Family History Fair To Return To M.V.

By CHARLENE PAUL

The Progress

Are you curious about the monkeys in your circus? Do you want to learn more about DNA matches and information? Have a hankering for research? Ever tried to decipher handwriting from the 15th century?

For the answers to these and so many other questions, mark your calendars for the Moapa Valley Family History Fair hosted by the Logandale Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, February 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free and open to everyone.

“This Family History Fair is a non-denominational event,” said Fair Chairman Marvin Leavitt. “We want everybody who is interested in learning more about family history to come.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is accredited genealogist Loretta Evans. Evans has been reading microfilm, wandering cemeteries, and fostering a love/hate relationship with her computer for over 40 years. Her most recent projects included writing family histories, digitizing photographs, and cataloging family heirlooms.

Classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. Attendees will choose from 21 different classes presented in three class periods. After the last classes finish at 12:30 p.m. lunch will be provided.
“Most people believe there is no such thing as a free lunch,” Leavitt said. “But this lunch is like the rest of the Family History Fair – free!”

Classes include helping children and youth enjoy family history, Google tools for internet research, most common types of DNA tests, finding Civil War ancestors, the 1950 Census, writing personal histories, understanding and using sources and hints, indexing, research skills, introduction to restoring and improving photographs, and many more. And yes, you may even find more monkeys in your circus than you ever thought possible.

“There really is something for everyone who is interested in family history,” Leavitt said. “There will be so much great information, and it’s all free!”

Presenters come from all across the west to teach workshops at the fair.
“In the past, we have had nearly 180 participants,” Leavitt said. “We are hoping that, despite skipping over 2021, we will have even more participation this year.”

So, be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, February 26 and plan to learn more than you thought you could at this once-a-year family history event.

For more information, email Leavitt at marvin@comnett.net, or call him at 702-271-6465.

Complete 2022 Family History Fair Schedule

9:00 a.m. Keynote Speaker Loretta Evans

9:30 a.m. First Class Period

• Training for Family History Consultants – Deon Zirkle and Sandy Fredericks

• Not Your Circus But They Are Your Monkeys – Kim Delgadillo

• Helping Children and Youth Enjoy Family History – Loretta Evans

• Google Tools for Internet Research – Julie Hammons

• Crossing the Pond – James Orman

• O Pioneer – Lee Nishimoto

• Most Common Types of DNA Tests – Scherry Lesanto

• Finding Your Civil War Ancestors – Richard Haynes

10:20 to 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m. Second Class Period

• The 1950 Census – Robert Evans

• Writing Personal Histories – Charlene Paul

• Basic Family History – Loretta Evans

• Understanding and Using Sources and Hints – Julie Hammons

• Research Skills – James Orman

• Tricks They Never Told You about in Family Search Records –

Lee Nishimoto

• Measures of Genetic Closeness – Scherry Lesanto

• The Secrets of Reading Secretary Hand – Marilyn Haynes

• Introduction to Restoring and Improving Photographs – Marvin Leavitt

11:20 to 11:30 a.m. Break

11:30 a.m. Third Class Period

• Indexing, Getting Started – Robert Evans

• Writing Personal Histories – Charlene Paul

• It’s All Been Done – Loretta Evans

• Why You Need Family Search WIKI – Julie Hammons

• Partner Sites – James Orman

• Basic Family History – Lee Nishimoto

• Introduction to Restoring and Improving Photographs – Marvin Leavitt

12:20 to 12:30 p.m. Break

12:30 p.m. Lunch