From Axer to Ziegler

I was tempted to say that I could do without a library.  After all, I volunteer at the local Historical Society and have access to every book I could possibly want!  and with all those databases and books online, why do I even need all those books I have?

. . .and then sanity overtook me!  I’m a tactile person and I must touch, turn pages and be able to grab a book in the middle of the night!  I need to put stickies on pages and even highlight an entry or two.  I love my books!

You’re going to see a pattern in my selection of books.  I’ve listed not only my essential books for doing Lancaster County research, but my most frequently used books.  My Lancaster County books are the most well worn books in my collection.

Lancaster County Books necessary in my research

• The most important book in my collection was one of the oldest books in my collection.  A friend in Florida said I absolutely could not do Pennsylvania research without this book.  I’ve had this book for about 15 years and it is well used.  “Pennsylvania Line” was published by SW Pennsylvania Genealogical Society and invaluable in my research.  It contains maps of when counties were incorporated and from what county, rivers, streams, names of old, non-existant towns, post offices, and literally everything Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Line - Where would I be without this book???

• My German to English , English to German Dictionary is right up there at the top.  Although I can pick out the basic German in Church records (births, deaths, marriages, etc.)  those other words pop up now and then.  This book has aided me in helping to decipher meanings and tense.  I found it at a garage sale about 7 years ago and it was 50 cents well spent!  Hardback, large and in good condition!  Wow, what a bargain!

• “Churches and Cemeteries of Lancaster County“, by A. Hunter Rineer.  I carry this book in my car!  When I need it, I have to go out to the car to find it!  Not only does it list the Churches and Cemeteries of today, it lists ones that used to be.  It tells the history of each congregation and where their records are kept.  Every cemetery, past and present, is also noted with their history and a map to show exactly where it is.  Another book that has been invaluable in my research since I am, after all,  a Cemetery Person!

• The next book is a rather large book (dimension wise) and has been invaluable in placing my ancestors in various townships and locations. The “1864 Atlas of Lancaster County “has township maps with names marked on it, where they lived, who lived next to them, etc.  It has towns, streams, people and roads.  I was able to take a deed of one of my ancestors and with the help of this book actually find the curve in the road that his house remains on today.

• One of the heaviest and fattest books in my library is “The History of Lancaster County “by Ellis and Evans.  This is a huge book, and as it size attests, has a lot of information.  When I use it, I have to clear off a big chunk of my desk, because it is not a lap book by any means!  There are biographies, histories of each township, tax lists, histories of various organizations, and the list goes on and on.  Any body who had roots in our area is probably in this book.

The Biggest Book in My Collection. . .and this doesn't include the index!

• My next selection is actually four volumes.  Does it count for four books or one?  “Trinity Lutheran Church Records, ” has helped immensely in my research.  The years 1767 through 1810 were translated and transcribed by Debra D. Smith and Frederick S. Weiser,  It was an enormous undertaking, but one many people have appreciated!  My ancestors who settled in Lancaster County were either of the Lutheran or Reformed faith (Duh! they were Germans!) and I have so many stickies, highlighted entries and dog-earred pages in this set, that it would probably not be of interest to anybody else!

• The last very necessary book in my Lancaster County research is actually a series of  five books.  “Lancaster County Church Records of the 18th Century,” the 5 volume set was compiled by F. Edward Wright. Since 18th century ancestors abound in my family, this is another place that my stickies and highlight marker has found it way to!  Having the stickies has helped me flip right to the page in question, since I’ve marked surnames on each one.

I’ve counted the last two entries as five, since the books total nine!  I could list an actual ten books or I could list an actual ten titles.  Since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, I compromised. I’ve been blessed to have these Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors settle in a region where records are so abundant!

I love my books; the feel of them, the look of them and most of the content in them!

My research is dependent on these books.

Actually, I’ve learned a lot of these things as the years pile up.  The older I get, the more I learn.

• I’ve learned there is never enough time to do everything I want to do, number one! Can anybody relate to that?  Too few hours; too many projects! Actually, I didn’t learn that just this month, I’ve known it for years.  I just keep thinking about it!

• After taking part in the COG on what I’d rescue in case of a disaster, I learned I have a lot of heirlooms I’d better make a plan for, whether a disaster happens or not. They should all be in the same area, not some in a dresser in one bedroom, another in the sideboard in the living room, still more in the attic, etc.  If they are precious enough to survive for over 100 years, they are precious enough to be together where I’m not searching for them.  I will also put a note with each item as to what they are, who they belonged to and in what year and what I wish to have happen to them when I am no longer able to be the guardian of it.

• I learned the old adage of “things are not always as they appear to be” is completely true. Two people, same name, same city, same profession, different wife.  Both looked right, but only one could be.  The one that looked the “rightest” wasn’t.  It’s what makes this passion so challenging and so rewarding.  What other thing that you do could offer you the satisfaction of knowing you got it right?  Oops! I just remembered. . . raising children!  That was a challenge, but it was also rewarding and a completely different story.

• I learned the motto “Be Prepared” is one of the best pieces of advice I could give anybody. There are things I always carry with me and things I will start carrying with me.  I always carry my phone, my camera (and an extra battery for the camera), a small tablet and pencil, stamps, wet wipes, ID and a credit card and finally, an umbrella.  Is my purse heavy?  Yup, and it’s big, too!  I do have a small little purse that I can take out of the big purse and just carry my CC case, phone and camera.  If I don’t have my tablet and pencil, that camera works just as well in most cases.    I will now add address labels to my purse.  After filling out 30 door prize entries at the FGS Conference, I wish I had thought of that one earlier!  I will also add an extra pair of socks since my feet get cold in a lot of a/c environments and at my age, I no longer care if people think I look dorky!

• I learned to treasure “Linda Time.” Going to the FGS Conference made me realize that I do not take enough Linda Time.  I enjoyed wandering where I wanted to, talking to who I wanted to, eating what I wanted to (Strawberry Rhubarb pie for dinner!) and getting up in the middle of the night, turning on the lights and working for an hour or two and then climbing back into bed.  This is not to say that I do not enjoy the life I have with my husband, because I treasure it.  I just enjoy taking a time out once in awhile.  I think we all do, don’t we?

• I’ve learned that listening is far better than talking. If you listen, you learn and in some cases, you earn respect.  If you talk, you can put your foot in your mouth more often than not.  I’d rather listen and have people believe I’m semi-intelligent than open my mouth and have people know that I have no intelligence at all!

• I’ve learned that each one of these topics could be a blog in itself! . . . .and maybe someday they will.  I could expand on each topic here, but then nobody would read anything that lengthy.  Boring!

• . . . . and I learned to WRITE IT DOWN! So many times during the day, I think about something I want to look up.  As I think of a family line I’m working on, I’ll think, I wonder if they lived near another family line.  I’ll have to check that.  Do I write it down? No, I’m sure I’ll remember it later.  Do I remember it later? Of course, not! My research would be so much easier if only I’d write down what I want to look for when I have the time!  After all, I write down the results, why don’t I write down what it is I’m looking for?

Each day is a new learning opportunity.   We Get Too Smart Too Old. . . .

It runs in the family!  Some are finicky about their hair, others their hats. . . .and some neither!  It started long ago . . .

The Ephraim Niess family was probably on a picnic.  They lived in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and did own property that somebody farmed for them.  My great-grandfather, Edwin, is the oldest boy in the middle of the picture.  Since he was born in 1867, the picture had to have been taken after 1873 or so.  This family loved their hats!

My grandmother, Bertha Emma von Breyman graduated from high school on June 18, 1913 in the morning.  She was 16 years old and the first in her family to graduate from high school.  That afternoon, she and Henry A.W. Lindgren went down to the City Hall in Sacramento and were married.  Their honeymoon was to the Pan Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.  This picture was taken there.  Her hat looks overpowering for such a young girl.  His looks great on him.

Ninety five years later, the Lindgrens great-great granddaughter graduated from High School in the windy Tehachapi Pass in California.  She did not get married the same day and she did not wear a hat.  But her crowning glory did blow in the breeze!

Hallie’s grandparents cover the hair (what little they have of it!) and their hats served a purpose.  It was December and we were on the observation deck of the Empire State Building.  We needed to wear those wool hats!

We always did try to keep with the styles.  Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn’t.

Remember the book “The Five People you meet in Heaven” by Mitch Album?  Well, these are “The Ten Things I Would Take in Case of a Disaster.”

• My father, William F. Sherman, was born in September of 1915.  His great-grandparents, Ephraim and Catharine Niess traveled from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Washington DC to see him and for Ephraim to attend a GAR convention.  Catharine brought along this Carriage Robe she had woven for her first great grandchild.  Two months later Ephraim was dead.   Would I ever display the robe in it’s fragile condition?  Never!  Would I rescue it in case of a disaster?  You bet I would!  Item number one in my box.

Carriage Blanket woven by Catharine Auxer Niess circa 1915

• I would also rescue the linen tablecloth Catharine wove from hemp grown on her either her father’s or grandfather’s farm.  This tablecloth is a piece of linen that was from the shroud she had woven for her own burial!  . . . and I have it!  Is it precious?  Yes, it was touched by my great-great-great-grandfather, my great-great-grandmother, her son, my great-grandfather, my grandmother, my father and on to me!  WoW!  At least seven generations have seen this in one stage or another!  My grand mother had it hemmed by her friend Petra Ramirez before 1930. The handwork is phenomenal.  Item number 2 for my disaster box.

Linen woven from flax from my ancestor

• Item number three is actually four items.  In my possession are four family Bibles.
  • The oldest one belonged to my sixth great grandmother, Susannah Bischoff Leader.  The date of 1839 is written in this one.  Read my blog on “Susannah’s Bible.”
  • The next oldest one belonged to my great-great grandfather, Rev. Jeremiah Mark Carvell, PhD.  He was a pastor in the Church of God and died in 1894 at the age of 51.  He carefully entered all the births and deaths of his young children and wife in the pages of this Bible and it even contains a pressed flower, presumably from the funeral of my great-great grandmother.
  • The third Bible belonged to Jeremiah’s daughter, Carrie Virginia Carvell Niess first and my grandmother, Nellie Viola Niess Sherman, secondly.  It is a King James version and I love it. They have both written in it, and now I have it.
  • The Stienstra family Bible is the fourth one in my collection.  Jim gave it to his parents many years ago and all of the family information is filled out on the pages provided.  It includes a handwritten sheet in Dutch that takes the family back eight generations in Friesland.
  

  Open Bible, Carvell; Next one Stienstra, small Bible on Top, Susannahs and other is Niess/Sherman Bible

• My box would also contain my great grandfather’s yearbooks from Law School.  Edwin Alonzo Niess attended Columbian University (Now George Washington University) in Washington DC and graduated in 1895 with a degree in Law.  He had two year books from the same year and one is virtually untouched.  The second one , interestingly enough, has copies of his classmates obituaries either taped over their class pictures or placed on the same page with the picture.  Item number four.

The Columbian, 1895, Edwin A. Niess

The page with Edwin A. Niess with newspaper clippings

• Item number five should be my laptop because it has pictures, stories and most importantly my database on it.  I use it daily and it gets more use than my desktop computer.  I would put this at the top of the box because it would be the first thing I would remove.

• Photos! Photos of my ancestors, photos of me as a child, photos of my children and grandchildren.  This would include a photo album I inherited that belonged to my great-grandmother’s sister, Rosa Gantt Hamilton, and one that belonged to my father.  I love these albums.  Item number six.

Rosa Gantt Hamilton's Photo Album

Front Page of the Album ~ Beautiful, huh??

My favorite picture from the album. Unknown woman with lovely bangs!

• My grandfather, Henry A.W. Lindgren, was an ironworker and I have a beautiful stool that he made.  This has to go in my box! Number seven in my Genealogy Disaster Box.  In addition to the dust, do you see the holes around the edge of the stool?  At one time there was a cushion that was threaded on this stool.  I feel blessed just to have the stool ~ even if the cushion is missing!

Stool made by Henry A.W. Lindgren

• Item number eight are two school books, each belonging to different sides of the family.

• The oldest book is from 1878 and the one my great-grandfather, Edwin A. Niess had.  It starts with an essay he wrote “How I spent the Summer Vacation of 1878.”  One hundred and thirty years to the date later, his great-granddaughter is actually touching the page he wrote on as a child.  Goose bump time!  One page in this book contains a sheet titled “Book Account beginning Sept. 1883″ and lists the books he purchased (including Othello, King Lear) the date, and how much he paid (6 cents for Othello on Oct. 15 when he was 16.)  This is a great chronicle of his early education.

Edwin Niess & Henry Lindgren

• The other book belonged to my grandfather, Henry Lindgren.  This book is from 1894, and he has signed his name Henry Lindgreen, since this was the name that the family came through Ellis Island with.  It was changed back through the court system in the 1920′s, although the use of the correct name was assumed earlier.  His book starts out with the words to the song “Columbia the Gem of the Ocean.”  He was nine years old in 1894 and every page in this book is full.

• The ninth item in the box are all of my father’s passports and his discharge from the service.  They are connections to the places he traveled and when he did.  The discharge is in a leather folder.

Dad's Passports and Army Discharge

• For the tenth item, I would add my great-grandparents wedding book.  What makes this special is the fact that my great-great-grandfather married them!  He filled out the certificate in the book and is one of many signatures of his I have in my collection.  The date of 18 September 1890 is exactly 100 years before my father’s death date.  I treasure this book!

Edwin Alonzo and Carrie Virginia Carvell Niess's Wedding Book

Marrriage Certificate signed by Jeremiah Mark Carvell

My list could go on and on, but my box is not big enough.  Hopefully, I’d have time to grab another box and fill that one, too! Not only would be a shame if I had to leave anything behind but it would be a tragedy.

I am caretaker of too many family heirlooms.

Since I attended by myself, I had the liberty of not being tied to somebody else, doing what they wanted to do, meeting them for lunch, etc.  I wandered, I sat, and mostly I listened.  I heard a lot.  A lot of excitement from some, complaints from those who do that, but mostly sharing of things they had heard in sessions they had attended.

Those who had never been to a conference before were excited.  Some seemed almost overwhelmed with the offerings and were glad they came.  I spoke with one woman who said she had trouble picking sessions since there were so many they wanted to attend.  I had that problem myself for one time slot, so I could understand exactly what she was saying.

I liked the sharing.  I met one woman who said she was going to a session the next morning that was being given by a person that she had been impressed with that afternoon.  She said her knowledge on the subject was unsurpassed.  Another shared information with me about websites she had learned about in one of her sessions.  The sharing of information is what the Genealogy community is really about, isn’t it?

The complainers.  You run into them everywhere you go.  I heard one woman say she wasted her time and money because she knew “everything” she had heard.  I find that hard to believe.  I think you can always learn something, if you listen and are receptive to a new view.  She went on to say that she had been doing this for so many years, that she knew just about all there was to know.  Now really!  I’ve been researching for almost 20 years, and I’m still learning.  But then, I’m listening, too.

This morning I attended Debra Braverman’s “Vital Records at the New York City Municipal Archives.”  I learned a lot, since I knew virtually nothing about this subject.  Since I’m looking my great-great grandmother’s death, and I’m sure she died in NYC, I was interested in this subject.  What I learned is it’s not going to be easy to find.  Not impossible, but not easy.  I’ll give it a try someday. . . .

The second session I was going to take had to do with German Church Records.  Since I’ve been researching these for quite awhile, I decided not to attend and go upstairs and have a personal demonstration of the FTM 2009.  The only thing that bothers me is how Ancestry.com runs in the background, searching my database for connections in theirs.  That scares me just a little. . . .   The rest of it looks fantastic.  I’m going to have to really think about this.

What did I come away with from this conference?

• I came away with a new spin on German Migration patterns.  The Why and Wherefore of my ancestors travels to the new country.

• I came away with a new technique for fitting a person into my family.  The keyword here is FIT.  It must fit, not kinda fit.

• I came away with a new tool to use in my genealogy . . . . Google Earth.

• I came away with new places to look for information on my great-grandfather, at one time an employee of the Post Office Department.

• I came away with a knowledge of exactly what is contained in those other enumeration schedules.

• and most of all, I came away with an appreciation of all those people who work so hard to put this sort of thing together so if we are receptive, we can all come away with something!

Thanks, guys, for a job well done.

Friday was a full day!  Each session I chose to attend was informative and had a lot I would put into use in my research.

First of all, I was so “into” the day’s offerings that I did not take time to take pictures.  <GASP!!> Linda didn’t take pictures??  <FAINT!> <WHAT???>

The first session was another full one and excellent.  “Inferential Genealogy: Deducing Ancestors’ Identities Indirectly” was given by Thomas W. Jones.  As it turns out, I’ve done this! He was excellent and full of tips.  Your conclusions must be documented and you must be aware of the sources, reasons and triggering events for each record.  I hated to see this one end.

. . . . and I didn’t want the second session to end, either!  “Plot your Ancestors Using Google Earth” was given by Connie Reik.  This one was so full that we had to switch to a bigger room, change the equipment and then the show got on the road.  I was thrilled to learn everything this program has to offer and will definitely put it into use in my research and documentation of immigration patterns.  This offering was way too short.

The third session of the morning was one I almost didn’t attend, but was glad I did!  “Carriers of News and Knowledge: Post Office Records” was given by Julie Miller, CG.  At first I thought it was just going to be about mailmen and Pony Express Riders, but was I ever mistaken.  Since my ancestor had a rather high position in the Post Office Department in Washington, I asked before I sat down.  She assured me that it covered all Postal records and I stayed. . . . and was glad I did.

She went through the History of the Department and then the records kept and the location of the same.  She showed us examples of some of the record groups at NARA and gave us other sources that also had information and records that would be instrumental in our research.

A satisfying morning.  I was ready for lunch so I headed back to the market and got a ham and swiss on rye.  Wonderful choice ~ then for the second half of the day!

The first session of the afternoon (and I only went to two this afternoon since the second one got over at 4:30) was “What’s New on Ancestry.com” and was given by Suzanne Russo Adams.  She showed us how to access some things many of us never knew existed and showed us the new look of ancestry.com.  An hour well spent.  I have no idea how anybody researches without ancestry.com.  It’s an excellent tool for that late nite researching.

The fourth and final session I attended on Friday was given by Curt Witcher, Genealogy Center Manager of the Allen County Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  “All that Other Stuff!! Other Enumerations Beyond the Federal Population Schedules!” gave me a new perspective on what I termed census schedules and thought couldn’t possibly apply to my family.  Wrong assumption.

This man is an excellent speaker.  I had heard him in SLC several times and knew without a doubt that I would learn something in this session.  Boy did I!  I learned there are many other enumerations taken at the time of the census and each one may offer us clues.  The Non-Population Schedules offer a wealth of information regarding our ancestors, as well as many other types of records that he went through.  Another hour that went by way to fast!

I am ready for Saturday morning and have two sessions picked out that I’m sure will be as good as the ones I attended on Friday.

Bring ‘em on!

Welcome Banner across from the Exhibit Hall

We were welcomed to the FGS Conference in Philadelphia by this awesome banner and  the guest of honor, Ben Franklin!  He even brought his wife, Betsy, with him.  Yup, Ben Franklin was led into the opening session by a Fife and Drum trio!  Being in Philadelphia, you know he’d be curious about us!

After the opening session was over, Ben was waiting for us with his wife, the woman who is the Betsy Ross reinactor.  They both represent Philadelphia in their respective roles and married on the 4th of July at Independence Hall.  True Story.  Check out the link.

Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross at the FGS

Conference

One of the important presentations of the opening session was Ancestry.com’s introduction of their new “World Archives Project.”  I’m sure we’re going to hear a lot more about this in the future.  I’m excited about all the digital images they want to get posted.  It will be an awesome project and one that will benefit us all.

Opening Session

The second presentation of note was the speaker, Robert A. Selig, who spoke on “America’s Official Birthday.”  This man has done incredible research on the founding of our country.  An appropriate topic for for a conference held in Philadelphia!

The first session I had registered for was “German Migration Patterns.”  This was presented by George K. Schweitzer, PhD and was excellent.  If you ever get a chance to hear this man, don’t miss it.  A lot of the moves my ancestors made now make a lot more sense.  The fact that he was dressed in Bavarian Dress added a lot to his presentation.  This man is incredibly knowledgeable and incredibly humorous!

George Schweitzer, presenter at FGS Conference

The second session I attended also had to do with the Germans.  The presentation by James Beidler was titled “Germany to Pennsylvania: 18th Century Odyssey.”  This dealt mainly with narratives written by immigrants in the 18th century.  The other part of the presentation addressed a lot of myths regarding our immigrant ancestors.  If it were sent in e-mails they would be known as  “urban legends.”  For instance:

• Myth: Most Colonial Germans came because of religious persecution.

• Reality: The main reason most of them came for economic reasons and the opportunity to purchase land. Reality is that only about 6K out 80K came because of religiouos persecution.

During the lunch break I went back to my room and enjoyed a lunch of deviled eggs, a dish of fresh fruit and a bottle of fresh squeezed orange juice purchased at the Reading Terminal Market.  I bought another piece of Strawberry Rhubarb pie for my “dinner” tonight.  Delicious!

The session I attended this afternoon was presented by Lisa Kerr Ilowite on “Finding a Woman’s Maiden Name.”  This session had to change rooms due to the popularity of the subject and the lack of space in the room that was initially assigned.  After a bit of housekeeping, the show got on the road, so to speak.  She offered tips on places and records to look, Obituaries, Deeds, Court Records, DAR Lineage books, Son’s records, Pension files, etc.

As I left the escalator on my way back to my room, I decided to stop in the Exhibit Hall for one last spin (for the day anyway!) through.  As I entered the door they were calling out the recent door prize winners, and lo and behold!  they called my name!!  I won a box of chocolates (just what I need!) and a notebook from Boston University Center for Professional Education. Thanks, guys!!

I stopped by Ancestry.com area and a very knowledgeable young lady took a great deal of time explaining FTM2009 to me.  I had seen a presentation on it Wednesday evening and was very curious.  This is awesome and I’m almost convinced that I do not need a Mac after all.  I need this software instead.  It won’t be released until next Tuesday and I hope I’ve made up my mind by then.  It sure would save me a lot of money!

I should sleep well tonight.  I had a good day.

I picked up my tickets at the Amtrak Station on Labor Day.  We had been to a Barnstormers Baseball game, and on the way home I thought it would be easier to pick them up then, rather than  this morning.  How right I was!  It was a cinch.

Amtrak Station, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ticket in hand, I boarded the train and it pulled out of the station at 9:30 AM.  Jim had come down to the platform and sat with me until he realized that he must feed the meter if he didn’t want a ticket.  We decided to bid each other Adieu there, and he left for the confines of the Walnut Street premises.  Unlike Air travel, the seats were comfortable with plenty of leg room.  The views out of my window were incredible.  There is nothing in the world like the beauty of Amish farms, in my opinion.

Sitting at the Station; Ready to Go

I found an empty seat, put my carry-on in the overhead bin and sat down.  I was looking forward to closing my eyes for a peaceful journey into Philly!  It was not to be.  I sat in front of three Amish couples who talked across the aisle all the way into Philly!! Of course, they talked in Pennsylvania Dutch, and I since I have taken two semesters of PA Dutch, I was trying to figure out what they were saying.  They talked entirely too fast for me, but I did pick out “Thursday” and “August.”  Boy those two semesters really paid off, didn’t they??

Amtrak pulling into Lancaster

We pulled into the 30th Street Station about 10:35 and what a beautiful facility. . . inside.  I never left the station.  Since I was unsure how I was to get to the Convention Center area, I asked a gentleman at the “Traveler’s Aid” booth.  I told him that I understood that I could use my Amtrak ticket on the “Septa” system.  He said yes I could, but he thought the bus was better and it only cost $2.  I told him several times I wanted “free” not “$2.00.”  He told me how to get to the bus, anyway.

I found my way to the map of train, trolley, and bus routes and then went and asked an woman at the Amtrak Help desk how to get to the train that would take me to the Convention Center.  She pointed down the hall and told me to take the elevator to the platform and hurry because I had 4 minutes to make it.  I hurried only to find out that 3 tracks separated me from the spot I was supposed to catch the train that pulled out as I stood there!!!

I went back down in the elevator and walked back to the staircase directly across from the same woman and arrived at the platform I was supposed to be at all along!!  I had a 15 minute wait for the next train.

The street below the walkway between the Convention Center and the Mariott Hotel

The station the train arrived in was attached to the building that houses both the Convention Center and the Marriott.  How cool was that??  My room was on the 10th floor with a view of street below and the offices across the street.

The Reading Terminal Market! What an experience!  Like Lancaster’s Central Market on steroids!  My lunch consisted of chicken, a bottle of water and a piece of Amish Strawberry Rhubard pie.  Oh!  and a dish of the best peach icecream I’ve ever had!  Big chunks of peach!  yummo!!!  I’ll be back there for breakfast!

Showtime!  I walked on over to the Convention Center to register.  What a beautiful facility!  The Convention Center is in the renovated Reading Terminal Market.  The architectural details are beautiful!  The picture shows just one entrance to the Marriott from the Convention Center.

Convention Center detail

The registration packet included a handy little tote bag and thirty, count them thirty doorprize entries to fill out.  By the time I had filled out all thirty of them, I knew my name, address, phone number and e-mail address by heart.  I will never forget them again!

Demonstration of the new Family Tree Database

The Exhibit Hall opened at 6:30 and I headed immediately for Mecca.  Represented there were all the ones we’ve all heard of ~ Genealogy Bank, Ancestry.com, Family Search, National Archives,Wholly Genes, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Footnote.com and many, many others!  In the far corner was an extra session.  The new Family Tree Maker was demonstrated, and it’s almost tempting. . . . I say almost, because I really want to buy a Mac!  If only there were a FTM for Macs. My tote bag was filled and getting pretty heavy by the time I headed back to my room.

Gotta get some rest because tomorrow will be full!

The only time I’ve ever attended a FGS Conference is when it’s held in Salt Lake City.  It’s a good excuse to hear excellent speakers and spend until 10:00PM in Mecca . . .aka. . . THE Library!  I’ve been there for the last several times the Conference has been held there.  I love it!

Amtrak Station, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Since this year’s conference is in Philly, I’ve decided to hop on Amtrak and attend.  It’s a short hour on the train and I have reservations at the Marriott.  I’m ready!  The Amtrak Station is about a mile from my home, I have my tickets and I’ll be there late Wednesday.  I decided on Amtrak rather than driving to avoid the hassle of traffic and cost of gas and parking my car for three days!  My tickets on Amtrak were, are you ready for this only $24!!  Which would you choose??

With the Syllabus online, I’ve been poring over the offerings.  I did register several months ago, and I’ve printed the sessions I will be attending and what a variety!  Some of the interesting offerings are”

• “Plotting Your Ancestors Using Google Earth”
• “Inferential Genealogy: Deducing Ancestors’ Identities Indirectly”
• “All That Other Stuff!!” Other Enumerations Beyond the Federal Population Schedules
• “Using German Church Records”
• “Ohio or Bust.  Migrations into the Buckeye State”
• “The Pennsylvania Civil War Muster Rolls Project: A Potential Treasure House for Genealogists”
• “Convicts to the North American Colonies”
• “Researching 18th Century Germans”
• “One-Step Webpages”

and the list goes on and on! I am not registered for all of those, but they all look interesting to me.  I am registered for the first four, however.

Got my folder of information,  my Visa card, my laptop, camera and a whole lot of cords and chargers. The important stuff is ready.

I’m heading for Philly~