Friday through Sunday, June 27-29, 2008
Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center
2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank Early-Bird Deadline May 1, 2008
Geneology of the Virgin Mary - St. Charles Borromeo Church - North Hollywood - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2008There's no time like the present to explore your family's past. And that's just what hundreds of family history researchers will be doing at the 39th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, June 27-29, 2008, at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Burbank.
According Jamboree Chairman Leo Myers, "Over the years, our conference has grown to be one of the largest genealogy events in the U.S. It's an entertaining and educational weekend; and we have people coming from across the US and even Europe to hear the lectures, participate in the activities, and visit the exhibitors."
Event co-chairman Paula Hinkel explained, "In addition to offering a wide variety of classes and speakers, we do our best to make this fun for family members from all generations." This year's event features a free Kids Genealogy Camp, a free introductory session for members of the general public, and a private guided tour of Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first German immigrants to Jamestowne Colony, Jamboree's ethnic focus will feature German, Eastern European and Jewish ancestry. Oom-pah-pah music will greet everyone during Friday evening's welcome reception; and St. Michael's Guild, the troupe of 16th century German mercenaries from the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, will be setting up camp Saturday morning.
Lectures will cover a wide variety of topics of interest to family researchers. Several sessions will address the use of DNA in identifying ancestors, while others will be concerned with black sheep and family secrets. Featured will be former diplomat Peter Landé's session on how to access over 55 million WWII-era Holocaust records that have been released to researchers for the first time in over 60 years. Sunday features a special track for Jewish research topics.
"You don't need to be a genealogist to attend this conference," Hinkel explained. "just be interested in exploring your family's history." With over 80 lectures, participants will be sure to find sessions that will be interesting and useful. Topics include military, church, immigration, census, vital records, and tips on finding records in many states as well as in Germany and Eastern Europe. Archival methods will be addressed to conserve family records. How-to sessions will be offered for several genealogy software packages, Internet sites, and electronic equipment and gadgets.
Special presentations will accompany Jamboree's breakfasts and dinners. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak will present "The Search for the Real Annie Moore" at Friday Night's banquet. Smolenyak's research revealed the slave owner / slave relationships between the families of Rev. Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond. Her account of the search for Annie Moore, the first arrival at Ellis Island, is truly heartwarming and inspiring.
Newsletter author and blogger Dick Eastman's will discuss the use of genealogical information to identify family issues during Saturday night's dinner presentation. Sunday's breakfast will feature "Presidential Pedigrees" by Christopher Child and Gary Boyd Roberts of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Child and Roberts made the news recently when the researchers announced the intertwined family relationships between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Angeline Jolie, and Barak Obama and Brad Pitt.
Nearly 60 exhibitors will be selling books, software and products to assist the family historian. Area genealogical societies, lineage societies and other organizations will be in attendance. Vendors will provide repair services for vintage photographs and decorative family pedigree charts.
Per-day and weekend prices are available. Discounts are offered for early registration (by May 1) and for members of the Southern California Genealogical Society.
Register online at www.scgsgenealogy or by phone at 818.843.7247.
Leo Myers and Paula Hinkel
Co-Chairs, 39th Annual Genealogy Jamboree
Southern California Genealogical Society
417 Irving Drive Burbank, CA 91504
818.843.7247
www.scgsgenealogy.com
www.genealogyjamboree.blogspot.com
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