Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Report from Who Do You Think You Are? Live! with Pictures

The annual Who Do You Think You Are? Live! conference (often abbreviated to WDYTYAL) is now history. Held at the Olympia Centre in London, England, on February 22 through 24, this family history event is probably the largest such conference in the world.

I was fortunate to be able to attend this year's event in London although I did leave a bit early on Sunday in order to catch an afternoon flight back to the States. Attendance at past WDYTYAL events has varied from 12,000 to 14,000+ attendees. I left too early to obtain the final count from this year's event, but I think attendance was at least equal to past years, if not higher.

The weather was chilly, remaining around the freezing mark for all three days of the event. I saw a few snow flurries in the air every day although no snow ever accumulated on the ground. When I flew from Orlando, Florida, to London, the change in weather was a shock! I didn't warm up again until I returned to Orlando last night.

Who Do You Think You Are? Livestreaming Video is Available on the Internet

I attended Day #1 of the Who Do You Think You Are? Live conference in London today. In theory, I could have stayed home and watched much of the same thing. That's a great theory but, trust me, in-person attendance is always better. However, if you are unable to attend, you can view "the next big thing" via LIVE video streaming on the Ancestry.co.uk Academy web site. If you are outside the U.K., don't forget about time zone changes!

If you would like to watch the live events at The Olympia Exhibition Center in downtown London, go to the Ancestry.com Blog at http://goo.gl/rU4Zq.

Thank you Bradenton

I would like to thank the Manatee Genealogical Society for inviting me at their Winter Seminar last Saturday. I was able to make four presentations to a good-sized crowd in an excellent facility at the Bethel Baptist Church in West Bradenton, Florida. I also think the crowd was first class. That is, they laughed at my jokes and I didn't see anyone fall asleep. That's how I judge an audience!

Announcing a Genealogy Conference on British Migration

The following announcement was written by the Halsted Trust:

With 20 talks from 17 different internationally known genealogists and historians, the Halsted Trust is delighted to announce its Second International Family History conference featuring the theme of British Migration; from, to and within the British Isles. Exodus: Movement of the People will be held at a comfortable and modern hotel from 6th to 8th September 2013.

2013 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy Call for Papers

The following announcement was written by the organizers of the 2013 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy:

2013 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy “Strengthening Ties That Bind Families Together” Tuesday, July 30 through Friday, August 2, 2013

Proposals are now being accepted for the 2013 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy which will be held Tuesday, July 30 through Friday, August 2 at the BYU Conference Center in Provo, Utah.

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! in London - Feb. 22 - 24

The largest annual genealogy event in the English-speaking world, possibly in the entire world, will be held near the end of next month in London, England. Based on the hit television show, Who Do You Think You Are?, the three-day expo at the Olympia Exhibition Hall in Kensington typically attracts 12,000 to 14,000 attendees every year. Yes, that's fourteen THOUSAND.

The next Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! event will be held February 22 through 24, 2013. If you can be in London during that time, I bet you will enjoy this show. This year's event will feature more than 160 specialist exhibitors and celebrities from the television series to help you with your own family history search.

Minnesota Genealogical Society Announces a Call for Papers

The following announcement was written by the Minnesota Genealogical Society:

The Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) announces a Call for Papers for breakout sessions of the 6th annual MGS North Star Conference, “Discovering and Telling Family History,” to be held October 4–5, 2013 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, March 1, 2013.

Registration open for IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

The following announcement was written by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston:

Boston—Registration is now open for the 33rd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy to be held in historic Boston on August 4-9.

The conference is the leading genealogy event of the year for people researching their family history. Experts will give 200 lectures, hands-on workshops and programs during the conference.

Over 1000 researchers ranging from beginners to professional genealogists from all over the United States and around the world are expected to attend the conference in Boston. The early registration discount will end on April 30. For more information or to register, visit www.iajgs2013.org.

NGS Issues Call for Papers for the 2014 Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia

The following announcement was written by the National Genealogical Society:

ARLINGTON, VA, 20 DECEMBER 2012: Beginning 1 January 2013, speakers as well as organizations interested in sponsoring lectures or tracks are invited to submit lecture proposals for the NGS 2014 Family History Conference, Virginia: The First Frontier, to be held 7–10 May 2014 in Richmond, Virginia. The first permanent English settlement in North America, Virginia has been home to countless individuals—some remained for generations; others moved on to the next frontier. Building on the records and history that draws so many back to their roots in the Old Dominion, we will explore the origins of those who settled within Virginia’s borders whether they came by land or sea.

RootsTech Adds Story@Home Classes

The following announcement was written by RootsTech:

RootsTech is pleased to announce the addition of Story@Home, offering a full selection of classes and workshops dedicated to the art and inspiration of connecting generations through stories.

With the addition of the Story@Home, RootsTech now provides a rich conference experience for anyone interested in learning how to preserve and share their personal and family stories. Story@Home presenters include nationally renowned storytelling experts, including Syd Lieberman and Kim Weitkamp.

Registration Opens for the 2013 NGS Conference in Las Vegas

The following was written by the (U.S.) National Genealogical Society:

Arlington, VA, 30 November 2012: Registration begins on 1 December 2012 for the National Genealogical Society's thirty-fifth annual Family History Conference, Building New Bridges, which will be held 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.  NGS chose Las Vegas because it embodies the West, where different cultures, nations, and technologies connect. In addition to attending the NGS 2013 Family History Conference, participants will have an opportunity to tour Las Vegas and the surrounding area, including the Hoover Dam.

NGS Releases 2013 Family History Conference Program Online

The following announcement was written by the National Genealogical Society:

Arlington, VA, 23 NOVEMBER 2012: The National Genealogical Society has released the full 2013 Family History Conference Program.  It is available online and is fully searchable at http://members.ngsgenealogy.org/Conferences/Program2013.cfm.

Call for Papers Open for International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

The following announcement was written by the International Conference on Jewish Genealogy:

Boston - The 33rd IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, the leading conference on Jewish genealogy, has announced the Call for Papers.

There will be 200 programs featured during the conference. Proposals for presentations including lectures, workshops, and panel discussions are welcomed. The planners encourage proposals on all relevant topics, but they are especially interested in talks on practical research methodologies, worldwide research sources, guidance for beginners, and resources and Jewish history in the New England area.

Lists of Upcoming Genealogy Events

I used to maintain a list of upcoming events in this newsletter.  I found that my work was simply a duplicate of the efforts of several other people who maintain similar lists. I stopped maintaining my list some time ago.

If you want to find lists of upcoming genealogy events, I suggest you check these other web sites that also list upcoming genealogy events:

A Great Weekend in Raleigh, NC

I'd like to thank the North Carolina Genealogical Society for hosting me last Saturday in  Raleigh, North Carolina. I had the opportunity to give four presentations to an audience of about 100 people. I think it went well. At least, it looked like nobody fell asleep during my lectures! That's one way I measure the success of my lectures.

I cannot thank everyone who helped with this weekend's event but I do have to give special thanks to Lucinda Glover for her role of "hostess" to make sure that I had a hotel to stay in and places to eat.

2013 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy Call for Papers

The following was written by the organizers of the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy:

“Strengthening Ties That Bind Families Together”
Tuesday, July 30 through Friday, August 2, 2013

Proposals are now being accepted for the 2013 BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy which will be held Tuesday, July 30 through Friday, August 2 at the BYU Conference Center in Provo, Utah.

Back to Our Past, Ireland’s Flagship Genealogy Event, Begins Next Friday

The following announcement was written by the organizers of Back to Our Past:

Ireland’s biggest family history event returns for its third year
Over 20,000 family history enthusiasts expected to attend

Ireland’s biggest family history event returns this year after its massive success in previous years.  Over 20,000 people are expected to descend on the RDS in Dublin from October 12th-14th for this year’s Back to Our Past.

Back To Our Past 2012 Show to be Held Next Week in Dublin, Ireland

The following announcement was written by the organizers of the Back To Our Past Show:

The organisers of the Back To Our Past Show are pleased to announce that Ancestry.com has become the event’s title sponsor.  Ancestry.com recently moved its international operations to Dublin and its support for such an important feature within Irish genealogy is a welcome development.

RootsTech 2013 Registration is Live with $149 Early-bird Pricing

The following announcement was written by the organizers of RootsTech:

Registration is now live for the 3rd annual RootsTech conference on March 21-23, 2013 in Salt Lake City, UT. With several thousand attendees each of the first two years, the 2013 conference is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet!

RootsTech, hosted by FamilySearch, offers an opportunity unlike any other to discover the lastest family history tools and techniques, connect with experts to help  you in your research, and be inspired in the pursuit of your ancestors.  You will learn to use the  latest technology to get started or accelerate your efforts to find, organize, preserve, and share your family's connections and history.

2013 Genealogy Jamboree Call for Papers

The following was written by the Southern California Genealogical Society:

The Southern California Genealogical Society announces a Call for Proposals for the 44th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, to be held at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, Burbank, California, Thursday through Sunday, June 6 through 9, 2013. Thursday will be a day of hands-on workshops.