Registration opens Wednesday, February 16

Mark your calendar.

Sharpen up your mouse skills.

Get your fingers limber and ready.

Because one week from today — Wednesday, February 16th — registration opens for both sessions of the first of this year’s summer genealogical institutes — two weeks of sessions at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP).

And since everything is still virtual for 2022, lots of folks who might not have been able or willing to travel for classes will all be getting in line to register for these, so… a word to the wise if you want to attend one of the classes in what The Legal Genealogist calls “summer camp for genealogists.”

GRIP is going into its 11th season this year, with two week-long sessions (19-24 June 2022 and 10-15 July 2022). Co-directors Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL, and Deborah Lichtner Deal have a terrific line-up of courses offering in-depth immersion for each of these sessions, and one of these is bound to be just what you’re looking for.

Registration for both the June and July sessions opens on the same day — Wednesday, February 16th — but at different times. Registration for the June session opens at noon Eastern time (9 a.m. Pacific), registration for the July session opens at 2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific). The process to register will be different this year, so be sure to check out the details on the GRIP registration page.

I have two courses this year, one in each session. In June, it’s Law School for Genealogists, co-coordinated with Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA. It’s the foundational course for understanding the areas of law relevant to genealogical research, helping folks learn to use resources created by legal processes and other government actions. From state courts to federal government records, this course covers the waterfront on legal records we use every day in genealogy. And one of the treats of the course is learning about immigration and naturalization records from the undisputed expert on the topic — retired USCIS Genealogy Program director Marian L. Smith.

And in July, it’s Women and Children First: Research Methods for the Hidden Members of the Family, where we look at research methods for some of the hardest folks we research in genealogy: the women of our families – mothers, sisters, wives – and the children they bore and raised. They comprise far more than just a hidden half of our families: women and children greatly outnumbered the menfolk. Yet they left fewer traces in the records and researching these family members effectively poses challenges for any genealogist. Other instructors for this course are Blaine T. Bettinger, JD, PhD; Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais, CG; Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG; Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA; Marian L. Smith, USCIS (retired); and Ari Wilkins of the Dallas Public Library.

If perhaps you’re looking for something a bit different, here’s what else is available in the two GRIP sessions in 2022 (each link takes you to a page with a complete course description):

June Session, 19-24 June 2022:

Practical Genetic Genealogy
Coordinator: Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.

Beyond a Name and Date: Advanced Practices in Social History
Coordinator: Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR

Following Ancestors in Time and Place
Coordinator: Cari A. Taplin, CG

Fundamentals of Forensic Genealogy for the 21st Century
Coordinator: Catherine B. W. Desmarais, CG

Irish Genealogical Research, Part II
Coordinator: David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS

Mastering the Art of Genealogical Documentation
Coordinator: Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Principles of Genealogical Writing
Coordinator: Michael J. Leclerc, CG

Tools & Strategies for Tackling Tough Research Problems
Coordinator: Kimberly Powell

July Session, 10-15 July 2022:

Advanced DNA Evidence
Coordinator: Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.

Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills
Coordinator: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA

Gateway to the Garden State: Sources and Strategies for New Jersey Research
Coordinator: Melissa A. Johnson, CG

Get Your Hands Dirty! A Workshop in Land and Property Records
Coordinator: Kimberly Powell

Guide to Treasures Found in Federal Records
Coordinator: Michael L. Strauss, AG

Ireland Law & Government Documents, Part III
Coordinator: David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS

Mastering the Art of Genealogical Documentation (same as June)
Coordinator: Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Walking in Penn’s Woods: Pennsylvania Research
Coordinator: Amy E. K. Arner

Because — as usual — this line-up is so solid, class space is going to go fast. If you want in, you need to be ready to go when registration opens one week from today — Wednesday, February 16 — at the time set for the session and class you want.

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 — especially since some of the process is new this year.

Good luck getting into the course you want!

Cite/link to this post: Judy G. Russell, “Get a GRIP for 2022,” The Legal Genealogist (https://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog : posted 9 Feb 2022).