Workshop day at a genealogy conference always feels different from the regular session days. The pace slows down, the learning deepens, and “aha!” moments happen more frequently. Today at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference delivered exactly the kind of immersive learning experience I had hoped for.
Morning: A Chance to Recharge
Unlike most conference days that start bright and early, workshop day allowed me a gentle start. I spent the morning relaxing in my hotel room, enjoyed a good night’s sleep, and mentally prepared for the afternoon sessions. Sometimes the best conference strategy isn’t packing every moment with activity, but making sure you remain rested and receptive when the important learning begins.
DNA Detective Work with Dr. Leah Larkin
My first workshop of the day began at 1:00 PM with Dr. Leah Larkin, known in genealogy circles as “The DNA Geek.” The focus centered on BanyanDNA, a remarkable new tool for genetic genealogy that I’ve tried using for about a year—though as I quickly discovered, not as effectively as I could have!
BanyanDNA stands apart from other tools in the genetic genealogist’s toolkit. What makes it special? Its ability to simulate DNA inheritance through your family tree, no matter how complex the relationships might be. For those of us dealing with complicated family structures like pedigree collapse, adoption or unknown parentage situations, this approach revolutionizes our research methods.
Dr. Larkin guided us through several exercises, from building simple trees to testing hypotheses about potential biological relationships. I especially appreciated her patient approach to explaining the statistics behind the tool—specifically how BanyanDNA uses standard deviation to flag when shared DNA amounts don’t match what we’d expect for documented relationships.
The real breakthrough came while I examined a project I’d started months ago for my “Mysterious Mr. Max” research question. While following along with one of Dr. Larkin’s exercises, something suddenly clicked. I realized I had some relationships wrong and hadn’t input all of the DNA connections correctly. That moment of clarity—when you suddenly see your research problem from a completely different angle—makes workshops like this worth every minute.
I need to rework much of that project, but now I have a clear direction that might finally help solve this decades-old family mystery.
AI in Genealogy with Drew Smith
After a quick break to process my DNA revelations (and grab a snack and some much-needed caffeine), I settled in for the day’s second workshop. Drew Smith, M.A. LIS, (one half of “The Genealogy Guys“), presented “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Genealogy”—a topic that couldn’t be more timely.
Drew began with a brief overview of key AI terminology that would help us navigate the rest of the session. He then proceeded to discuss several of the AI applications specifically relevant to genealogical research:
- AI-powered search engines like Perplexity that understand natural language questions
- Transcription tools for deciphering historical handwriting (I immediately thought of those challenging Swedish parish records!)
- Writing assistants for creating family narratives and biographies
- AI tools that generate timelines from disparate historical information
- Image and video generators that help visualize historical contexts
We experimented with several tools during the session, and I particularly liked how AI could generate research plans—something I admittedly need to improve! My tendency to jump straight into research without adequate planning might finally change with the right AI assistant.
Evening Plans: Networking and Rest
To round out workshop day, the conference organizers planned a social event featuring a Chinese buffet. After an intellectually demanding afternoon, I looked forward to some casual conversation with fellow genealogists. There’s something special about sharing a meal with people who understand your excitement over census records and DNA matches!
That said, I knew my limits—I didn’t stay too late. With tomorrow’s first lecture starting bright and early at 8:00 AM, I needed to balance socializing with getting enough rest. One of the most important conference skills? Knowing when to recharge!
Looking Ahead
Two workshops and a full day of learning later, my brain feels pleasantly full. The combination of advanced DNA techniques and cutting-edge AI tools excites me about the future of my research, particularly for those stubborn brick walls that have resisted traditional approaches.
Tomorrow begins the main conference sessions, and I feel energized and ready. I’ve already mapped out my full day: starting with the keynote address by the legendary Judy G. Russell (the “Legal Genealogist”), followed by Michael D. Lacopo’s session on “Light Up Your Genealogy.” After lunch, I’ll attend Elaine Kuhn’s talk on “Overlooked and Underused: Special Collections and Databases,” then circle back for another session with Judy G. Russell on “Artificial Tears: The Pains and Joys of AI for Genealogy” (which should fascinate me after today’s AI workshop!), and finish with Kate Penny Howard’s presentation on “When the DNA is a Thorny Thicket.” I plan to apply some of these new techniques to my research problems soon—especially that promising new angle on the “Mysterious Mr. Max” case and to my Sven Svensson mystery father!
What new genealogy tools or techniques have you discovered recently? Have you tried using AI in your family history research? What’s your favorite part of attending a genealogy conference—the workshops, the lectures, the vendor hall, or perhaps the social events? Share your experiences in the comments!
If you’re here at the OGS Conference, I’d love to say hi! I’ll be in all the sessions I mentioned above, or you might spot me browsing the vendor hall between talks. Don’t be shy—come over and introduce yourself!
Stay tuned for more updates from OGS Conference 2025!
First full day of sessions:
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