The second full day of the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference filled my head with new ideas, resources, and strategies! Five information-packed sessions left me with pages of notes, a growing to-do list, and that familiar genealogy conference feeling—equal parts overwhelmed and inspired. Here’s my recap of today’s enlightening journey through the halls of genealogical wisdom.
Morning Sessions
The Research Plan: Your Blueprint for Genealogical Success (Drew Smith, M.A., LIS)
Drew Smith kicked off my day with his methodical approach to research planning that frankly made me realize how haphazard my own “system” has been! His comprehensive blueprint covered everything from setting specific research goals to publishing results for peer review.
What resonated most was Drew’s emphasis that research is iterative—it constantly changes as we go, generating new questions along the way. His reminder that “research may not produce conclusions (yet)” validated my own experience with stubborn brick walls where patience is required. As someone who tends to jump straight into searching without adequate preparation, I appreciated his section on determining what skills might need to be acquired or hired. Those Swedish church records won’t decipher themselves without some language knowledge!
Drew’s organizational approach to tracking repositories—including subscription costs, physical locations, parking details, and special closing dates—reminded me that effective genealogy requires more than just enthusiasm; it demands systematic planning and record-keeping.
AI-Assisted Genealogy: The Family History of the Future (Daniel Horowitz)
Next up was Daniel Horowitz’s engaging presentation on AI tools in genealogy. As always, Daniel was as entertaining as he was informative! His session illuminated how artificial intelligence is transforming tasks that once required hours of painstaking effort.
I was particularly intrigued by MyHeritage‘s suite of AI tools. Their PhotoDater feature that can estimate when an undated photograph was taken could be a game-changer for all those mystery photos in my collection! The AI Biographer tool that automatically creates Wikipedia-style biographies about ancestors also caught my attention—I immediately added “upload Eva Marcisak photos to test PhotoDater” to my to-do list.
Daniel’s balanced perspective was refreshing—emphasizing that while AI offers powerful assistance, the genealogist remains central: “You create, you control, you teach, you correct, you work hard.” His candid discussion of AI’s limitations, including its tendency toward “hallucinations” (those convincing but fabricated details), was an important reminder that technology enhances but doesn’t replace the human touch in our research.
Shedding Light on Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches and Their Records (Justin K. Houser)
Justin Houser’s presentation on Eastern Christian records was precisely what I needed for my research into my Slovak ancestors! His explanation of the historical split between Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches illuminated why finding the right records has been so challenging.
I hadn’t realized that the “Greek Catholic” designation only emerged in 1774 when Empress Maria Theresa of Austria renamed what had previously been called the “Uniate Church.” Justin’s comprehensive overview of metrical records (births/baptisms, marriages, and deaths), which began being systematically maintained in 1784 in the Austrian Empire, gave me new avenues to explore for my Eastern European ancestors.
I’ve added several tasks to my research list, including determining what church was in Litmanova (my ancestor Anna Hurkala’s birthplace) and researching the history of St. Mary’s Church where my grandparents were married in 1945.
Afternoon Sessions
Midwest Repositories and Online Collections (Kris W. Rzepczynski, MLIS, MA)
After lunch, Kris Rzepczynski (who apparently has excellent taste in Cincinnati-style chili!) delivered a comprehensive overview of Midwest research resources that had me mentally planning road trips to archives I’d never considered before.
His state-by-state breakdown of repositories across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota was invaluable. I was particularly excited about resources relevant to my current, and potential future research interests:
- The Newberry Library’s Atlas of Historical Boundaries with its interactive maps
- Abraham Lincoln – Presidential Library & Museum that has collections including Illinois newspapers (perfect for my “Mysterious Mr. Max” research)
- Ohio Genealogical Society’s cemetery search
I’ve added “Check Madison County Genealogical Society” and “Look up Edwardsville newspapers for Pitts family” to my growing to-do list for my ongoing Clifford Max research.
Solved! Case Studies in Genetic Genealogy (Dr. Leah Larkin)
The day concluded with Dr. Leah Larkin’s fascinating presentation showcasing real-world DNA success stories. Her practical approach to organizing and analyzing DNA matches gave me new strategies for my own genetic genealogy puzzles.
Dr. Larkin laid out a systematic method she calls “The Geek Strategy”—a 12-step approach that includes getting DNA into multiple databases, clustering matches, creating private research trees, and using tools like the Shared cM Tool and What Are the Odds (WATO) at DNA Painter to evaluate competing hypotheses. Her case studies illustrated how these techniques have solved complex adoption mysteries, including cases where endogamy or geography complicated relationship predictions.
I was particularly impressed with her recommendation to use puzzle boards (she uses LucidChart) to visualize how DNA matches relate to one another and her emphasis on making educated guesses that can be systematically evaluated or eliminated using a combination of DNA evidence, traditional records, and logic.
Beyond the technical aspects, Dr. Larkin addressed the human element of genetic genealogy—building relationships with DNA matches (who are, after all, relatives) and navigating the ethical considerations that inevitably arise when family secrets are uncovered. This holistic approach reminded me that genetic genealogy isn’t just about solving puzzles but about connecting with living people and honoring the stories of those who came before us.
Reflections on Day Two
As I review my notes and the growing list of follow-up tasks in my hotel room, I’m struck by how each presentation connected to my current research in unexpected ways. Drew Smith’s planning strategies will help me better organize my Swedish ancestry search. Daniel Horowitz’s AI tools might finally solve the mystery of when those unidentified family photos were taken. Justin Houser’s insights into Eastern church records could unlock new information about my Slovak great-grandparents. Kris Rzepczynski’s Midwest resources list offers new places to search for my son’s Illinois ancestors, and Dr. Larkin’s methodical DNA strategies might finally help identify Clifford Max’s biological father and verify my hypothesis about Sven Svensson’s father as well.
Tomorrow brings another full day of sessions, the last day of the conference, but tonight I’m already thinking about how to implement what I’ve learned. I’ve identified several action items for when I get home on Sunday:
- Upload Eva Marcisak photos to test MyHeritage’s PhotoDater feature
- Research the history of St. Mary’s Church in Brooklyn
- Look up Edwardsville, IL newspapers for Pitts family connections
- Create a proper research plan for my Swedish ancestors using Drew’s blueprint
What about you? Have you attended any genealogy conferences this year? Which presentations have had the most immediate impact on your research? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!
Oh, and if you’re here at the OGS Conference tomorrow, I’ll be wearing another catchy t-shirt that says “Only a Genealogist Thinks a Step Backwards is Progress” – say hi if you see me!
Stay tuned for my Day 3 recap coming soon!
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