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Digging Into Our Roots at RootsTech in Salt Lake City!
Our first RootsTech Conference in Salt Lake City turned into two days of discovery, learning, and inspiration. From DNA and African American genealogy to genealogy tourism, artificial intelligence, and powerful stories from the past, Wayne was in genealogy heaven—and I quickly discovered there was plenty for me to explore too! Come along as we share some of our favorite sessions, an inspiring presentation, my decision to take an mtDNA test, and why RootsTech reminded us that discovering where we come from is really about preserving the stories that connect us.
TRAVEL STORIESREFLECTIONS & MILESTONESFAITH & PURPOSE
Tamara Driver
9/25/20264 min read
There’s no better place to dig into your roots than at RootsTech! One quick flight over and we landed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and this time, our journey was taking us somewhere completely different—the RootsTech Conference!
RootsTech is one of the world’s largest family history and genealogy conferences, bringing together researchers, storytellers, technology experts, DNA specialists, and people who are simply curious about their family history. Hosted by FamilySearch, the conference offers educational sessions, inspiring speakers, hands-on demonstrations, and opportunities to explore the latest tools and resources for discovering and preserving family stories.
Whether you are an experienced genealogist or just beginning to ask, “Where does my story begin?”, RootsTech provides a unique opportunity to learn, connect with others, and discover new ways to bring the people and stories of the past to life.
Wayne Was in Genealogy Heaven!
This was the first time Wayne and I had ever attended RootsTech, and, as a genealogist, he was in his element!
Now, I am not a genealogist, but I have to tell you—I had an amazing time too. The conference was enormous. It seemed as though we were walking from building to building because the space was so vast. There were sessions happening everywhere, vendors to explore, exhibits, places to eat, demonstrations, and people from all over who shared an interest in discovering their family histories. It was like its own adventure, and there was absolutely no way to get bored.
In fact, Wayne and I would grab lunch near the conference just so we could eat and hurry back. We wanted to squeeze in as much as possible during the two days we were there. With America's 250th anniversary approaching, there was also an added sense of excitement around learning more about the people and stories that helped shape our country's history.
So Much to Learn—and Only Two Days!
We learned so much in those two short days. There were more sessions than we could possibly attend, so we had to pick and choose. Here are just five of the many sessions that caught our attention:
Y-DNA to Z: My Results Are Back, Now What? — A DNA-focused session about understanding Y-DNA results and, more importantly, what to do with them once you receive them.
Underground Freedom Seekers—Slave Labor Case Studies in the U.S. Mining Industry — Presented by Cecelia McFadden of Genealogy Technologies, LLC.
Travel Like A Pro— Building Research Guides For Genealogy Tourism — Also presented by Cecelia McFadden. Now, you know a session combining travel and genealogy was going to get our attention!
Taxes and Tithes: Researching Enslaved Communities in Colonial Virginia — Presented by Orice Jenkins.
From Virginia to Guam: Tracing a Black Family via DNA and Maritime Records — Presented by Andre Kearns, Founder & CEO of Black Ancestries.
The variety was incredible. One minute we could be learning about DNA, and the next about enslaved communities, historical records, genealogy tourism, or new research methods.
They even offered sessions about how genealogists can use Artificial Intelligence as a research tool to dig deeper, analyze information, and approach longstanding research questions in new ways. Everything we were taking in simply amazed me. And I thought I would never get Wayne out of that conference!
A Powerful Story from Tara Roberts
Another memorable part of our RootsTech experience was hearing Tara Roberts, an explorer and storyteller whose work has helped bring international attention to the underwater search for ships connected to the transatlantic slave trade. Her presentation introduced us to a remarkable effort to locate these shipwrecks and, more importantly, recover and preserve the human stories connected to them.
Her story was inspiring, deeply moving, and impactful. Her story served as another reminder that we don't always find genealogy in a family Bible, census record, or DNA result. Sometimes uncovering our history requires us to look beneath the surface—quite literally.
And Then I Got a DNA Test!
Now, remember what I said earlier: I am not the genealogist in this family. But RootsTech has a way of pulling you in! While exploring the conference, I chose to take genealogy beyond the paper trail and obtained a FamilyTreeDNA mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test. This one was all about my mother's side.
An mtDNA test follows the direct maternal line—my mother, her mother, her mother's mother, and the women who came before them. Suddenly, I wasn't just tagging along with Wayne to a genealogy conference. I had my own mystery to explore. Where might my maternal line eventually lead? I guess we'll have to wait and see!
More Than a Genealogy Conference
By the time our two days at RootsTech came to an end, I understood why so many people make this conference an annual event. RootsTech wasn't simply about names, dates, documents, and DNA. It was about stories.
We aimed to understand our origins, discover people whose lives might have been overlooked, connect generations, and find new ways to preserve those stories for the people who will follow us. For Wayne and me, it was another experience that blended into our journey together—travel, history, learning, and discovery all in one place.
We were so happy we had the opportunity to experience it.
Where Does Your Story Begin?
Have you ever attended RootsTech? If so, what was your experience? Did you discover something that changed the way you looked at your family history?
We'd love to hear about it.
And our Salt Lake City adventure wasn't quite over yet. There were still a few more things waiting for us before we moved on to Boise, Idaho.
So stay tuned…