The Cattaraugus County Museum’s annual “Summer at the Stone House” event series will conclude its 2025 season Thursday, Aug. 28, with a presentation by an expert in genealogical research.

The talk, “Between the Census Years,” will be given by Jeanette Sheliga, an educator, blogger, lecturer and librarian from Lockport.

“In addition to city directories and newspapers, there are many other records that you may find your ancestors listed in to help bridge the gap between censuses,” Sheliga explained. “This presentation will explore numerous sources such as maps, voter lists, church records, membership directories, local government proceedings and more.”

Sheliga began genealogical lecturing in 2011 and soon after formed the North Tonawanda Library Genealogy Club, which she managed for 10 years. In 2013, she became a board member for the Niagara County Genealogical Society. She is also the society vice president, NGS Delegate and the program chairperson.

Sheliga is a member of many lineage societies, including the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, First Families of Pennsylvania, National Society Descendants of American Farmers and the National Society of Mayflower Descendants.

In the fall of 2020, she became the Virtual Genealogical Society’s (VGA) corresponding secretary and was elected to become a member of the board of directors for the Western New York Genealogical Society (WNYGS). While serving on the board for WNYGS, she became a contributing editor for the WNYGS’s quarterly publication, The Journal, and was selected as the programming chair.

For more information on Sheliga, visit eanettesgenealogy.com.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. and will take place under a tent on the museum lawn, rain or shine. Some seating will be available, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs if they wish. This event is free and open to the public.

The program will be livestreamed on the museum’s YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in person. A link to the livestream will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page closer to the date of the event.

The Cattaraugus County Museum is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route 16, in Machias.

For more information, visit www.cattco.org/museum or call (716) 353-8200.

PBS' genealogical history series Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr., which will launch its 12th season next year, has assembled a number of Broadway favorites to join host Gates and learn about their surprising ancestry. The season begins airing on PBS stations January 6, 2026.

Featured in episodes this season will be Broadway alum Kristin Chenoweth, Liza Colón-Zayas, Darren Criss, Tracy Letts, Spike Lee, Sanaa Lathan, Barry Diller, and Delroy Lindo, along with Lizzy Caplan, Danielle Deadwyler, America Ferrera, Flea, Rhiannon Giddens, Wiz Khalifa, Lizzo, Spike Lee, Brittney Griner, Chris Paul, Sara Haines, and Hasan Minhaj.

The series invites celebrities to learn about their family backgrounds, with a team of genealogical experts digging into the people that came before them and uncovering the often untold stories from their past.

“I am thrilled to announce another season of Finding Your Roots filled with inspiring stories from our wonderful guests that further show us that at the level of the genome, we are all 99% the same despite the forces that try to divide us," says Gates in a statement. "It’s especially important to all of us at Finding Your Roots that our viewers know, despite the loss of federal funding for public television, our show, and PBS are not going anywhere. We encourage everyone to support PBS by becoming a member of your local PBS station if you aren’t already, and continuing to spread the word about the great work PBS is doing.”

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives amd Records Administration:

Rare Pearl Harbor Navy Logbook Recovered & Available Thanks to an historically-conscious couple in California, the Pearl Harbor Navy (PHNY) Logbook from March 1941-June 1942 —which records and documents the December 7, 1941 attack as it occurred— was recovered by the U.S. government, resides in the National Archives and is now available to the American people. Read About The Recovery Efforts In The Washington Post The devastating attack of December 7, 1941 by Japan brought the United States into World War II; a lesser-known, second attack on Pearl Harbor on March 4, 1942, known as Operation K is also recorded in this logbook, as is the repair of the USS Yorktown (CV 5) following the Battle of Coral Sea. Entries from Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard Logbook, December 6-7, 1941. NAID: 552663772 19th Amendment Today in history:  105 years ago —on August 18, 1920— the 19th amendmentwas ratified. The 19th amendment legally guarantees all American women the right to vote. Achieving this historic milestone required decades of advocacy, which will be explained and documented in the National Archives’ upcoming new museum experience, The American Story, set to open on October 23, 2025 at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C.  Joint Resolution of Congress proposing a constitutional amendment extending the right of suffrage to women. NAID: 596314 Ford Trivia Night All are invited to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET, for Ford After Five: Trivia Night! Enjoy rounds of themed trivia covering history and pop culture with fun audio and visual clues with Matt Eickhoff of Here's Your Host! The games will be played in teams (up to four members) so come with a group or join a team on the spot. Click here to register for this free event. Ford After Five Trivia Night Flyer

The U.S. Census records for the extreme northern strip of land in Maine have been missing for more than 150 years, but now have been found. In fact, a transcription of those missing census records is even available on the World Wide Web. I found some of my ancestors listed on the Web site, more than 40 years after I first looked for them in the National Archives microfilm! (That was before the microfilms became available online.)

In 1820, the land of the Saint John River Valley in what is now Maine and New Brunswick was disputed territory, claimed by both the United States and Great Britain. A government official, such as an American census enumerator, could be arrested and incarcerated by the British authorities if he dared to enter this disputed territory. Likewise, British authorities who entered the disputed land also were in danger of arrest and even imprisonment.

When I found the towns were not listed in the 1820 U.S. census records on National Archives microfilm no. M33, reel no. 38, I assumed that the census takers (enumerators) never set foot in the disputed territory. It seems that I was wrong.

When looking at the same microfilm, Chip Gagnon noticed that, at the end of those same records, enumerator True Bradbury listed the total number of people in each of the towns in the Upper Saint John River Valley, including even those towns missing on the microfilm copy. If Mr. Bradbury knew exactly how many people lived there, Chip realized, then he must have visited each household and recorded the information. So, what happened to his hand-written records?

As explained on Chip’s Web site, one must consider the history of the area in 1820 and about twenty years thereafter. This disputed land was a cause of much difficulty and many negotiations between the governments of the United States and Great Britain. Remember, too, that this was only a few years after the War of 1812; these two governments still maintained an adversarial relationship. Eventually, the King of the Netherlands arbitrated a decision that determined the exact boundary between the United States and Canada in 1831. Following on this decision, the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty finally settled the border between Maine and New Brunswick without bloodshed.

THE GREEN BROKEN LINE SHOWS THE RESULTS OF THE WEBSTER-ASHBURTON TREATY.

As part of the process of determining the boundary, someone apparently decided to document how many people were involved in this land dispute. After all, citizenship and property were involved. The only records of the residents were those of the U.S. census. It appears that the census records of the Saint John River Valley were separated from the rest of the census records, probably in 1828, to be used as part of the arbitration process. Apparently, the records were never returned to the original repository.

As Chip Gagnon states on his Web site:

“I recently went to Washington DC to look for the original returns in the National Archives. I searched through the records of the State Department related to the border dispute. In the documents related to that dispute I found the handwritten manuscript copy of the published document that I cite below. Included was the copy of returns for Madawaska, New Limerick and Houlton. The copy was made in 1828 by the Clerk of the US Court for the District of Maine (where the 1820 census returns were deposited). This copy was then sent to Washington for inclusion in the documentation being prepared for submission to the arbitrator.

“The document is a handwritten copy made from the original and certified as such. I have included the text of the certification at the end of the transcription of Madawaska. What we learn from this certification is that an original copy of the returns was present in the District Court of Maine as late as 1828. But we also learn that the State Department did not have the original version of the census returns, relying rather on this copy. I would also hazard to guess that the British government too had requested a copy of these returns in its preparation for its own arguments on the border.

“Given these facts, it seems probable that when the returns were pulled in 1828 in order to make a copy for the arbitration document, they were not returned to their original place. Thus when the returns were all sent to Washington, the Madawaska, Houlton and New Limerick returns were not included. The question remains, however, whether they are somewhere in Maine. I am currently trying to determine that fact.”

NOTE: The records Chip Gagnon refers to are for the towns of Madawaska, New Limerick and Houlton. However, those three townships covered many square miles in 1820. They have since been subdivided many times, and new towns formed. These records cover what now comprises several more towns in the Upper Saint John River Valley.

Not only are U.S. towns covered, but even several communities now in Canada were enumerated. In some cases, these may be the only census records of those Canadian towns at any time before 1851. Not many of us would think to look for residents of Canadian towns in “missing” U.S. census records.

I was delighted when I learned of Chip Gagnon’s hard work. His published listing contained the names of several of my ancestors that had not been listed in the U.S. census.

Much more information is available on Chip Gagnon’s website, including his transcriptions. You can find his excellent site at: http://www.upperstjohn.com/ and especially (in English and in French) at http://www.upperstjohn.com/1820.

MINERAL POINT, WI — [August 14, 2025] — The Mineral Point Library Archives (MPLA), a community cornerstone dedicated to preserving local history for over 45 years, has been named the recipient of the Wisconsin Historical Society Governor’s Award for Archival Achievement. The award will be presented to Archivist Shan Thomas by Abbie Norderhaug, Deputy Director of Collections & State Archivist at the Wisconsin Historical Society. The public ceremony will be held at Mineral Point Library Park on Wednesday, August 20 at 1:00 PM. (If inclement weather, the event will be held in the lower level of the Mineral Point Library). Free tours of the Archives will follow the ceremony.

This prestigious recognition celebrates a transformational four-year effort led by Thomas to bring the MPLA to national archival standards, ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of Mineral Point’s rich and diverse historical record.

“This award recognizes the dedication of so many people—past and present—who have contributed to preserving Mineral Point’s legacy,” said Shan Thomas, who has served as archivist since 2020. “It’s an extraordinary honor, and one we share with the entire community.”

A Local Archive of National Significance

Mineral Point’s story is as layered as its limestone bluffs, shaped by Cornish and Welsh miners, African American settlers, immigrant entrepreneurs, frontier women, farmers, artists, and civic leaders. The MPLA preserves and tells these stories through 135 collections encompassing over 10,000 photographs, 225 maps, architectural drawings, oral histories, diaries, and family papers.

The Archives began in 1964 with a donation of 136 personal letters between President Woodrow Wilson and two Mineral Point brothers, David Benton Jones and Thomas Davis Jones—classmates and confidants from the Princeton Class of 1879. A second foundational gift arrived in 1980 from Bob Neal, local preservationist and co-founder of Pendarvis Historic Site, whose collection included maps, photographs, papers, and volumes on regional history.

Over the decades, the holdings grew steadily with subsequent acquisitions including, the Allen Ludden Papers, the Civil War Letters and Diaries of Sidney Shepard, the Women’s Club Records (founders of the Library), the Iowa County Fair Records, the Dr. Lawrence Graber Papers, the Early Family Papers (a freed black man and his children), and numerous smaller collections, diaries, oral histories, maps, and architectural plans. The MPLA also became the repository for records of permanent value of the City of Mineral Point.

Once housed in the basement of the Library, in 2012 the Archives moved to a renovated top-floor space, but lacked formal organization or trained oversight—until Shan Thomas took the helm.

A Four-Year Transformation

A professional archivist trained at Oberlin College, Thomas brought expertise from her previous role as Director of the Luther College Archives. Under her direction and with support from Library leadership, the MPLA was completely reorganized:

• Collections were properly arranged, described, boxed, and inventoried
• Modern finding aids, accession logs, and policy manuals were created
• Digitization efforts expanded, with metadata standardized using Dublin Core
• A newly designed website is being developed to share digitized images and media online
• A reference library of 534 volumes was cataloged into the South West Library System
• New archival storage systems and flat files were installed
• Hundreds of research queries are answered annually, serving local residents, national scholars, and family historians

In addition to preserving documents and photographs, Thomas has curated a growing permanent collection of original artwork by Mineral Point artists, now on display throughout the Library. With 97 works by 51 local artists, this visual archive celebrates Mineral Point’s long-standing role as an arts colony and cultural hub. The collection has become the “Museum of Mineral Point Art” within the Library—dedicated to honoring the town’s remarkable artistic legacy.

Today, the Archives are open 12 public hours per week, 52 weeks a year, totaling over 600 staffed hours annually—an effort that is effectively doubled thanks to the dedication of a skilled team of volunteers. The Archives support local storytelling, historical scholarship, architecture research, and cultural institutions including Mineral Point Historical Society, PBS, Wisconsin Historical Society publications, and Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts.

Event Details

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 1:00 PM
Mineral Point Library Park (next to the Mineral Point Library, 137 High St.)
Free and open to the public. All are welcome to celebrate this achievement.

This award not only honors the work of Shan Thomas and the MPLA but also affirms the value of local history and community memory. Join us as we recognize this important milestone in Wisconsin archival preservation.

Carol Ann Riley

On May 16, 1987, a person rounding up steers around Bonelli Landing at Lake Mead found a human skull on the ground. A further search of the area resulted in the discovery of additional remains buried in a shallow grave, wrapped in a yellow blanket.

The remains were those of a female thought to be between 20-40 years, 5’3”-5’7”, 105-120 pounds with light brown hair. Attempts to identify her at the time were unsuccessful, but a forensic odontologist was able to complete an NCIC Unidentified Person Dental Report and enter it into NamUs. The Jane Doe was listed as NamUs UP9836 and assigned MCSO DR#87-1943.

In 2011, MCSO detectives were contacted by investigators in Austin, Texas, believing that Jane Doe was a missing person from their jurisdiction. A comparison conducted by NamUs with her dental records proved to be a negative match. MCSO detectives were then able to send bone remains to the University of North Texas (UNT), where a DNA profile was obtained and entered into CODIS and remaining extract was secured and stored for future examination.

In April 2024, investigators from the MCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU), who were now assigned the case, contacted UNT to determine if the remaining extract was of sufficient quality and amount in which to conduct a forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) investigation. They were told the sample was too degraded for analysis of this type.

In February 2025, SIU investigators sent portions of the victim’s clothing and the blanket in which she was wrapped to the DPS Lab in Flagstaff to attempt to obtain a DNA extracted sample sufficient and suitable for FGG. This was also unsuccessful. In addition, attempts to identify her were further hindered when investigators learned that her skeletal remains had been cremated in 2016 and her ashes scattered at an unknown location.

On July 15, 2025, SIU investigators were contacted by personnel at the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. An email indicated that a forensic odontologist and staff from the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, California Department of Justice, had worked on a dental comparison of the Jane Doe victim and Carol Ann Riley, a person missing in 1986 from San Diego County, California, case # 86-030036, NamUs MP9411. As a result of their comparison, they positively identified Jane Doe as Carol Ann Riley, DOB 12-13-1943.

Riley was a nurse who worked at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego. At the time of her disappearance, she was dating a man known to her as Robert Howard Smith. She had a dinner date scheduled with him on the date of her disappearance and told friends that she was planning to break up with him.

When interviewed, Smith told police that Riley had canceled the date. Two days later, Smith left town and dropped out of sight. Detectives investigating Smith discovered that his real name was Robert Dean Weeks and had a history of going by false names. They also found out that his ex-wife, Patricia Weeks, disappeared from Clark County, Nevada, on April 25, 1968, a few weeks after their divorce was finalized. He had also dated a real estate agent who disappeared, a woman by the name of Cynthia Jabour. She had a dinner date scheduled with him and intended to end their relationship. She was last seen on Oct. 5, 1980. To add to these cases, Weeks’ business associate, James Shaw, was last seen on Oct. 5, 1971. He disappeared after having an argument with Weeks and his bloodstained vehicle was found abandoned in a Las Vegas parking lot. Their bodies were never found.

In April 1987, the investigation involving Weeks was aired on the television show Unsolved Mysteries. A warrant had been issued for his arrest due to fraud and embezzlement charges from his business. As a result of viewer response, Weeks was located and arrested in Tucson, Arizona.

In April 1988, Weeks was convicted of the murder of his wife, Patricia Weeks and Cynthia Jabour, despite their bodies never being found. He was never charged with the murder of Riley and Shaw. He was sentenced to life in prison in Nevada and died there on Sept. 20, 1996.

Get assistance with your genealogy research from a member of the Northern Arizona Genealogy Society. Please come prepared with a specific question or problem and a genealogy mentor will help guide you in your research.

This is a virtual session via Zoom and registration is required. Zoom information will be sent after registration. For tips and tricks on using Zoom, please see our guide.

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is pleased to announce the theme for the NGS 2026 Family History Conference—America at 250. The conference is scheduled for 27–30 May 2026 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Our theme, America at 250, invites us to consider the full span of stories and experiences that have shaped this nation—not just its founding moments, but the generations that followed. We envision a program of sessions, workshops, and interactive experiences that reflect the many ways individuals, families, and communities have lived through, contributed to, and been affected by the unfolding American story.

Deadline to submit: September 3, 2025, 11:59 PM EDT

Call for Proposals – NGS 2026 Family History Conference

Theme: America at 250

The National Genealogical Society invites innovative proposals for its 2026 Family History Conference, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, our theme—America at 250—encourages reflection on the stories, communities, and research strategies that help us understand the nation’s past and how genealogists can preserve it for the future.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome proposals that reflect the diversity of approaches, experiences, and records used to explore American family history. We especially encourage sessions that:

• share compelling case studies, clear methodologies, or strategies for tackling common research challenges;
  
• introduce tools, methods, or sources that attendees can try right away;
  
• help genealogists navigate complex or conflicting records;
  
• illustrate and interpret historical and social context;
  
• bring fresh perspectives or creative solutions to family history research;
  
• encourage thoughtful discussion, collaborative learning, or audience engagement; and
  
• tie into the conference theme of “America at 250” such as through historical context, civic memory, or reflection on generational change.
  

Session Formats

We welcome proposals for the following formats:

Traditional Lecture (60 minutes)

A structured, one-hour presentation including time for questions and answers. Ideal for methodology, historical context, record analysis, and case studies. Lectures should include practical takeaways.

Interactive Session (60 minutes – limited capacity of about 75 people)

Held in our dedicated interactive learning room. These sessions emphasize practice, collaboration, or hands-on learning using worksheets, case packets, maps, visual tools, or guided discussion. Please note: Power and computers are not provided.

Spotlight Session (25 minutes)

Short, focused talks of 25 minutes or less (think “Tik Talks”) that introduce a case, tool, concept, or provocative question. Ideal for new voices, intriguing projects, or focused topics tied to the conference theme. Think about combining TED Talk principles with the engaging, direct style of TikTok as you consider your proposal (see https://publicwords.com/2013/04/30/how-to-prepare-a-20-minute-ted-like-talk/).

Panel Discussion (25 minutes or 60 minutes)

A moderated conversation among two to four panelists offering different perspectives on a shared topic related to the conference theme, America at 250. Panels should emphasize thoughtful dialogue and include time for audience interaction. Panel discussions can be proposed as either a 60-minute interactive session or a 25-minute spotlight session. We also welcome suggestions for a spotlight talk paired with a spotlight panel discussion.

James Dent Walker Memorial Lecture Series

NGS and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) seek proposals for (a) African American/black family history research lectures, and (b) lectures on any topic by lecturers of color. AAHGS members receive preference, but everyone is encouraged to submit proposals for inclusion in this series. Proposals may take the form of a traditional lecture, interactive session, or spotlight session.

Sponsored Lectures

We will accept a limited number of lecture proposals from sponsoring organizations and companies. Sponsors pay speakers directly and must have a sponsorship agreement with NGS.

Pre-Conference Workshops

We welcome proposals for pre-conference workshops that offer in-depth, hands-on learning aligned with the topics listed above. Workshops should emphasize applied skills and active participation. Two formats are available:

Traditional hands-on workshops (1.5 hours or 3 hours) Three-hour workshops will include a short break at the midpoint to align with the overall schedule and allow for room transitions. These sessions will be held in a standard classroom setting with tables; participants may be encouraged to bring their own devices.

Computer lab workshops (1 or 2 hours; max 18 participants)

We have access to a small computer lab at the Allen County Public Library for short-format, hands-on computer sessions. Proposals should include specific details about the activities and any required software or online access.

All pre-conference workshops require separate registration and fees.

IMPORTANT: Before submitting a workshop proposal, you must email the program co-chairs to discuss potential requirements, including equipment needs, registration caps, space design, registration fees, and revenue sharing.

Other Creative Session Proposals

Do you have an innovative idea that doesn’t fit our standard formats? We welcome proposals for creative, in-person-only experiences that bring fresh approaches to genealogical learning. Whether it is a unique interactive format or a creative presentation approach, we want to hear your ideas. Please contact the program co-chairs to discuss such ideas before submitting your proposal through the online system.

Session Themes & Topic Areas

All sessions must tie into the “America at 250” theme, which focuses on the entire 250 years of American family history, not just the Revolutionary period. Proposals, for example, could address (but are not limited to) American family history through:

• examining migration and mobility across centuries;
  
• using land, military, tax, and court records as storytelling tools;
  
• uncovering the stories of enslaved persons, indigenous communities, immigrants, and overlooked populations;
  
• engaging in genealogy as civic practice to address memory, justice, and reparative work;
  
• applying DNA and 21st-century tools to explore 250 years of family history;
  
• writing, preserving, and sharing family and community stories; and
  
• sharing technology and methods that enhance historical discovery.
  

How to Propose

Use the submission portal to submit proposals for main conference sessions (28–30 May), pre-conference workshops (27 May), or sponsored sessions for the main conference.

NGS members receive first consideration as speakers.

Speakers may submit up to six proposals electronically. Each submitted proposal should include the following information:

Session Title: (max 14 words)

Session Summary: (max 160 characters) A short summary for the program brochure.

Session Description: (max 2,000 characters) Your description should:

clearly explain the session’s focus and main topic(s)

describe what attendees will learn or be able to do after the session

explain how you will structure the session to support learning and engage your audience

identify how your topic connects to the “America at 250” theme

(for interactive sessions only) describe how you will structure your session to actively engage participants.

Optional Outline: (max 1,500 characters) You may include a short, bulleted outline (3–5 points) summarizing the structure or major themes of the session.

Session Format: (select one)

Audience Level: (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or All Levels). If you select All Levels, your proposal should explain how the session will offer meaningful takeaways for both newer and more experienced genealogists. For intermediate and advanced sessions, we encourage proposals that include entry points or context to help motivated beginners engage with the material—without diluting the content or limiting depth.

Speaker Biography: (max 160 characters)

Speaker’s Recent Teaching Experience: A list of national or regional conferences, in-person workshops, or institute or other online courses where the speaker has presented in the past three years.

NOTE FOR NEWER SPEAKERS: We encourage newer speakers to submit proposals for the conference, however we may ask you to provide a recording of an earlier presentation for review.

We seek fresh, innovative sessions that bring new ideas, approaches, or case studies to our attendees. Our goal is to offer content that participants are unlikely to have seen elsewhere in a similar format.

Please tell us on the proposal form if your presentation (or a substantially similar version) has been presented, proposed, or scheduled elsewhere before May 2026. This includes presentations given at regional, state, or national conferences, recorded for widely accessible platforms (such as Legacy Family Tree Webinars), offered online with free public access, or available free online.

While priority will be given to new and original presentations, we may also consider sessions that have been significantly updated from earlier versions or adapted for this conference’s audience.

Speaker Honorarium and Expense Reimbursement

Speakers receive a $300 honorarium, complimentary conference registration (appx. $350 value), and up to $500 in reimbursable travel expenses (receipts required) for a total compensation value of approximately $1100 for a one-hour session. If you are selected to present more than one session, you will receive a $300 honorarium and additional travel expense reimbursement of $200 for each additional session

Spotlight Session speakers will receive a flat rate of $200 per 25-minute session. Expense reimbursement and conference registration not included.

Workshop presenters negotiate revenue sharing with NGS based on total capacity, registration fee, and other factors, including NGS expenses and a management fee.

Speaker Selection Process

The program committee will review proposals through a multi-step evaluation process. In the initial phase, we evaluate proposals without submitter names to support fairness and prioritize content quality, clarity, and relevance to the conference theme. The final program will reflect a balance of session types, experience levels, and perspectives, all connected to the conference theme, America at 250. Final selections are based on the following criteria:

• relevance to the conference theme
  
• quality and clarity of learning outcomes
  
• applicability to genealogists at one or more levels
  
• format fit and potential for in-person engagement
  
• presenter expertise relevant to the proposed topic
  
• contribution to diversity in voice, region, and perspective.
  

Proposal Preparation

We have a free webinar, Becoming a Better Conference Speaker: Proposals and Preparations, on our YouTube channel. We encourage you to view the video before beginning the proposal process. Topics covered include lecture proposals, presentations, syllabus materials, communications, and delivery.

Proposal Acceptance

We will send acceptance notifications and speaker contracts in the fall of 2025. Syllabus material, due 1 March 2026, is required for each main conference lecture, spotlight presentation, and interactive session, and will be included in the compendium distributed to all conference registrants.

Session Recordings

Like the 2025 conference, NGS will provide lecture recordings via the conference app to paid registrants until mid-August, allowing us to provide every attendee with every lecture. All speakers agree to have their slides and audio (no speaker video) recorded live from the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Speakers who wish can allow NGS to market those recordings after mid-August 2026 for additional compensation.

Questions?

Contact Lauren Henretty (lhenretty@ngsgenealogy.org) with questions about session formats, the theme, or the submission process.

Deadline to submit: September 3, 2025, 11:59 PM EDT

A powerful collection of wartime letters, diaries, and photographs – never before shared with the public – has been unveiled online today to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Watson Collection, released as part of the Their Finest Hour project at the University of Oxford, tells the story of Frank Watson, an RAF serviceman captured by Japanese forces in 1942, and his wife May, who waited more than four years for his return. Frank’s journey took him from the fall of Singapore to a brutal POW camp in Japan, where he endured forced labour, beatings, and near-starvation. Back in Orpington, May wrote to Frank almost daily, not knowing if he was alive. While Britain celebrated VE Day, Frank remained in captivity. His long-awaited return came months later, to a country eager to move on.

The story is told through more than 2,600 scanned items, including diary entries, official documents, handwritten memoirs, photographs, mementos from captivity, and May’s letters – many never sent or intended for others to read.

Dr Matthew Kidd, who prepared the materials for publication, said: ‘The Watson Collection offers an unusually complete picture of wartime life, both overseas and at home. It is incredibly rich, honest, moving, and full of material that will be of interest to anyone interested in the human side of the war.’

The digitisation was funded by Andrew Watson, the couple’s son, who generously made the materials publicly accessible through the Their Finest Hour Online Archive. The collection is freely available to explore online from today.

Visit the Main Library on Saturday, August 23, 2025 (08/23/2025) for the Family History and Genealogy Fair!

Drop in and meet representatives from genealogy, family history, and local history organizations between 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

Professional Genealogist Diane L. Richard will present two programs on August 23, 2025, at the Gaston County Public Library in Gastonia, N.C. Sponsored by Friends of the Gaston County Public Library.

EVENT SCHEDULE

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM   Meet representatives from local historical societies, genealogy or family history organizations, and museums

11:00 AM  -  12:00 PM  A “Hand-out” for Your Poor Ancestors: Local Parishes, and Counties Stepped Up. Presentation by Diane L. Richard.  [You may also continue to meet with organizations]

12:00 PM  -  1:00 PM     Meet representatives from local historical societies, genealogy or family history organizations, and museums

1:00 PM  -  2:00 PM   Let’s Focus on Colonial Records – Off-the-Beaten-Track Resources and Documenting Our Female Ancestors. Presentation by Diane L. Richard.

Diane L. Richard is a nationally recognized Professional Genealogist with special expertise in researching North Carolina records of all types.  She is the owner of Mosaic Research and Project Management,  and co-leader of Tar Heel Discoveries, which provides guided North Carolina genealogical research support one-on-one or via a weeklong program.

Diane has M.Eng. and M.B.A. degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has been doing genealogy research since 1987 and since 2004 professionally focused on the records of North Carolina, other Southern States and migration paths to the Mississippi River.

Since 2006 she has authored almost 300 articles on genealogical topics for a variety of publications including Internet Genealogy and Your Genealogy Today (was Family Chronicle).  From 2010-2017, Diane served as the editor of Upfront with NGS, the blog of the National Genealogical Society and published over 2000 posts. She is current editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal and past editor of Wake Treasures, the journal of the Wake County Genealogical Society. She is a member of the national and local chapters of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the National Genealogical Society.  She has researched NC roots for the popular TV show Who Do You Think You Are? and appeared on the Bryan Cranston episode. She also appeared on The Dead Files season 12, episode 7 “Detox”.

She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG) and as a speaker she has done webinars (coast-to-coast), conference presentations (FGS, NGS, TxSGS, FxGS, NERGC, SCGS Jamboree, etc), workshops, and local meeting programs about the availability and richness of records documenting North Carolinians, genealogical research techniques and tips, under-utilized resource collections and much more.

A “Hand-out” for Your Poor Ancestors: Local Parishes, and Counties Stepped Up. Presentation by Diane L. Richard. 

11:00 AM

Providing relief to those in need is not a modern concept. Throughout history, the records reflect the provision for assistance or relief to those in need. Whether one received food, a dispensation to not pay taxes, support money for a bastard child, was apprenticed, hospitalized in a sanitarium, or facing other struggles, they may have been the recipient of some form of relief for the poor.

Let’s Focus on Colonial Records – Off-the-Beaten-Track Resources and Documenting Our Female Ancestors.

1:00 PM

Details on “where” to look for colonial records and the gaps that exist in them. Includes examples of places where women “would” be documented in the colonial era.