My Ancestors Found ::

I attended the retreat in Nov. and enjoyed it very much. I was successful in finding my grandparents' marriage certificate and additional reference numbers for film and books for future research. Also, I established new genealogy friends to keep up with. I GAVE IT 5 GOLD STARS. Thanks so much. PS: My pictures turned out GREAT and everyone I have shown our CD to was very impressed. I'm ready to come again!!

Submitted By: Ann P. [ Back to top ...]

Congratulations on your well-organized 2007 St. George Genealogy & Family Heritage Jamboree. I have attended many national and local genealogy conferences and the Jamboree ranks among the best. I was more than a local or regional conference, but was national in scope and interest. The lectures, variety of vendors in the exhibit hall, syllabus, and program booklet are all very useful. Providing the syllabus on compact disc and also in paper copy was very much appreciated.

Submitted By: Kip Sperry, UT [ Back to top ...]

I just want to thank you all for such a fun and informative week! I may have talked my husband into coming to the next one since I was so successful in overcoming my "brick walls!" I truly feel that it was worth every penny and am so glad that I could do it. Thanks again and please tell Judy (Wight) thank you also.

Submitted By: Martha [ Back to top ...]

I wanted to thank you and your gang for the very profitable week we spent
together with "My Ancestors.? It is so helpful to receive the instruction
from people so knowledgeable. You were very patient and generous with your
time. Perhaps there will be another opportunity to attend one of your
seminars. Thanks to all,

Submitted By: Quinton H. [ Back to top ...]

Thanks for the seminar. I had a great time. I found someone I had been looking for for over two years and got a lot of great tips. I will be back.

Submitted By: Roxanne [ Back to top ...]

I've read the latest update from our retreat and want to tell you what a wonderful time I had. The people at the retreat were super. The pros were very helpful, as were the excellent executives from "My Ancestors Found". Genealogy won't ever be the same again. Thank you.

Submitted By: Susanne [ Back to top ...]

Just wanted to thank you for the wonderful opportunity we had this past week. I found new ways to research my ancestors and met a great group of people!

Submitted By: Jenny V., OK [ Back to top ...]

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to visit Salt Lake and do family history research. My research was very successful and yet, I only was able to do about 60% of what I had planned. During the seven and one-half days I was in the library, I clocked in over 70 hours of actual research time. I looked at well over 200 reels of microfilm and brought home more than 500 copies of various documents. I think I spent more on copying than I did on food!

Submitted By: Rich, NJ [ Back to top ...]

I had a great time in Salt Lake City. I learned a lot, made new friends, and added to my family tree.

The library/research assistants were tremendous. The ability to go to someone with a big problem, or just a small question, eased us into being able researchers in the library. With just a little nudge and comment I became quite capable of finding my way around in the library and feeling quite comfortable about it.

Submitted By: Ed S., TX [ Back to top ...]

I enjoyed the experience very much and would certainly recommend it to others.

Submitted By: Lynne N., AZ [ Back to top ...]

Thanks so much for putting up the pictures. I am having lunch with Alice here in Las Vegas today. It is wonderful having someone close by with the same interests.

You ask us to evaluate our experience with the instructors. Well, I would have to list you all as "My Hero!". You were all very helpful when I needed it, and fun to be with when we were just socializing.

My hopes for this retreat were to meet others with the same passion for family research that I have. I also wanted to know more about the SLC Library and its facilities. Your retreat not only met my expectations, but exceeded my hopes. I met some wonderful people from all over the country and learned some new approaches for my research. It was also interesting to listen to the "brickwalls" that others had hit, and then applying your advice to my "walls". Although I am not quite ready to "jump over the pond," I was very interested in both Keith and Judy's talks about British Isles research. After this week, I am all the closer to expanding my research to these areas.

Thank you all for all your efforts! And thank you for making it an instructive and enjoyable retreat!

I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you and with the friends I made this last week.

Best regards to all of you,

Submitted By: Beth P., NV [ Back to top ...]

Ann R. came to help her mother, Jo C.?both from Utah. Ann said, ?We?ve been able to access a lot of things that were not available at her (Mother?s) Family History Center and see a lot of microfilms and look at a lot of books much faster.? Commenting on the exciting stories they?d found, they said, ?We?ve been fighting Indians all morning!?

?Thanks so much for everything you and Holly did for us. My Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed being with your group. Good luck in your future endeavors. I really learned a lot! Next time I'll have a better idea of what questions to ask. Thanks!?

Submitted By: Ann R., UT [ Back to top ...]

Remember that every time you don't find something, you have succeeded in eliminating that record. In that I have excelled!

Submitted By: Andi P., NE [ Back to top ...]

By Friday night, Karen B. of California found 12 new census records, 1 probate record, 1 Confederate Civil War vet record (including prison war record), 1 immigration record from Prussia to New York, 1 pension record, 1 death record, 9 new relatives names, and confirmed a link from one generation to his parents and grandparents.

Later she sent this addendum:

?Judi Hansen was my HERO! Extremely knowledgeable and very willing to not only help but also show you how to do the research, so next time you can do it yourself.

In addition to the list of things "found" that I gave you, I had a BANNER day on Saturday, staying at the library until kicked out again! So I can add to the list:

1 new census record
1 immigration from England to New York
1 new relative name
1 marriage record
1 death story of a family member
Year of birth & address of great grandparents in England

And this was just Saturday, the last day. I was wishing that the library was open on Sunday, so that I could pursue the English leads that developed on Sat. Oh, well, next time!
Thanks for the great time.?

Submitted By: Karen B., CA [ Back to top ...]

Mabel G. from Kansas made copies of an 1861 Welsh census return but knew something was very strange about the way the records were presented. Holly helped her figure out that the entire record was filmed backwards, from back to front. Without knowing that, you would place your ancestors in the wrong parish.

Even though Mabel is a fairly experienced researcher, she went on to say: Judy helped me make a big breakthrough. I don't know if I'd have ever have found it without her.

Submitted By: Mabel G., KS [ Back to top ...]

I hit paydirt today! I thought I?d never find my great grandfather, but I did."

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I?d ever make it out there.
Thank you and Holly for a fabulous week. I am so glad I was able to be there. I hope I will be able to do it again. I learned sooo much that next time should be really productive.
I hope you will be able to continue these retreats and wish you all much success. Tell Judi Hansen thank you for me too. She was such a help.
Fondly,

Submitted By: Patricia Q., FL [ Back to top ...]

I found a marriage certificate that totally changes the way I?ve been doing research. The thing is, we all thought that they had divorced somewhere around the 1920s. But this shows them in 1917. So that moves the timeline back. More importantly, we know where she was in 1912. She was with him in Nebraska ...
I can now quit looking for some other records I was looking for in the 20s. I can?t find the new marriage record yet, but now I will start looking much earlier for the divorce records. It was very significant.

Submitted By: Don D., CA [ Back to top ...]

I went through this one roll of film four times reading every word. The problem is that they have filmed all of the right hand pages and after them, on all of these registers, then come the left hand pages. I had some help this morning and I don?t think I ever could have done it on my own.
I made copies of the birth of my great grandfather and the marriage of his parents and death of his grandfather.

Submitted By: Shirley N., TX [ Back to top ...]

Margaret L. from California hadn?t been checking her email every day during the retreat but advises everyone to do so. On the last day she opened an email and discovered a passenger list she didn?t know existed under New Items in an Ancestry.com newsletter. The passenger list was available at the Family History Library and she was able to see it before leaving Salt Lake.

?Thanks for all your assistance at the Family History Retreat in Salt Lake City. We all enjoyed the week and learned a lot.?

Submitted By: Margaret L., CA [ Back to top ...]

I was able to fill in birth and death dates and found an eerie story about a family tombstone that glowed at night. Ooooooooo

Submitted By: Jack F., MT [ Back to top ...]

I've found another birth record!! (Saturday night before closing time)

Also I found a great uncle Pat I never knew I had.

Submitted By: Nancy H., NJ [ Back to top ...]

I found an entire half page newspaper article on the history of my family in the 1897 Yarmouth Herald from Nova Scotia.

?Judi helped me a lot!?

Submitted By: Gretchen R., VA [ Back to top ...]

I found my great grandfather?s naturalization paper, the date of his birth, and the date he arrived in the US from Germany. I had seven goals in mind and I?ve accomplished all but one [this was taken on the second day]. I?ve been here before, but only for one day at a time. There is no comparison to spending five days.

Submitted By: Bill C., FL [ Back to top ...]

"I came here thinking that my mother?s family, the McGees, were from County Cork because that?s what the family had always been told. Well, Judy helped me this morning and they are not from County Cork; they are from Londonderry. So she helped me find that. The other goody was on my father?s side we had Slaters?a Richard Slater. We had no idea where they came from?just England. They came to America and I traced them from there. I kept thinking, there is something very strange about this because every child has M for a middle initial. And the oldest boy?s name was Marshall, so I thought maybe the M stands for Marshall and it was somebody?s maiden name. So we tried finding it. This was Keith helping me the other day. I nearly drove him into the ground. We tried finding Marshall Slater in the births, but there was no such creature. He asked what the other person?s name was and I said Eliza. He said to copy down all of the Elizas that I could find and we would use the process of elimination. I went through the Elizas and, lo and behold, one of them was Eliza Marshall. So Keith took my information and his wife has already ordered the birth certificate from England. He will scan it and send it to me so I can see it before it even gets here in the mail.

It has been an unbelievable week?it really has. It?s worked out very very well. You were worth the money and the air flight (because I hate to fly!). Definitely, it was really great. We are thinking in terms of coming back next year, probably in October."

Submitted By: Lorraine (and Matthew) K., NJ [ Back to top ...]

"As a whole I came away with a very positive feeling about the retreat. The professionals were very cordial and set a tone that made the retreat an event one would like to return for another session. Congratulations and keep up the good work."

Submitted By: Margaret L., CA [ Back to top ...]

I've learned more than just facts about my family. You've broadened my ability to explore more avenues.

"The retreat was just wonderful. I haven't stopped talking about it. Some comments: I felt that the retreat was a concentrated course on genealogy researching. In other words you gave the class, then we did practical research with your help. It couldn't be better. As to what I found there:
1. I found what is available on the Catawba Indians and now can drop that line.
2. I found my Mormon ancestor's name on a member list in Nauvoo.
3. I found my grandmother's name on a census in Arizona with my grandfather. They were married in 1911 and she died in a TB sanitarium in 1920. I thought there was nothing officially linking them. My family is very happy to have this.

There were other things but these were the best for me.

The experience was truly memorable and my deepest thanks to all of you."

Sincerely,

Submitted By: Bobbie H., TX [ Back to top ...]

"I'm still glowing from the absolutely great time spent in Salt Lake
City with Holly, Jen & Judy. It has taken me a week to settle down and remember that genealogy is not my whole life.

The highlight of my trip was finding Bob's great grandfather &
great, great grandfather on Saturday afternoon when I was ready to give up and go back to the hotel to pack for home. No one on his paternal side of the family knew anything about these two gentlemen - not even names. The people at the library were a fantastic help.

Thanks for all your efforts to make the retreat so special! Maybe
we will meet again down the road - hope so!"
Fondly,

Submitted By: Barbara M., FL [ Back to top ...]

"My experience with My Ancestors, at the retreat, was excellent. Of course we all would have preferred if all our ancestors were found, but research of any kind doesn't happen that easy. However, what I learned was very valuable. Now I know where I can go on line for assistance. I realize there are indices for almost everything we want to look up. In addition I found out how and where I can obtain these indices, and how I can borrow the resources.

I appreciate the help I received from several of My Ancestors' genealogists. With their help I found information in the census that I had not found previously. I learned about the FHL on line browser, and how to use the catalogue to find what film and microfiche are available, as well as how to use the search engine, which narrows down the hits found. The patience shown by all in helping us was also appreciated.

I have found even more, since I returned home, on line, using the vouchers that I purchased at the FHL. I also purchased The Family and Local History Handbook that Keith presented and I have read so much of it, finding it both informative and interesting. I am now exploring the resources available in a Toronto library, which was listed in that book.

In addition, I am extremely impressed with the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Library, especially their generosity in making so much available to everyone. I marvel at, and am truly grateful to, all the volunteers and staff that they have working there to help budding genealogists like us.

Last but not least, I enjoyed all the participants that I met at the retreat. Keep up the good work My Ancestors. Please keep in touch. I will try to do the same. "
Irene V. from Ontario

Submitted By: Irene V., Ontario, CA [ Back to top ...]

And from one of our professionals:
This was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Submitted By: Judi Hansen, UT [ Back to top ...]

Thank you for your work. (After you mentioned the 1900 census I went out there and located them, too. I have already found the additional 2 children and Horace and family.) I will begin research on the immigration dates ... Thanks again for your work. I can now start looking forward to another generation and going into Germany!

Submitted By: Barbara D. [ Back to top ...]

"For years I have yearned for a way to keep track of all of my genealogy research, addresses and contacts. This program (Address+) eliminates the need for all those files, stacks of paper and lists of things to do. All of my correspondence, contact addresses and research logs are now in one place and easy to find, including a 'to-do' list that tells me what to do next. It gives me more time for research."

Submitted By: Phyllis E. [ Back to top ...]

Fabulous, wonderful, fulfilling, stupendous, marvelous...
I had a great time at USU yesterday. I am so full of good information. Thanks for a well-run, worthwhile day of learning better ways to track my extended Danish and Welsh family of ages ago. You deserve a rousing round of applause.

My favorites were Mr. Cross- his enthusiasm is catching;
Baerbel- her knowledge is daunting and I loved her detective work shared; and Ms. Savage, who gave so much information on finding naturalization information that my head was swimming.

Again, it was a superb day spent on my favorite topic.

Thanks so much.

Submitted By: Margaret [ Back to top ...]

Hi Holly et all,

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all the work you guys put in on the St George Expo and especially for the Wonderful Prize I won. My husband had to grab ahold of my leg 3 times last night and pull me down from the ceiling I was walking on air so high.

An added bonus of the Expo was that I met a friend and his wife that I grew up with in Mar Vista Ward in California. They are living in Washington City now. You ought to advertise the Expo as a place to find family and friends.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Keep up the good work.

Submitted By: R. Cafferty [ Back to top ...]

Hi Holly and Kim,

That was a wonderful show you sponsored in St. George. I think we all had fun and all of the vendors that we talked to were very pleased.

Thank you for all of your hard work to put this on. We’re so happy that we came.

We surely hope that you made a big profit from this. You deserve it!

Submitted By: Jon & Loretta Shupe [ Back to top ...]

I'm from Maine, and I just attended the Expo in St. George, it was wonderful, I would like to attend another one this year, and was looking on your website for the years calendar, . . . Please, please update this as some of us buy plane ticket way ahead, and need time to get great buys!!!

Submitted By: Gail [ Back to top ...]

Just wanted to let you all know, I had an amazing time...My head hurts from all the knowledge that I tried to squeeze into it..Seriously, IT WAS AWESOME, and so look forward to next year, and will check your site for any others close.Thank you all so much.
I am just starting to get emails from vendors that were there and from the ones I signed up with too..It is nice to be this jazzed up about working on genealogy again.

Submitted By: J. Ramsey [ Back to top ...]

Holly:

This was the best one yet. You do a great job. I really enjoyed meeting some of the speakers I\'d only met through e-mail. Arlene Eakle even mentioned my book in her presentation -- made me feel really special. It was published by Heritage Books in 1999. She has all the original papers stored in her vault.

Submitted By: Anita [ Back to top ...]

I've been trying to find some time this week to take a moment and tell you again how wonderful the FH Expo was last weekend. I know you worked hard and it was a great success. I loved the classes that I attended. I would have liked to have attended every class but that is impossible. I went to 3 of Arlene's classes. She is a wonderful researcher and teacher. Her classes are the best, and of course they were well attended. I learned some good info and it should help me greatly when I am able to do some more PA research. The other classes I attended were taught by the familysearch team. They were all excellent and helped me to better understand the overall task the church has taken on in the Family History field. All I can say is that I am thrilled that it's finally here. We have certainly waited a long time for all of this to get to this point.

Submitted By: J. Anderson [ Back to top ...]

On Monday I gave a training class in our Family History Center using the Power Point on the FHLC. It turned out really well, and now I am famous . . . Thank you so much. It's a great teaching tool and everyone found it useful and informative. I didn't have to field very many questions because the power point covered it so well. I was able to tie the FHLC into all of the digitizing, indexing and accessing of the records that is going on right now. It made the FHLC a much more useful tool to our staff.

Submitted By: Janie [ Back to top ...]

Hi! Holly....... just a note to congratulate you for another great EXPO. As the current years EXPO ends there is already talk about next years. Seems everyone knows when next years is and so planning and putting it on the calendar is part of unpacking and catching up the laundry from the trip!
You are appreciated for your efforts and bringing this to our town.
Great job!

Submitted By: Fran [ Back to top ...]

Greetings Holly,

I wanted to touch base with you since my arrival back home from St. George (back to the cold & snow 'Canada'). I recently saw you and Dick Eastman on Roots Television - great interview!
I had a fantastic time at the St. George Expo! Wow! I was amazed at the number of people attending this year plus the number of exhibitors. You and your team have done a marvelous job. St. George is the place to be in February.

Keep up the good work.

Submitted By: Kathryn [ Back to top ...]

A big thank you for the prize of tuition for the St. George Conference. I have never traveled outside of the the Salt Lake area, so probably wouldn't have had the opportunity of attending.
It was a wonderful experience and I learned many new things from the fantastic instructors and even from talking to the vendors.
Thanks again!

P.s. I also enjoy the informative newsletter.

[Dowena was our lucky winner of the Monthly Drawing for our Free Newsletter]

Submitted By: Dowena Devey [ Back to top ...]

Submitted By: Margaret H. [ Back to top ...]