1. A Brief History of BIFHSGO: celebrating 25 years (Before BIFHSGO Education Talk), 9:00 am to 9:30 am, and;

2. The Cowkeeper’s Wish: Transforming Family History into a Great Story, 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Gathering names and dates of ancestors is an addictive, exhausting task, and while it’s satisfying to put the facts in order and fill in a tree’s branches, what’s more fascinating is exploring who these people were as individuals and how they fit into the times and places they occupied. Anyone who’s snooped in their own tree knows that even the most ordinary family contains great stories. Kristen den Hartog and Tracy Kasaboski discuss how to create a rich and wonderful story from a family archive, drawing on official documents as well as personal treasures like photographs, letters, and passed-down memories, and weaving them with events of the times. The sisters’ latest book, The Cowkeeper’s Wish, spans nearly a century, and is set in both England and Canada. They’ll talk about finding the thread of their story and putting several generations in context.

Free parking and admission. Visitors, please check in at the BIFHSGO Welcome Desk.