Speaker: Jay Davidson

How can we tease out the stories behind our ancestors’ photos? What were they like? What motivated them? How do their photos fit into their lives? Jay Davidson will present “My Mystery Ancestor: Researching Old Photos with Al and a Photo Detective” for the St. Cloud Area Genealogists online on Tuesday, November 1’, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Whitney Senior Center (1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud). The presentation will be available remotely and will be recorded for members of SCAG and registered guests. James Latimer (Jay) Davidson grew up in York, Pennsylvania. His banking career took him from Manhattan to Hong Kong, Boston and Beijing. While his life and work took him far from his origins in rural Pennsylvania, his interest in genealogy sparked a renewed interest in his hometown region. Davidson will share how researching the photos and artwork of his ancestor, folk artist Lewis Miller, led to an in-depth study of life and culture in 19th century Pennsylvania. Davidson’s book “Young Lewis Miller: A Boy’s Life in the 1800s,” was recently published by the York County Historical Center and timed with the 250th anniversary of the United States. Now living in Southern California, Davidson is excited to share his research and the work of his ancestor with future generations.

Presenter: Jill Morelli

Speaker: Justin Frost

What does a live, in-person conference like North Star offer to family history buffs? Genealogists can learn so much nowadays through “virtual” means—webinars, seminars, classes, even conferences—without ever leaving their homes. Yes, this year’s North Star conference offers the insight and expertise of two nationally known experts in genealogy research and multiple sessions on a wide variety of interesting topics from regional experts all in the span of two days. You might be able to take in these types of sessions at your own pace at home if you sought them out. But you’d miss the conference experience. You’d miss talking with other attendees who may have run into some of the same “brick walls” you have—and have found a solution. You’d miss asking your questions of the experts who are right there, speaking at the conference. You also couldn’t enjoy the networking and camaraderie of like-minded people who love family history as much as you do. We hope you’ll look at the conference schedule to find out all you can learn in two days. Then, also note the times built into the schedule for you to make your own experiences—visiting with vendors, lunch times, the Friday evening social, and bidding on door prizes. Register now to save your spot at the conference, then plan on having a great time exploring family history together. We’ll see you at the end of October!

Speakers: Michelle Klein, Michele Braun-Heurung and Joel Dhein 

Choosing the right genealogy software is an important part of organizing, preserving, and sharing your family history research. This presentation will explore key factors to consider when evaluating genealogy programs, including ease of use, cost, syncing capabilities, data privacy, source citation tools, reporting features, media management, DNA integration, training resources, and long-term data portability. The session will feature demonstrations and insights from users of Family Tree Maker and RootsMagic, while also discussing other genealogy software options available today.