ROOTS & BRANCHES

The first genealogy conference I ever attended was in Lancaster, PA, nearly 40 years ago.

In just a few months, I’ll be going to the Lancaster area again from June 18 to 20 when Palatines to America’s biennial national conference comes to the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602 with the theme of “Our German Ancestors: Building America.”

Last week’s “Roots & Branches” column profiled Douglas Madenford, who will keynote the conference’s banquet on June 19.

This week we take a look at who’s on the program for the rest of the event, and I’ll give you my conflict of interest statement right up front: Not only am I one of the speakers but I also was a consultant to the conference committee.

One of the best known of the event’s presenters is Michael L. Strauss, who is a military historian and has been published in books, peer-reviewed journals, history, blogs, and book reviews. Strauss will lecture on “Divided Loyalties: Pennsylvania Germans in the Revolutionary War” and “The German Forty-Eighters’ Fight for Freedom.”

The venerable Lois Ann Mast, owner and publisher of Masthof Press and Bookstore as well as editor of Mennonite Family History, will present “Mennonite and Amish Genealogy Research.”

Christopher Malone, curator at Historic Trappe (the home to the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies), has the topic “Window to Revolution: PA Germans and the War for Independence.”

Lori Leininger Samuelson, a professional genealogist and author who specializes in German, Croatian, and Midwestern research, will present the sessions “Palatinate Pathways: From One Homeland to Many American Homes” and “From Soldiering to Civil Life: German Immigrants in America’s Wars.”

And, yes, your “Roots & Branches” columnist will participate in two presentations. One will be alongside Katy Bodenhorn, the former genealogy director at Historical Society of Pennsylvania and now owner of her own research firm, titled “Doing the Work: Occupations of PA Germans.”

I’ll also go solo with “Your First Wave Immigrants’ Germany.”

All in all, this conference gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about German heritage, perhaps walk in your ancestors’ footsteps, and meet in person with others who share this interest. Maybe even connect with a cousin or two. Plus, you can be in the State where it happened, just 70 miles from where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed 250 years ago.

The event kicks off Thursday morning (June 18) with an optional bus tour exploring local Mennonite and Amish culture. Included for all registrants that evening will be welcome reception with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar, which includes the first chance to explore the event’s exhibit hall with vendors and organizations.

The presenters previously profiled will be featured on Friday (June 19) and Saturday (June 20).

Registration information and all the details on fees is available at the Pal Am website’s URL, https://www.palam.org/