National Genealogical Society Announces Hall of Fame Inductee and NGS Fellows at Family History Conference Opening Plenary Session

 

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) announced a new Hall of Fame inductee and its latest NGS Fellows, and presented the Stern Award, Awards of Merit, and the President's Citation during its 2026 Family History Conference, America at 250, at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Awards Committee Chair Judy Nimer Muhn presented the awards. National Genealogy Hall of Fame Since 1986, the National Genealogy Hall of Fame has honored outstanding genealogists whose achievements in American genealogy have had a great impact on the field and who have been deceased for at least five years. Their contributions to genealogy in this country need to be significant in a unique, pioneering, or exemplary way. A panel of genealogists from across the United States judges the entries. This year, Brig. General (Delaware Army National Guard, Retired) Donn Devine, CG Emeritus, FNGS, was elected. The Board for the Certification of Genealogists and the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania submitted the nomination. Devine was born on 30 March 1929 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and died on 5 May 2019 in Wilmington, Delaware. During a genealogical career spanning more than thirty-five years, he demonstrated and promoted the highest standards through education and publications. Devine's research articles appear in National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, The American Genealogist, and other peer-reviewed journals. He penned articles on evidence analysis for NGS Magazine and OnBoard: Newsletter of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Devine wrote two chapters in Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers and Librarians (ProGen). His educational writings for general audiences include an Irish genealogy column in The Irish Edition (Philadelphia) and dozens of articles on methodology and analysis in Ancestry magazine. His columns won several awards. An Ancestry article (2000) and the 2005 NGSQ case study were among the earliest published discussions of DNA testing for genealogy. Devine contributed significantly to the creation and implementation of the Genealogical Proof Standard. His informal mentorship of individual genealogists over many decades has been highly valued by all with whom he has fostered these relationships. NGS Fellow The NGS Fellow (FNGS) recognizes outstanding work in service to NGS and in the field of genealogy. This year's recipients were Peter Broadbent Jr., JD; Carmen Finley, PhD, CG Emeritus (posthumously); and C. Ann Staley, CG, CGL. Peter Edwin Broadbent Jr., JD, has used his legal skills and knowledge to benefit NGS and the broader genealogical community through pro bono work over the past five decades. Broadbent has been interested in genealogy since he was a teenager. As a member of the NGS Board of Directors from 2003 to 2010, he advised NGS and the genealogy community on many issues, including changes to NGS's articles of incorporation and bylaws, the transfer of the NGS Library collection, the relocation of NGS headquarters, and the merger of NGS with the Federation of Genealogical Societies. He received NGS's President's Citation in 2010. Broadbent served as president of the Virginia Genealogical Society and, for decades, as a board member. He has also served as president and longtime board member of the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia. Four Virginia governors have appointed him to the Library of Virginia Board, where he has served for nineteen years (twice as chair). Broadbent is the vice president of the James Monroe Memorial Foundation and a former governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in Virginia. He led the legislative effort in 2012 to shorten the closed period for Virginia marriage and death records and provide greater access to Virginia vital records online. Carmen Finley, PhD, CG Emeritus, joined NGS in 1984 and remained a member until 2022, at age 96. She died on 16 July 2025, so is receiving this Fellow award posthumously, near the anniversary of her hundredth birthday. Finley actively participated in the early years of RootsWeb to facilitate the worldwide exchange of genealogical information. In support of family history scholarship, she served on the NGSQ editorial board from 2003 to 2018; authored the NGS publication, Creating a Winning Family History (1988, revised 2010 and still in use); published articles in both NGSQ and NGS Magazine; and chaired the committee of judges for the NGS Family History Writing Competition (1990–2020). She rarely missed an NGS conference and received the NGS Distinguished Service Award in 1996. As president of the Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Finley directed its many compilation and transcription projects. She collaborated with the Library at Sonoma State University to create the Finley-McFarling Genealogy Collection to preserve her extensive research findings and make them available online, for which she and the library received a GENTECH Applied Technology award. She authored The Finleys of Early Sonoma County, California, in 1997 and published articles in several genealogical journals. Behind the scenes and in front of the camera, C. Ann Staley, CG, CGL, has demonstrated her commitment to NGS education. She contributed hundreds of hours to the NGS Conference Committee (2014–2023) and chaired the 2016 NGS Family History Conference in Fort Lauderdale. She served as NGS's 2020 virtual conference online host at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the Society quickly pivot from its canceled in-person event. She helped develop the online programs for the 2022 and 2023 conferences, serving as the virtual emcee. She also conducted interviews with speakers in 2022. Staley coauthored the NGS Research in the States guidebook for Florida. She has written for NGS Magazine and, since 2019, has chaired the National Genealogy Hall of Fame Committee. She also served on the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Since 2000, Staley has assisted with other local, regional, and national efforts. As education chair for a local society, she taught genealogy courses for over twenty years. She is the membership chair and former vice president of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and a faculty member of the International Institute for Genealogical Studies and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. Staley is the leader of the Florida State Genealogical Society's Poolside Chat program; she was its conference chair for eleven years; and has been a proofreader, indexer, and interim editor of its journal. Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award This award recognizes someone whose positive influence and leadership have fostered unity and helped to make family history a vital force in the community. This year's recipient is Ron Chan of Hayward, California. His scholarship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to historical preservation have strengthened community ties, advanced public understanding of genealogical research, and exemplified a positive and unifying spirit. Between July 2023 and November 2025, Chan delivered sixty-two family history presentations to thousands of learners, including at a program simulcast from China to audiences in Shanghai, Beijing, San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. He teaches at the Piedmont Adult School in Oakland, California. As founder and executive director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, Chan has grown the organization to 300 members and established it as a leading resource for Chinese American family history. Under his direction, the group developed a robust slate of seminars, surname symposiums, ancestral lineage-book workshops, and guided research initiatives, including field visits to the National Archives and the Angel Island Immigration Station. He is a Chinese genealogy subject-matter expert for a FamilySearch Center. He Chan also is cofounder of the Chinese American GI Project, for which he co-curated the WWII Local Heroes exhibit for the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, on whose Advisory Board he serves. The Award of Merit is presented to an individual or nonprofit genealogical or historical organization to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years. Their work must have significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy. This year, the NGS board of directors presented the award to the following distinguished leaders in our sector. Michael Andrews has incorporated genealogy into a semester-long (fifteen-week) elective English class at Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, as part of its Humanities Composition program. Over the past eight years, more than 1,000 students have selected this course, which by popular demand now includes a second section. The course emphasizes rigorous thinking, researching, and writing, and culminates in a creative video presentation. All aspects of research are introduced, including DNA and investigative genetic genealogy. These final presentations evidence the students' passion, depth of research, and its impact on their lives. Ray W. Crouse has authored a series of books that describe and document Native American ancestry of the Melungeons. Through exhaustive research, he has proven, that many Melungeons—particularly those in Southwest Virginia and Tennessee—had Native ancestry that was removed from official documents by the government. Crouse has documented who the mixed Native tribes of Virginia were and where they went. His research shows that tribes from Eastern Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, and South Carolina co-migrated and established numerous settlements, including Newman's Ridge in Tennessee and Copper Ridge in Russell County, Virginia. His work ties hundreds of families together via many heretofore unknown associations. Sylvia Tracy Doolos was recognized for her leadership and volunteerism in many organizations. She is president of the Welsh-Irish-Scottish-English Family History Society (Denver, Colorado); president of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists; past president and current membership chair of the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History; and the library liaison between the Colorado Genealogical Society and the Denver Public Library. She also volunteers with the Special Collections and Archives subdivision of the Denver Public Library and the Carbon Valley (Colorado) Public Library. The Guild of One-Name Studies was recognized for preserving the work of its members and sharing it with the public since its founding in 1979. Since 2016, the Guild has preserved 478 of its members' sites. Of these, over 330 are created with common software, enabling single queries across all 330 sites; 60,000 surnames; and over five million individuals. A separate section for genealogies at FamilySearch.org covers over 300 member-submitted databases. It offers an electronic database of members' study details, having digitized all paper records (except retained certificates and photographs). The Guild offers several public databases, including its global marriage index, which contains more than 1.8 million marriages. Jeffrey G. Herbert is a presenter and the author of more than forty books of descriptive indexes to Hamilton County, Ohio, historical and genealogical records. He has served as both president and treasurer of the Hamilton County Genealogical Society and is a trustee of the Glendale, Ohio, Heritage Preservation Museum. He has been a longtime volunteer at a local FamilySearch Center and the Archives of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. His efforts were instrumental in adding the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's sacramental records to FindMyPast. Herbert was awarded the Griffin Yeatman Award in 1998 by the Hamilton County Recorder, which recognizes residents who have helped share and preserve county records. Eva Holmes, CG, AG, has contributed to many organizations as a volunteer, editor, writer, and lecturer. She wrote the Maine guidebook for the NGS Research in the States series and has published in National Genealogical Society Quarterly, among other publications. She is the editor for the Utah Genealogical Association's Crossroads magazine. She served on the Board for Certification of Genealogists Education Fund Committee and has served as a mentor for ProGen. She is currently the GenProof Administrator. Holmes mentors those aspiring to become certified or accredited, including as a mentor for the Certification Development Group. José Antonio "Toño" González Marrero was recognized for his prolific research and writings. He is a full professor of Medieval Latin Philology at the Universidad de La Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands) where he also coordinates genealogy events. His efforts have provided tremendous support for Hispanic American and Canarian genealogy research and the broader Hispanic diaspora. He has written ten books on the people and ancestry of the Canary Islands; contributed to scientific journals and book chapters across the Hispanic world; and edited or compiled scholarly research. He has participated in research and instructional programs at international conferences, including RootsTech, as well as at events in the Canary Islands, Cuba, Spain, and the United States. Randy Seaver of Chula Vista, California, is the creator of one of the longest-running genealogy blogs, Genea-Musings. Launched in 2006, it includes topics ranging from the evolution of online genealogical research to his own family's broad histories. The blog also covers specific aspects of records preservation and genealogical education. Seaver serves thousands of readers in a friendly and informative style. A retired aerospace engineer, he is a staple in the genealogical community and respected by everyone. The Society of Sons and Daughters of WWII Veterans is part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. The Society has made sustained, substantial contributions in support of access to genealogical research materials; increased public interest in family history; and preserved WWII veterans' stories since its creation in 2011. The Society provides a structured avenue for documenting veteran ancestors with required proof of WWII service. Members can upload and organize documentation, photographs, and personal stories in an online portal. Such efforts curate a body of sourced material that supports future genealogical and historical research. President's Citation Awarded at the discretion of the NGS president, the President's Citation recognizes and acknowledges dedicated efforts on behalf of the National Genealogical Society. This year's citation from NGS President David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, FNGS, recognizes Rick Voight, founder and owner of Vivid-Pix. He is recognized for his significant work with NGS, the broader genealogical community, and the aging community. Drawing on research and scientific studies on aging, he has successfully promoted the importance of storytelling to help our seniors share what they know, strengthen family bonds, and enhance memory. Voight worked with NGS to organize the 2025 Symposium on Healthy Aging and the Role of the Family History Community, in Louisville, Kentucky. It brought together genealogists, business owners, senior community leaders, and genealogy companies and organizations to consider how genealogy and storytelling can strengthen senior adult programming and cognitive care. Certificates of Appreciation Every NGS Family History Conference relies on volunteer assistance to run smoothly. Indeed, the conference would not be possible without this dedicated team's work. Those recognized this year are: Curt Witcher, MLS, FUGA, IGSF, committee cochair and local host cochair; Matthew Blaine Berry, CG, program cochair; Allison DePrey, MLS, MA, local host cochair; Elizabeth Hodges, volunteer coordinator; Melissa Thatcher, volunteer coordinator; Carly Lane Morgan; and Lisa Fanning.

National Genealogical Society Presents Filby Award and Honors Excellence in Newsletter Editorship, Genealogy Tourism, and Rubincam Youth Writing Competition Winners

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) presented several awards in conjunction with the Society's 2026 Family History Conference, America at 250. Judy Nimer Muhn, chair of the NGS Awards Committee, presented the Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship, the NGS Newsletter Competition winners, the Genealogical Tourism Award, and the winners of the Rubincam Youth Writing Competition.

Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship

Chuck Sherrill is this year's recipient. He served as state librarian and archivist of Tennessee for twelve years until his retirement in 2022. Previously, he was the director of the public library at the City of Brentwood, Tennessee; head of the research section of the Tennessee State Library and Archives; director of the Cleveland (Tennessee) Public Library; and head reference librarian at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio. He was also an adjunct faculty member at Jackson State Community College. Sherrill continues to research, speak on history and genealogy topics, and work part-time processing manuscripts and completing special projects at the Tennessee State Archives. He authored more than twenty books on Tennessee history and genealogy and currently is editor of the Middle Tennessee Journal of History and Genealogy.

Created in 1999, NGS named the award for the late P. William Filby, former director of the Maryland Historical Society and the author of many genealogical reference tools that genealogists have relied on for decades. It is presented annually at the NGS Family History Conference. This year's award is sponsored by FamilySearch, sharing its commitment to empowering researchers and libraries around the world.

NGS Newsletter Competition

The winners of the 2026 NGS Newsletter Competition, honoring excellence in newsletter editorship by genealogical/historical societies, family associations, and related member organizations in two categories, are:

Newsletter for a Small Society with less than 500 members

Winner: Goffs/Goughs: Their Ancestors and Descendants, Goff-Gough Family Association, Rancho Cucamonga, California 

Editor Robin Jacobi

Newsletter for a Large Society with more than 500 members

Winner: The Tracer, Hamilton County Genealogical Society, Cincinnati, Ohio

Editor Eileen Muccino

Genealogical Tourism Award

The 2026 winner of the Genealogical Tourism Award is Friends of Roots. The San Francisco-based nonprofit organization was established in 1991 and administers The Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History Project for people with roots in Guangdong Province, China. Some ninety percent of past Chinese immigrants came from Guangdong Province. More than 600 participants have explored their Chinese American family history and visited over 500 ancestral villages and other historical and cultural sites in China. The program also offers a series of seminars on China's history and geography as well as the Chinese American community. Other activities include a tour of San Francisco's Chinatown, research at the National Archives, and a tour of the Angel Island Immigration Station. Friends of Roots exemplifies how individuals or organizations can open the world of family history and genealogical repositories to others.

Rubincam Youth Writing Competition

The Rubincam Youth Writing Competition was established in 1986 to encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. It honors Milton Rubincam, CG, FASG, FNGS, for his many years of service to NGS and to the field of genealogy.

Junior Rubincam Youth Award

Winner: Lizzie Hammonds, "My Tata: Preserving our Mexican Legacy through Recipes"

Honorable Mention: Dalin Thai, "Surviving Year Zero: Sovanna Chhith"

Senior Rubincam Youth Award

Winner: Andrew Kumar, "From Burma to New Jersey: Four Generations of Faith, Teaching, and Migration in the Dasan–Kumar Family"

Honorable Mention: Sadie Hall Kraft, Grace Henning, "Four Generations of Hard Workers”

NGS Honors Excellence in Volunteerism and Service

NGS Presents Awards Honoring Excellence in Volunteerism and Service

The National Genealogical Society began its four-day Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia, on 1 June 2023 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Following the Opening Session’s keynote address, entitled “Diverse from the Beginning” by Christy S. Coleman, executive director, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, NGS Awards Chair Judy Nimer Muhn presented several awards to honor the conference’s local volunteer leadership and to recognize the winners of the NGS Newsletter Competition and the Rubincam Youth Writing Competition. Also presented were the Genealogy Tourism Award, the President’s Citation, Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism.

President’s Citation
The President’s Citation is given in recognition of outstanding, continuing, or unusual contributions to genealogy or the National Genealogical Society. Janet A. Alpert, FNGS, was awarded the 2023 President’s Citation, honoring her many years of service to the NGS. She served on the NGS Board from 2004–2012 as secretary (2004–2006) and president (2006–2010). In 2014, she was named a Fellow of NGS. She has served in a leadership role for every conference since 2009 and has been Conference Committee chair for the last five years. She returned to the board for a second term from 2019–2022. The President’s Citation also recognized Alpert for her ten years of service for the Records Access and Preservation Coalition (RPAC), which she has chaired since 2013.

Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement recognizes an individual whose positive influence and leadership have fostered unity and helped make family history a vital force in the community. This year’s award recipient is Angela Walton-Raji. Walton-Raji is a founding member of MAAGI, the Midwest African-American Genealogy Institute, and is known nationally for her genealogical and historical research and work with Oklahoma Native American records. She is a leader in the genealogy arena who encourages family history research regarding the freedmen of the five civilized tribes and much more.

The Lou D. Szucs Distinguished Service Award recognizes exemplary contributions to the mission of NGS. This year Diane MacLean Boumenot received the award for her outstanding service to NGS. Boumenot worked for more than two years to coordinate the work of a team that reviewed content for the new NGS Advanced Skills in Genealogy course in support of the NGS Education Director Angela McGhie, CG.

Shirley Langdon Wilcox Volunteerism for Exemplary Volunteerism recognizes a volunteer whose generosity of spirit and time has greatly benefited the National Genealogical Society and the genealogical community in general. This year the Society is honoring two awardees.

Deborah Lebo Hoskins, CPA, was elected treasurer to the NGS board of directors in May 2018 and began her first two-year term on 1 October 2018. She served a second term as treasurer from 1 October 2020–30 September 2022. Hoskins significantly provided hours of support and expertise when NGS and the Federation of Genealogical Societies merged.

Darcie Hind Posz, CG, served as an awards committee judge for seven years, during which time she devoted many hours reviewing award nominations. She also served NGS as editor of NGS Magazine (January 2015–September 2016), and as a member of the Nominating Committee for positions on the NGS Board in 2020.

The Award of Merit is presented to an individual or non-profit genealogical or historical organization to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years. Their work must have significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy. This year the NGS board of directors presented the award to the following distinguished leaders in our sector:

Jill Morelli, CG, who has been a speaker, society leader, and networker for years in the genealogy community. Morelli was recognized for the significant time, energy, and expertise she dedicated to the establishment and support of the Certification Discussion Group. The Group helps genealogists understand and progress through the Board for Certification of Genealogist’s certification process to become Certified Genealogists.

Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy. For the past ten years, Dr. Shelley Murphy has dedicated her life to educating others about African American research and genealogy in general. She has served as president, course coordinator, and instructor at the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI), as coordinator of genealogy education for the Center of Family History at the new International African American Museum, and more.

David M. McCorkle. McCorkle was nominated for this award by a group of genealogists for his work in digitizing and providing easy and free access to records of critical importance to North Carolina researchers. Those efforts included the creation of the free website North Carolina Land Grants Images and Data to make North Carolina's land entry and grant records accessible and the creation of a nonprofit for the North Carolina Historical Records Online.

Patricia M. Gailes. Patricia M. Gailes was recognized for her many roles in Southeastern Massachusetts, including as the former vice president of Bristol Chapter, Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. (MSOG, INC.), for the creation of a genealogy research room at the local library, and for obtaining grant funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council to cover speaker fees for the Chapter. Patricia has served as vice president of Dighton Historical Society, Inc., and chairman of the Dighton Historical Commission for the town.

Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI). The Institute has grown over the last ten years and has taken its place as a trusted educational and training institute for the beginner, the intermediate researcher, and the professional. Today MAAGI welcomes a record number of participants from multiple states.

The Genealogy Tourism Award is awarded to the following leaders in the promotion of local genealogy research.

Miriam Weiner was nominated for this award because of her significant and long-term focus on the Jewish records and archives of Eastern Europe, notably Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and more. Building relationships with archivists and government officials, Weiner has opened doors for researchers from across the world. She has augmented this work by leading tour groups at these repositories. Weiner’s development of relationships fostered good will and key records access and preservation in areas and countries with frequent conflicts and lack of resources and staffing that would have resulted in record loss.

Homestead National Historical Park. Homestead National Historical Park actively works to educate and share the enormous impact of the Homestead Act of 1862. In 2019, it received digital assets from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln-Center of Great Plains Study about six black homesteading communities. The park’s job is to share those stories on their website as the Black Homesteaders Project. This Project grew to an innovative collaborative effort between the Homestead National Historic Park and descendants of homesteaders, researchers, genealogists, and volunteers.

The Library of Virginia. The Library of Virginia (LVA) is the premier destination for Virginia family history researchers through its in-person and online programs. It also utilizes social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and the Virginia state tourism site to reach thousands of people to spread the word about the exciting historic sites and repositories found throughout Virginia.

New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B). For more than a decade, the NYG&B has organized research trips every year to New York City and Albany, New York. The research trips to New York City and Albany offer guided tours and lectures by the NYG&B and consulting NYC experts for researchers seeking to learn about the most important collections in local libraries and archives.

The conference continues through Saturday, 3 June 2023.

Copyright © 2023 National Genealogical Society (NGS), all rights reserved. National Genealogical Society · 6400 Arlington Blvd · Suite 810 · Falls Church, VA 22042-2318 · USA

NGS Presents Awards at FOCUS - 2023 Family History Conference

NGS Presents Awards Honoring Excellence in Newsletter Editorship and Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship The National Genealogical Society (NGS) began its Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia, on 31 May 2023 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Its FOCUS event—supporting genealogical society members and reference services/librarians—included a luncheon and afternoon sessions. Luncheon speaker and 2020 Filby Award recipient Kris Rzepczynski, senior archivist of the Archives of Michigan, gave a talk entitled, “Preservation and Access: Digital Initiatives at the Archives of Michigan.” NGS Awards Chair Judy Nimer Muhn presented several awards to honor the conference’s winners of the Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship, NGS Newsletter Competition, and the Rubincam Youth Writing Competition. Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship Matthew Rutherford, curator of genealogy and local history at the Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois, received the 2023 Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship along with its $1,000 prize. Created in 1999 by NGS, the award is named for the late P. William Filby, former director of the Maryland Historical Society and author of many core genealogical reference tools that genealogists have relied on for decades. It is presented annually at the NGS Family History Conference. ProQuest—a provider of content, technologies, and expertise for libraries and researchers—has sponsored the award since 2006. Rutherford works in the Genealogy and Local History Collection at the Newberry—a historically significant and extensive collection of records and databases for family history research. He began his career at the Newberry in 2004 and was promoted to curator in 2009. Since becoming curator, he has personally assisted approximately 7,500 researchers, ensuring that genealogical researchers are served in person and remotely. Rutherford has also guided the preservation, development, and expansion of Newberry’s genealogy collection.   NGS Newsletter Competition The winners of the 2023 NGS Newsletter Competition, honoring excellence in newsletter editorship in two categories, are: Newsletter for a Small Society with less than 500 members Winner: Fairfax Genealogical Society Newsletter, Fairfax Genealogical Society, Editors Caroline Brethauer, Stephanie Glotfelty, Ruth Sando Newsletter for a Large Society with more than 500 members Winner: Jots from Western Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania Genealogy Society, Editor Rebecca Kichta Miller Rubincam Youth Writing Competition The Rubincam Youth Writing Competition was established in 1986 to encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. It honors Milton Rubincam, CG, FASG, FNGS, for his many years of service to NGS and to the field of genealogy. Junior Rubincam Youth Award Winner: Adrienne Moseley, "Stories of My Mother” Honorable Mentions: Sufi Momin, "A South Asian's Journey from Africa to America," and Elina Fahs, "A Lifetime of Happiness and Love" Senior Rubincam Youth Award Winner: Theodore M. Tarter, "My Genealogical Journey: A Narrative of Risks, Sacrifices, and Adventures" Honorable Mention: Sophia Renata Zalipsky, "A Lineage of Ukrainian-American Women Who Pushed the Boundaries of Their Time to Bring Awareness and Support for Freedom and Independence of Their Ancestral Homeland: Khemych*Sharan*Olearchyk*Zalipsky" The NGS 2023 Family History Conference continues through Saturday, 3 June. Copyright © 2023 National Genealogical Society (NGS), all rights reserved. National Genealogical Society · 6400 Arlington Blvd · Suite 810 · Falls Church, VA 22042-2318 · USA

NGS Presents Awards at Conference Banquet

NGS Awards Excellence in Genealogy Scholarship and Service at

Family History Conference in Sacramento, California

NGS held its annual banquet on Friday evening, 27 May, at its 2022 Family History Conference in Sacramento, California, to present awards that acknowledge and honor genealogical scholarship and service. The banquet speaker, Andre Kearns, spoke about the opportunity genealogy offers us to uncover the stories of people traditionally excluded from historical narratives in his presentation, “Revealing Our Full American Mosaic.” Awards Committee Chair Judy Nimer Muhn opened the awards portion of the banquet.

National Genealogy Hall of Fame
Beginning in 1986, the National Genealogy Hall of Fame program, administered by the National Genealogical Society, has honored outstanding genealogists whose achievements in American genealogy have had a great impact on the field and who have been deceased for at least five years. Their contributions to genealogy in this country need to be significant in a way that was unique, pioneering, or exemplary. Entries are judged by a panel of genealogists from various parts of the United States.

This year, Clarence Almon Torrey, FASG, nominated by the American Society of Genealogists, was elected to the National Genealogy Hall of Fame.

Torrey was born 28 August 1869 in Manchester, Iowa; he died 5 February 1962 in Newton, Massachusetts. For forty-one years (1921-1962), he was actively engaged in the field of genealogy. From 1927 until his death, he compiled information on New England marriages. The compilation became a twelve-volume manuscript, titled "New England Marriages Prior to 1700." It includes approximately 37,000 New England couples and was drawn from many thousands of references from printed sources. First published (without the references) in 1985, the manuscript has gone through many printings, eventually with notated references.

Torrey was elected a fellow in the American Society of Genealogists in 1942. As a contributing editor for its publication, The American Genealogist, Torrey provided numerous articles including "Marriages in England of Early American Immigrants," "Some Early Marriages at Reading, Massachusetts," and "Errors in Printed Massachusetts Vital Records." He also published a number of genealogies and family histories including David Roe of Flushing, Long Island, and Some of His Descendants: A Record of Six Generations.

Torrey specialized in uncovering English origins and identifying the maiden names of the wives of seventeenth century New England and Long Island colonists. He was a careful, meticulous researcher. His long and extensive labors in the field of New England genealogy made him an "elder statesman" to other genealogists.

The Lou D. Szucs Distinguished Service Award recognizes exemplary contributions to the mission of NGS. At the banquet, the Board of Directors presented the award to Janet Bailey, Frances Millhouser, Connie Jeremiah, and Shirley Langdon Wilcox, CG, FNGS, FVGS, for their outstanding service to NGS. When NGS moved to new offices in 2017, the paper archives of the society were stored in a basement which flooded in 2021. This team of volunteers dedicated more than 300 hours through the summer and fall of 2021 to the preservation of these documents. They dried and organized over forty bankers boxes of documents during the pandemic, providing all the necessary work needed to save these historical items of the Society.

The Award of Merit is presented to an individual or non-profit genealogical or historical organization to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years, which have significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy. This year the NGS Board of Directors presented the award to Kathleen Hrenko Rubano. She has been a member of the Bristol Chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. (MSOG) for more than ten years with six of those years as president of the Chapter.

Rubano has devoted much of her time helping to promote the study of genealogy beginning with novice learners to those with advanced skills. As president of Bristol Chapter (2013-2019), she was the driving force in the recruitment of new members and arranging for quality monthly presentations. She also presented a "Getting into Genealogy" program to community groups, local libraries, and other organizations interested in genealogy, a project in which she continues to participate. She was instrumental in creating an "International Ancestry Day" when members volunteer to share family stories and the techniques used during their research as well as ethnic food associated with the topics of the day. Rubano continues to offer her volunteer service to the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter and Massachusetts State Archives.

Awards for Excellence are presented for a specific, significant single contribution in the form of a family genealogy or family history book, a publication discussing or demonstrating genealogical methods and sources, or an article published in the NGS Quarterly. Entries serve to foster scholarship and/or otherwise advance or promote excellence in genealogy.

Award for Excellence: Genealogy and Family History Book
This year’s recipient is Pamela Stone Eagleson, CG, for Descendants of Thomas Stone, ca. 1720-1791 of Prince William County, Virginia. Amherst, Mass.: P. S. Eagleson, 2021. Second place went to Karen Stein Daniel, CG, for Victor Massé and Emilie Lucile Vincent from the First French Republic to the Republic of Texas. San Antonio, Tex.: K. S. Daniel, 2020.

Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources
This year’s recipients are Sunny Jane Morton and Harold Henderson, CG, for How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2021. Second place went to Robert. W. Johnson, JD, CG, and Elizabeth Williams Gomoll, CG, for Husförhörslӓngder: Swedish Household Examination Records: Framing the Solutions to Your Swedish Ancestry Puzzles. St. Paul, Minn.: Johnson & Gomoll, 2021.

Award for Excellence: National Genealogical Society Quarterly 

Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS, received the award for “Correct Interpretation of an Eighteenth-Century Virginia Will Restores the Parents of Allerton Newton of Westmoreland County, Virginia.” published in the December 2021 issue of the NGSQ.

 

NGS Presents Awards at Opening Session of Conference

 

NGS Presents Awards Honoring Excellence in 

Newsletter Editorship and Service to NGS

NGS began its four-day Family History Conference in Sacramento, California, on 25 May 2022 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. Following the Opening Session’s keynote address, entitled “The Chinese Who Built America's Transcontinental Railroad” by Gordon H. Chang, NGS Awards Chair Judy Nimer Muhn presented several awards to honor the conference’s local volunteer leadership and to recognize the winners of the NGS Newsletter Competition and the Rubincam Youth Writing Competition. Also presented were the Genealogy Tourism Award, the President’s Citation, Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism.

The Award of Honor was presented to the California Genealogical Society, James Sorenson, president, in recognition of the Society’s dedication and sustained service in support of the NGS 2022 Family History Conference.

Certificates of Appreciation were given to committee chairs who worked tirelessly to assure the success of the conference. The honorees included: Local Host Committee Chair Jane Knowles Lindsey; Tours Chair Patricia Smith; Event Co-Chairs Jane Knowles Lindsey and Larry Youngman; Hospitality Chair Sheri Fenley; Publicity Chair Kathleen Beitiks; Conference Blogger Roger Prince; Registration Chair Joanna Shear; Technology Chair Theresa Murphy; Vendor Co-Chairs Rich Kehoe, James Sorenson, and Leslie Sorenson; and Volunteer Co-Chairs Maureen Hanlon and Chris Pattillo.

Genealogy Tourism Award 

The Genealogy Tourism Award was presented to the West Florida Genealogical Society of Pensacola, Florida, in recognition of its 1821 Sampler project in commemoration of Florida’s Territorial Bicentennial and Escambia County’s 200th anniversary. The project is a notable addition to research resources and encourages family history tourism, which this award seeks to promote.

The winners of the 2022 NGS Newsletter Competition, honoring excellence in newsletter editorship in two categories, are:

Newsletter for a Small Society with less than 500 members
Winner: Newsletter of the Irish Family History Forum, Irish Family History Forum, Plainview, New York, edited by Jim Regan.

Honorable Mention: The Archivist, Genealogical Society of Bergen County, Midland Park, New Jersey, edited by Michelle D. Novak.

Newsletter for a Large Society with more than 500 members
Winner: The Forum Insider, Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, edited by Geri Auerbach and Keri Logan

Rubincam Youth Writing Competition was established in 1986 to encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. It honors Milton Rubincam, CG, FASG, FNGS, for his many years of service to NGS and to the field of genealogy.

Junior Rubincam Youth Award
Winner: Maverick C. Marsh for “My Papa: The Life of My Grandfather, Dr. David Wren, Jr.”

Honorable Mention: Mandy Chang for “Chang Lian Sheng” and Emily Feichthaler for “My Mother, My Hero”

Senior Rubincam Youth Award
Winner: Julian Ananyev for “One Family's Journey Through Eurasia To America”

Honorable Mention: Riley Miller, "Forged In Fire” and Trinity Thai, "The Genealogy of the Thai Family"

The Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism recognizes a volunteer whose generosity of spirit and time has greatly benefited the National Genealogical Society and the genealogical community in general. Dawn Carey Henry of DeWitt, Michigan, is this year’s award recipient. During days, weeks, and months succeeding the merger of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) with NGS (2020-2021), Henry served as the first chair of the Delegate Council Steering Committee. She guided this advisory group of representatives from societies and organizations as it built its framework and operational procedures and defined the role of the society delegates. She continues to assist the current steering committee when needed.

The Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose positive influence and leadership have fostered unity and helped make family history a vital force in the community. This year’s award recipient is William J. Forsyth, PMP. For more than twenty years, Forsyth worked to promote genealogy in the library community as well as genealogy education by sponsoring Librarian’s Day for NGS, FGS, the American Library Association, and several large regional conferences. He championed for funding from ProQuest to continue efforts in support of Librarians’ Day at national conferences and institutes. He also advocated for ProQuest’s sponsorship of the Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship. Through his work, Forsyth became a luminary in the field of genealogy.

Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship
Cheryl Lang, MLS, Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence, Missouri, received the 2022 Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship along with its $1,000 prize. Created in 1999 by NGS, the award is named for the late P. William Filby, former director of the Maryland Historical Society and author of many core genealogical reference tools that genealogists have relied on for decades. It is presented annually at the NGS Family History Conference and has been sponsored by ProQuest since 2006.

Lang is the recently retired manager of the Midwest Genealogy Center branch of Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri. During her tenure at the Midwest Genealogy Center, she increased book scanning at the library by reaching out to smaller libraries and bringing books to her library to be scanned. She also launched the oral history project at MCPL. She also wrote a chapter, “A Genealogy Library in The Pandemic Age,” in Pivoting During the Pandemic: Ideas for Serving Your Community Anytime, Anywhere, offering real-life examples of what it means to be a 24/7 library.

Lang currently serves as first vice president (2021–2023) of the board of directors of the Missouri State Genealogical Association. She is a member of the History Section and the Genealogy Committee of the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association.

The President’s Citation is given in recognition of outstanding, continuing, or unusual contributions to genealogy or the Society. C. Ann Staley, CG, CGL, was awarded the 2022 President’s Citation, honoring her years of service to the field. She was the NGS conference chair in 2016 and has been a member of the conference committee for a number of years. In 2020 she was the host of the first virtual NGS conference, NGS Live! She has also served as an officer with the Jacksonville Genealogical Society; a volunteer with the Florida Genealogical Society responsible for Florida Genealogical Society webinars; and as vice president of the Genealogical Speakers Guild.

The NGS 2022 Family History Conference continues through Saturday, 29 May.

NGS Announces Its 2021 Awards & Competition Honorees

 

NGS Announces Its

2021 Awards & Competition Honorees

NGS announced its 2021 award honorees and competition winners at our Virtual 2021 Family History Conference, NGS Live!, on 19 May. The following awards recognize excellence, achievement, and genealogical service.

NGS Award Honorees
National Genealogy Hall of Fame: John T. Humphrey, CG®
NGS introduced its National Genealogy Hall of Fame in 1986. The award honors outstanding genealogists whose achievements in American genealogy have had a great impact on the field. We invite you to visit the National Genealogy Hall of Fame and learn about its honorees. Nominated by the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society, this year’s inductee is John T. Humphrey. Born in Penn Argyl, Pennsylvania, in 1948, he died in Washington, DC, in 2012. Always a scholar, Humphrey had a passion for sharing his knowledge and teaching others.

In demand as a speaker on German and Pennsylvania topics, Humphrey became an expert in reading old German script. In 2008, at Williamsburg's 400th Anniversary Celebration, he gave a keynote address on German contributions to America. Two years later, he was invited to Germany to speak on researching Germans in America. In 2011 he taught the first-ever German course at Samford’s Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.

Humphrey authored many genealogical articles and books. Two of his most recognized publications are Understanding and Using Baptismal Records and Pennsylvania Births, fifteen volumes of birth and baptism transcriptions. He broke new ground when he unearthed ancestor charts of Nazi SS officers in captured German records housed at the United States National Archives. Humphrey served as president of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society and vice president of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. He joined the NGS staff as education manager in 2000.

All who heard Humphrey’s lectures, read his books and articles, or participated in NGS activities he initiated, benefited from his knowledge and skills.


The Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship, sponsored by ProQuest since 2006, honors an outstanding librarian whose primary focus is genealogy and local history. This year’s winner, David E. Rencher AG®, CG, FIGRS, FUGA, is director of the Family History Library (FHL), Salt Lake City, Utah, and the chief genealogical officer for FamilySearch.

Rencher is one of the few genealogists with AG and CG credentials and a renowned lecturer who presents at local, national, and international conferences, institutes, and webinars. In his professional capacity, he partners with archives to digitize historical records and is a trusted collaborator. His leadership in technology advanced the book scanning program for FHL; record-matching methods for FamilySearch databases; and implementation of automated indexes for the 1880 census, the Social Security Death Index, and military casualty files for Vietnam and Korea.

Rencher recently authored Research in Arizona for NGS‘s Research in the States series of guidebooks. He also is the author of numerous articles, particularly regarding Irish research, and a contributing author of NGS’s online course for Continuing Genealogical Studies called War of 1812 Records.

Past president and a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association, Rencher is currently on the Board of Directors of the National Genealogical Society. He also is a Fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society in London; vice president of the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History; advisor to the Board of the New England Historic Genealogical Society; and director for Gen-Fed Alumni Association.


The 2021 Conference Award was presented to the Virginia Genealogical Society, Mary Vidlak, president, in recognition of its dedication and sustained service to the 2021 NGS Family History Conference.

Conference Certificates of Appreciation honor the VGS host committee chairs: Mary O’Brien Vidlak, CG, & Chuck Novak; volunteer co-chairs: Katie Derby and Kathy Merithew; registration co-chairs: Donald Moore and Phillip Ciske; publicity co-chairs: Robin Dwyer-Maurice and Teresa Kelly; conference blogger: Shannon Benton; hospitality chair: Catherine Gill; VGS booth co-chairs: Deborah Harvey, CG, and Nicki Peak Birch, CG; VGS events chair: Mary O’Brien Vidlak CG.

President’s Citation
The President’s Citation recognizes and acknowledges particularly dedicated efforts on behalf of the National Genealogical Society. During the past year, in the midst of a historic pandemic, the NGS staff accepted the herculean task of transitioning to a newly merged organization while expanding the Society’s education programs and preparing for our second virtual Family History Conference. Despite lockdowns and changing protocols with all the additional work that resulted, NGS staff exemplified an extraordinary level of professionalism. “With gratitude for their expertise, energy, flexibility, and positive attitude,” NGS President Kathryn Doyle said, “I am thrilled to present this year’s NGS President’s Citation Award to our dedicated staff: Executive Director Matt Menashes; Accounting Manager Karen Soch; Conference Manager Erin Shifflett; Member Services Manager Susan Yockey; and Courtney Holmes, our Registrar for many years.

NGS Competition Winners
The NGS Awards for Excellence are presented for a specific, significant single contribution in the form of a family genealogy or family history book; a publication discussing or demonstrating genealogical methods and sources; or an article published in the NGS Quarterly.

Award for Excellence: Genealogy and Family History Book
This year’s recipient is Kyle Hurst, of Boston, Massachusetts. The title of her book is Ancestors and Descendants of Charles Le Caron and Victoire Sprague.

Honorable mention: Michael Grow, for his book, John Grow of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Some of His Descendants: A Middle-Class Family in Social and Economic Context from the 17th Century to the Present.

Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGLSM, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, is this year’s recipient. The title of her book is Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice, and Standards.

Honorable mention: Peter J. Malia, for his book, New Haven Town Records, 1769-1819.

Award for Excellence: National Genealogical Society Quarterly
LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, of Washington, DC, received the Award for Excellence for her article, “Parents for Isaac Garrett of Laurens County, South Carolina: DNA Corroborates Oral Tradition,” published in the June 2020 issue of the NGSQ.

The NGS Family History Writing Contest has been a Society tradition since 1986. This year’s winner is Amy Larner Giroux, PhD, CG, CGL, for her paper, “The Many Names of Frances Ellsworth: Correlating Evidence to Identify a Birth Name.”

The NGS Newsletter Competition recognizes the hard work and creativity of volunteer editors who publish the newsletters of our member organizations. The competition reviews them according to size of membership: small organizations (under 500) and large organizations (500 and up).

Large Societies and Organizations:
This year’s winner is The Tracer, newsletter of the Hamilton County (Ohio) Genealogical Society, Eileen Muccino, editor.

Honorable Mention: Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, published by the Virginia Genealogical Society, Orange, Virginia, and edited by Birgitte Tessier.

Small Societies and Organizations:
The winner is the Newsletter of the Irish Family History Forum, Long Island, New York, edited by Jim Regan.

Honorable mention: Our Endicott Heritage Trail, John Endecott Family Association, Laurie Endicott Thomas, editor.

The Rubincam Youth Writing Contest was established in 1986 to encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. It honors Milton Rubincam, CG, FASG, FNGS, for his many years of service to NGS and to the field of genealogy.

Senior Category (Grades 9 - 12):
Wren Marsh of Houston, Texas, for his entry, “Generation to Generation.”

Honorable mention: Akram Elkouraichi, of Yonkers, New York, for his paper, “Project Hesperides: A Genealogical and Biographical Study of the Elkouraichi Family of Ben Ahmed, Morocco Through the Generations.”

Junior Category (Grades 6 - 8):
Asa Marsh of Houston, Texas, is the winner for his paper, “A Short History of My Grandmother: Helen F. Wren.”

Honorable mention: Ava Bielawski, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, for her entry, “Dorothy Lundy: A Daughter of Emile Terrenoire, Where the Inspiration Began.”

SLAM! Idea Showcase Awards
On 18 May, during NGS 2021 SLAM! Idea Showcase, six organizations received awards. They were selected from among thirty-two recorded video “poster” presentations highlighting innovative projects, programs, and activities benefiting genealogical researchers. The winners were St. Louis Genealogical Society, St. Louis, Missouri: “Congregation Project”; German Historical Institute, Washington, DC: “German Heritage in Letters”; and Chester County (Pennsylvania) Archives: “1777 Chester County Property Atlas Portal.” Honorable mentions went to Godfrey Memorial Library, Middletown, Connecticut: “Genealogy Roundtable”; Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, Kentucky: “Kentucky Ancestors Town Hall”; and St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri: “Rooted in Inclusion: Forgoing the Family Tree Model.”

The National Genealogical Society congratulates all the 2021 award recipients and contest winners. Sincere thanks go to the volunteer judges, chairs, and evaluators from across the country who generously gave their time and expertise to review the submissions for each award and competition. Thanks, too, to Janet Bailey, awards chair, and Susan Yockey of the NGS staff.

Please help us with awards for next year, when we hope to be together again. Consider nominating an individual or organization who exemplifies the qualities we honor with our awards or encouraging someone to participate in one of our competitions.

Nominations Open for NGS 2021 Awards and Competitions

 

Nominations Open for NGS 2021 Awards & Competitions

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) invites individuals, societies, and organizations to participate in its 2021 Awards and Competitions program. NGS annually recognizes excellence in the field of genealogy. This year we have expanded our program to reflect our merger with the Federation of Genealogical Societies. The deadline for submission of nominations is 15 December 2020.

The NGS Awards program recognizes scholarship, service, excellence, and achievement in the fields of genealogy, history, and biography by presenting awards to individuals, societies, and organizations. The Society’s competitions include

• Family History Writing Contest

• Award for Excellence: Genealogy or Family History Book

• Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources

• Award for Excellence: NGSQ

• The NGS Newsletter Competition

• The Rubincam Youth Writing Competition

NGS also inducts one person each year into its National Genealogy Hall of Fame. See a full description of the awards and competitions and access nomination forms on the NGS website.

“We encourage family historians and genealogists to nominate an organization they know or an individual they work with, research with, or admire for an award or competition,” said Janet L. Bailey, chair of the award committee. “There are so many outstanding individuals, societies, and organizations that deserve national recognition. We hope their peers will consider nominating them before December 15."