June 2, 2025
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega – just back from attending the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family History Conference – gives three tips for enjoying and taking full advantage of genealogy conferences. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”
I just returned home from Louisville, Kentucky, where I attended the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family History Conference. This multi-day event was held in the historical Galt House Hotel and featured presentations, workshops, exhibitors, field trips, a symposium, meetings, and a Memorial Day ceremony at the Cave Hill Cemetery.
I’ve been attending national conferences for over 20 years, but I know that not everyone has had that opportunity. The following are some of my thoughts from attending this conference and take-aways that you may want to consider whether you have or haven’t attended a national conference. (1)
(1) Conferences Are for Everyone
One of the comments I heard in the months leading up to the NGS conference is that conferences are for professional genealogists. While there are events that focus on professional genealogists (for example, those held by the Association of Professional Genealogists), genealogy conferences are for family historians of all interests and skill levels.
Studying the schedule will help you better determine what events/presentations/workshops you want to take part in. There will be some that won’t be of interest to you and some that might be beyond (or below) your skill level. But most conferences offer something for everyone.
Conferences offer education opportunities in various formats including one-hour presentations, hands-on workshops, tours, exhibitor demonstrations, and more. Before I attend any conference, I go through the schedule and note what I want to hear and learn. I prioritize my choices and even add backups in case the room with that popular speaker is filled or another opportunity comes up. Doing your homework before you leave for the conference can help you avoid disappointment.
(2) Conferences Are an Investment
Conferences are expensive. There’s no way to get around that. There is the cost of the conference, any “add-ons” such as workshops, luncheons, dinners, and special events. There’s the hotel, travel and food. And the Expo Hall features products and services that you may want to purchase (sometimes at a conference discount). So that means that it’s a good idea to plan.
For example, conference registrations start with an “early-bird discount.” This discounted price will save you money on the conference registration. Members of the organization hosting the conference may also receive a discount.
Consider other ways you can save money. For me, I try to save money on food by stopping at a grocery store and picking up breakfast or lunch foods that can be microwaved in my hotel room. I have even used a delivery service to do my grocery shopping for me and deliver it to the hotel. I’ll eat at least one meal a day from that supply. I also include tea, so I don’t need to go out to buy my daily beverage, just like when I’m home.
It’s tempting to save money by not adding any conference luncheons, dinners, or other events. However, I would encourage you to at least plan on one “add-on” event. I try to save money by not attending too many of these additions, but this year I was glad I was able to attend a luncheon that featured genealogist Michael Strauss presenting on a murder that happened during the Civil War era at the Galt Hotel. His presentation was superb and provided some insight into the Civil War that I had not heard before. Plus, the food was really good (no rubber chicken).
One other consideration is that it can be helpful to bundle your trip with something else to spread out the cost. So, for example, visiting nearby relatives, doing research, or making it a family trip. Some people decide whether to go to a conference based on whether their ancestors lived in the area, and they make a research trip out of it. I can understand that but just know that attending the conference itself can be tiring (there’s so much to do) that you may not want to do much research on top of that. I have no Kentucky ancestors, but I did enjoy visiting area cemeteries, walking along the Ohio River, and touring around Louisville.
A last comment. I was talking to a friend who asked me about the first national conference I attended. Though I don’t remember what year that was, it was an NGS conference in Salt Lake City (most likely around 20 plus years ago). It was then that I heard a presenter whose lecture has stuck with me all these years. What she taught made a difference in my approach to genealogy and influenced how I teach genealogy today. Conferences can make a difference!
(3) You Are in the Midst of a Community
The one thing I heard repeatedly at the conference was how much people appreciated being in-person and connecting, networking, and visiting with friends, cousins, and new acquaintances. I tend to be one of those people that are fine with virtual options, but I found that the in-person conference allowed me to speak to people that otherwise I would not have had the opportunity. I was able to even talk to one genealogist and tell her how much I admire her work.
In the case of the NGS conference, participants could register for the in-person event in Louisville, or they could opt for the virtual option. Either way, all participants have access to all presentations (not special events) to watch until July 15th. (2) This is a real benefit since I did not get to see all of the presentations I was hoping to at the conference.
Plan Today to Attend a Conference
Next year NGS will host their annual conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is also home to the second largest genealogy library in the United States: the Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library.
But the NGS Family History Conference isn’t the only genealogy conference. You may be interested in RootsTech, the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) Conference, New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC), and other genealogy seminars, workshops, and events. Now is a good time to start planning so that when it comes time to register you have the resources and ability to attend.
What conference are you attending in 2025 or 2026? What are your tips for conference goers? Let me know in the comments.
Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial
Note on the header image: registration sign for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Family History Conference. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.
__________________
(1) Full disclosure: I work for NGS but I had nothing to do with the planning of this conference.
(2) If you’d like to buy virtual access, it’s still available on the NGS conference website at https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/
I’ve attended the Ohio Genealogical Society conference the past two years and plan to again next year. I feel that they offer a wider variety of speakers and topics than the NGS conference. I would suggest that people look into the speakers that will be there. Using RootsTech’s free virtual seminars is a great way to get an idea of how a speaker presents even if you’re not into that particular subject. Pre-planning is highly recommended. I was able to take copies of unique records to get some insight into them from one of the speakers.