The Utah Genealogical Association’s (UGA) Summit of Excellence 2024 just wrapped up, and what an amazing three days it was! From September 5-7, I had the privilege of attending this fantastic virtual event, packed with top-tier genealogical education from distinguished speakers across the field. As a presenter and attendee, I had an incredible time engaging with both familiar and new topics in genealogy.
Day 1: Getting Started Day
The conference kicked off on Thursday, September 5th, with the Getting Started track, designed primarily for beginners. However, I had the opportunity to give my own presentation, A Closer Look at the 1850-1950 U.S. Census Records in Genealogy. It was an honor to share my insights on the value of U.S. Census records as vital genealogy resources, and I enjoyed the lively interaction with attendees during my session.
In addition to my own presentation, I also had the chance to sit in on the other four courses offered that day. The variety and depth of the sessions provided great foundational knowledge for those just beginning their genealogical journey.
Day 2: DNA, Records, Ethnic Research, and Writing
Friday, September 6th, was a full day with 20 courses arranged across five time slots. Each time slot offered four sessions, and while it was difficult to choose, I was able to attend five different presentations throughout the day. The day ended with an inspiring keynote by J. Mark Lowe, FUGA, whose speech left everyone energized and excited to continue their genealogical work.
One of my favorite sessions from Day 2 was The Art of Finding Living People by Dr. Adina Newman, EdD. Her passion and enthusiasm really shone through as she shared her approach to living people search, which resonated with me deeply as it aligns closely with my own methods and thought process. It was both informative and affirming, making it a standout session for me.
Another fantastic session was Uncovering Unknown Ancestry through DNA and Documentary Research by Alice Childs, AG. Her presentation blended DNA analysis with documentary research in ways that mirror my own work in unknown parentage and brick wall research. It was a valuable refresher, and I walked away with some new insights.
Day 3: Technology, International Research, Migration, and Military Records
Saturday, September 7th, followed the same format as Day 2, with 20 presentations spread over five time slots. I had the pleasure of attending five more sessions throughout the day, each one filled with valuable knowledge and actionable tips.
My absolute favorite presentation of the entire conference was Branches and Breaches: Cybersecurity Strategies for Genealogists by Ben Smith. This course was not only extremely informative but also relevant to anyone working in genealogy today. The importance of cybersecurity in protecting sensitive genealogical data cannot be overstated, and Ben Smith delivered a compelling and useful session that I would recommend to any researcher. His speaking skills and depth of knowledge made it the highlight of the event for me.
Another notable session was Translating, Transcribing, and Summarizing Documents using AI by Thomas MacEntee, which explored how genealogists can leverage AI tools to make their research more efficient. As someone who has spoken about AI in genealogy, I found his take refreshing and filled with new ideas.
Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed Introduction to U.S. Naturalization by Sara Cochran. Even though I’ve seen this presentation before, it’s so well done that it was worth attending again. Sara’s ability to break down the complexities of U.S. naturalization records makes this topic accessible to genealogists at any level.
Looking Ahead
UGA’s Summit of Excellence 2024 was a resounding success, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s event. If you missed this year, don’t worry—you can still register and catch up on the incredible presentations you may have missed, by watching the recordings. I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity!
Thank you to all the organizers, speakers, and attendees for making this an unforgettable event. I’m honored to have been part of it, both as a presenter and a learner.
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