Fairfax Genealogical Society
invites you to their
9th Annual Fall Fair: Federal Records with Claire Bettag
Date:
Saturday, October 27, 2012
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (please arrive before 9:00 AM)
Location:
Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department
2148 Gallows Road
Dunn Loring, VA 22027
Register online at
http://fxgsfallfair2012.eventbrite.com or
download the registration form
A contributing author to Professional Genealogy, she has also published articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, APG Quarterly, and other genealogical publications. She has served as the director of NIGR and a ProGen mentor, and on the boards of NGS, APG, and BCG. Currently she is on the editorial board of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and volunteers at the National Archives. Her M.A. in French is from Columbia University; she has studied in France as a Fulbright fellow, and in Quebec, Spain, and Mexico.
"FEDERAL LAND RECORDS"
From 1789 to the late nineteenth century, the United States acquired land and added it to the public domain. The federal government then surveyed the land and disposed of it, creating federal land records in the process. Today the National Archives holds land records for the thirty public land states whose lands were part of the U.S. public domain. These records are valuable for locating families and individuals at a specific date and documenting family land holdings. They may also provide additional valuable family information. The presentation discusses land entry papers primarily, with brief mention of surrendered bounty-land warrants.
"THE CONGRESSIONAL SERIAL SET"
The U.S. Congressional Serial Set, published by the U.S. Government Printing Office, is part of a vast collection of published public documents popularly known as "Gov Docs" (government documents). The Serial Set ranks among the most valuable — and most underused — genealogical resources for family historians. Containing records of the U.S. Congress, executive agencies, independent commissions, and other entities, it provides a wealth of information, often untapped by researchers. The presentation discusses Serial Set contents and access, with numerous examples.
"LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RESOURCES: MANUSCRIPTS DIVISION"
The Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress houses more than eleven thousand collections containing about fifty million items. Beyond the Library's Local History and Genealogy Collection, this is one of its best potential sources for family historians. Yet, researchers rarely mine its riches. Among its holdings are the private papers of American political, cultural, and scientific figures: reformers, writers, inventors, scientists, historians, anthropologists, celebrities, journalists, artists, architects, and more; documents from foreign countries related to American colonial history, often containing information about individuals and families; and much more.
Registration includes all lectures, lunch (see below), access to the vendors, and an electronic syllabus. A printed copy of the syllabus is available for $5.00.
A boxed lunch (sandwich, side, and drink) is included for registrations received by Thursday, October 18. Registrations after this date include lunch only if extras are available.
Regular registrations must be received by October 18. All registrations received after October 18 will be charged the late registration fee. A printed syllabus is included for late/walk-in registrations. Registrations postmarked by October 17 but received after the 18th will receive the regular registration fee but will only include lunch if extras are available. Register early!
Parking is available at the fire station as well as on the street. There is also overflow parking in the school parking lot next door.
Check-in/registration begins at 8:00 AM.
Vendors open at 8:00 AM.
