Welcome!
Thank you for registering for our 2025 Salt Lake City Research Tour, which is taking place Sunday, November 9 - Sunday, November 16, 2025!
Navigate the resources of the world’s largest genealogy library with help from American Ancestors. Our experts have more than 40 years' experience guiding researchers of all levels through the vast resources of the FamilySearch Library. Benefit from our special orientations and tutorials, one-on-one consultations, informative lectures, and more!
Program Includes
- Seven-night hotel stay at the Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown
- Tour and orientation to collections of the FamilySearch Library
- Daily lectures
- Three, thirty-minute consultations with expert genealogists (one virtual pre-tour consultation, two on-tour consultations)
- Group meals (opening and closing dinner, mid-week luncheon)
- Pre-program preparatory webinar and resources
Pre-Tour Zoom Presentation
Live broadcast: October 2, 3:00 PM Eastern Time
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist, and Kathleen Mackenzie, Education & Programming Manager.
Learn how to prepare for your time in Salt Lake City and at the FamilySearch Library, make the most of your one-on-one consultations, and more! This presentation will be held in a zoom meeting format. This means that during our Q&A sessions you will have the option to come on camera, unmute, and ask questions. You also have the option to remain muted with your camera off, and instead ask questions in the meeting chat.
Participant Form 1 - Due October 20
Please fill out this first participant form by October 20. This first form allows you to provide contact information, allergies, etc., as well as the topic you would like to discuss in your pre-tour consultation over Zoom. After you fill out the form, Kathleen will be in touch to schedule your pre-tour consultation.
If you have any questions about filling out this form or your pre-tour consultation, please contact Education & Programming Manager, Kathleen Mackenzie at kathleen.mackenzie@americanancestors.org.
Participant Form 2 - Due November 1
Participant Form 2 is due November 1. This second form allows you to submit the topics that you would like to discuss in your two on-tour, in-person consultations.
Once Kathleen receives all of these forms, she will begin creating the on-site consultation schedule. You will be paired with a genealogist(s) who has expertise in the topic that you submitted for your consultations. The consultation schedule is created based on genealogist availability during the tour between the hours of 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m..
If you have any questions about filling out this form or the on-tour consultations, please contact Education & Programming Manager, Kathleen Mackenzie at kathleen.mackenzie@americanancestors.org.
Schedule
| Sunday, November 9 | |
| after 3:00 p.m. | Check-in at Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown |
| 4:00–4:30 p.m. | Introductions and Your Guide to the Week, Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown, Parleys Room |
| 4:30–5:00 p.m. | Helpful Hints for First-Time Attendees, Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown, Parleys Room |
| 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Welcome Dinner, Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown, Cottonwood Room |
| Monday, November 10 | |
| 8:50 a.m. | Group will depart hotel lobby to walk to library (or you can walk to the library on your own) |
| 9:00–9:45 a.m. | Orientation to FamilySearch Library, Main Floor, Classroom B |
| 10:00-11:00 a.m. | Catalog Tutorials and Tours of the FamilySearch Library |
| 11:00 pm–5:00 p.m.** | Personal research and consultations with American Ancestors staff genealogists, FamilySearch Library |
| 6:00 p.m. | FamilySearch Library closes |
| Tuesday, November 11 | |
| 8:50 a.m. | Group will depart hotel lobby to walk to library (or you can walk to the library on your own) |
| 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.** | Personal research and consultations with American Ancestors staff genealogists, FamilySearch Library |
| 11:00 am–12:00 p.m. | Lecture: Researching American & Canadian World War I Veterans, presented by David Allen Lambert, FamilySearch Library Main Floor, Classroom B |
| 8:00 p.m. | FamilySearch Library closes |
| Wednesday, November 12 | |
| 8:50 a.m. | Group will depart hotel lobby to walk to library (or you can walk to the library on your own) |
| 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.** | Personal research and consultations with American Ancestors staff genealogists, FamilySearch Library |
| 11:00 am–12:00 p.m. | Lecture: Using Your Computer for Genealogical Analysis, presented by Rhonda R. McClure, FamilySearch Library Main Floor, Classroom B |
| 12:00–2:00 p.m. | Group Lunch, Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown, Cottonwood Room |
| 8:00 p.m. | FamilySearch Library closes |
| Thursday, November 13 | |
| 8:50 a.m. | Group will depart hotel lobby to walk to library (or you can walk to the library on your own) |
| 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.** | Personal research and consultations with American Ancestors staff genealogists, FamilySearch Library |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Lecture: Taking the Next Steps in Your DNA Research, presented by Christopher C. Child, FamilySearch Library Main Floor, Classroom B |
| 8:00 p.m. | FamilySearch Library closes |
| Friday, November 14 | |
| 8:50 a.m. | Group will depart hotel lobby to walk to library (or you can walk to the library on your own) |
| 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.** | Personal research and consultations with American Ancestors staff genealogists, FamilySearch Library |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Lecture: Forgotten and Underrepresented Voices in Records, presented by Melanie McComb, FamilySearch Library Main Floor, Classroom B |
| 6:00 p.m. | FamilySearch Library closes |
| Saturday, November 15 | |
| 8:50 a.m. | Group will depart hotel lobby to walk to library (or you can walk to the library on your own) |
| 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.** | Personal research and consultations with American Ancestors staff genealogists, FamilySearch Library |
| 6:00 p.m. | FamilySearch Library closes |
| 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Closing Dinner, Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, Cottonwood Room |
| Sunday, November 16 | |
| before 11:00 a.m. | Check out of the Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown |
*Schedule is subject to change
**American Ancestors staff will be on-site at the FamilySearch Library 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday–Saturday during the tour. However, participants are welcome to research at the library later if they wish. The FamilySearch Library is open until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday and until 6:00 p.m. Monday, Friday, and Saturday.
Packet Materials
Salt Lake City Research Tour 2025 Schedule
Salt Lake City Research Tour 2025 Participant List
Participant Forms for Consultations (Digital Only)
American Ancestors Expert Bios
Lecture Handout: Researching American & Canadian World War I Veterans
Lecture Handout: Using Your Computer for Genealogical Analysis
Lecture Handout: Taking the Next Steps in Your DNA Research
Lecture Handout: Forgotten and Underrepresented Voices in Records
Hotel
We will be staying at the Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, located at 215 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT, 84101. This is a 7-minute walk from the FamilySearch Library. The hotel has a variety of amenities including:
- On-site Copper Canyon restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Room service
- Lounge/bar
- Premium wifi
- 24-hour security
- Fitness center
- and more*
Check in is at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, and check out is at noon on Sunday, November 16. If you would like to book additional nights at the hotel, you can do so directly with the hotel on their website or by calling them at 385-354-5457. When you check in, you can let them know that you're part of our block and would like to stay in the same room throughout your stay.
Parking:
Indoor parking is offered at $25/ Night with maximum height of 7 feet. Limited outdoor parking is also offered at $25/ Night. Valet Parking is available for $35/ Night.
The daily fee allows you to come and go throughout the day- you do not need to pay each time you leave and return.
Tour Experts
