- This event has passed.
(Almost) Midnight Madness
June 19, 2023 @ 8:00 am - June 24, 2023 @ 5:00 pm
We are back!
Well, almost. We will still offer the excellent programming you have come to expect from us, the friendly staff, exemplary service, and we will stay open late for your convenience. Just not quite as late as before. The library will close at 10 on Monday through Thursday, and at it’s normal time of 5:30 on Friday. The dates for (Almost) Midnight Madness are
Monday June 19, 2023 – Friday June 23, 2023
If you’re new here, you may wonder what all the hype is about. (Almost) Midnight Madness is a week long genealogy conference at Willard Public Library in Evansville, Indiana. Here are a few of the reasons everyone loves it:
It’s Free! Yes, you read that correctly. It is 100% without any cost to you.
Give Aways! The first 250 people through the door will receive some truly special gifts.
Door Prizes! There will be drawings for door prizes.
World Class Speakers! This is the main reason to be excited. We have some great speakers lined up for you.
Food Trucks! We will bring in at least one food truck per day so that once you’re parked, you can stay parked.
Registration Form
Please click above on “Registration Form” download the fillable PDF, fill it out, and email it to genealogy@willard.lib.in.us
(Librarians, please indicate in your email that you need LEU’s)
Speakers
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS has a deep love for her Appalachian roots with nearly every ancestor living south of the Ohio River. Growing up as an only child, her trips with her parents involved courthouses and cemeteries.
While her own children were young, she was asked to be the Family History Director in northcentral Ohio. Her research skills deepened, and soon she was invited to speak at conferences and webinars around the United States.
The author of several Legacy QuickGuides on the Appalachian states, she has also filmed as an instructor for Ancestry Academy and is a former researcher for Ancestry ProGenealogists. She was recognized for her work by being awarded the title of Fellow of the Ohio Genealogical Society in 2018, as well as receiving the Laura G. Prescott Award for Exemplary Service in Genealogy.
Richard Hill was the first adoptee to identify his birth family through genetic genealogy DNA tests. To share what he learned with other adoptees and genealogists Richard created his first DNA-focused website in 2008.
His pioneering application of genetic genealogy was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal in 2009. Since then, he has advised thousands of adoptees, genealogists, and others seeking to find lost relatives or confirm suspected relationships.
Today, his new DNA Favorites website is a one-stop resource for anyone interested in genetic genealogy. He is a popular speaker on DNA testing topics and continues to share news, tips, and DNA testing success stories on social media.
Richard’s award-winning memoir is Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA. It is available in print, Kindle, and audiobook formats on Amazon. His Guide to DNA Testing, a Kindle short book, gives readers just enough information to choose the right DNA tests for their purposes.
Richard serves on the Advisory Board of DNA Quest, a program that periodically distributes free DNA tests to adoptees and their birth families. He is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, and the American Adoption Congress. Richard lives in Michigan with his wife of 54 years. He has a B.S. and an MBA from Michigan State University.
Shannon Combs-Bennett (QG, MSc, PLCGS) is an award-winning author and genealogical researcher based in Northern Virginia. She lectures and writes on various topics, from genealogical methodology to genetic genealogy. Shannon holds a BS in Biology with an emphasis in genetics and an MSc in Genealogical, Heraldic, and Paleographic Studies. She also earned her Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Currently, Shannon is a doctoral student in History and Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde.
Schedule
(Click “Schedule” above for daily itinerary and speaker slots)
Give-Aways
(For the first 250 registered attendees)
Door Prizes
Attend 16 Sessions to be entered into the drawing
One iPad 10th Generation
Ten MyHeritage DNA kits
One Copy of Finding Family
Ten Ancestry DNA Kits
One Year Subscription to Storied
Food Trucks
Monday
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
Steve’s Oink -N- Squeel
Sweet Dreams A-La-Mode
Tuesday
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
STUFT
Wednesday
The Cheese Queen
Kona Ice
Thursday
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
Lee’ Phillies and More
La Plaza
Friday
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
Joey Za’s Pizza and Steaks
Sweet Dreams A-La-Mode