Day 1 of the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference is officially in the books, and I am energized. Five sessions, a memorable keynote, and three new books from the exhibit hall later, I have plenty to walk you through in this OGS 2026 Day 1 recap.
There is something about the energy of a full conference space. Attendees streaming in, the exhibit hall opening for the first time, the steady hum of chatter, and familiar faces from past conferences turning up around every corner. After attending RootsTech 2026 virtually last month, walking into all of that felt like a gift.
Here is how Day 1 unfolded.
Keynote: Sandra Rumble Sets the Tone
Sandra Rumble opened the OGS 2026 conference with A Genealogist’s Treasure: Stories That Bring Our Ancestors to Life, and she delivered exactly what an opening keynote should deliver. She set the tone for the entire conference.
Her case studies were entertaining, well sourced, and pointed. She used each one to make the same essential argument: the number of sources we should be using to document our ancestors is far greater than most of us actually use. The stories we want to tell live inside those sources.
That message landed. I came out of the keynote already mentally listing ancestors whose stories I have been telling with too few sources.
Session 1: ChatGPT for Genealogy with Robert Cameron Weir
Robert Cameron Weir’s ChatGPT for Genealogy was a solid foundational session. It covered the basics, but the examples saved it. He walked through real applications: content generation, technical support, critique, learning, and image interpretation, among others.
His most useful takeaway for me: always use a thinking model for complex questions. That is the kind of practical guidance I can apply tomorrow.
If you are already using ChatGPT regularly in your research, this session covered familiar ground. If you are not, this was a good entry point.
Session 2: Beginning AI for Genealogy with Amy Urman
Amy Urman’s Beginning AI for Genealogy paired well with the Weir session. She covered different AI tools and what each is suited for, then spent time on prompting and how to structure prompts effectively.
This was another foundational session, and that is exactly what some attendees needed. The genealogy community is at very different points on the AI learning curve, and sessions like this one help bring more researchers into the conversation.
Session 3: Methodology and Timelines with Kim Harrison
Kim Harrison’s afternoon session on timelines was the methodology highlight of my day. She covered when and why to use timelines, and she included an excellent list of resources I want to dig into.
My one critique: the session needed more time. She talked quickly and flew through the slides. The content deserved more space to breathe. I came away wanting an extended version of this exact presentation.
I will be reviewing the syllabus carefully to make sure I capture everything she covered.
Session 4: Digital Tools for the Modern Genealogist with Aimee Rose-Haynes
Aimee Rose-Haynes presented Digital Tools for the Modern Genealogist: Leveraging Technology in Research. It was a decent session with good source recommendations.
Most of the content was familiar to me, but I would still recommend it for genealogists who are building out their digital toolkit. Familiar ground for one researcher is brand new territory for another.
The Exhibit Hall Haul
I gave myself permission to spend real time in the exhibit hall today, and I am glad I did. Two books and a laminated guide are coming home with me on Saturday:
- Genealogy at a Glance: Acadian Genealogical Research by Judy Nimer Muhn. This laminated guide is a quick-reference resource for Acadian research. My son’s paternal grandmother’s ancestors came from Acadia, so it goes straight onto the active-research shelf.
- The New Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy by Brian Mitchell. The McAuliffe brick wall is one of my 2026 research goals, and Irish research help is always welcome.
- Your Cemetery Journal: Genealogy On-The-Go. This workbook is for the cemetery research I plan to do when I finally get to visit my Aunt in New York.
Each of these connects directly to research I am actively doing. I did not buy a single one just because it looked interesting.
Looking Ahead to Day 2
Tomorrow’s schedule is mostly built. Here is where I am headed:
- 8:15 a.m. — NotebookLM for the Genealogist with Robert Cameron Weir
- 9:30 a.m. — Build Your Genealogy Research Plan Like a Pro with Lisa Hollon
- 10:45 a.m. — Possibly Harnessing the Power of HathiTrust for Genealogical Discoveries with Lauren Kuntzman, or some quality time in the exhibit hall.
- 1:30 p.m. — To Transkribus and Beyond: Using AI to Automate Transcriptions with Alec Ferretti
- 2:45 p.m. — Open. Nothing in this slot pulled me in, so it will likely be more exhibit hall time or a deliberate break.
- 4:00 p.m. — Either Irish Emigration to North America with Paul Milner or Project Management for Genealogy Records with Lisa Hollon.
The 4:00 slot will probably come down to whichever direction my research brain is pointing by the end of the day.
OGS 2026 Day 1: Done
A keynote that set the bar high. Four sessions. Two books and a laminated guide. A full notebook and an even fuller head.
And one big lesson I am carrying into the rest of the conference and the rest of the year: I have been telling too many ancestor stories with too few sources. Sandra Rumble’s case studies made that clear in a way I could not unsee. The ancestors I write about deserve the kind of sourcing I know how to do. That is the work.
I am tired in the best possible way. Day 2 starts early.
Your Turn
Are you attending OGS this year? Which sessions are you finding most valuable so far? If you are here in person and you spot me in the exhibit hall tomorrow, please come say hello. I am the one with the flowered roller bag. I would love to compare notes.
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