Military Monday: Grand Dad Parker

Born at home in Meigs County, Ohio in 1905, George Vincent Parker was a slight man with a quiet personality. George exchanged vows with Ethel Heidenreich in 1925 and they remained married till Ethel's death in 1995. Eighteen years after their wedding, George took up arms against the Germans while stationed in France during World War II, he was 38 years old. It must have been a personal conflict for him; fighting against Germany while married to a woman of German heritage.

During the war years, Ethel and her son, Bill, struggled to make ends meet at home in Ohio. Bill was in high school and worked and night to help support the family. Then in January of 1945 Bill was drafted and sent to Germany.

Both men made it home alive and well. 

My Week at SLIG

This was the most amazing week! I got to visit with old friends and made a bunch of new ones. In addition I took several great classes and learned a lot.

Thomas W. Jones Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

In case you didn't know, this week I attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy held January 23 to January 27. SLIG is set up in "Tracks." There are six tracks. You choose a track and all the classes you take, all day long (from 8 in the morning till about 5 each night) are focused on one subject area. I attended Course 9 "Advanced Genealogical Methods" My instructor was Dr. Thomas Jones. Dr. Jones is a highly respected, very knowledgeable and slightly evil man. I say evil because I think he gets a kick out of trying to stump us. We had some very challenging cases to solve. Yes, there was HOMEWORK. He's a wonderful teacher and I had the best time.
Some of the other tracks offered were: Midwest U. S. Research; Swedish Research; Advanced New England Research; Advanced Research Tools: Land Records, and that's just a sampling.

For all of my genealogy pals out there, you should absolutely think about attending SLIG next year. The tracks are geared at all different expertise levels, so even if you are a beginner there is something for you. (For more on what SLIG is all about see: Susan Farrell Bankhead's blog, and Valerie Elkin's blog) Extra bonus, it is held right before a HUGE genealogy conference, RootsTech.

Christy Fillerup - Coordinator Extraordinaire 

That's right I'm still in Salt Lake City. I had five days of SLIG then I get four days of research at the Library to end all genealogical libraries (at least in my opinion) The Family History Library and then RootsTech will start. That's almost three full weeks of solid genealogy (plus eating and socializing with friends.) I'm in heaven.

Good Company at the banquet

The next SLIG will be held January 14-18, 2013. Registration opens on June 2, 2012. Sign up early to get the "early bird special" that's when prices are lower. (Sign up at www.infouga.org) Next year's tracks have already been announced (they may add some more "extra" classes as well.)  They are:
1) American Research and Records: Focus on Localities with Paula Stuart-Warren
2) Bridging the 1780-1830 Gap: New England to the Midwest (and points in between) with D. Joshua Taylor
3) German Research with F. Warren Bittner
4) A Genealogist's Guide to the Internet Galaxy with Thomas MacEntee
5) Researching in Washington, D. C. Without Leaving Home with Rick Sayre and Pamela Boyer Sayre

All Smiles

6) Hanging out a Shingle: Genealogy Marketing and Business Practices with Crista Cowan

Hope to see each and every one of you there.