21st Annual Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Students from 45 states and four countries joined us in Salt Lake City for the 21^st annual Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) held January 10-15, 2016 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center.  

Presented by the Utah Genealogical Association, the institute established new benchmarks with thirteen courses offered and 361 students attending. Over thirty of the nation’s top genealogists provided in-depth instruction on topics from advanced methodology to genetic genealogy.

Inquisitive group in the
Swing Across the South course

Special Events:  Anchoring the event were Rev. Dr. David McDonald, CG with uplifting plenary insights, “Thinking Genealogically,” and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, with a memorable banquet keynote, “Suffer the Little Children.” 

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) sponsored a new event, “SLIG Night at the FHL.”  Hosted by the Family History Library, the event provided classes, labs, and one-on-one consultations in specific areas of research.  

Lee Warthen instructs students at the
University of Utah Law Library

The University of Utah Law Library hosted Judy Russell's advanced law course on an afternoon field trip, while the Family History Library hosted course labs and consultation stations.

New this year:  the institute introduced “SLIG Central” with Maia's bookstore; a morning refreshment break; information tables from BCG, ICAPGen, UGA, and VisitSalt Lake; a video interview corner; an ancestor map/database; and new SLIG Swag. The area quickly became the networking center for the week as students posted photos, reviewed credentialing materials, and discussed course homework assignments over lunch. 

Participants networking at SLIG Central

Scholarship Fund:  Martha Mercer of Maia’s Books made the first official donation to the new SLIG Scholarship Fund.  While SLIG will continue to award the annual Jimmy B. Parker scholarship, the fund was set up to provide additional opportunities for deserving students to attend SLIG in the future.

Sponsors/Prizes:  Several organizations and vendors provided door prizes and support to this year's Institute.  We will mention them further in a later post, along with some of the contest winners.

Memorabilia:  Finally, SLIG presented each participant at the banquet with a SLIG2016 pin and announced the 2017 courses, which we will cover in a subsequent post. 

Colloquium:  The second annual SLIG Colloquium was held Saturday following the Institute.  It brought over 70 leaders from the genealogy industry together for a moderated discussion on the importance of genealogical standards and their place in the larger genealogy world.  A summary will be presented in the next issue of Crossroads.