After years of attending conferences virtually (I’m looking at you, RootsTech pajama sessions!), today marked my first full day at an in-person National Genealogical Society conference here at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. What a day it’s been!
Morning Sessions: Diving Deep into Methodology
“When the Evidence Doesn’t Agree” with Stephanie O’Connell, CG
My day started with a BCG Skillbuilding Lecture on Methodology that was definitely at the Intermediate/Advanced level. Stephanie demonstrated how to resolve conflicting evidence using the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) through two compelling case studies. She provided practical advice for resolving these conflicts and writing solid conclusions.
This session has me eager to review my own research to ensure I don’t have any unresolved conflicting evidence lurking in my files. Thankfully, I’ve been keeping detailed research logs, so it shouldn’t be too overwhelming a task.
“Bits and Pieces – Merging and Separating Identity Fragments to Reconstruct Lives” with J.H. Fonkert, CG
This second BCG Skillbuilding Lecture was absolutely enlightening! I’ve always wondered about the difference between genealogy and family history, thinking the terms were pretty much interchangeable. But J.H. provided this profound distinction that I’m definitely printing out for my office wall:
“Genealogy is about family relationships—within and across generations. Family history is about lives lived—what ancestors did when, where, and with whom. Genealogy, alone, tells us little about ancestral lives, but genealogy is a prerequisite for painting a family history.”
This class focused on merging identity fragments across time and space to reconstruct complete lives. The techniques I learned will definitely help me flesh out the stories of my Irish ancestors who came to America around 1860. With so many same-named individuals and only fragments of their lives discovered so far, I’m excited to apply these methods to tell their stories more fully.
Midday Break: Transcription and Decompression
I opted to skip the luncheons (both to save budget and for some quiet time) and spent my break working on a transcription project while decompressing from the intensive morning sessions.
Afternoon Celebrity Sightings in the Exhibit Hall
Before my afternoon sessions, I took another walk through the exhibit hall, and I felt like I was walking among celebrities! So many fantastic speakers I’ve only seen in webinars were there, live, right in front of me!
I chatted with Amy Johnson Crow for a few minutes about the #52Ancestors project and met Jen Shaffer, The Formidable Genealogist. I’ll admit I got a bit tongue-tied around both of them—maybe starstruck? So sorry if it looked like I didn’t know who you were.. I definitely did! I walked by the master genealogist himself, Tom Jones, but didn’t have the nerve to tell him how much I’ve learned from his books (thanks to Cyndi Ingle’s (from Cyndi’s List) classes!). And Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, is here too, but I’m still too shy to say hello!
It’s like that scene from Wayne’s World when they meet Alice Cooper and bow down chanting “we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy!” 😄
Afternoon Learning Sessions
“Poor Ancestors: Strategies for Finding Records and the Stories Those Records Can Tell” with Pam Vestal
This methodology class provided excellent strategies for finding and using poorhouse records and other county and municipal records. The techniques Pam shared will definitely help with some of my ongoing research challenges.
“Data Collection: Mastering Techniques in Genealogical Research” with Jill Morelli, CG, CGL
Having taken webinars with Jill before, I knew she was a powerful speaker, but seeing her in person was even better! She challenged us to take a self-assessment to gauge where we are in our genealogical journeys, identify and prioritize our weaknesses, and establish an education plan to become “Level 3” genealogists.
Based on her session alone, I think I can safely call myself a lower “Level 2” for most areas. Her tool will let me assess myself now and again in a year to measure my progress. The session covered advanced techniques for accurate and ethical genealogical data collection, defining scope, analyzing sources, and ensuring high-quality, reliable research outcomes.
Looking Ahead to Tomorrow
It was a very long but incredibly rewarding day, and tomorrow promises to be just as busy! In the morning I have two more methodology classes and a session on records & repositories. After lunch, I’m particularly excited about a 2.5-hour session on “AI-Powered Genealogical Research Planning” presented by Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer, the mother-daughter team from Family Locket. Having already taken their RLP course and currently working through RLP with DNA, I can’t wait to see how AI might revolutionize genealogical research planning.
Reflections on Virtual vs. In-Person
After years of virtual conferences, being here in person brings such a different energy. The spontaneous conversations, the exhibit hall encounters, the ability to ask follow-up questions immediately after sessions—it’s all adding layers to the learning experience that virtual attendance, wonderful as it is, simply can’t replicate.
That said, I’m definitely feeling the effects of such an intensive day of learning! Time to rest up for another full day of genealogical adventures tomorrow.
What’s been your experience with virtual vs. in-person conferences? Have you had any celebrity genealogist encounters that left you starstruck? I’d love to hear your conference stories in the comments!
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