture description that states, “No recording available. Take notes.” You can select the sessions you plan to attend, create your own conference schedule, and add personal appointments and meetings. For more information and to download the conference app, please visit the NGS website.

Download the App it is a great tool!

Syllabus

The conference syllabus is now available online for registered attendees. The syllabus highlights the major points of each lecture as submitted by the speaker, and is often referenced during the sessions.

You will receive a digital copy of the syllabus at conference check in. If you purchased a print syllabus prior to the early bird registration deadline, you will also receive the print syllabus at conference check in. You can prepare for the conference before you leave home by viewing and printing syllabi for the sessions you would like to attend. NGS will not provide printing stations at the conference.

The syllabus material for the lectures I want to attend have been printed off.

Clothing

Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You will do a lot of walking and sitting, and despite weather conditions outside, some areas of the event center will be cold.

Comfortable shoes are a must!

Registration and Attendee Check-In

Attendees must register or check in at the registration desk in person to retrieve conference materials (bag, program, name tag, and syllabus on flash drive). Materials will be released only to the person named on the registration and upon presentation of a valid ID that is consistent with that name. No exceptions.

Tuesday, 7 May 2013
12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Thursday, 9 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Friday, 10 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Saturday, 11 May 2013
7:00 a.m.–12 noon

Registration times duly noted.

Exhibit Hall Hours

The Exhibit Hall is free and open to the public. See the interactive map online. To see exhibiting company details, select a booth number, and then click to expand profile. Find a listing of all exhibitors by selecting “companies” at the bottom left corner of the page. Exhibitor information and the Exhibit Hall map are also on the conference app.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013
9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Thursday, 9 May 2013
9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Friday, 10 May 2013
9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Saturday, 11 May 2013
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

I have already marked the exhibitors I want to visit in the Exhibitors section of the App.

Las Vegas here we come!

MyHeritage delivers historic U.S. Census records to millions of families worldwide

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MyHeritage delivers historic U.S. Census records to millions of families worldwide

Travel back in time: Global family history network gives users a snapshot into the lives of their ancestors from 1790 to 1930

PROVO, Utah & TEL AVIV, Israel – May 1, 2013: MyHeritage, the popular family history network, today announced that it has added the entire collection of U.S. Federal Censuses conducted each decade from 1790 to 1930 to its growing database of billions of historical records. Combined with innovative technologies and affordable prices, MyHeritage makes it easier and more accessible than ever to illuminate the lives of one’s ancestors during this fascinating period in American history.

Among the nation’s largest and most important set of records totaling around 520 million names, the Censuses provide information about individuals residing in the U.S. including age, address, education, occupation, place of birth, race, native language, marital status, relationship to head of household, neighbors – and more. Family history enthusiasts can now search the indexed images of the U.S. Censuses and discover the legacy of former generations between 1790 and 1930 in the U.S.

To make discoveries easier, MyHeritage offers a sophisticated system of automatic record matching for the family trees on the site, dramatically reducing research time. New information uncovered in the Censuses triggers a domino effect of new discoveries within the MyHeritage global network of family trees and records. Resulting connections with other family trees could shed light on the roots of many families who immigrated to the U.S., connecting them to long-lost relatives abroad. Translated to 40 different languages, MyHeritage is the only company to deliver discoveries from the U.S. Censuses to a global audience.

The new records, which include the remaining fragments of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census mostly destroyed in a fire, complement the existing 1940 U.S. Census which is already available on MyHeritage. A summary of any census record can be viewed for free and users can choose between affordable pay-as-you-go credits or a data subscription for full unlimited access to all historical content, including the images of the original census pages.

“Adding the U.S. Censuses is paramount for offering a one-stop shop for family history”, said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “With this move we maximize value for users by combining the best family tree tools and the most powerful matching technologies with a massive library of historical content. The U.S. Censuses add incredible new value for our users, who will receive a string of new discoveries, and act as a catalyst for taking research further into the past and across new borders. This is just the tip of the iceberg as we’re set to add significant additional collections of historical records, both from the U.S. and around the world, in 2013.”

The U.S. census records are also being added to WorldVitalRecords and FamilyLink, and will be made available soon to the users of Geni – three additional websites owned and operated by MyHeritage.

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is a family history network helping millions of families around the world discover and share their legacy online. Pioneers in making family history a collaborative experience for the entire family, MyHeritage empowers its users with innovative social tools and a massive library of historical content. The site is available in 40 languages. For more information visit MyHeritage.

Ruth’s Recommendations

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Here are my favourite blog posts from the last week.

There were three posts from British GENES this week. The first is “Old TNA catalogue to be switched off.” Tomorrow the TNA will start their new Discovery catalogue.

The other two posts were called “Democratising or Privileging archive conference in Dundee” and “Democratising or Privileging archives conference – day 2.” These are two very interesting posts about what he learned at the conference. There were quite a few Canadian archives presenting as well. There is an interesting take of Library and Archives Canada. Library and Archives Canada has lost its reputation on the international stage not to mention at home.

Irish Genealogy News has an interesting post called “Exploring Irish Identity – a free online course.” This looks really interesting and it starts on May 27th.

Congratulations FamilySearch and their dedicated volunteer indexers. You have reached the one billionth indexed record. “Thanks a Billion.”

Genealogy’s Star has an interesting post called “Is Genealogy History or is All History Genealogy?” Every genealogist needs to know about the history of the area where their ancestors lived and the era in which their ancestors lived. It can help answer a lot of questions.

What were your favourite blog posts this past week?

Let me know in the comments below.

Other bloggers that write their own lists are:

Jana’s Genealogy and Family History Blog

Genealogy Insider – Genealogy News Corral

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