UGA/IGS Combined Fall Conference

The following is from the Utah Genealogical Association.

We have for the first time joined with the Idaho Genealogical Society in co-sponsoring a fall conference and invite all who are interested. The cost is $25 and membership is not required. We hope you will come if possible and help spread the word!

Do you want to know how to interest your kids in your family tree? Would you like to know more about the “jail bird” in your family or how your grandpa came to own the family farm? Does learning about DNA, exploring railroad records, plumbing the depths of the special collections in various repositories and probing into your Native American roots get you excited? Are you interested in learning how to preserve old photos or interview and film living relatives? You can choose from all these subjects and many more at the first annual Idaho Genealogical Society Family History conference, “Idaho and Utah, Family Ties Crossing Borders” on Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Pocatello, co-sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Association.

The keynote speaker is Susan B. Hawkes who will speak on “What the 42nd Parallel Meant to the Settlers of Utah and Idaho in 1863.” Susan was born and raised in northern Utah. She is the Site Coordinator for the Idaho State Historical Society at the Franklin Historical Site, which was the first Idaho Mormon settlement. She is the co-author of several historical fiction novels as well as other historical publications, and also conducts classes in family history. Susan serves as a member of the Idaho Pioneer Association and works with the Utah/Idaho Pioneer Byway Committee, Bear Heritage Area, Idaho Heritage trust, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to promote the historical value of northern Utah and Southern Idaho. Susan has been able to collect over 250 histories on the settlers of southeastern Idaho and northern Utah. 

The conference offers 16 classes taught by well qualified instructors such as Steve Barrett from the Idaho State Archives, Juvanne Martin, president of the Idaho Genealogical Society, Laurie Francis, special collections librarian at BYUI, and Robert Mallory, former ABC news anchor and producer. A lunchtime panel on special collections throughout Idaho and Utah relating to the early families of this area is staffed by specialists in repositories such as Boise State, BYUI, Utah State and Idaho State. A workshop for Family History consultants and up to date technology classes are also available.

An exciting and marvelous service will be offered at the conference, the FamilySearch Book Project. This is what FamilySearch does at Rootstech where people can bring their personal family histories and after signing a copyright release, we will scan the book, give them a copy and then place it on the FamilySearch Book site. If you miss the conference, the Pocatello FamilySearch Library is the scanning location for Idaho.
A syllabus will be offered both in printed form and electronically. Boxed lunches can be ordered at the time of registration. More conference information and online registration can be found at http://ugagenealogy.com/aem.php?eid=13 

For questions or offline registration please call (801) 259-4172.

The annual Idaho Genealogical Society meeting will be held immediately after the conference in the Idaho State University Student Union Building. Society business will be discussed and voted upon.