Genealogy Jottings

Since the pandemic began, we have cancelled two annual vacations. Only once during the past two years have we spent the night away from home, and that was on a camping trip. Now we have begun to look forward to a couple of genealogy getaways scheduled for later this year:

1. Palatines to America National Conference. The 2022 PalAm conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver on June 16-18. I am already registered. I need not fly anywhere for this because Denver is within easy driving distance. Conference attendees will hear two full days of lectures on German research by Dr. Wolfgang Grams from Germany and Daniel Jones, AG, from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Other events will include a banquet and a bus tour of “German Denver” hosted by well-known local historian, Dr. Tom Noel.
2. Upper Midwest Research Trip. My husband/tech advisor and I will take a road trip later this year to visit many of the states where our ancestors lived during the 19^th century. We will drive through the towns they knew and visit repositories that might hold information we cannot find online. Special stops will include Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa; the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana; the Lincoln Log Cabin historic site in Coles County, Illinois; and the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Kansas.

Trips like these require some advance preparation. Already we are getting in the mindset to do some networking with other German researchers at the PalAm conference. We are putting together maps, lists of records to seek, and cemeteries to visit for the Midwestern driving trip. We are hoping to accumulate much new family information and break down a brick wall or two.

After waiting so long to take another genealogy trip, taking two in one year presents a real treat. I want to make the most of each opportunity. Planning well ahead is the key to genealogical success this year.

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