An eyewitness report from the "Who Do You Think You Are" Conference at the Kensington Olympia in London, England.
After arriving in London and recovering from jet lag we took a ride on the London Eye in the evening. This is a good way to start a visit to London by having a look at the landscape. It was especially good just as after sunset when the lights of London started coming on.
The next day we took the Tube to the Olympia. Navigating the London Tube system can be a bit daunting but if you get an Oyster card and the Tube map and take a bit of time to read the direction signs, it is a great way to get around.
When we arrived at the Olympia by 10:00 am, there was a huge lineup of genealogists snaking around the building. The line moved rather quickly so we were soon in the main concourse. What we had heard about this conference was true. Many of the family history societies from England were there, along with the major online genealogy companies. There must have been close to 10,000 people there all looking to find out more about their families.
We spent the day looking at booths and talking to people. English people are very friendly, as we had several people who wanted to tell their family stories, even when the introduction was, "If you want to get in here and look just let me know." Many English people knew something about Canada or had family there or had used the LAC online files.
We spent an hour plus volunteering at the Guild of One-Name Studies booth. This was interesting considering the number of people passing by. A difference at this conference is that many booths keep people out in front of the tables to be in contact.
While wandering around we waved at Leslie Anderson in the Ancestry presentation area and then ran into John Reid having a nice lunch.
By the end of the day we were really tired from being on our feet all day.
Back to the hotel by 7:00 pm to rest up and prepare for the next day!
Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) is responsible for Carleton, Lanark, Renfrew, Prescott and Russell Counties. Our mission is “To encourage, assist and bring together all those interested in the pursuit of family history.” If you want to discover more about your family origins, or how and where to locate information about your ancestors, our members will be there to help you.
22 February 2013
21 February 2013
Timeline February 22 & 23
February 22
1732 George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born in the Virginia Colony.
1819 Spain ceded Florida to the United States.
1909 The sixteen battleships of the Great White Fleet, led by Connecticut, return to the United States after a voyage around the world.
February 23
1633 Samuel Pepys, English diarist and naval administrator, was born.
1685 George Frideric Handel, German born English Composer, was born in Germany.
1836 The siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio, Texas.
1896 The Tootsie Roll was invented.
1941 Plutonium was first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg.
1945 U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima captured Mount Suribachi and raised the American flag. The moment was captured in a Pulitzer Prize winning photo by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal.
1997 Scientists in Scotland announced they had cloned an adult mammal, producing a lamb named Dolly.
1732 George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born in the Virginia Colony.
1819 Spain ceded Florida to the United States.
1909 The sixteen battleships of the Great White Fleet, led by Connecticut, return to the United States after a voyage around the world.
February 23
1633 Samuel Pepys, English diarist and naval administrator, was born.
1685 George Frideric Handel, German born English Composer, was born in Germany.
1836 The siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio, Texas.
1896 The Tootsie Roll was invented.
1941 Plutonium was first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg.
1945 U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima captured Mount Suribachi and raised the American flag. The moment was captured in a Pulitzer Prize winning photo by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal.
1997 Scientists in Scotland announced they had cloned an adult mammal, producing a lamb named Dolly.
20 February 2013
Ottawa Branch Meeting 23 Feb
Ottawa Branch Meeting - Annual Potluck
City of Ottawa Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Room 115
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Coffee, tea and juice provided. Bring your own plate and utensils AND a dish to share with the others.
Everyone is asked to bring their favourite book or resource and tell us briefly why it is/was so useful to them. |
19 February 2013
Ottawa Genealogy 2013
Ottawa Branch will present Ottawa Genealogy 2013 on 4 May at the James Bartleman Centre. Details and registration are available at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/ottawa-genealogy-2013/ .
Programme
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08:00
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Registration & Marketplace Opens
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09:00
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Computer Research Room Opens
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The Computer Research Room provides
informal access to on-line databases.
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09:00
Session 1
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British Home Children in Ontario
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Carolyn Goddard
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Room 115
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Restorations of Biblical Proportions
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Kyla Ubbink
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Room 226
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10:15
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Break & Browse Marketplace
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11:00
Session 2
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Genealogy: the ‘Facebook’ of the past:
a look at Library and Archives Canada’s ‘Wall’
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Marthe Séguin-Muntz
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Room 115
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Digital Recordkeeping in Genealogy
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Shirley Ann Pyefinch
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Room 226
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12:00
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Lunch & Browse Marketplace
(Lunch
available only to pre-paid ticket holders)
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1:15
Session 3
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What's New in Genetic Genealogy
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John Reid
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Room 115
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Utilising FamilySearch.org Information
Resources
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Shirley Ann Pyefinch
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Room 226
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14:15
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Break & Browse Marketplace
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3:00
Session 4
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Great Revelations: Canada, Canadians
and the 1921 Census
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Glenn Wright
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Room 115
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Accessing and Updating your Family
Tree Maker file from anywhere
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Rick Roberts
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Room 226
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Timeline February 19 to 21
February 19
1473 Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish mathematician & astronomer, was born in Torun, Poland.
1674 England and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England, and it is renamed New York.
1878 Thomas Edison received a patent for his phonograph.
February 20
1902 Ansel Adams, the photographer noted for his landscapes of the American West, was born.
1962 Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth as he flew aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule.
February 21
1621 Rebecca Nurse, English colonist executed during Salem witch trials, was born.
1910 Sir Douglas Bader, British pilot & air ace, was born.
1947 Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera, which could produce a black-and-white photograph in 60 seconds.
1974 Tim Horton, Canadian hockey player, died.
1473 Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish mathematician & astronomer, was born in Torun, Poland.
1674 England and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England, and it is renamed New York.
1878 Thomas Edison received a patent for his phonograph.
February 20
1902 Ansel Adams, the photographer noted for his landscapes of the American West, was born.
1962 Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth as he flew aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule.
February 21
1621 Rebecca Nurse, English colonist executed during Salem witch trials, was born.
1910 Sir Douglas Bader, British pilot & air ace, was born.
1947 Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera, which could produce a black-and-white photograph in 60 seconds.
1974 Tim Horton, Canadian hockey player, died.
17 February 2013
Timeline February 17 & 18
February 17
1621 Myles Standish was appointed as first commander of Plymouth colony.
1874 Thomas J. Watson, Sr., the American industrialist who built IBM, was born.
1919 Wilfrid Laurier, 7th Prime Minister of Canada, died.
February 18
1546 Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, died.
1564 The artist Michelangelo died in Rome.
1677 Jacques Cassini, French astronomer, was born.
1745 Alessandro Volta, Italian physicist and inventor, was born.
1848 Louis Comfort Tiffany, a craftsman and designer who made significant advancements in the art of glass making, was born.
1930 Photographic evidence of Pluto was discovered by Clyde W. Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz. Originally classified as a planet, the icy rock was downgraded to "dwarf planet" in 2006.
1621 Myles Standish was appointed as first commander of Plymouth colony.
1874 Thomas J. Watson, Sr., the American industrialist who built IBM, was born.
1919 Wilfrid Laurier, 7th Prime Minister of Canada, died.
February 18
1546 Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, died.
1564 The artist Michelangelo died in Rome.
1677 Jacques Cassini, French astronomer, was born.
1745 Alessandro Volta, Italian physicist and inventor, was born.
1848 Louis Comfort Tiffany, a craftsman and designer who made significant advancements in the art of glass making, was born.
1930 Photographic evidence of Pluto was discovered by Clyde W. Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz. Originally classified as a planet, the icy rock was downgraded to "dwarf planet" in 2006.
16 February 2013
War of 1812
To-day is the 200 Anniversary of the 104th Regiment marching from Fredricton, NB to Quebec City and then onwards to Kingston, Ont. There is a website which contains details of the activities, one is a 33 page description www.stjohnriver.org On that page there is an overlay and when clicking on that there is more info on re-enactments by various towns/cities www.warof1812nb.ca Enjoy?
Take a hike
Take a hike
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