To register for the conference, click here

The program will feature talks on the best strategies for getting the most out of Ancestry.com, the Ancestry World Archives Project, and other online genealogy data retrieval tehniques. In addition, information on the National Archives treasure trove of records, what is available, and how to locate their documents will be included.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the premier website of family history research and the nation's record keeper from insiders of those respective institutions.

We are fortunate to have Lisa Arnold from Ancestry.com. Experienced lecturer and a long-time employee, Lisa will present several exciting and informative lectures about the Ancestry site (see topics listed below). She is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Family History and has been a researcher for many years.

Lisa has authored Finding Your Quaker Ancestors, and she is the former director of the Family History Center in Valley Forge, PA. You may have seen her column "The Ancestry Sleuth" which appears regularly in Ancestry Magazine. This is a great opportunity to learn about the premier website for family history research from an insider.

Topics will include:

• Getting the Most from your Ancestry Subscription
• Ancestry World Archives Project and You
• Traps Professional Genealogists Avoid and Other Useful Tidbits
• Online Member Trees: Ancestry's Powerful Tool Keeps Getting Better

Joyce Burner brings more than thirty years of experience in education and information management to her position as archivist at the National Archives in Kansas City. Before taking her current position in April, 2010, she worked as a preservation contractor in NARA's document preservation lab in Lee's Summit, MO. Before her work at the National Archives, Joyce began her career as a junior high history teacher in Carrollton, MO and then as the middle school media specialist in Spring Hill, KS.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Missouri State University with concentrations in social studies and journalism, and a Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State University. Post-graduate studies include completion of the Archive Studies Certificate from Emporia State, with internships at the National Archives at Kansas City and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. Joyce is a member of the Society of American Archivists, the Kansas City Area Archivists, the Jackson County Historical Society, and several honorary organizations.

Each regional archive has its own unique records that would be of interest to genealogists. Joyce will speak about the records from federal agencies in the region that includes Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota.

Topics will include:

• Naturalization Records
• Leavenworth Federal Prison Inmate Case Files
• Civil War Era Provost Marshall Enlistment Records
• Indian School Student Files
• Immigration Records

Ancestry.com headquarters in Provo, UT

Ancestry.com is a subscription-based genealogy research website with over 5 billion records online. The majority of records are from the United States, though records are being added for other countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and European countries. Some records are free for anyone to access, but the majority are accessible only by paid subscription.

The company operates multiple non-U.S.-centric sites which give access to records specific to other countries in the languages of those countries, including sites for Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Germany, Italy, and China.

NARA Central Plains Regional Archives in Kansas City, MO

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)'s holdings are classified into "record groups" reflecting the governmental department or agency from which the documents originated. The records include paper records, microfilmed records, still pictures, motion pictures, and electronic media.

Many of NARA's most requested records are frequently used for research in genealogy. This includes census records from 1790 to 1930, as well as ships passenger lists and naturalization records.

Mid-America All-Indian Center, Wichita, KS

The "Discovering Who You Are" conference will be held at the Mid-America All-Indian Center at 650 N. Seneca, Wichita, KS.

The Mid-America All-Indian Center is a multipurpose facility that houses a museum, a Gallery of Nations for special events, a kiva, and a gift shop.

For a map to Mid-America All-Indian Center, click here

For driving directions to Mid-America All-Indian Center click here . A large parking lot on the west side of Seneca is connected to MAAIC by a crosswalk.

Registration is open to the public and the fee includes a Program with syllabus, handouts, morning coffee and light snacks, and a box lunch.

Seating is Limited. There is a limited number of seats available and are filled in the order of the date of your Registration.

For the Conference Registration form, click here.

WGS has arranged for a limited number of Hotel rooms at:
the downtown Hyatt, 400 W. Waterman, Wichita, KS 67202 (316-293-1234) at $89 + tax;
the eastside Holiday Inn at 549 S. Rock Rd., Wichita, KS 67207 (316-686-7131) at $79 + tax; and
the westside La Quinta Inn at 5500 W. Kellogg, Wichita, KS 67209 (316-943-2181) at $69 + tax.

Reservations should be made before October 1 to take advantage of the special rates. Be sure to mention "Wichita Genealogical Society Event Rate" when making your reservations.