NGS 2025 Louisville: Pre-Conference

KDLA "Stacks"

After three years, I finally attended the National Genealogical Society’s Family History Conference in person! This year’s event took place in Louisville, Kentucky, at the iconic Galt House Hotel, situated right on the Ohio River. Until this conference, I didn’t know much about Louisville—which is exactly why I love NGS events. Their ever-changing locations around the U.S. give me the perfect opportunity to visit and explore cities I might not have considered traveling to otherwise.

As usual, NGS offered an array of pre- and post-conference activities and tours. For my pre-conference activity, I selected the Frankfort Research Day at the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA) and the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS). With several family lines migrating into Kentucky during the late 18th and early 19th centuries from Virginia and North Carolina, I saw this as a chance to uncover valuable information during my short visits to both institutions.

To stay on track with my research—since distractions tend to find me—I created a simple Word document to help me maintain focus. (See image below.)

A white sheet with black text

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First Stop: Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA)

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Our first stop was the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA), the official repository for state records in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We began with an informative introduction to the Archives, including an overview of its extensive holdings and the exciting projects currently underway. One notable initiative is the digitization of archival records from all 120 Kentucky counties, aimed at making the KDLA a comprehensive "one-stop shop" for records across the state. However, some counties have been slower to participate, posing challenges to the effort.

Microfilm drawers

My primary objective during our visit was to obtain a clear copy of a specific page from the 1810 U.S. Federal Census for Harrison County. The version available on Ancestry.com has a smudge obscuring the surname of my ancestor, Charles Goins (or Going). I was thrilled to successfully locate the record and save a clean copy in PDF format onto my flash drive.

We were also treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of "the stacks," where the KDLA's physical inventory is stored. The sheer volume was awe-inspiring—thousands of boxes meticulously organized. A highlight of the tour was seeing a document signed by Abraham Lincoln during his pre-presidency days. Our guide explained that while the current facilities, including an auxiliary site, are nearing capacity, plans are already in motion to construct a new facility to accommodate future collections.

Viewing original documents

My friend Morgan Elliot (L) with an archive specialist

Second Stop: Kentucky Historical Society (KHS)

Entrance to the Kentucky Historical Society

Our second stop was equally impressive. We were warmly introduced to the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) and its extensive collections, which include books, maps, surname files, and archival materials. A week prior to the visit, I had browsed their finding aids and identified several items I wanted to copy, along with a list of names from their surname files to review.

Surname files

Book stacks

The depth and breadth of their holdings are astounding—I could easily spend an entire week here, diving into their resources all day, every day, and still barely scratch the surface. This visit confirmed that a return trip to KHS is not just desirable but necessary!

Main research room

PROLOGE

This trip was worth every penny! From the delicious lunch provided to the comfortable ride to and from Frankfort on a luxury bus, every detail was thoughtfully arranged. I had the chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones along the way. It was the perfect kickoff to an incredible conference experience!