Schedule
9:00 am – 9:50 am
Patti Gillespie
Keynote Speaker – A Tribute to Patti Gillespie
Presented by Michele Bailey9:00 am – 9:50 am
Location:
Taylor Hall
A Perspective: 100 Years of Changing Research Strategies
A fun & fast-paced look at past and present with a peek into the future of research strategies using Artificial Intelligence.
A fun & fast-paced look at past and present with a peek into the future of research strategies using Artificial Intelligence.
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Angie Johnston & Judy Dodd
Youth Class #1:
Gravestone Detectives: Virtual Cemetery Scavenger Hunt
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Location: Room 1
Step into the shoes of a real-life genealogical detective! In this fun, fast-paced virtual scavenger hunt, participants will explore photos of gravestones from historic cemeteries and learn to “read” the hidden language of symbols, carvings, and clues etched in stone. Using a BINGO card filled with gravestone icons and meanings, students will race to find matches from a provided photo gallery. Along the way, they’ll discover how headstones reveal information about religion, occupation, family relationships, and the lives of those who came before us. Prizes will be awarded for the first BINGO in each round!
Patti Huff Williams
Locating Ancestors Through Scholastic Records
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Location: Room 2
School records are often overlooked, yet can be rich with details that bring your ancestors’ stories to life. Enrollment documents may reveal names of siblings, ages, birth dates, and location. These records can also uncover unknown facts and provide context about your ancestors’ daily lives and communities.
In this program, you’ll discover what types of scholastic records exist, where to locate them, and effective strategies for using them in your genealogy research. Add depth and new discoveries to your family history through these valuable educational resources.
Start Your Story: Beginning Genealogy
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Location: Room 3
Overwhelmed by all the records and websites? This class cuts through the noise and provides a clear, actionable roadmap for your genealogy journey. You'll learn the fundamental steps every beginner must take. Leave this session with a clear plan and the confidence to begin building your family tree today.
Paula Perkins
News Flash! What’s in This Edition: Finding Family in Digital Newspapers
10:00 am - 10:50 am
Location: Room 4
Locating newspapers, records to be found and how to retrieve these under-utilized sources (Secular, Denominational, Ethnic, and Trade Newspapers). Find women’s maiden names, births, marriages, deaths, weddings, anniversaries, legal notices and local “gossip” are just some of the items to be found in these newspapers.
10:00 am – 11:50 am
Mic Barnette
Hands-On Genetic Genealogy – Choosing the Right Test for the Right Question
WORKSHOP ($20) – Pay When You Register Online11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 5
Angie Shumway
From Brick Walls to Breakthroughs – Practical AI Strategies for Every Genealogist
WORKSHOP ($20) – Pay When You Register Online11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 6
Discover how Artificial Intelligence can supercharge your genealogy research! In this hands-on workshop, learn practical AI tools, time-saving techniques, and smart evaluation strategies to tackle tough research challenges and uncover new family history discoveries. Beginners and experts welcome!
11:00 am – 11:50 am
Benson and Rochelle Baunchand Kasue
Youth Class #2:
Voices of Africa: Preserving Oral Histories & Genealogies
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 1
Discover how FamilySearch is capturing, transcribing, and preserving oral histories across Africa before they are lost to time. Join this husband-and-wife team as they share how these oral histories are being saved by FamilySearch. Drawing on Benson’s first-hand knowledge of family and tribal genealogies in his native Kenya, he offers a rare insider’s view of how ancestral lines are preserved through storytelling, memory, and community. Together, they’ll unveil the remarkable progress, illustrated with vivid photographs from their recent visit to Kenya. Discover how these efforts are connecting generations, preserving culture, and transforming the landscape of African genealogy.
Paula Perkins
Demystify & Unlock the Secrets of Finding Free Digital Records, Including TxGenweb
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 2
Learn about the many free digital resources from Libraries, NARA, Newspapers, PERSI to State Archives.
The USGenWeb Project ® provides free online genealogical and historical resources. Texas has a link to each county for family history researchers with resources ranging from biographical sketches, court records, photos, surnames, queries, military, vital records, cemeteries and county histories. Learn how the project can benefit your research endeavors and volunteer opportunities. One of Family Tree Magazine’s top ten websites for genealogists. The TXGenWeb was the Dallas Genealogical Society Heritage Preservation award. https://www.txgenweb.org
Patti Huff Williams
The War of 1812: A Genealogical Goldmine!
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 3
Unearth a treasure trove of family history hidden within the records of the War of 1812. This pivotal conflict produced an exceptional range of documents that bridge the gap between early America and the 1850 census. Discover how service and pension records can uncover soldiers’ stories, family connections, and vital details such as birth, marriage, and residence information. Learn what records exist, where to find them, and why these often-overlooked sources are essential to uncovering your early American ancestors.
Tiffany Wright
SAVE your stuff!
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 4
Practical, inexpensive ways to preserve your personal and family letters, photos, books, and things. We will also go over the American history of archiving; along with the differences and purposes of the four words: archives, preservation, conservation, and restoration in the world of precious things.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch Break / Visit Vendor Booths
(Food Trucks will be here from 11 am - 3 pm) Or, bring your own lunch.
You can eat in Taylor Hall or on the patio.
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Colin & Bethany Jensen
Youth Class #3:
AI Time Machine – Restoring Photos & Creating Stories
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Location: Room 1
Bring the past to life with the power of Artificial Intelligence! In this interactive session, attendees will use AI tools to restore, colorize, and enhance old family photos. Then, using ancestor details and profiles, they’ll explore how AI can help generate short narrative stories about the people in those images. This creative “time travel” activity helps youth see that technology can make family history both meaningful and fun.
Angie Shumway
Full-Text Search: Your Shortcut to Hidden Records
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Location: Room 2
Many genealogists rely on indexed records—but those only capture part of the story. Full-text search lets you dig deeper, uncovering names, places, and events hidden in unindexed records, digitized newspapers, and online archives. In this fast-paced, tip-filled 50-minute session, professional genealogist Angie Shumway will show you how to use full-text search to find elusive ancestors, verify facts, and uncover unexpected connections.
We’ll explore:
- Where to find collections with full-text search capabilities.
- How to craft searches that surface hidden gems.
- Advanced search operators, filters, and wildcard tricks.
- Real-world examples of breakthroughs made possible by full-text search.
- You’ll leave with practical strategies to expand your research reach—and the skills to find what others overlook.
Jeffery Williams, MD
An Introduction to Genealogical Use of DNA
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Location: Room 3
This session will provide participants with a foundational understanding of how DNA testing can be a powerful tool in their family history research. Information will be provided about how to test with AncestryDNA autosomal test and what the results will tell you. Includes best strategies for integrating DNA evidence with traditional documentary research.
The class is ideal for beginners who are curious about genetic genealogy or have recently tested and need help understanding their results.
Jake Mangum
An Introduction to The Portal to Texas History
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Location: Room 4
The Portal to Texas History (texashistory.unt.edu) is a digital repository for historical and cultural heritage materials. The materials hosted on the Portal are the product of collaboration between the University of North Texas Libraries and Portal Partners, which include genealogical societies, museums, libraries, government agencies, and private collectors. The presentation will provide users with an overview of The Portal to Texas History, how to navigate its over 2 million items for their research, and highlights some of the various collections on the Portal.
1:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Paula Perkins
Patti Huff Williams
Ancestry DNA Essentials – How to Maximize Their DNA Tools
WORKSHOP ($20) – Pay When You Register Online11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Room 6
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Michele Bailey
Youth Class #4:
Ancestor Quest – Exploring FamilySearch with Artificial Intelligence
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Location: Taylor Hall
Join an epic ancestor adventure! FamilySearch is using AI in exciting new ways to make genealogy easier, faster, and more fun than ever. In this class, attendees will explore how AI helps index historical records, summarize ancestor profiles, suggest record hints, and even chat with an AI assistant that helps answer questions. Youth will experience interactive demos of the FamilySearch AI Research Assistant, Full-Text Search, and Get Involved tools—and will leave ready to uncover their own ancestors in a whole new way.
NOTE: Everyone is invited to attend this class.
Mic Barnette
Extend Your Direct Maternal Lineage – Take a mtDNA Test
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Location: Room 2
WILL YOU BE COMING?
Join us in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in East Texas to hear from industry leaders about family history!
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