Riverton FamilySearch Library/Events

Saturday Seminar
The library offers a free seminar every third Saturday of the month. An opening session is held at 9:00 a.m. featuring a keynote address. Following this session attendees are offered four choices of presentations at both 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

 * Keynote Address - "The Genealogy of Temple Record Keeping" - Ruth Ellen Maness

Synopsis: This presentation is designed to describe (in roughly chronological order) the major programs and processes set in place by the LDS Church for temple names’ submissions, and to show where and how to find the resultant temple work dates to try and avoid the problem of duplication which has been present from the beginning of this work.

Ruth Ellen Maness is an Accredited Genealogist®, and Senior Research Consultant in the Nordic Unit at the Family History Library. She is a coauthor of Passport to Paradise: The Copenhagen "Mormon" Passenger Lists and Legacy of Sacrifice: Missionaries to Scandinavia, 1872–94. She is a popular lecturer, having given presentations at the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) conference, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference, BYU Genealogy and Family History conferences, and local and regional seminars and conferences. She has also been an instructor for the Utah Genealogical Association’s Salt Lake Institute, and the BYU Salt Lake Center. She is an author and columnist of Scandinavia–Questions and Answers in Heritage Quest magazine and Everton’s Genealogical Helper.

10:00 a.m.

 * “Your Family's Temple Work: Think It's All Done?  Think Again!" - Diane Loosle

Synopsis: Do you have a desire to perform temple ordinances for your own family members, but think that it is “all done”? Are you nervous about even starting to do any family history because you have no idea where to start? If so, this is the session for you. This session is about you and your ancestors. You will leave this class armed with some simple steps you can take to find family members who have not had temple ordinances completed. It isn’t as hard as you think.

Presenter: Diane C. Loosle is an Accredited Genealogist® and a Certified GenealogistSM. She has a Bachelors degree in History with an emphasis in Family History and Genealogy and a Masters of Business Administration. She has worked for FamilySearch for the past nineteen years as a British Reference Consultant, British Reference Unit Supervisor, Customer Experience Manager, FamilySearch Genealogical Community Services Manager and is currently the Director of Genealogical Services. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors and traveling with her husband Mike.


 * "Navigating the Globe with Google" - Devin Ashby

Synopsis: When was the last time you traveled around the world on the internet? Welcome to Google Maps! Features include Street View, photo geotags, videos in Google Earth and much more.

Presenter: Devin Ashby is a Community Advocate for FamilySearch, the largest genealogical organization in the world. Devin has been involved in family history for years and in 2004 he received Bachelor degrees in History and Spanish and the following year earned a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.


 * "German Research Part 1: Beginning Research in Germany" - Michael Grimshaw

Synopsis: This class will help to identify what pieces of information are essential in order to know where to begin a search for German ancestors. Geography and history of an area, used to determine if records may exist, will also be discussed. Information from the FamilySearch Wiki regarding German research will be demonstrated. There is also a German equivalent to Find-a-Grave.com and other online resources that will be presented.

Presenter: Michael Grimshaw was born in Cedar City, Utah. He served an LDS mission in Germany, following which he earned his B.A. degree from the College of Southern Utah (now SUU). After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Utah where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees before obtaining employment with the FBI, serving in Washington, D.C.; Detroit, Michigan; a second assignment in Washington, D.C.; Salt Lake City, Utah; the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany; the American Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany; and the Amercian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. After retiring, he obtained employment with the U.S. Department of State and served overseas tours at the Amercian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand; the American Embassy in Moscow, Russia; and the Amercian Embassy in Vienna, Austria. He has served at the Riverton FamilySearch Library since December.


 * "Families and the War Between the States: Getting to Know Your Civil War Era Ancestors" - Yvonne Curry

Synopsis: Learn more about your ancestors who lived during the Civil War and how to find their stories. This presentation will look at a variety of records that can help you uncover the stories of those who lived during this pivotal time in our country’s history; whether they served in the military or on the home front.

Presenter: Yvonne Curry is a professional researcher with experience in U.S., Canadian, and Italian research. She successfully completed the NGS home study course, the BYU Family History Certificate program, and has served as a FHC volunteer and on the library committee of the California Genealogical Society. She currently teaches genealogy classes at the Logan Regional Family History Center.

11:00 a.m.

 * Many Are Called, but Few Have All the Answers - Helping Consultants Work with Ward Members" Panel Discussion) - Marci Wahlquist and Sherry Zealley

Presenters: Marci Andrews Wahlquist began investigating her family history when she was 12. Several years later she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and within the next ten years had served in every family history-related calling possible. She took classes in genealogy in college and continued to teach and mentor others who pursued their family history over the next several decades. She did PhD work in English at University of Oregon and taught college. She worked as a computer programming editor for Novell, Inc. and as a senior editor for the Curriculum Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is currently a missionary at the Riverton FamilySearch Library. She is married and has two children and one grandchild.

Sherry Zealley was introduced to family history as a brand-new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints back in 1975 while attending the family history Sunday School class taught by her neighbor. There she learned the fundamentals of organizing records and doing elementary research. She worked on her family history off and on until 2005 when she was called to be a ward family history consultant. In January 2009 she was called with her husband as a part-time FamilySearch support missionary. Their mission ended in June 2010 and shortly thereafter they became volunteers at the Riverton FamilySearch Library serving until last month when Sherry once again became a missionary at the Library. She feels very blessed to be serving here and in her ward and loves helping others with their family history.


 * Trained to Text and Tweet for a Reason: How Youth are Propelling Family History Work Forward" - Suzanne Curley

Synopsis: Today’s youth have amazing technical skills that have prepared them to contribute to the work of salvation in a significant way. Come learn how youth here, and around the world, are accepting the challenge and reaping the blessings.

Presenter: Suzanne H. Curley is the Director of the Riverton FamilySearch Library and a member of the Board of Directors for the Utah Genealogical Association. She is also a licensed attorney and member of the Utah State Bar. She serves as General Counsel for Generation Consulting Services, LLC. She received her B.A. in Communications from Rider University in New Jersey, and her J.D. from BYU. Prior to becoming an attorney, she held management positions in marketing communications and publications, external relations, compliance and also worked as a professional writer and print journalist. She has been involved in family history for the past 32 years.


 * "German Research Part 2: German Life Events and Their Records" - Tamra Stansfield

Synopsis: When available, German religious and civil registration records are our primary record source of individual life events. Unfortunately, there are instances when these vital records do not exist or are not accessible. In such cases, other types of records may be able to provide needed information. This class will highlight various records ranging from the common to the often overlooked.

Presenter: Tamra L. Stansfield is an AG®, was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her love for everything German was instilled within her by her German step-grandfather. Prior to her employment with the Family History Library in 2008, she worked 10 years as private researcher and for 5 of those years as a German Research Specialist and Administrator for an established private genealogical research firm. Currently she is employed as a German Research Consultant and Patron Services Manager within the International Research Unit at the Family History Library.


 * "Ancestral Quest, Legacy and RootsMagic Compared" - Bud Wood

Synopsis: This class will describe and compare the features and capabilities of three popular family history data management software programs: Ancestral Quest, Legacy and RootsMagic. Similarities and differences in the programs will be described. The class is designed to help library patrons choose family history software best suited for their needs.

Presenter: Bud Wood is 1st vice president of the Utah Genealogical Association. He oversees the UGA webpage and also reviews the financial affairs of the Association. He is the recipient of the UGA 2011 Distinguished Service Award. Bud has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and a Masters of Library and Information Science Degree, both earned at BYU. Bud retired in 2010 after 41 years of employment at Brigham Young University. He spent 35 of those years as Manager of Testing Services. He is a former president of the National College Testing Association. Since 1999, Bud has been the director of the Geneva Heights Tri-stake Family History Center. The Center has a staff of 38 volunteer workers who serve an average of 120+ patrons per month. Interested in genealogy and family history since he first joined the LDS Church in 1965, Bud made an agreement with his sister, Beverly Norton, to enter data into the computer if she would do the research. Since Beverly passed away in 2006, Bud has re-published her history of their father's family and is currently working on the history of their mother's extended family. Married to the former Elaine Hansen, Bud is the father of seven children - five boys and two gir