Making Tracks for Philly

“Footprints of Family History” is the theme for this year’s Federation of Genealogical Societies conference <www.fgsconference.org> Sept. 3-6, 2008, in Philadelphia.

The first day offers classes geared to librarians and genealogical society leaders, plus special evening exhibit hall hours. Sept. 4., keynote speaker and historian Robert A. Selig opens the conference by making the case for America’s official birthday to be Sept. 3, 1783 — when “His Britannic Majesty” King George III agreed in the Treaty of Paris to recognize US independence.

Then attendees can tour the exhibit hall, lined with genealogical software and database companies, booksellers, society representatives, publishers and other businesses (see a list on the conference Web site). Classes cover regional research, immigration, African-American and other ethnic roots, Quaker genealogy, Colonial ancestors and more. Instructor and exhibitor profiles, as well as event updates, are on the conference blog.