Registration opens Wednesday
So you didn’t make it to the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) in January.
And you didn’t register for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) or the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh for their June offerings. And you didn’t make it in to the 2017 Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed).
All of these institutes — what we call “summer camp for genealogists” — and you’re not in yet?
So what are you going to do to jumpstart your genealogical education for 2017?
If you don’t mind a suggestion, there’s one more really good option that opens at noon Eastern time, Wednesday, March 8th, for the classes of the July session at GRIP — and those classes are going to fill up fast.
GRIP, of course, is the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, going into its sixth season at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh. Co-directors Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL, and Deborah Lichtner Deal have arranged for terrific courses offering in-depth immersion for an entire week — this session runs from July 16th to July 21st — in a topic that just might be what you’re looking for.
Here’s the line-up:
Law School for Genealogists
Coordinators: yours truly, Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, and Richard G. “Rick” Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA, with instructor Marian L. Smith of USCIS.
This course is designed to give the family historian a leg up in understanding the legal lingo and concepts that impact — and create — the records we use every day in genealogical research. From court records to family law to estate and probate law to immigration and naturalization, this course explores the wide variety of legal concepts that gave rise to the records we need to accurately reconstruct our families. And it goes beyond the law to the records themselves, and particularly the government documents like pension and land records — and even FBI and prison records.
Intermediate Genealogy: Tools for Digging Deeper
Coordinator: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FUGA, with instructors Debbie Mieszala, CG, Melissa A. Johnson, CG, and Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS.
What’s the next step in your research and also your genealogy education? Have you moved beyond the beginning stages of researching your family history? When we have checked the basic records and done online searches but still have blanks to fill in, we need to gain more leads and do a better job of analyzing the records. We will delve deeper into a variety of records, some that you may have never heard about, and where they may be accessed. During the week there will be some hands-on projects, small group discussions, and full class interaction as we develop research plans, delve into the records, and learn what may help to solve problems and fill in those blanks. The class covers 19th through 21st century U.S. records and online resources. Prior to the course students will be able to send the coordinator a brief research issue of their own along with a listing of the U.S. places where their ancestors resided. The course includes some “homework” that is optional but strongly suggested. Students often find they like those learning exercises. An extensive syllabus including online resources is provided. While not required, it is suggested that you bring along a netbook, laptop, or electronic tablet for taking notes and for research on the week’s projects. Make sure you bring a copy of some of your own family history research (either as a database or in paper form) to use in putting your new learning to work.
New Jersey: Research in the Garden State
Coordinator: Melissa A Johnson, CG, with instructors Michelle Tucker Chubenko, Karen Mauer Jones, CG, and Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG, CGL.
“New Jersey: Research in the Garden State” is designed for intermediate to advanced researchers who are familiar with how to use common genealogical records (census, church, land, probate, and vital records, for example) and are interested in learning about sources and strategies for researching New Jersey families. This course will cover New Jersey-specific federal, state, county, municipal, and private records useful for researching from New Jersey’s proprietary period through to the present day. Instructors will teach attendees about New Jersey records, how to access them, and how to use them for genealogical research. Examples, hands-on exercises, and case studies will be used to demonstrate how challenging New Jersey research problems can be solved.
Irish Genealogical Research
Coordinator: David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, with instructors Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS and Richard “Rick” G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA.
Participants will acquire a solid foundation for their Irish research, whether just beginning, or they’ve been working at their Irish ancestry for some time. Hands-on class exercises and homework will enhance the learning experience with step-by-step instructions to take the course learning from theory to practice on the student’s own Irish research problems.
Advanced Genetic Genealogy
Coordinator: CeCe Moore, with instructors Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., Brianne Kirkpatrick, MS, LGC, and Karen Stanbary, CG.
If you believe that you are ready to graduate from the basics of genetic genealogy and take the next step in genetic genealogy education, then this is the course for you. Be prepared for a fast-paced learning experience intended for the genealogist who has experience applying DNA testing to family history research and has a strong foundational understanding of genetic genealogy concepts.
Practical Genetic Genealogy
Coordinator: Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.; with instructors Patti Hobbs, CG; Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, Karen Stanbary, CG; CeCe Moore.
With required pre-readings, this course will cover the basics and practical applications of genetics to genealogy, ranging from the various types of DNA testing and their use in determining relationships, to company and third-party tools for DNA analysis, from ethnicity estimates to ethics.
Because this line-up is so solid, with new course offerings and more, class space is going to go fast. If you want in, you need to be ready to go when registration opens Wednesday, March 8, at noon Eastern, 11 a.m. Central, 10 a.m. Mountain and 9 a.m. Pacific.
There are registration instructions on the website that you’re going to want to read through in advance so you can be ready to go when registration opens. But because a countdown timer has been installed on the registration page for this July week which will go automatically at the “zero hour” to the registration management system you won’t have to watch the clock, hit refresh, or otherwise fear that you will miss the “opening bell.”
Good luck getting into the course you want!
