Katy Bodenhorn Genealogy Research

10/07/2026

Genealogists beware! Jen from The Formidable Genealogist makes a really great point here about AI family photos and how easy it is to be fooled by fakes now. I will freely admit that while there were a few I easily clocked as AI, there are several I'm unsure of!

If you absolutely must use generative AI in the genealogy info you share publicly (especially photos!!), please label it as such.

10/06/2026

On the fence about attending the Genealogy Unconference in Cancun in January? Join your hosts (me, Kate, and Jen) for an info session this coming Sunday night on Zoom! Link in comments.

10/04/2026

Genealogy Unconference Cancun 2027 is in the news! Join us by taking advantage of early bird pricing (link in the comments).

Thanks so much to genealogist (and, full disclosure, my partner) James M. Beidler for this column in the Altoona Mirror. You can follow Jim's writing at https://www.roots-branches.com/.

https://www.altoonamirror.com/uncategorized/2026/10/unconference-to-debut-with-winter-cancun-getaway/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUvTyFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMURKcktjMUw4bGRlQWhXRm5zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXgSMUjAxuZecHYyYzLQePIPFdAkkQphc132cYflWEQhTQUh82qsc8_xQnR8_aem_sk_0gl0tvmY3BADR1J0Eig

Roots & Branches By James Beidler When I first started going to nationwide genealogy events more than a quarter century ago, there was already chattering that the conference model — primarily one-hour, single-speaker lectures — needed to be overhauled. I recall the venerable Dick Eastman lobbyin...

09/30/2026

This is your last chance to watch my presentation "5 Ways Tax Lists Can Assist Your Pennsylvania Genealogy Research" for FREE! Tonight and tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/30) only!

After that you'll need to be a paying subscriber to Legacy Family Tree Webinars to view it (though of course, that's not a bad idea either).

In colonial and early 19th-century Pennsylvania, let's face it--there are only so many records and it can be challenging to connect generations. This can esp...

09/28/2026

TODAY is the registration deadline for the FREE Experiencing Independence symposium, held this coming weekend (October 2 and 3) at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. Registration link is in the comments.

For fans of original records and the American Revolutionary War, this is a "can't miss" event. Here are just a few examples of the panel discussions you'll get to hear at no cost:

-"Recapturing a Revolutionary Past: Widows Pensions and Illuminating the Female Experience During the War for Independence" (by Nicole Skalenko, Cultural Resources Specialist for Mead & Hunt)

-""Moravians and the Revolution: Caught in the Crossfire" (by Susan Ellis and Andrew McLeod of the Moravian Historical Society)

-""Written, Carried, and Remembered: Eyewitness Experiences of a Contested Landscape at Red Bank Battlefield" (by Jen Janofsky and Wade Catts of Rowan University)

-""Revolution Reimagined: Black Autonomy Fueling American Independence" (by Mya Rose Bailey, Curatorial Research Associate the High Museum of Art)

-""Creating Community in the Continental Army: The Wartime Experiences of Sergeant James Selkirk" (by Robb K. Haberman, Adjunct Faculty, Department of History, Fordham University)

This event is hosted by Historic Trappe in partnership with the McNeil Center for Early American Studies at Penn.

09/27/2026

Food can be a doorway into the history of a place and the people who lived there. Pepper pot soup is one of those dishes that defined Philadelphia from its early colonial days when it was hawked on street corners, and has led some food historians to describe Philly as "the northernmost Creole city."

It's not all cheesesteaks, wooder ice, and roast pork sandwiches!

Have you had pepper pot? Is there another a food in your community, culture, or family tree that has survived across generations? Has it changed over time?

Gift article from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

In a year full of historical reflections for America's 250th anniversary, the time is ripe to consider an iconic Philadelphia soup that has nearly disappeared — and attempt to revive it.

09/26/2026

Genealogy Unconference: Cancun registration is finally open!
https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/product-page/genealogy-unconference-cancun

We have been working for about 5 months to get to this point. Join me, Alec Ferretti, Katy Bodenhorn and Kate Penney Howard in Cancun for 3 full days of genealogy learning, community and collaboration. We won't lecture AT you like a traditional conference. At an unconference, you tell us what you want to learn and you have hands-on access to 4 professional genealogists for $299 (less than $100 per day!).

Early bird pricing goes through October 31st. After that, it will be $379 if any spots remain.

We have a dedicated travel agent named Kelly. It is optional and entirely free for you to use her. She can typically arrange a cheaper price than if you booked on your own. The rates above are approximate. She can give you exact rates when you contact her.

Save TONS of money on your lodging by finding a roommate. Book a double, triple or quad for the most savings. Join this group for help in finding a roommate.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogyunconference

Or bring a spouse, friend or family! They can relax while you connect with likeminded genealogists. (No need for guests to pay the unconference fee.)

See you in Cancun!

09/26/2026

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Join us at Sunscape Resort in Cancun, MX, January 21-24, 2027 for the new Genealogy Unconference hosted by myself, Jen Shaffer, Kate Penney Howard, and Alec Ferretti. Early bird pricing (through 10/31) is $299 AND we have a free travel agent, Kelly, who can hook you up with discounted rates on the resort and flights.

Link to register in comments.

09/26/2026

25 Sep 2026 I am thrilled to announce that registration is fully open for Genealogy Unconference: Cancun! Link in comments.

09/25/2026

An enormous new resource for Black families who descend from enslaved ancestors--particularly those with roots in the Caribbean! It's on Ancestry and FREE to access.

"The collection, known as the Former British Colonies Enslavement Registers, contains about 300,000 pages recording enslaved people across former British colonial dependencies between 1813 and 1840, including the Bahamas, Barbados, the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Jamaica, Mauritius and Trinidad."

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/sep/22/nearly-4m-records-of-enslaved-people-in-20-former-british-colonies-now-searchable-online?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawUjpSFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5hhu4rAjS_xB2lKnLAeO5a3Y7yhfARhqKz_tdjdscJbjB3TS05WySRkwB43g_aem_CKpScdpXT_AibZFKwuoXEw =1790063033

Exclusive: Collection’s 300,000 pages record lives of enslaved people in countries including the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Mauritius, South Africa and Trinidad