Genealogical society to host State conference September 2 & 3

The Villa San Agustín de Laredo Genealogical Society will host the 26th Annual State Hispanic Genealogical and Historical Conference September 2 through 4 at the Holiday Inn.

History enthusiasts will be taken for a tour of the old Los Ojuelos ranch near Mirando City and to San Ygnacio for a look at some of the best examples of Spanish vernacular architecture still standing. The tour, which begins at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, September 2, ends with a walking tour of Fort Mcintosh and historic Laredo .

Three afternoon workshops promise a wealth of information for attendees. Genealogical computer research using the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints begins at 3 p.m., followed by a workshop presented by Laura Gutierrez-Witt on deciphering the Spanish language manuscripts. Author José de la Peña will speak on Revilla/Guerrero Viejo.

The morning program for September 3 includes talks by José Antonio Esquibel on Don Tomás Sanchez; Guillermo Garmendia Leal on “Los Descendientes de Don Tomás Sanchez;” and Galen Greaser of the Texas General Land Office Archives and Records.

The afternoon program includes “A Postcard History of Laredo” by Dr. Ramon Dovalina; “ La Union Fronteriza : The Republic of the Río Grande ” by author Dr. Beatriz de la Garza ; “Al Trote por Laredo : Highlights of Laredo History” by Dr. José Roberto Juarez; and “The Impact of the Mexican Revolution on Tejanos” by Dr. Andrés Tijerina.

The day culminates with a reception at IBC's Lago del Río hosted by Renato Ramirez of the International Bank of Commerce - Zapata.

Conference attendees will enjoy a typical Laredo breakfast on the morning of Sunday, September 4, before attending a full morning of platicas on the life of cowboy and rodeo star Juan Salinas Light by Ricardo Palacios; General Treviño by Eduardo Hinojosa and Prof. Aarón C. Cadena Sáenz; the History of the Farias Family by George Farias; and El Cid by Joel René Escobar.

For further information on the conference or to acquire a registration form in advance, call Sanjuanita Martinez-Hunter at (956) 722-3497 or write Mirta Barrera at barrerapa@aol.com. The website address for the Villa San Agustín de Laredo Genealogical Society is www.vsaigs.org