Genealogy's seventh heaven

A week from now, I'll be in seventh heaven. The signs will say Pennsylvania, but they'll be wrong. From Tuesday through Saturday, I'll be in a state of genealogical bliss, and it'll be seventh heaven to me.

It's the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, a major gathering where I hope to learn just about everything that is happening or is about to happen in the national genealogy community.

The huge number and variety of sessions to be offered at the federation's conference in Philadelphia is tantalizing. The program promises a feast that makes it hard to decide which ones to attend. The syllabus for the event covers 220 sessions and has 660 pages.

Here's hoping the genealogy gods will ensure that every session is recorded, no human errors, no equipment malfunctions.

So far, it seems they are on my side.

The sessions look great. Some are led by my genealogy heroes and heroines. Others are led by those whose work I've found helpful. And there aren't so many scheduling conflicts that I'd accept an offer to be cloned.

Sessions that I plan not to miss are "Margaret's Baby's Father and the Lessons He Taught Me"; "The Courthouse Burned!: Alternate Approaches & Treasures"; "Finding a Woman's Maiden Name"; "Wills & Probate Will Be the Death of Me"; "Anatomy of a Pension File"; "Forty (40) Overlooked Sources"; and "Leaping to Erroneous Conclusions."

Maybe I'll get to hear about glitches in some of the Web genealogy sites. I passed up the opportunity to hear that in favor of something else once. Bad choice. I've regretted making it for quite a while. Can't recall what I attended instead.

In addition to skills sessions, the conference will be loaded with sessions that provide information that can be used in my work as director of Roots and Branches and second vice president of the S.C. Genealogical Society's Charleston chapter.

Now, I'm not promising to return with gifts for my genealogical buddies, but I can't wait to shop with vendors in the conference exhibit hall. First on my shopping list is a powerful sheet magnifying glass.

My wish is that the airline will fail to notice all the stuff I'll bring back. (I hate to ship.) Maybe I'll call upon the genealogy gods or some other deities to help me with that. After all, I'll be on my way back from seventh heaven.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at wminis@postandcourier.com.