Event Overview:

TIME TRAVEL: CENTURIES OF MEMORIES
A Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists

FGS and local host the Illinois State Genealogical Society invite you to join genealogists and family historians from throughout the world for some innovative time traveling experiences in Springfield, IL! Learn from exceptional speakers, network with other researchers, stroll through a large exhibit hall filled to the brim with vendors, and take in the amazing sites and sounds of Illinois’ capital city.

FGS 2016 National Conference — Celebrate our 40th Anniversary with us and local host Illinois State Genealogical Society as we return to the Land of Lincoln in 2016!

Over the years thousands of family history enthusiasts and society leaders have attended national conferences held by the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Supported with a local host organization, conferences provide educational and networking opportunities for attendees.

Attendee Information:

Why attend a FGS Conference?
 
Family History Learning takes center stage at every FGS Conference with 4 days jam-packed with sessions and workshops catering to all skill levels — beginner, intermediate, and advanced — delivered by nationally recognized speakers, educators, and regional experts. An FGS national conference program always delivers a compelling group of tracks guaranteed by the end of the conference to inspire and rejuvenize an attendee.
 
Focus on Societies Day always kicks off FGS Conferences on Wednesdays with a complete day devoted to societies — society leaders, society members, and those interested in learning more about societies. Enjoy a full day of sessions on varying topics such as technology, publications, event coordination, project coordination, volunteer recruitment & retention, society growth, marketing & publicity, leadership skills, management principles, and more. There are always plenty of success stories and innovative solutions to ongoing challenges shared among attendees. Focus on Societies Day is both a learning and networking experience like no other for those involved in societies and those who want to be involved with societies.
 
Librarian's Day is a pre-conference event held on Tuesdays designed for librarians, archivists, and other informational professionals serving family history research.
 
Society Showcase, located in the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall, allows visitors and attendees to "travel" the US and around the world discovering what specific resources genealogical societies can provide the individual researcher. Follow your ancestors' migration patterns as you move from society to society learning what is available to researchers in each locality. You have the ability to ask questions, collect brochures, and connect with like-minded genealogists and family historians.
 
FGS Exhibit Hall is always a hub of activity with vendors featuring the latest technology, books, maps, gadgets, and demonstrations as well as genealogical societies providing information for genealogists and family historians.

About FGS

The Federation of Genealogical Societies links the genealogical community by:

serving the needs of its member societies, libraries, archives, and other member organizations,
providing products and services needed by member societies, and
marshaling the resources of its member organizations.

FGS was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies.