RootsTech - 2021

If you have not signed up for RootsTech 2021, you'll want to do that. The event is being held next week online and is FREE. The best part is that sessions will be available for free viewing for a year. Info here: https://www.rootstech.org/

I found this blog post very helpful for understanding how it will work this year: https://kindredpast.com/2021/02/17/ready-set-go-rootstech-connect-2021/

I also bookmarked the PDF of English language sessions available: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/RootsTech/2021/RootsTech-Connect-...

I hope you all will use this thread to discuss sessions you attend. Over 300,000 persons are already registered from 224 countries. Sessions will be available in 11 languages. It should be a fun conference! I'm also looking forward to seeing how many cousins show up for me when it begins!

I'm registered! And also overwhelmed by the sheer number of sessions!

>2 casvelyn: The good thing is you can pick and choose! You don't need to attend them all. Still it is overwhelming. I printed out the list so I can go through as I get a chance. I'm hoping that time will come this weekend.

I registered as soon as I could. I don't know where to start with the sessions! I can even attend during the work day next week (well a reasonable amount of the day). Usually I'd have my schedule all done, splitting time between staffing an Expo Hall table for my employer and attending classes.

>4 amarie: I will definitely spread my watching out over the year of access. I have a Zoom genealogical society meeting in a bit, but I want to explore the "Connect" feature a little today.

>2 casvelyn: Exactly!!

Looks interesting! Might have to investigate and think about participating next year.

>7 avaland: if it makes a difference, this year everything is free of charge.

>7 avaland: It may be mostly on the ground in Salt Lake City in 2022. Now's a great time to participate since it is free and since you have a year to view sessions.

I took a little time this weekend to listen to a few sessions. In her court records talk, Judy Russell mentioned a new digitization project by Harvard and others cooperating with them to digitize the "Reporters" for various states. Since Mississippi is an important state for me, I clicked on the reporters covering the state and began to randomly click on volumes. I looked through the contents for 1853 included on the volume I'd clicked and noticed one of my ancestral surnames. I clicked on it, and much to my surprise, it was my ancestor. I never knew about this law suit. Someone who worked at the courthouse had supposedly searched the available records as he is descended from the same ancestor and had begun his research many years before I had. I texted him and found out he'd never seen the record either--not even in local form. Of course, in 1853, they may have passed along the only copy of the record when it was appealed, but I can't help but think a docket or another summary appears in some book in the courthouse. One of the problems is they ran out of space long ago and books are stuck in every nook and cranny. . . . Back to the main topic . . . The case was essential a rent dispute, but it probably sheds light on why that ancestor decided to move west!