Schedule
Doors open @ 8 am -- Pick up your lanyard & packet from Registration Desk -- Keynote is @ 9 am9:00 am – 9:50 am
Jim Thornhill
Keynote Speaker – Growing Your Family
9:00 am – 9:50 am
Location:
Garden Party Rose Room
Ever felt like your ancestors were just names on a page? Join us as we delve into the fascinating details of their lives, transforming them from distant figures into the vibrant people who you are proud to call part of your tribe! Through records and history, we'll uncover the incredible journeys, challenges, and triumphs that make your ancestors a part of your family legacy.
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Dr. Ana Krahmer
Puzzling Together Your History Using Newspapers on The Portal to Texas History
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Location: Paradise Rose Room A
This presentation will demonstrate how to work with newspapers on The Portal to Texas History to identify people, places, and events that have shaped our history. During this presentation, I will offer tips and tricks for working with newspapers on the Portal, and I will demonstrate how people can tie different objects on the Portal together to uncover their histories in a bigger picture.
Todd Powell & Ryan Plumb
Introducing the FamilySearch Family Group Trees
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Location: Paradise Rose Room B
Presentation by the Portfolio Manager, Todd Powell, and the User Experience Manager, of FamilySearch. They will be introducing attendees to the Family Group Trees, a new feature in FamilySearch.
Brick Wall Busting Strategies: Hammering @ the Wall
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Location: Peace Rose Room A
This is a fun presentation with strategies, sources and a variety of documents that just might hammer down that frustrating brick wall. Examples of brick walls broken down are demonstrated by using vital records, military records, census, prison, land records, newspapers, passenger manifests and divorce records including a complicated story tracking a woman whose name changed 3 times in public records.
Rochell Mcwhorter & Bethany Jensen
WORKSHOP – Unlocking Your Family’s Story Using FamilySearch “Memories”
10:00 am - 10:50 am
Location: Pink Miracle Rose Room A
This Workshop includes a step-by-step guide to archiving your photos, stories, documents, and audio clips in “Memories” for safekeeping and for your family to enjoy now and in the future.
11:00 am – 11:50 am
Jim Thornhill
Take a Deep Dive in the U.S. Census
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Paradise Rose Room A
The U.S. Census, although not perfect, is one of our most complete family history tools. Are you using it to it’s potential? Are you using the pre-1850 census to identify children’s birth dates and separate all the “Jones” living in one county? Are you using the census to find missing ancestors or track migration? These things and much, much more can be learned from the U.S. Census.
Paula Perkins
Demystify & Unlock the Secrets of Finding Free Digital Records via FamilySearch & Other Online Resources: A Genealogical Goldmine Awaits!
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Paradise Rose Room B
In this digital age, you can locate a wealth of genealogical information to further research to the next step. Beginner to intermediate researchers can jump start your research using the FamilySearch Wiki for locations all over the world. You can find census records, vital records, marriages, wills & genealogy books! USGenWeb, FamilySearch & FamilySearch Wiki, and more, are all goldmines of free online resources. The digital age has made searching streamlined for all with no cost involved.
Patti Huff Williams
Mothers: Generation to Generation
11:00 am – 11:50 pm
Location: Peace Rose Room A
Characteristics of a mother’s influence, the research, introducing DNA and how to find mothers in your research.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Tina McGuffin
WORKSHOP – Generational Genealogy for Beginners: A New Twist for Budding Researchers!
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Pink Miracle Rose Room A
This Workshop will start from the very beginning. You can have “zero” experience, and this is the class for you. Or, you have experience, but you want to start again and learn the right way how to find your ancestors!
11:50 am - 1:00 pm
Lunch Break / Visit Vendor Booths – Food Trucks or bring a lunch
There are 2 Food Trucks on the East side of the Conference Center (11 am - 2 pm)
Food can be taken into the big Garden Party Rose Room and eaten, or outside where there are some picnic tables. If you don’t want tacos or Texas BBQ, you may also bring a lunch.
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Lynne Jackson
Special Guest Speaker: Lynne Jackson
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm
Location:
Garden Party Rose Room
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Patti Gillespie
Hidden Stories Discovered in Just 3 Documents
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Location: Paradise Rose A
The death of a young bride, the parentless pastor, a murdered husband cut down in his prime—all are stories that come to light with just 3 original documents. This presentation encourages researching beyond just one record; haunting stories from these records demonstrate that further information and breaking down brick walls can be successful when we just keep looking for more information in other sources.
Milton Wallace
Reunion Roadmap: Planning a Successful Family Gathering
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Location: Paradise Rose B
This comprehensive genealogy course is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to plan a memorable and meaningful family reunion.
Michele Bailey
A Whisper from the Past: Telling My Grandma's Story
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Location: Peace Rose A
This presentation uncovers the touching reality that behind the seemingly ordinary life of my Grandma Beulah, and countless others like her, there is an extraordinary story waiting to be told. We'll explore methods for uncovering and sharing the narratives of these unsung heroes who leave a lasting impact on families and communities, yet often go unnoticed. Telling our own stories is not just a personal journey; it’s a way to preserve history, inspire others, and create a legacy that will endure for generations.
Patti Huff Williams
WORKSHOP – Taken an AncestryDNA Test? Ancestry ThruLines – Maximize your Ancestor DNA Results
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Location: Pink Miracle Rose Room
In this workshop, you'll gain practical skills and knowledge to take your AncestryDNA experience to the next level. Through interactive discussions and hands-on exercises, you'll learn how to use Ancestry ThruLines to its full potential and unlock the fascinating stories hidden within your DNA.
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
Robert Kehrer and Sarah Hammon
FamilySearch Technology Update
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
Location: Paradise Rose A
This presentation will walk through key technology releases that have happened since RootsTech 2024. It will present details around multiple new features, including: Full Text Search, record hinting and SourceLinker updates, quality scores on accuracy and completeness of tree research and others. It will also provide an early overview of an unannounced tree feature that will give users greater control over who can edit their tree.
Paula Perkins
Surname to Locality DNA Projects & Reap the Benefits with Collaboration
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
Location: Paradise Rose B
Currently there are more than 11,000 DNA projects represented, including geographical, surname, Haplogroup and genealogical society representation to benefit genetic genealogy. Maximize your DNA results by collaborating with others through the projects and gain insight into your DNA results.
Debra D. Christian
Roots Run Deep: a DNA Journey Through African American and Chickasaw History
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
Location: Peace Rose A
Discover how DNA analysis, combined with genealogical and historical research, has revealed a deeper understanding of Lottie Christian, other enslaved ancestors, and their descendants. Through this research, Debra has uncovered a rich tapestry of memories, documents, and the significant contributions of these individuals. This work has led to the establishment of historical markers and even acceptance into the United Daughters of the Confederacy, showcasing the power of family history in preserving legacies and honoring the past.
Patti Gillespie
WORKSHOP – Searching Newspapers: Tips, Tricks, Sites and Context
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
Location: Pink Miracle Rose Room
An up-to-date presentation of tips, tricks, and techniques using newspapers in our research. Several case examples are included as to the value of newspapers in our research as well as an online search of a variety of free newspaper search sites. This presentation will instruct and entertain every researcher.
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Junior Genealogist Program (ages 5-10)
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Lunch from 11:50 am - 1:00 pm)
Location: Paradise Rose Room C
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Family History Ambassadors (ages 11-18)
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Lunch from 11:50 am - 1:00 pm)
Location: Peace Rose Room C
FamilySearch “One-on-One” (1-hour) Sessions 8 am - 7 pm
WILL YOU BE COMING?
Join us in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in East Texas to hear from industry leaders about family history!
REGISTER NOW