Hello from Sassy Jane! My absence posting to the blog was due to software conflicts, security issues, and being a dummkopf with the brains of a potato, as my German ancestors would say.

Now that I’m back, I have good news. The National Archives is hosting their annual Free Online Genealogy Fair 2014 from October 28-30, 2014. Fall is so busy that I want to give my readers plenty of notice about this great Free Online Genealogy Fair 2014.

WHAT:       The National Archives will host a live, three-day, virtual Genealogy Fair via webcast on YouTube. The free program offers family history research tools for all skill levels on Federal records including census, American Indian, military, naturalization, and immigration. Other topics include overviews of online genealogy resources and guidance on preserving personal records. For complete schedule and participation instructions, visit the Virtual Genealogy Fair website.

WHEN:        October 28, 29, and 30, starting daily at 10 a.m. EDT

WHO:          Speakers include experts from National Archives’ facilities nationwide, as well as U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, and representatives from genealogy web sites.

WHERE:     Anywhere! The Fair will be video streamed on the US National Archives’ YouTube channel:

Day 1: Tuesday, October 28 – Watch live on YouTube 

Day 2: Wednesday, October 29 – Watch live on YouTube 

Day 3: Thursday, October 30 – Watch live on YouTube 

The webcast will include a captioning option.  To request additional accommodations (for example, a transcript), email [email protected] or call 202-357-5260.   Recorded sessions and handouts will be available free of charge after the event on the Virtual Genealogy Fair website.

Background:  The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the Federal government. These include records of interest to genealogists, such as pension files, ship passenger lists, census, and Freedmen’s Bureau materials. For information on National Archives holdings see www.archives.gov.

Follow the National Archives on Twitter:  @USNatArchives and join the Genealogy Fair conversation using #genfair2014.