What is GeneaSpy?

GeneaSpy is an avid genealogist who attends national, regional, and local genealogical conferences, to learn about genealogy.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

SLIG 2016: Day 3; A Photo Recap

Today was another full day of class sessions. We started to really dig into the nuts and bolts of southern research today. Tonight I had a chance to go to the Family History Library, but I chose to stay in because we had a homework assignment. I knew if I tried to do the assignment at the FHL, I’d seen a squirrel run across the floor and into the Galveston County, Texas book rack and I would be hunting it for hours.

Photo highlights from Day 3: Classes all day

Tuesday, 12 Jan 2016

J. Mark Lowe live from Tennessee! The master of southern research himself! Mark talked to us for about twenty minutes this morning.

One of my teachers, Anne Gillespie Mitchell, Ancestry.com's famous "Ancestry Anne". Very energetic teacher I might add!


This was the meeting of the NextGen Genealogy Network after the classes today. We are having a lot of fun talking about genealogy!
Staying in my room to do homework has it's perks.

The weather was a little chilly for me outside, but I've been indoors since Sunday with an average temperature of 72!


Friday, January 22, 2016

SLIG 2016: A Photo Recap; Day 2

Today the class begins! As I said in my previous post, I am taking “Swing Through the South”. Teachers for the first day included, Kelvin L. Meyers, Ann Gillespie Mitchell, Dr. Deborah Abbott, and Michael Hait, CG. The day ended with the Plenary Session “Thinking Genealogically” presented by Rev. David McDonald, which was rather moving.

Photo highlights from Day 2: Classes Begin, Plenary Session

Monday, 11 Jan 2016

Good morning from Salt Lake City!

Syllabus and ID - Ready to go!

Each classroom had a digital display

Very large and comfortable classroom

Class begins

Lunch break with two friends from Arizona
(L) Leslie Carney and (R) Amy Urman

Maia's Books @ SLIG Central had a great selection

With Rick Fogerty @ SLIG Central during break
We are both Bass players, but he looks the part! 

Maia's Books also had a lot of Civil War books
She has an online store too! Click here to be redirected.

Plenary Session at 7:00 PM was a great turnout

Rev. David McDonald, D.Min., CG
"Thinking Genealogically" was truely inspiring












Wednesday, January 20, 2016

SLIG 2016: A Photo Recap; Day 1

SLIG is the affectionate acronym of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. This one-week intensive genealogical learning experience is for those Genealogists and Family Historians who want to take the next step in their researching and documenting practices. I believe I am ready for this next step.

 I’ve only been to one institute before, back in October 2012, when I won a free tuition to the British Institute. Of course, the class I took was the most intense one I could take, "From Simple to Complex: Applying Genealogy’s Standard of Proof to Your Work", taught by Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNG. Did I graduate? Let’s just say that I received a certificate of completion.

 That leads me to my decision choice at SLIG. Out of the 13 courses that covered the high-intermediate to advanced-level education, I chose a course that I could handle and I knew a little about – Southern research. The course was entitled, “Swing Across the South” with J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA as the lead instructor. Turned out that Mark had to stay in Tennessee for health reasons and so he recruited his friend from Texas, Kelvin L. Meyers, to be the course co-coordinator. On a side note, turns out Kelvin is from the same small county in Texas that my maternal grandparents lived, Crosby County!

 There were three other very talented teachers for the course I was taking, Anne Gillespie Mitchell, better known to the wider public as “Ancestry Anne” on Ancestry.com, Deborah “Debbie” Abbott, PhD, and Michael Hait, CG. Each of them added their expertise to the well-rounded curriculum.   



Photo highlights from Day 1: Travel Day, Registration, Social Gathering

Sunday, 10 Jan 2016.

Leaving San Diego

Landed in San Francisco to switch planes

Approaching snowy Salt Lake City

Arrived at the Hilton. Do they anticipate I'll need this?

The Hilton is a very nice place to stay for a week!


Meeting Yvette Hoitink from the Netherlands

Socializing with fellow students and teachers

Meeting people at the social

More socializing

SLIG & UGA officers and directors pumping up the students and introducing all the teachers

I'm so excited!