Sessions at Federation of Genealogical Societies 2011 Conference on Thursday 8th September in Prairie Capital Convention Center

Throughout the nineteenth century, Illinois was both a destination and a way-station. An examination of migration routes to and through Illinois, as well as settlement patterns mixing Yankees, Southerners and foreign nationals throughout.

The Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center holds countless valuable genealogical resources, with a particular focus on the St. Louis area. See numerous examples of unique resources and how to access them.

Sponsored by Missouri History Muesum

The more you know about your family health history, the more you can do to reduce the risk of serious illness for yourself and family.

Watch while Eric demonstrates efficient techniques for scanning various types of documents with a flatbed scanner (not photos). Filters, software and other related issues are covered during this specialized demonstration.

Overlooked War of 1812 Records in the National Archives. This session is for researchers who have done the basics in War of 1812 research. It will focus on the under-used NARA records. Few are found on the Internet.

This case study will explain how missing, erroneous, and altered records were overcome to identify the parents of an orphan named Jones. Attendees will learn research strategies that they can use to solve their own common-surname problems.

Religious events in Europe that affected our ancestors, the role of geography, various religious groups' settlements, characteristics of religious immigrants, research principles and sources.

Sponsored by FamilySearch

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists is a professional credentialing organization dedicated to testing an individual's geographic competence in professional genealogical research.

Sponsored by International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

Participants will practice combining social history with family information to create a Family History Narrative which is more than just names, dates, and places. (Continued at 2:00-3:00)

Many pioneers traveled to Missouri; some stayed, others moved on. All left their footprints in the records. Learn how and where to discover those footprints.

Sponsored by Missouri State Archives

Discover the genealogical resources found in the Illinois State Archives, ranging from wide known to lesser known records.

Sponsored by Illinois State Archives

Every occupant leaves a mark on a house and every house leaves a mark on its residents. Who lived in your house?

The African-American Collection at Ancestry.com is expanding at a rapid pace. This lecture will cover the most popular pillars of this collection, used by African American researchers nationwide.

Sponsored by Ancestry.com

How to research provost marshal records, recruits, draft records, substitutes, and medical records.

A discussion of using cluster research to enhance your own genealogy, and how to use technology and the Internet to build "virtual cluster communities."

Not every immigrant came to America on a boat through New York City! Consider this often overlooked record source for early immigration into this country.

Sponsored by FamilySearch

This class reviews the source documentation guidelines and gives examples for personal record managers, proof summaries, and research reports.

Sponsored by International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

Researching German ancestors? Come learn common language terms, how to read German handwriting, and a variety of sources for finding your German Ancestor's home in Germany. This workshop also includes a look at historical events which impact German research and an overview of the common records available for researching in Germany. ($15)

Sponsored by FamilySearch

Iowa has been a crossroads for transcontinental migration. Early settlement history, vital and other civil records, religious impulses, and online resources.

An introduction to the electronic, printed, manuscript, newspaper, and audio-visual materials available to genealogists at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Sponsored by Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Records of your American ancestors in British records, including many that are now online

Get an inside look at Ancestry.com trees and tips on how to use them.

Sponsored by Ancestry.com

Working the National Archives Pension Indexes as a look at the pension index cards and what they mean. Unindexed Bounty Land records do not appear on microfilm or in published sources they are often overlooked by researchers.

James McBride seemingly vanished after coming of age. This case study presents how multiple versions of obituaries and other records helped uncover a name change, discover a famous James, and identify his kin.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said “Remember always that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionaries.” This presentation explores the best records and methodologies to help you trace immigrant ancestors to their Old-World origins.

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists is a professional credentialing organization. We will discuss in detail the application process and the genealogical research project requirements.

Sponsored by International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

Learn how to take advantage of powerful tools to create your own books, articles, etc.

On the evening of September 8, 2011, a rich variety of genealogical, historical and family societies will participate in one of the largest genealogical conferences in the country at the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference held at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois. The conference is hosted by the Illinois State Genealogical Society. A much anticipated evening affair, the Thursday night Society Showcase brings together FGS member societies, other societies, and conference attendees in the exhibit hall for an evening of extended hours, door-prizes, networking and fun!

Attendees will be able to browse tables and exhibits of countless societies. New this year is the Ideas Exchange Table where society members can swap ideas with others societies, learn what benefits others offer, what publications they provide, how they select speakers, and more. This is an opportunity for societies to join forces and start joint ventures that could benefit both societies. Consider, for instance, societies that fall along a migration path pooling their information. The potential is endless!

Society Showcase exhibitors receive a free listing in the Onsite Conference Guide and are encouraged to sell membership in their organizations at these tables. Sales of publications and other items, however, will only be done from regular vendor booths in the Exhibit Hall. Showcase exhibitors can bring display items and giveaways, such as membership brochures, sample publications, bookmarks, and event fliers. Tables will be staffed by members of those societies.

If you are looking for a way to connect with potential members for your society, this evening will give you a jump-start. And if you are a researcher seeking to extend your knowledge of records in new areas, this is the place to be. Don't miss this fun evening of learning, networking and socializing.

Many remarkable women had unique experiences in the early days of westward migration. We'll follow a few families, using the stories and letters of the women to understand how they and their families coped with settling America's early frontier.

Established in 1988, The Primitive Baptist Library, in Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, has become a major Baptist collection of pioneer church records, minutes, and periodicals. This presentation focuses on our holdings, and tools designed to assist genealogists and researchers.