NGS Issues Apology and Correction

National Genealogical Society Issues a Correction

To its Announcement of the

NGS Family History Writing Contest Award Recipients

At the NGS 2018 Family History Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) presented awards that acknowledge and honor genealogical scholarship and service during the final evening’s banquet. Among them were the award recipients of the highly regarded Family History Writing Contest.

Unfortunately, the information provided to the NGS Board of Directors was incomplete.

Only one winner was announced at the banquet when there were, in fact, two winners. Morna Lahnice Hollister’s name and her award recognition were accidentally omitted from the final results and therefore her name was not announced. To clarify, the award for this year’s Family History Writing Contest goes to two individuals:

Morna Lahnice Hollister of Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her entry, The Kennedy-Burns Family of South Carolina and New York.

Sharon L. Hoyt, MLIS, CG®, of Saratoga, California, with her entry, Her Sixth Matrimonial Venture: The Many Marriages of Ida May Chamberlain.

“On behalf of NGS and the NGS Awards Committee,” President Ben Spratling stated, “I extend my sincere apologies for the mix-up that occurred in bestowing this prestigious award. I also wanted to publicly recognize Ms. Hollister and her fine work selected by the committee for the award. I extend my congratulations to both winners for their outstanding written family histories.”

Ms. Hollister was also the recipient of the NGSQ 2014 Award for Excellence for Goggins and Goggans of South Carolina: DNA Helps Document the Basis of an Emancipated Family’s Surname, published in the NGSQ September 2014.

NGS Family History Writing Contest Award Recipients