| Minnesota Genealogical Society 1385 Mendota Heights Road, Suite 100 |
| Featured SpeakersKatherine R. Willson
| More Info... |
| Katherine R. Willson (Dexter, Michigan) discovered her passion for family history at age eight while earning the “My Heritage” Girl Scout badge, and that early spark has grown into a lifelong pursuit. Today, she is a dynamic genealogy educator who presents at regional, national, and international events and is widely regarded for her engaging presentations. Katherine has held leadership positions in numerous local, national, and professional genealogical organizations. Her courses for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the GRIP Genealogy Institute explore the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped the lives and decisions of past generations. As a full-time researcher for private clients, she specializes in Michigan’s pre-statehood families, the early pioneers of the Northwest Territory, and those who journeyed west during America’s expansion from 1787 to 1890. Through her website, SocialMediaGenealogy.com, Katherine shares free resources for family historians, including genealogy forms, oral history interview questions, and curated directories of genealogy-focused Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and podcasts. |
Plenary Talks
Expanding Borders & Bridging Distances: Newspapers, the Pony Express, the Telegraph, & the Transcontinental Railroad
As the United States pushed westward, the country needed faster and more reliable ways to stay connected. Explore how newspapers, the Pony Express, the telegraph, and the transcontinental railroad changed how information moved, linked far-flung communities, and helped shrink the continent in people’s minds. Hear how these innovations shaped public opinion and laid the groundwork for a more connected national identity during a time of rapid growth.
Navigating the Historical & Genealogical Treasures Within Repositories: Libraries, Archives, & More
Discover how to identify the libraries, archives, and other repositories most likely to hold your ancestors’ stories. Make the most of what these institutions offer by learning practical ways to use finding aids and subject headings, and pick up clear strategies for navigating digital library sites and online collections.
They Didn’t All Come Through Ellis Island: Finding & Analyzing U.S. Passenger Arrival Lists
Learn how to trace your ancestors’ journeys by looking at passenger lists from three key time periods and understanding what each can tell you. Explore the major European ports people left from, the American ports they arrived in, and the reasons they chose those routes. Get practical guidance for following an ancestral voyage and making better sense of the records it left behind.
Social Talk
I Thought Professional Genealogy Would Be Uneventful. I Was Wrong
Drawing on 25 years of research and teaching, this entertaining talk features hilarious moments from incredulous client encounters, travel fiascos, technology mishaps, and the reactions people have when they learn what I do.
| Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and educator specializing in the application of artificial intelligence to family history research. As co-host of the Family History AI Show podcast alongside Steve Little, Mark helps genealogists bridge the gap between high technology and practical family history research. Combining extensive leadership experience in technology with his passion for genealogy, Mark is known for making complex AI tools accessible and relevant for family historians of all levels. He currently serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society and chairs their DNA Special Interest Group. A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Mark is a frequent presenter on technology-centric genealogy topics including AI, Genetic Genealogy, and Family Archiving. He also posts information on his website blog at www.makingfamilyhistory.com. When not exploring family histories, he enjoys nature photography in his home province of British Columbia, Canada. |
Plenary Talk
Use AI to Supercharge your Family History
Imagine analyzing a lifetime of family documents or photos in minutes instead of weeks, or pulling new clues from records you have read a hundred times. Artificial intelligence is able to do that for genealogists today. Join Mark Thompson for a guided tour of what is now possible (and a few things that are still over to horizon) to see how today's AI tools can help you unravel the mysteries hidden in your family history.