Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak

Michelle Obama’s Roots Researcher Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak Comes to West Michigan

August 27, 2010 – Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Western Michigan Genealogical Society (WMGS) announces its GotAncestors?! Annual Seminar for 2010 entitled Are They Who You Think They Are? The seminar is Friday and Saturday, November 5^th and 6^th at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids. Featured speaker is nationally known lecturer, author and researcher Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak in her first public appearance in Michigan. She presents Michelle Obama’s Roots on Friday evening. Megan will give four additional talks on Saturday including the discovery of the “real” Annie Moore, the first immigrant to come through Ellis Island.

The cost for the Michelle Obama’s Roots event on Friday is $15.00. Seminar Registration is $49.00 for Saturday only or $59.00 for the two-day program if registered by October 8th. Space is limited. Detailed information and online registration is available at www.gotancestors.com.

This is the third consecutive year the WMGS GotAncestors?! Seminar will be at the Prince Conference Center, 1800 East Beltline SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan on the campus of Calvin College. The facility is handicap accessible and smoke-free.

Michelle Obama’s Roots

On Friday evening, Megan Smolenyak will share why she researched the First Lady’s ancestry and what she discovered along the way. The talk highlights Mrs. Obama’s multi-cultural, seriously Southern (11 States), and Great Migration heritage, including the story of Dolphus T. Shields and his mother, Melvina McGruder, that was featured on the front page of The New York Times in October 2009.

WMGS has teamed up with the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society to present Friday’s event. A short introduction of the national touring RACE Exhibit which runs October 10^th through January 2011 in Kalamazoo will be presented by SMBHS President Donna Odom. The evening will conclude with light dessert, tea and coffee.

All Day Seminar with Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak

A full day of sessions on Saturday, November 6^th is planned with Megan presenting four educational and inspiring talks. Learn how to connect with living relatives, take your research further with DNA, and learn proven sleuthing skills from one of the best.

Selected topics are: Reverse Genealogy; Right Annie, Wrong Annie (the story of the “real” Annie Moore); Tracing Your Roots with DNA; and Cases that Made My Brain Hurt. The day includes a Vendor Hall, Door Prizes, Lunch Buffet and networking with other genealogists and family historians.

Are They Who You Think They Are?

Sponsored by Ancestry.com the popular NBC series entitled Who Do You Think You Are? premiered earlier this year and new episodes are in production for the new fall season. The series originated in England and has been responsible for a broad increase of interest in genealogy and now has shown similar results with the U.S. version. Megan Smolenyak assisted in the research of some of the celebrities’ ancestors and personally appeared in episodes about Emmit Smith and Susan Sarandon.

The title of the WMGS 2010 GotAncestors?! Seminar is a subtle twist on the TV program. The question “Are They Who You Think They Are?” is intended to inspire genealogists to approach their research from alternative angles. Newer technological tools, like DNA, can help break through brick walls or prove an otherwise difficult ancestral line. A DNA expert, Megan also uses techniques similar to CSI type investigations, pushing the boundaries of traditional genealogy.

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, that’s her real name)

Megan is a genealogical adventurer who loves solving mysteries and making unexpected discoveries. Since 1999, she’s worn many hats in the family history world, including Chief Family Historian and spokesperson for Ancestry.com, the largest genealogical company in the world; creator of RootsTelevision.com, a pioneering online channel of free videos and winner of four Telly Awards; and founder of UnclaimedPersons.org, a volunteer group that assists coroners and medical examiners.

A popular writer, speaker and TV guest, she does all she can to get the g-word out there and inspire others in their quest for roots. Megan is a contributor to The Huffington Post, and was determined to be the most influential Twitter user on the topic of genealogy. Her most recent book is Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, companion guide to the NBC series.

Megan’s “greatest hits” include the following:

• Discovering Michelle Obama’s roots, as featured on the front page of The New York Times.
• Correcting history by revealing the true story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, a story featured on the front page of The New York Times, and assisting in the discovery and identification of new photos of Annie Moore.
• Tracing Barack Obama’s roots to Moneygall, County Offaly, Ireland.
• Providing a decade of forensic consulting services to the U.S. Army to locate thousands of family members of soldiers still unaccounted for from WWI, WWII, Korea and Southeast Asia.

And more about Megan is available at www.HonoringOurAncestors.com

RACE: Are We So Different?

On Friday, Donna Odom of the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society will introduce the RACE Exhibit Initiative of Southwest Michigan. From October 2010 to January 2011, through a partnership with Western Michigan University, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum will host the national touring exhibit RACE: Are We So Different? It is a powerful, thought-provoking family exhibit that looks through the lenses of history, biology and lived experience, to explore human variation and reveal the reality, and unreality, of race. Through film, still photography, interactive components and programming, the exhibit invites people to explore race as well as the impact of race as an economic, political and cultural construct (www.raceexhibit.org).

About the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society

The Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society is a not-for-profit organization. The Society’s mission is to research and document the history and contributions of African-Americans in southwest Michigan, with the purpose of providing material for future publications, programs, exhibitions, and curriculum. Our goal is to establish resources for genealogical and historical studies.

Members of the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society receive advance notice of all programs and events and discounted rates on workshops, seminars, and official publications. In addition Society members can enjoy socializing with others who share an interest in the African American heritage of southwest Michigan.

For more information, contact Donna Odom at heritagesociety@charter.net or 269-381-9975. Or go online to www.smbhs.org

About the Western Michigan Genealogical Society

The Western Michigan Genealogical Society was founded in 1954 with the purpose of preserving and making available for genealogical research the records of our ancestors; encouraging and assisting members in genealogical research; promoting the exchange of knowledge and encouraging the deposit of genealogical records in established libraries and archives. WMGS was the second organization dedicated to Family History and Genealogy in the state of Michigan.

Membership meetings are held monthly from September through June in the Grand Rapids Public Library Ryerson Auditorium. The GotAncestors?! Annual Seminar is held each November. All meetings are open to the public. Genealogy classes are scheduled throughout the year.

Membership is $20.00 per year and includes a subscription to Michigana, the society’s 40 page quarterly magazine. It includes original and unpublished material, concentrating on western Michigan; helpful hints, book reviews, ancestor portraits, and “how to” suggestions.

For more information, contact Don Bryant at president@wmgs.org or 616-283-4256.

Western Michigan Genealogical Society
c/o Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3268

Society Website: www.wmgs.org |   Annual Seminar Website: www.gotancestors.com

For more information about the Seminar contact Seminar@GotAncestors.com.

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A Seminar flyer and registration form can be downloaded from here (but please register online even if you’re going to mail a cheque as it makes things easier for us).

Haddonfield, NJ Genealogist Is Recognized for Bringing Sound Genealogy Practices
and DNA Testing to the Public Eye

Described as a “major influence on directing the newly interested toward uncovering family relationships and history, rather than merely posting names to a pedigree chart,” Megan Smolenyak received the 2010 NGS Award of Merit for her work in advancing responsible genealogy to a broad popular audience. The prestigious award was presented at the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 30, 2010.

Smolenyak, formerly chief family historian for Ancestry.com, is the author of Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, the companion guide to the popular NBC series, and served as researcher for this show as well as PBS series Faces of America and African American Lives with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The Haddonfield, New Jersey, resident co-founded RootsTelevision.com and contributes a genealogy column to Huffington Post. She founded UnclaimedPersons.org, a volunteer group that assists coroners and medical examiners to help reunite unclaimed deceased individuals with their families, and consults on cold cases with the U.S. Army, FBI and NCIS. Since May 2000, she has supported a variety of genealogical initiatives with her monthly Honoring Our Ancestors grants program.

The NGS Award of Merit is presented to an individual or organization in recognition of exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy by significantly aiding research or increasing interest in genealogy over a period of five or more years.

The full press release is available here.

Reverse Genealogy

• Although genealogy is at its heart the study of long-deceased ancestors, connecting with living relatives has become almost as important to many family historians. Some seek living kin in an effort to track down family photos; others do it to find family history playmates or DNA project participants. A few pioneers have begun exercising their skills to save lives – to locate potential donors or warn of possible medical dangers. Whatever the motivation, one of the most addicting aspects of genealogy is the thrill of finding distant cousins, or in some cases, parents, children, or siblings. But this “reverse genealogy” (working from the past to the present) has its own special challenges and requires the researcher to be part genealogist and part private investigator. This presentation covers proven techniques for tracing 20th century friends and relatives from the past to the present.

Tracing Your Roots with DNA – an extended edition

• With amazing swiftness, “genetealogy” (the marriage of genetics and genealogy) is graduating from pioneering research to standard practice. But what is it exactly and how can we use it to further our genealogical endeavors? Come hear one of the co-authors of Trace Your Roots with DNA discuss her own and others’ experience launching and managing a DNA project, including such considerations as test and vendor selection factors, privacy, and convincing others to participate. (Short and long versions available: one-hour version covers Y-DNA/surname testing only, while the extended 1.5-2 hour version also includes other types of testing, such as mtDNA, BioGeographical, etc. Also available for non-genealogical audiences.)

Right Annie, Wrong Annie

• An Irish lass, Annie Moore, tripped down a gangplank and into the pages of history in 1892 when she became the first immigrant to arrive at Ellis Island. But less than a century later, an Illinois-born Annie Moore had somehow taken her place and was celebrated in song, statue and literature. That all ended when some stubborn genealogists decided to use their sleuthing skills to seek out the right Annie. Come learn how she and her true descendants reclaimed their rightful place in history when their reunion was featured on the front page of the New York Times.

Cases That Made My Brain Hurt

• How could brothers also be uncle and nephew? How could the 1853 death of a toddler in Scotland help solve a Civil War history-mystery? And could there be any families with a pair of centenarians who knew each other and lived in four centuries between the two of them? Come and hear!

This document is a list she describes as [...Shortly after Emancipation, the General Assembly in Virginia passed a law to permit what amounted to a retroactive solemnization of the marriages of former slaves in the state. Previously denied the privilege of marriage, couples could now register their names and those of their children at the local courthouse, and both the marriage and offspring would thereafter be regarded as legitimate in the eyes of the law....] and it contains the records of several of Michelle Obama’s ancestors who had their marriages and children recorded in Henry County, Virginia.

On Friday evening of our Seminar Megan will be telling about this and other aspects of her research in her presentation “Michelle Obama’s Roots” – Friday 5 November 2010 at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College.

See you there!!!

The Friday Night event this year will be a presentation of “Michelle Obama’s Roots” by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak.

Megan shares how and why she researched the First Lady’s ancestry and what she discovered along the way. The talk highlights Mrs. Obama’s multi-cultural, seriously Southern (11 states), and Great Migration heritage, including the story of Dolphus T. Shields and his mother, Melvina McGruder, that was featured on the front page of the New York Times.

Saturday – 4 Sessions and Lunch

Saturday will be 4 sessions with our Speaker.

We’re looking for input from prospective attendees about what topics they’d like to hear on Saturday. Please fill out the poll so we can gauge the interest in Megan’s topics. The list of Megan’s topics can be seen here.

We will take the popularity of different topics as a guide when planning the 4 sessions.

]]> http://gotancestors.com/2010/01/2010-friday-and-saturday-topics/feed/ 0 http://gotancestors.com/2009/12/welcome-megan/ http://gotancestors.com/2009/12/welcome-megan/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:58:58 +0000 Seminar - Roger http://gotancestors.com/?p=261 Yesterday’s Western Michigan Genealogical Society Board meeting accepted my proposal that the speaker at the 2010 Got Ancestors?! seminar be Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak.

Mark your calendars for Friday evening 5 November 2010 and Saturday 6 November 2010.

We’re looking forward to hosting Megan on her first speaking engagement in Michigan. A list of her talks can be found here http://www.honoringourancestors.com/programs.html

This event is still in very early planning stages, details will be posted here as they become available.

Check it out here http://GenealogyGuys.com/

1. Charlyn Bailey - Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner. Trace Your Roots with DNA – Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree. USA: Rodale, 2004. Donated by WMGS.
2. Lori Fox - Mills, Shown Elizabeth. Evidence Explained – Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007. Donated by WMGS.
3. Joanne Harvey – Tote bag donated by Shirley DeBoer
4. Janet McFarland Idema – a 1 year World Deluxe Membership to Ancestry.com. Donated by Ancestry.com
5. John Nelson - Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright. Finding Answers in US Census Records. Provo: ancestrypublishing, 2001. Donated by Ancestry.com
6. Susan Rabick - A 1 year membership in footnote.com. “History for the People —Discover. Discuss. Connect. Share.” Donated by footnote.com
7. Alan Landheer - A $25 Gift Certificate to the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Sales Table. Donated by WMGS
8. Laura Schmidt - Family Tree Maker 2010, including a free 2 week trial to Ancestry.com. Donated by Ancestry.com
9. Nancy Keith – Gift Certificate to Michiana History Publications. Donated by Michiana History Publications
10. David Lee Smith - Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG and Tana Pedersen Lord. The Official Guide to rootsweb.com Provo: ancestrypublishing, 2007. Donated by Ancestry.com
11. Nancy Sautebein – a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
12. Linda Hagen – Roberta H Schirado. Images of America Rockford. Acadia Publishing. Donated by Bobbi Schirado.
13. Dian Thomas – Gift Certificate to Michiana History Publications. Donated by Michiana History Publications
14. Bobbe Horton - a $30 voucher off the cost of any DNA test performed by FamilyTreeDNA. Donated by FamilyTreeDNA.com
15. Megan Heyl -a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
16. Gayla Endahl - a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
17. Karen Blumenshire- a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
18. Rebecca Smith- a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.

Linda Lowery from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada won the “Long Distance Award” – a $20 Speedway Gift Card.

Congratulations to all the Winners.

Many Thanks to all of the donors!!!!!