One of the things I miss about live genealogy conferences is the chance to answer individual questions after a presentation. So in this issue of First Friday Genealogy with Sassy Jane, I offer ways for you can get assistance virtually from librarians, archivists, and other information professionals.
Online Genealogy Consultations
with Family History Library Staff
These free, 20-minute virtual consultations are held via Zoom. DNA genealogy consultations are 40 minutes. Genealogy consultations are designed to provide research guidance, methodology, and next steps, rather than research or record-lookups.
Visit this page to read about the booking process, how to frame your request, and make your appointment.
Ask a Librarian Worldwide
Ask a Librarian is a free service enabling researchers to ask questions of library staff online. Ask a Librarian began in the UK and now is offered by many libraries in different countries. If your library doesn't have Ask a Library yet, ask what you can do to help.
PLEASE NOTE: This service works best if you visit the main page of the library where you need help. Then look for the Ask a Librarian button. Or try searching for "Ask a Librarian" plus the name of the library.
This way you'll reach someone online who is knowledgable about their library's collections and services. Usually, Ask a Librarian offers real-time help by having a group of libraries participate together. Bigger libraries, like theLibrary of Congress, offer Ask a Librarian service according to staff specialities, as seen below.
History Hub at the US National Archives
Ask your research questions on HistoryHub, the National Archives' crowdsourced platform for historical and genealogical research. Anyone can ask questions and get answers from NARA archivists, other information professionals, fellow genealogists, and other History Hub community members.
HistoryHub also has a dedicated genealogy portal for questions and answers for on family history. There's also a military portal for help with NARA military genealogy research.
Utah Archives Month
Family History Day
Keynote 2021
Each October, Utah celebrates Archives Month, highlighting the importance of records of enduring value and raising public awareness of the role archives play in our daily lives. The staff of the Utah State Archives and Records Service have planned a great day on the theme "Conversations in the Archives," featuring:
Keynote from Nancy Loe of Sassy Jane Genealogy entitled Beyond "Peaceful Coexistence": Archivists and Genealogists Working Together
Presentation from the Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation entitled Discovering, Preserving and Telling the Stories of African Americans in Utah
Presentation from Ryan Lee, curator of 19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts at BYU entitled Family History Resources in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections
Presentation from Utah State Archives staff entitled Insights from a Life: Engaging with Records to Trace Your Family History
