Guess Where I Was Yesterday?
I was lucky enough to have my first appointment for my own research in person at NARA in D.C. It is a two-hour trip for me, each way, and I do not mind at all. The staff was amazing and well organized. (Kudos for finding that missing Mexican War pension, Catherine!)
Although unplanned, I had an opportunity to meet yesterday with the gentlemen who liaison with our program at NARA. I did not have a chance to discuss all this with my Assistant Director, Cinda Baxter before the last chance meeting came up. The critical information came at the close of the Archives yesterday evening when I met with the head of the archival staff, and was told officially that NARA will definitely not be able to handle a group our size by August. Just can’t happen. We have no option for being in-person. Gen-Fed will officially be virtual this year.
Now the good news: Last year I took a poll of the instructors and asked that, if we had another virtual session, would they be willing to add students to the list? The response was overwhelmingly positive. I took a brief testing-the-waters poll of a few instructors yesterday and the feeling was the same. I am now announcing that we will take 60 students now instead of 50! I will be contacting those people on the waitlist shortly.
After lengthy discussion while on my long ride home, Cinda and I felt that rather than wait until the end of April to decide, we should announce now. We know people need time to make other arrangements if they need to switch gears. Those students who were on the waitlist from 2019 who want to be put back on the waitlist for an in-person session can email us at info@gen-fed.org.
Thank you so much for your patience as we navigate these still uncertain times. We are excited and gearing up for a strong virtual session. Staff members have already started volunteering to help me pull records for the promised 2 per person after the institute!
