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Shaking Your Family Tree

July 22, 1999
	Genealogical Societies Meet in St. Louis by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, C.G.
"Meet Me in St. Louis: The People of the America,'' the theme of the 1999 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference, emphasizes our country's rich ethnic and cultural heritage. Sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and St. Louis Genealogical Society, the conference takes place Aug. 11-14. A special workshop will be held Tuesday, Aug. 10, for professionals from libraries with local or family history collections. It is hosted by the St. Louis County Library and includes a tour of that library's Special Collections Department. All conference activities will be at or leave from the Regal Riverfront Hotel, just steps from the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River at 200 S. Fourth St. Special tours on Tuesday include one to the architectural and historical highlights of St. Louis. Ranging from Jefferson Barracks (once the largest military post in the United States) to Bellefontaine and Calvary cemeteries and Washington University, plus glimpses of the elite private residential streets unique to St. Louis to a look at the Byzantine splendor of the Basilica Cathedral. A tour to the original section of St. Charles, a quaint area on the banks of the Missouri River, is also available. Highlights include a guided walking tour to the first Missouri state capitol and the Lewis and Clark Museum, as well as a look at the final home of Daniel Boone. John Coletta, author of They Came in Ships and Finding Italian Roots, will give an opening keynote address titled, "Extra! Extra! Louisiana Purchase Exposition Draws Visitors from Around the Globe.'' Using newspaper research, Coletta's talk will focus on what Americans were doing in 1904, the year of St. Louis World's Fair. Opening day sessions on Wednesday focus on the projects and functions of genealogical societies, plus there is a workshop for professional genealogists or those who want to "go pro.'' This all-day session pertains to the business aspects of professional genealogy, and runs from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is presented by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and requires a reservation and an additional $30 fee. On Thursday, Aug. 12, the host society offers an evening at Grant's Farm. It includes tours to White Haven, the family home of Ulysses S. Grant's wife, Julie Dent Grant, and a visit to the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales in stables adjacent to White Haven. This event includes catered food with an assortment of St. Louis and German dining favorites. A band will perform German music. More than 150 lectures on various subjects from computers and technology, migration patterns, ethnic groups, military and courthouse records, and publishing, to genealogical research around the world are offered by some of the best in the field. More than 120 booths featuring genealogical books, software, maps, charts, forms, and other genealogical items will be available in the exhibit area. There also will be product demonstrations of various computer programs. Details about the conference, its tours and events, plus a registration form can be found at the FGS website: http://www.fgs.org. The St. Louis Genealogical Society's website is http://www.rootsweb.com/~mostlogs/. You also can contact the Federation of Genealogical Societies for information at: FGS, P.O. Box 200940, Austin, TX 78720-0940; phone (888) FGS-1500 (toll-free) or via e-mail: fgs@officefgs.org. (c) 1999, Los Angeles Times Syndicate Myra Vanderpool Gormley and Julie Case are co-editors of Missing Links, a free weekly genealogy e-zine. To subscribe, send your request to: Missing Links Newsletter Return to Myra Vanderpool Gormley Main Page Return to Columns Main Page
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