Annual Report to Members of the
Genealogy Round Table, Utah Library Association
May 2004
Goals and Objectives Statement:
The Genealogy Round Table (GENRT)
supports Utah Libraries with guidance and programs for helping patrons researching
genealogy in libraries and on the Internet. We offer guidance in selecting resources,
organizing programs, training staff, and recruiting volunteers. The round table also
serves as a forum for communicating and collaborating on issues and concerns of
librarians who provide these services. GENRT provides opportunities for librarians to
meet, visit member institutions, and communicate online in sharing knowledge and
experiences. We welcome every one of all levels of experience who has an interest in
supporting genealogy in their communities and discovering their family's past.
Board Members for May 2004-May 2005:
Chair: Mike Hunter, BYU, mike_hunter@byu.edu
Vice-Chair: Linda St. Clair, Univ. of Utah, Linda.stclair@library.utah.edu
Secretary/Treasurer: Linda Worstell, Salt Lake County Library (Whitmore),
lworstell@slco.lib.ut.us
Past Chair: Karen Griggs, BYU, karen_griggs@byu.edu
Webmaster: Joe Everett, Family History Library, joseph-everett@attbi.com
ALA liaison, Jan Robertson, jan.robertson@library.utah.gov
FHL liaison: Karen Jepson, Family History Library, jepsonka@ldschurch.org
UGA/FGS liaison, Russ Lynch, Family History Library, lynchrs@ldschurch.org
Members at Large: Emily Schultz, Family History Library, schultze@ldschurch.org ;
Roger Magneson, Family History Library, magnesonr@ldschurch.org ; Nola Magneson,
Salt Lake County Library (Magna), nmagneson@slco.lib.ut.us ; Thom Edlund, BYU,
thom_edlund@byu.edu
Review of the Year’s Activities:
7 May-9 May 2003. ULA Annual Conference. GENRT sponsored five sessions and
three poster sessions. Lloyd Bockstruck of the Dallas Public Library spoke in two
sessions on genealogy reference services and genealogy collection development in
public libraries. Dr. Scott Woodward of BYU spoke on the process of using molecular
genetics to reconstruct personal genealogies. Alan Mann spoke about the newest
internet sources for genealogy. Kayla Willey spoke about using the digital library for
genealogical research. Poster sessions included what librarians should tell patrons
about “A Good Family History/Genealogy,” the Family History Library “Bringing
Genealogical Research to the World” through genealogical records in native languages,
and “The AZA Project of the PRO,” an exciting program to connect all the holdings of
the County Record Offices to the British Public Records Office.
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26 September 2003. Cedar City Public Library. Fall Workshop. Matt Nickerson of
the Sherratt Library, Southern Utah University presented Voices: Online Museum
Exhibits Unite Oral History and Archival Images. Voices of the Colorado Plateau is an
online museum exhibit featuring web-based multimedia presentations uniting oral
history with historical images. Matt demonstrated the site and explained the complexity
of creating a multimedia site.
30 October 2003. Salt Lake City Public Library. GenSession Lecture: The Hidden
Questions in Adoption Searching by Jill Ekstrom, Member of the Utah Adoption
Council & founder of Utahfinders, and Darlene Dineen, Library Manager of Kearns
Library. Participants learned how to recognize the adoption searchers, and how to help
them in their search.
7 November 2003. Tooele DUP Museum and Benson Gristmill. This GENRT Talk
‘n Tour of Tooele historical sites began at the Tooele Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
Museum, including a tour of an original 19th century pioneer cabin. This was followed
by a tour of the Benson Gristmill which has been restored to its 19th century
appearance.
14 January 2004. Family History Library. GenSession Lecture. John P. Colleta,
Ph.D, a well-known genealogists and researcher lectured on the immigrant experience.
He explained the original records and published materials that are available to help us
discover the particular facts of our own ancestors’ stories. He discussed how to
evaluate the facts you find in light of their historical context, and how to assemble them
into a story that conveys both the drama and individuality of each one of our immigrant
ancestor’s experience. Colletta, one of the world's foremost experts on immigration to
America, speaks nationally on a variety of genealogical topics. He is best known for his
book, They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival
Record. He was featured in the PBS series, Ancestors, and is regularly interviewed on
NBC's Today Show, CNN and the Voice of America.
Membership:
As of March 2004, GENRT had 60 members.
Webpage:
Keep current on GENRT events and membership by going to our
webpage at http://www.ula.org/organization/rt/genrt/genrt-go.htm. Our webmaster is
Joe Everett, Family History Library, joseph-everett@comcast.net.
Be sure to tell your friends to join GENRT by marking “yes” beside GENRT on their ULA
member profile found in the ULA membership directory
(http://mcweb01.memberclicks.com/mc/prelogin.do?hidOrgID=ula).
If you have suggestions for activities, please email either Mike Hunter
(mike_hunter@byu.edu) or Karen Griggs (Karen_griggs@byu.edu).