Posted by conference on March 29, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, Delights Stream, Innovations Stream, Speakers and Program | 
Genealogical information about the Hussey family on the REED "Patrons and Performances" website
Buzz is growing about a unique lecture at the upcoming Ontario Genealogical Society’s Conference 2010.
Patrons and Performances: Finding Connections to the Arts in Early Modern England and Wales will be presented by John A. Geck, a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto, and the Jackman Genealogical Research Associate for the Records for Early English Drama (REED).
REED is an international project that examines the historical evidence for early theatre, music, and other entertainment in England and Wales from the 12th to the 18th centuries. In particular REED produces detailed information about patrons of the arts, their roles in society and their genealogy, all of which is fully accessible to the public online. The Patrons and Performances website is an excellent example of what an Internet publication be.
This lecture will demonstrate how genealogists researching their British family histories can use the Patrons and Performances website.
As John Reid recently said in his “Anglo-Celtic Connections” blog, “It’s the kind of presentation I look for as an option when I get tired of the usual genealogical fare.”
So you think your ancestors weren’t connected to the arts? Here are five reasons you might want to sit in on this lecture anyway:
- You’d routinely check your ancestors’ names in other databases, so why not this one? Although the website incorporates research from many centuries, both the overall number and those from the lower gentry (e.g. guild members) increase significantly in the later years where you’re most likely to be researching.
- Patrons and Performances has a lot of information on places where our ancestors lived—and amused themselves. The majority of venues are places like town halls, guildhalls and large county manors where all nearby residents were welcome for performances and which were undoubtedly familiar to your ancestors in their hometowns.
- There’s a keyword search that allows you to look for parishes and manors, etc., and find patrons associated with your ancestor’s home. The fate of that patron—in one case a beheading for raising a rebellion against the king—would certainly have caused some turmoil for everyone in the community.
- Many researchers face problems in bridging the gap between the modern and early modern periods. This lecture will address general strategies for overcoming the problem of sparse records in the 1700s. Even if your ancestors do not appear in the Patrons and Performances database, you may pick up some useful methodological suggestions.
- Finally and perhaps most importantly for many researchers, much of the presentation will focus on the sources REED employed to create the Patrons and Performances website. Even for those whose ancestors were not connected to patron families, the bibliography of both print and online sources may be an invaluable resource.
Consider a step or two off the beaten path to hear about this unique project that uses the best of modern technology and scholarship to make some very old information much easier to use.
Posted by conference on March 15, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, Innovations Stream, Speakers and Program |
Most of us are most definitely NOT power users of our family history software. When in doubt, we just click more insistently. Our most frequently asked question is “Help?”
So when the Friday program for the Ontario Genealogical Society’s Conference 2010 was in development, it seemed obvious we should offer in-depth sessions on popular programs. In particular, we felt that those using RootsMagic and Legacy Family Tree could use some support.
Bill Bienia will present "Working Effectively with RootsMagic".
So on Friday morning at Conference, William H. (Bill) Bienia will present “Working Effectively with RootsMagic”.
RootsMagic users may recognize Bill’s name from mail-lists and message boards, as he is always helping those with questions, especially the tricky ones. Bill is also the person who designed the “Evidence Explained” style-source templates used in RootsMagic.
He is a full-time professional genealogist, who has been involved in Ontario research for over 15 years. He specializes in 18th and 19th century records in early Ontario and in Loyalist ancestry. He also researches records in the New England and northeastern U.S. states for pre-Loyalist families.
Rick Roberts will present "Working effectively with Legacy Family Tree".
On Friday afternoon, Rick Roberts will lead a similar session, “Working Effectively with Legacy Family Tree”, a presentation that is one of his specialties.
Rick’s life-long hobby became his vocation when he co-founded Global Genealogy in 1992 with his wife Sandra, marketing books and other supplies at genealogical conventions and by mail order. In 1996 Rick launched The Global Gazette, a popular online family history magazine. One year later, he began publishing under the imprint Global Heritage Press, which now has more than 350 books in print. Global Print Services was added in 2009, providing professional printing and binding services for self-published authors.
For more information on signing up for these and other sessions at OGS Conference 2010, visit the Friday program page.
Posted by conference on March 9, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, Canadian Records, Speakers and Program |
Ontario Genealogical Society conferences have always led the way with presentations on new resources and techniques for Ontario research, as well as in-depth sessions on important and sometimes rediscovered Ontario records. Conference 2010 continues that tradition.
If you have Ontario roots, be sure to take in some of these unique sessions:
On Friday, May 14, Fawne Stratford-Devai presents two in-depth sessions on Ontario Land Records. The promise of owning land was the biggest factor that brought many of our ancestors to Ontario. The records are extensive, complex, and rich with family history. This full day with Fawne (an excellent speaker) will help you understand the records and their potential.
Professional genealogist Janice Nickerson lectures twice on Saturday—first on Researching Aboriginal Ancestors, and then on Criminal Trials in Upper Canada. She has written books on both topics and brings a lot of practical experience to her presentations.
Glenn Wright is a popular speaker at OGS conferences. This year, on Saturday afternoon, he contributes an intriguing presentation to the Ontario offerings—about the records of Kingston Penitentiary.
Also on Saturday afternoon, “New Toronto Research Tools” will introduce four innovative web-based projects presented by Toronto Branch members Martha Jackson, Pat Jeffs and Jane MacNamara, and Stephen Young of FamilySearch.
Ontario sessions continue on Sunday with a case study of an Eastern Ontario Loyalist family by Melissa Ellis. Melissa’s examples will demonstrate how you can build your own family’s story.
With much of Ontario’s population clustered around the Great Lakes, Susanna de Groot’s presentation on researching ancestors who worked and travelled on the Lakes or on their shores, should interest researchers from Ontario as well as the eight US states that border the Great Lakes.
Just seven early-bird days left!
Be sure to register by Monday, March 15 to take advantage of the early-bird registration fee. Browse the program pages to choose your sessions, then go to “How do I register?” to select a registration package and register online.
Posted by conference on March 3, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, The Making of Conference 2010 |
One of the reasons we chose the Doubletree as the location for the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference 2010 is the arrangement of our lecture rooms clustered around the Marketplace and foyer. There’s a minimum of walking and an elevator or escalator to take you to the second floor.
But if your knees or hips, etc., will object to a whole weekend of activity, we understand that, too.
MobilityUnlimited has agreed to offer a special rate on scooter rentals for attendees at Conference 2010. They have recommended the “Dancer” model. The rental fee for the full weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) is $100. A delivery and pickup charge of $90 will be split between all renters.
Contact the company in advance to arrange for your scooter. Be sure to identify yourself as part of the “OGS Conference”. MobilityUnlimited will delivery your scooter to the Doubletree by Hilton—Toronto Airport after noon on Thursday, May 13. You can pick it up from the concierge whenever you arrive. After the Conference, leave your scooter with the concierge and MobilityUnlimited will pick it up after noon on Monday, May 17.
Renters should contact MobilityUnlimited directly by e-mail or by phone at 416-778-9586 or toll free at 1-877-778-9586. Be sure to book early.
The "Dancer", recommended by MobilityUnlimited
Posted by conference on March 1, 2010 under Blog: New Postings, Registration Updates |
It is March, believe it or not. And March 15 is the last day to take advantage of the early-bird registration rates for the Ontario Genealogical Society’s Conference 2010.
Just two weeks away!
We already have family historians travelling from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, as well as Colorado, Utah, Illinois, Michigan and New York, and even Scotland, England and Italy. And of course, every corner of Ontario.
But we still have space for you, and we know you love a bargain.
So don’t wait. Spend some time today browsing the program and speaker pages. Make a note of the session numbers that interest you, or print out the handy daily schedules.
Click on “How do I register?” and select the registration package that suits you best. Then let the secure online registration form guide you through the process.
Then, perhaps a visit to the Marketplace page to start making plans for how you’re going to spend that money you just saved…
