IHS Presents Midwestern Roots 2010: Family History and Genealogy Conference

For Immediate Release

Contact: Amy Lamb, Media Relations Manager

(317) 232-1878 or alamb@indianahistory.org

Indianapolis—The Indiana Historical Society will present Midwestern Roots 2010: Family History and Genealogy Conference Aug. 6 and 7, 2010, at the Indianapolis Marriott East. This exciting regional event, themed Migration Then and Now, offers tools and techniques to help individuals identify and locate records that can lead to information about their ancestors. Attendees can also learn about the resources that can answer the questions about their family’s history and find out how those records have “migrated” to new technology.

The conference will include sessions on immigration, ethnic history, methodology, technology and DNA led by national and regional experts. Speakers include John Philip Colletta, Ph. D., one of America’s most popular genealogical lecturers, as well as author George G. Morgan, David E. Rencher of FamilySearch, and Loretto “Lou” Szucs of Ancestry.com. Keynote speaker and Indiana Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf will share how genealogy inspires his poetry.

A number of pre-conference activities will be offered Thursday, Aug. 5, at various Indianapolis locations, such as the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, the Indiana State Library and the Central Branch of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. These include a writing workshop, computer labs, a genealogy library assistant workshop and an evening panel discussion on migration.

The pre-conference evening panel discussion, “Migration: Myths and Realities,” will be held at the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Central Branch starting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5. June Alexander and James Bergqueist, both authors and historians, will discuss myths and realities of the migration process and the immigrant experience, as well as explore the implications of these issues for research in family history and genealogical research.

In addition to the sessions, an exhibit hall will showcase vendors selling the latest products and tools for genealogists. The exhibit hall is free and open to the public on Friday and Saturday.

Cost for the basic two-day workshop (including lunches) is $150 ($125 for IHS members, $75 for students), and single-day registration (including lunch) is $90 ($75 for IHS members, $45 for students). Additional pre-conference activities and workshops are available for a fee.

For conference information, registration forms, exhibitor information and specific pricing, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org/midwesternroots.

Hotel reservations may be made at the Indianapolis Marriott East or La Quinta Inn. For the Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 East 21st Street, call (317) 352-1231 or (800) 228-9290 to receive the special $104 room rate. For the La Quinta Inn, 7304 East 21st Street, call (317) 359-1021 to receive the special $72 room rate. Please indicate association with Midwestern Roots. Room reservations must be made by July 14, 2010.

Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller™, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; and provides youth, adult and family programming.

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