The Lancaster Virginia Historical Society (LVHS), in cooperation with the Virginia Genealogical Society (VGS), will host a group viewing party on April 25 from 9:45 AM to 4:00 PM to show the Zoom broadcast of the VGS Spring Conference, “The Eve of Independence: Colonial Research in Virginia.”
LVHS executive director Karen Hart said, “Registered attendees will be able to gather in-person at the Lancaster Community Library in Kilmarnock to watch the VGS lectures on a large 65-inch screen and have the chance to meet others who share interests in genealogy and history. The all-day program will feature four presentations by certified and accredited experts discussing genealogical, legal, military, and lineage society research in Colonial Virginia. All of the speakers will be virtual.”
Seating for the group viewing is limited, so advance reservations are required with LVHS. According to Hart, each attendee must also individually pre-register for the conference directly with VGS for a $40 fee, which include handouts and 60 days of access to video recordings. None of the fee benefits LVHS. People are also welcome to register and watch the conference on their own.
In Session 1, “Jamestowne to the Commonwealth, 1607-1776: Virginia’s Surviving Records and What They Can Tell Us,” Barbara Vines Little will discuss finding information about the men and women who created the foundation upon which this Commonwealth was built.
In Session 2, “Crown to Commonwealth: A Revolution in Virginia Inheritance,” Judy G. Russell will explain how changes in inheritance laws reshaped families and left a visible mark on probate records.
In Session 3, “The Virginia Colonial War Experience,” Craig R. Scott will explore records resulting from conflicts among the French, Spanish, British, and indigenous tribes from Jamestown to the French and Indian War to Lord Dunmore’s War.
In Session 4, “Lines of Descent: Standards and Strategies for Colonial Era Lineage Applications,” a panel discussion by Nicki Peak Birch, Lyndon H. Hart III, and Kimberly Ormsby Nagy, will offer practical guidance on how lineage societies evaluate applications and how applicants can strengthen their submissions and supporting evidence.
For registration instructions and the full schedule, visit LancasterVaHistory.org or call 804-462-7280.
