NARA’s Virtual Fair
Mark your calendar.
Set your alarm.
Fix the coffee pot to brew automagically to be ready.
Plan to drop the kids at school, tell the boss you’re taking time off, leave the dog at the kennel, whatever you need to do to clear your decks.
The Virtual Fair is coming.
Wednesday and Thursday of next week, the two-day, online, free Virtual Fair of the National Archives will take place, and you won’t want to miss a minute.
From an introduction to Department of State records to the story of the Iwo Jima flag raisers (“Chaos, Controversy and World War II Marine Corps Personnel Records”), these are presentations every genealogist can learn from and use — and they’re all absolutely free.
This two-day live event is on YouTube, all presented in real time and recorded. Viewers will have a chance to ask questions and interact with each other during the event (you can also follow and chat with other viewers on social media #GenFair2016), and all of the session videos and handouts will be available free.
Registration isn’t required and you can either watch in real time or — if the boss is really unreasonable and insists that you work during the Fair hours — you can watch at your convenience later.
Here’s the schedule for the live webcasts from the National Archives (all times are Eastern Daylight Time):
Day 1: Wednesday, October 26
10 a.m.
Welcoming Remarks
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero
10:05 a.m.
Introduction to Genealogy at the National Archives
Claire Kluskens
11 a.m.
The Best National Archives Records Genealogists Aren’t Using
Lori Cox-Paul
12 p.m.
National Archives Innovative Online Resources and Tools to Help with Your Genealogical Research
Sarah Swanson and Kelly Osborn
1 p.m.
You too can be a Citizen Archivist! Getting the most out of the National Archives Catalog
Suzanne Isaacs and Meredith Doviak
2 p.m
Department of State Records for Genealogical Research
David Pfeiffer
3 p.m.
American Battle Monuments Commission
Ryan Bass
Day 2: Thursday, October 27
10 a.m.
Nonpopulation Census: Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Social Statistics
Claire Kluskens
11 a.m.
The Morning After – Changes as Reflected in Morning Reports
Theresa Fitzgerald
12 p.m.
The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers – Chaos, Controversy and World War II Marine Corps Personnel Records
Bryan K. McGraw
1 p.m.
What’s New in the Lou: A Look at the Latest Accessions at the National Archives at St. Louis
David Hardin
2 p.m.
The Faces of the National Parks Service
Cara L. Moore
3 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Acting Executive for Research Services Ann Cummings
The information page for the 2016 National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair is here and the YouTube channel here. Keep checking both for more information, handouts and more.
See you there!
