We are proud to announce
MoSGA’s 2010 Annual Conference

August 13 and 14, 2010
Capitol Plaza Hotel
Jefferson City, Missouri

Keynote Speaker
Roger Minert, Ph.D.

Roger P. Minert received his doctoral degree from Ohio State University in German language history and second language acquisition theory.  He taught German language and history for ten years, and then became a professional family history researcher. Accredited by the Family History Library for research in Germany and Austria, he has more than 33,000 hours in research experience. In August 2003 he became an associate professor of family history at Brigham Young University. The author of more than 70 books and articles, he is currently directing the project “German Immigrants in American Church Records” and has completed the first of two volumes of a history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany during World War II.

MoSGA Conference 2010 Session Descriptions

If You Don’t Tell the Story, Who Will?, with Marilyn Collins (pre-conference workshop)

Rationale: The search for family ancestors is the primary focus of genealogists. My workshop comes into play once the charts are complete. My latest book, Write History Right, is a step-by-step guide for writing the story of a family, town, church, people or events of interest.

The workshop is participant-friendly. Attendees will learn how to select a workable focus for their story, structure the data, document research and visuals, conduct successful interviews, address family considerations/concerns, write in a lively style, publish, and discuss smart tips for selling copies.

An added value to the workshop includes using the Essential Forms in the Appendix of Write History Right. Forms include sample Photo Releases, Co-Author Agreements, Interview Logs, Site Visit Tips, and many more.

When the Records Didn’t’ Get It Right , with Mary Celeste, MLS (pre-conference workshop)

If your family consists of names, dates, and places only, you may have missed out on really getting to know some interesting characters.  In this workshop you will be inspired to roll up your sleeves, dust off your resources, call your cousins, and get back into the research mode.  This is an interactive program.

Civil Records in Germany, with Roger Minert

This presentation is an introduction to the identification and location of civil (vital records) for towns and cities in Germany (with borders as of 1871). The emphasis is on the types of records available in specific provinces during specific periods of time. The discussion features major historical events and developments associated with the civil registry system in Germany from the beginnings to the present. Handouts include bibliographical data on church record inventories available in the LDS Family History Library.

Troubleshooting in Germanic Family History Research, with Roger Minert

The troubleshooting session is essentially an open forum, during which members of the audience are allowed to present--in great brevity--questions and problems specific to their own research scenarios. In suggesting solutions, the instructor expands the scope of each response to fit much broader circumstances, whereby numerous members of the audience benefit. Generally, the suggested solution of one problem leads coherently to the next problem etc. and the discussion can be terminated at any appropriate moment.

Surname Changes in Northwestern Germany, with Roger Minert

During the feudal era, hundreds of large estate farms were established in Western Hannover, Oldenburg, Westphalia, and Lippe-Detmold. On many of those estates, the surname of the owner did not change for over a thousand years, though blood lines almost always did. The conditions under which people lived on these estate farms and the patterns for surname changes and acquistion are discussed in this presentation. The focus is the effect such a widespread and complex system has on the tracing of family lines in this part of Germany.

Avoiding Self-Defeating Behaviors in German Family History Research, banquet speech with Rogert Minert

Novices as well as experienced family history researchers tend to commit pattern errors (self-defeating behaviors) and thus hinder or stymie their own progress. Such errors include over-estimating one’s capabilities, relying without question on research done by others, fear of or over-reliance on computer technology, and believing family legends that may well be inaccurate. This presentation features examples for each of the “self-defeating behaviors” in an attempt to assist the audience in recognizing and overcoming these problems.

Researching Your Missouri Czech (Bohemian) Immigrant, with June Sommer

The first permanent Czech (Bohemian) settlement in America was in Missouri.  The Czech immigrants to Missouri formed two parallel sets of institutions:  the Czech Catholic church and the Cesko-Slovanska Podporujici Spolku (Czech Benevolent Society).  These two institutions formed the pattern for the American Czech national experience.  This lecture will explore the Czech immigration process, the Missouri Czech immigrant split, and the Czech settlements in Missouri.  The unique records created by the Czech immigrants and how to access them will be explored.

Overcoming Brick Walls When Researching Our Family History, with Gene Block

Every Genealogist sooner or later hits a brick wall or dead end in researching their family's history.  Unfortunately sometimes the needed records no longer exist.  Frequently however, even when the records do exist, we hit brick walls or dead ends because of any one of four main reasons.  We could be searching for the wrong spelling of a name, or in the wrong geographical area, or in the records of the wrong religious denomination, or we are looking for the records in the wrong time period.  We need to understand how, why, and when these mistakes occur.  This will allow us to focus our efforts and identify the correct framework we need so that we can be successful and continue our research moving back in time.

The Rope and the Open Square: Civil War Crime and Punishment, with Tom Pearson

Join us as we discuss both the types of crimes committed by Civil War soldiers and civilians, and the ways that Civil War armies could punish both soldiers and civilians.  Discussion will include military discipline and the Articles of War; types of courts-martial; crimes and chargeable offenses; lesser punishments; and military executions.

History through Genealogy — Researching Dred and Harriet Scott: Their Family Story, with Ruth Ann (Abels) Hager

Learn how newly discovered information about the Dred & Harriet Scott family was uncovered — and how the same techniques can help your research.

St. Louis at War, 1861-1865, with Tom Pearson

Join us as we discuss contributions of St. Louis to the Union war effort.  Discussion includes the St. Louis Arsenal; Jefferson Barracks; Gratiot and Myrtle Street prisons; St. Louis’s ten forts; its sixteen land-based hospitals and the five floating hospitals used to bring wounded men directly from the battlefield to Jefferson Barracks.

Heritage Societies, Certificate Programs, and Lineage Research Projects, with Mary Celeste

This session will give an overview of lineage societies, their history, differences, and purposes.  Certificate programs and lineage research projects will also be included.  Emphasis will be placed on their usefulness as a research source.  The speaker has compiled a list of hundreds of societies, certificate programs (more commonly known as “first families”), and lineage research projects.

Ireland Here and There, with Suzanne Vinduska and Maria Forsha

This session will give you tips for researching your Irish ancestor with resources found “here” and resources found “there.”