TxSGS Call for Prsentations – 2026 TxSGS Famiy History Conference
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSONS – MARCH 20, 2026
Ready to share your expertise with fellow genealogists? The Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) invites you to submit presentation proposals for the 2026 TxSGS Family History Conference, A Journey of Discovery. We hope you’ll join us at the Riley Center on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 6-7, 2026, for hybrid event. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or eager to share your research breakthrough for the first time, we want to hear from you!
Registrants have the opportunity to attend in-person or virtually. In-person speakers will be livestreamed with the session recorded during the live presentation.
This year’s theme celebrates the adventure of genealogical research—those exciting moments of discovery, the creative problem-solving, and the thrill of piecing together family stories. We’re looking for presentations that inspire, educate, and empower genealogists at every skill level as they navigate their own journeys through family history.
What to Expect
Our hybrid conference brings together 200+ attendees both in-person and virtually. Your presentation could reach researchers across Texas and beyond! All livestreamed sessions will be recorded during the live presentations at the Riley Center, and recordings remain available to registrants for 90 days after the conference, extending your reach even further. Additional pre-recorded lectures and Short Takes will ensure a robust library of on-demand recordings that will be accessible by registrants following the conference.
Exciting New Opportunities This Year!
We’ve expanded our presentation formats to give you more ways to share your knowledge:
- Short Takes – Got a brilliant tip, tool, or technique to share? These concise 15-minute pre-recorded presentations are perfect for delivering focused, high-impact content without the time commitment of a full lecture.
- Hands-On Workshops – Love interactive learning? Lead a 2-hour deep-dive workshop where participants can practice skills alongside you (in-person only).
- Hybrid Format – Reach both in-person and virtual audiences simultaneously with livestreamed presentations.
Choose Your Format
Select the presentation style that works best for you and your topic:
Live Lectures (In-Person, Livestreamed)
- 60 minutes total (45–55 minutes presentation + Q&A)
- Delivered in-person and livestreamed to virtual attendees
- Recorded during the presentation and available to all registrants for 90 days following the conference
Hands-On Workshops (In-Person Only)
- 2-hour interactive sessions focused on skill-building
- Participant involvement encouraged
- Not recorded or livestreamed
Pre-Recorded Lectures
- 60 minutes
- Available on-demand for 90 days after the conference
- Record at your convenience
Short Takes (Pre-Recorded)
- 15 minutes of focused content (recording may be no less than 10 minutes and no more than 20 minutes.
- Perfect for introducing a tool, sharing a case study, or highlighting an emerging resource
- Ideal for first-time speakers or busy professionals
- TxSGS may group Short Takes thematically, if appropriate
Topics We’d Love to See
We welcome proposals on any genealogical topic that fits our theme, A Journey of Discovery. Here are some areas of particular interest:
- Genealogical methodology and creative problem-solving strategies
- Deep dives into specific record types (land, probate, tax, court, church, manuscripts, and more)
- Research in Texas and surrounding states
- Migration patterns and settlement histories
- Storytelling, writing, and publishing family histories
- DNA research and genetic genealogy
- Technology tools and innovations (including AI applications)
- Organizing, preserving, and sharing your research
- Ethnic and cultural research (African American, Hispanic, German, Czech, Indigenous, and other communities)
- Navigating repositories, archives, and special collections
Submission Guidelines
You may submit up to six (6) proposals in any combination of formats. We encourage you to submit multiple topics—it increases your chances of being selected!
What We Need From You
Each proposal should include:
- Presenter name (as it should appear in publicity)
- Contact information (mailing address, phone, primary email, secondary email)
- Speaker biography (up to 150 words; may be edited for length)
- List of no more than 10 presentations that you offered during 2025
- Presentation; select whether or not you are willing to present in Fort Worth
- Presentation format (Live, Pre-Recorded, Short Take, or Workshop)
- Brief summary (maximum 50 words; may be edited for clarity)
- Presentation outline or more detailed description for evaluation
- Identify the “area of content” or “track” that best describes your presentation
- Audience level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or All Levels)
Workshop proposals also need:
- Workshop goals and learning outcomes
- Maximum participant capacity
- Equipment or materials required
Important: Please don’t submit lectures that will be presented at other conferences or Texas societies between May 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026, or that are currently available online. We’re looking for fresh content that our attendees can’t find elsewhere!
Handouts and Materials
Selected presenters will provide handouts based on their format:
- Live Lectures: 4-page PDF handout (required)
- Pre-Recorded Lectures: 4-10 page PDF handout (required)
- Short Takes: Optional handout (up to 4 pages)
- Workshops: Up to 8 pages of printed materials (TxSGS will print if submitted by deadline), plus additional PDF resources as appropriate
All handouts and speaker biographies will be included in the conference syllabus distributed to attendees. Handouts should be educational rather than promotional—please get approval from TxSGS before including advertisements for products or services.
Compensation and Other Speaker Benefits
| Presentation Type | Honorarium |
| Live Lecture (60 minutes) | $250 |
| Pre-Recorded Lecture (60 minutes) | $200 |
| Short Take (20 minutes) | $50 |
| Workshop (2 hours) | $300 |
All speakers receive:
- Complimentary conference registration
- Access to all session recordings for 90 days
- Travel and lodging stipends (for in-person presenters living 50+ miles from the venue)
- The opportunity to connect with fellow genealogists and build your professional network
- A platform to share your passion and expertise with an engaged audience
Mark Your Calendar
- March 20, 2026: Proposal submission deadline
- April 15, 2026: Acceptance notifications sent
- April 30, 2026: Deadline to accept speaker invitation
- September 15, 2026: Syllabus materials due
Ready to Submit?
We’ve made the submission process easy! Choose one of these options:
Option 1: Complete the official TxSGS Conference Submission Form
Option 2: Email your proposal(s) as a single PDF or Word document to: conference@txsgs.org
If emailing, please use “2026 Call for Presentations” as the subject line. Name your file: LastName-FirstName-Presentation-Title (e.g., Smith-Jane-DNABasics.docx or Smith-Jane-DNABasics.pdf).
Important: If you submit via the online form, please don’t also email your submission—one method is plenty!
Questions?
We’re here to help! Contact the 2026 TxSGS Family History Conference Committee at conference@txsgs.org with any questions about the submission process or presentation formats.
We can’t wait to see your proposals!
We look forward to traveling “A Journey of Discovery” together in 2026!
Download a PDF of the Call for Presentations