19 November 2021

Deadline for NGS 2022 Awards and Competitions: 15 December 2021

 


Deadline NGS 2022 Awards & Competitions Nominations:

15 December 2021


The deadline to nominate fellow family historians for one or more of the National Genealogical Society’s awards is quickly approaching. The final day to nominate someone—or to throw your hat in the ring and enter one of our competitions—is 15 December 2021.

2022 Awards and Competitions


Honorees and winners of the NGS 2022 Awards and Competitions will be announced at the NGS 2022 Family History Conference in Sacramento, California, 24-28 May 2022.

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. They include
  • The Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award
  • The NGS Fellow (FNGS)
  • The Lou D. Szucs Distinguished Service Award
  • The Award of Merit
  • The Shirley Wilcox Volunteerism Award
  • The Genealogical Tourism Award
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
Each year NGS also inducts one person who dedicated ten or more years to the field of genealogy and who passed away at least five years ago into its National Genealogy Hall of Fame. See a full description of the awards and competitions and access nomination forms on the NGS website.

“Help us celebrate the exceptional work of family historians throughout America,” said Judy Nimer Muhn, awards committee chair. “Submit your nominations before the deadline on December 15.”

2022 Awards and Competitions


18 October 2021

Welcome Kate Smith, Organizations and Communities Manager


Please join me in welcoming Kate Smith, our new Organizations and Communities Manager, to the National Genealogical Society staff. Kate brings experience working with nonprofits, especially associations, to the Society.

Kate spent nearly ten years at the International Association of Assessing Officers working with property tax assessment and appraisal professionals. While there, she played an integral part in all facets of membership services and was involved with communications and marketing. She also was director of communications for Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, and most recently worked for Merrigan & Co., a marketing agency that specializes in nonprofit communications and fundraising. In all of her roles, she has been involved with aspects of conferences and events.

With an education background in journalism, Kate enjoys learning about people, doing research, and putting together a story and ways to help others. She looks forward to supporting the Delegate Council and organization members, and making Forum, NGS online communities—launching soon—a place where members can share knowledge, exchange ideas, and easily connect with each other in new ways.

Kate is located in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Kansas City Society of Association Executives (KCSAE). She was honored with the KCSAE Allied Member Award of Excellence in 2019 and received a KCSAE Star Award in 2015.

Welcome, Kate!


11 October 2021

Nominations Open for NGS 2022 Awards and Competitions

Nominations Open for NGS 2022 Awards & Competitions


We invite our members to celebrate their fellow family historians by nominating them for one or more of the National Genealogical Society’s awards. Or throw your hat in the ring and enter one of our competitions.

Our 2022 Awards and Competitions season has officially opened. During the next two months you have the opportunity to participate in our awards and competition program. The deadline for submission of nominations is 15 December 2021. Award recipients will be honored at the NGS 2022 Family History Conference in Sacramento, California, 24-28 May 2022.

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. They include

  • The Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award
  • The NGS Fellow (FNGS)
  • The Lou D. Szucs Distinguished Service Award
  • The Award of Merit
  • The Shirley Wilcox Volunteerism Award
  • The Genealogical Tourism Award

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

Each year NGS also inducts one person who dedicated ten or more years to the field of genealogy and who passed away at least five years ago into its National Genealogy Hall of Fame. See a full description of the awards and competitions and access nomination forms on the NGS website.

“The NGS Awards and Competitions program represents some of our most important work. Please help us celebrate those who have excelled in the field of genealogy” said President Kathryn Doyle. “And join me as we welcome our new Awards Committee Chair, Judy Nimer Muhn.”


Judy Nimer Muhn
Muhn began her professional career as a genealogist in Europe in 1993. She has lectured at conferences in Europe and the United States, and presented, "Society Management—Volunteer Motivations: Getting and Keeping Your Volunteers" as part of the Focus on Societies program in May. Specializing in French Canadian, Acadian, Native American, and Michigan research, Muhn is the president of the Oakland County Genealogical Society. She also is vice president of the Michigan Genealogical Council, and an active member of NGS, Ontario and Quebec Genealogical Societies, Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, and French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan.


Be sure to submit your 2022 nominations before 15 December 2021!


07 October 2021

The October-December 2021 Issue of NGS Magazine is Now Online



The October–December 2021 Issue  
of the NGS Magazine is Now Online

The October–December 2021 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 47, Number 4, is being printed and is now available online in the Members Only section of the website. The USPS is still experiencing long delays in some areas for delivery of print copies. This issue's theme is Census Records.

EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

April Fool’s Day next year will bring an extraordinary gift for genealogists: the release of the 1950 US census online. But research will require more effort than entering names in a database. Genealogists can start preparing now in order to locate records on 1 April 2022 and beyond.

Claire Prechtel Kluskens details the history and schedules of the 1950 census and discloses the preliminary plans of the National Archives for its release. She provides a comparison with the 1940 census, a complete list of the questions in the 1950 population schedule, and information about enumeration district (ED) maps digitized in the National Archives Catalog.

At first, researchers will have to browse the 1950 census by enumeration district. Steve Morse and Joel Weintraub suggest methods for finding 1950 ancestral locations and explain how to use the One-Step website to obtain ED numbers.

Learning about instructions to enumerators and what each census was designed to measure can assist genealogists in using census records to their fullest advantage. In part one of her article, Shelley Bishop explores the substance and availability of census instructions from 1790 to 1870.

When people can’t be located in census records, it may seem that enumerators missed them, but unsuccessful searches are usually due to other reasons. Jill Crandell illustrates strategies for overcoming search challenges related to given names, surnames, ages, birthplaces, and frequent migrations.

Some descriptions of social statistics census schedules are incorrect; Helen Shaw sets the record straight. She outlines the content, accessibility, and uses of social statistics schedules for constructing community profiles and finding clues that lead to other records.

In her column, Kathy Petlewski discusses the research value of mortality census schedules, which may have the only records of death for some ancestors. The 1850 and 1860 schedules list many deceased enslaved persons by name, although identification may be difficult.

In other columns, Cheri Hudson Passey gives helpful tips for societies to promote and conduct successful virtual meetings, Carla Cegielski presents five strategies for locating free online newspapers, and Paul Woodbury clarifies the use of ethnicity admixture estimates for context and clues in the interpretation of DNA matches.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

  • NGS 2022 Family History Conference: Westward Ho! by Kathleen O. Beitiks 
  • The 1950 Census: Coming Soon! by Claire Prechtel Kluskens
  • Searching the 1950 Census by Location by Stephen P. Morse, PhD, and Joel D. Weintraub, PhD
  • The Evolution of US Census Instructions: Part One, 1790 to 1870 by Shelley Bishop
  • Locating Hard-to-Find Census Entries by Jill N. Crandell, MA, AG
  • Using Social Statistics Schedules to Learn About Ancestral Communities by Helen A. Shaw, CG

Departments

  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Kathryn M. Doyle
  • EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych
  • NGS NEWS
    • Call for Proposals for NGS 2023 Family History Conference
  • SOCIETY FORUM
    • Successful Virtual Meetings: Moving Societies Forward by Cheri Hudson Passey
  • REFERENCE DESK
    • Mortality Schedules: Death Records Before State Registration by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS
  • TECH TIPS
    • Five Strategies for Finding Free Online Newspapers by Carla S. Cegielski
  • DNA DISCOVERY
    • Using Ethnicity Estimates to Generate Genealogical Hypotheses by Paul Woodbury

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.

05 October 2021

Hotel Reservations Now Open for NGS 2022 Family History Conference


Hotel Reservations Now Open for the

NGS 2022 Family History Conference


Starting today, at 12:00 p.m. (ET), you may reserve hotel accommodations for the NGS 2022 Family History Conference, Our American Mosaic. The conference will be held 24‒28 May 2022, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento, California.

The conference will feature more than 150 genealogy lectures on a wide variety of topics. Lectures will focus on African American research; Asian and Pacific Islander research; BCG Skillbuilding; DNA; European and Middle Eastern research; Hispanic and Latin American ancestry; immigration and migration; methodology; Native American research; New England research; non-traditional families; records and repositories; reference services; society management; technology; the 1950s; western states; and writing. NGS will also welcome special guest speakers.

NGS offers attendees a choice of two hotels with discounted rates. The official conference hotels, the Hyatt Regency Sacramento and the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, are in walking distance to the convention center. Both hotels offer complimentary Wi-Fi. Several parking garages with affordable parking are located in close proximity to the Safe Credit Union Convention Center.

As a rule, conference hotels tend to fill quickly. To ensure room availability, early reservations are recommended. Hotel reservations close 25 April 2022.

The hotels are offering the NGS rate three days before and three days after the conference, based on availability, so participants can do research or go sightseeing in the area. Check the hotels’ websites for COVID-19 regulations, cancellation policies, and amenities. Full details and links for NGS discounted, online reservations can be found on the NGS conference website. Attendees must request the NGS Family History Conference rate if making phone reservations.

Sacramento is home to several research facilities such as the California State Archives, California State Library, and several genealogical organizations. It also has twenty-eight museums including the Crocker Art Museum, California State Indian Museum, the Sacramento History Museum, the California State Railroad Museum, and the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum. The city features art galleries, breweries, coffee bars, fine restaurants, and an historic landmark district, the Old Sacramento Waterfront. To learn about research facilities in the area, refer to the conference’s Announcement Brochure on the NGS conference website.

The NGS 2022 Family History Conference will run five days. It promises to offer many opportunities for family historians to advance their research, hone their skills, and network with fellow genealogists. Be sure to reserve your hotel accommodations as soon as possible.

COVID-19 Regulations

We fervently hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will have subsided by May 2022. Nevertheless, please be advised that NGS will adhere to regulations issued by the California Department of Public Health and Sacramento County Order of the Health Officer.

The SAFE Credit Union Convention Center has GBAC Star Facility Certification, which means it meets “the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention.” The Convention Center also abides by state and county protocols.

All conference participants—including sponsors, guest speakers, lecturers, exhibitors, and conference attendees—will be required to comply with the laws, rules, regulations, orders, and ordinances required at the time of the conference to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. NGS will apprise all participants of the required protocols and procedures in advance of the conference.


27 September 2021

NGSQ September 2021 Issue is Now Online!

John Porter Langdon and his wife,
Caroline (Simmons) Langdon, ca.  1843

The September 2021 Issue of the NGSQ is Now Online

The September 2021 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 109, Number 3, is available online in the members only section of the website and printed issues are being prepared for mailing. The USPS is experiencing long delays in some areas for delivery of print copies. We apologize if your print copy is affected.


CONTENTS:

FEATURE ARTICLES
  • “Discovering Kin for Washington Graham of Arkansas and Missouri” by Ruth Randall, CG
  • “A Father for Joel Wooley of Ohio, New York, and New Jersey” by Mary G. Burdick
  • “Parents for Willis Ballenger of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas” by Jeanette Shiel, CG
  • “John Bray of Cornwall County, England: Father of Mary Bray's Children?” by Ronald A. Hill, PhD, CG Emeritus, FASG, FNGS

NOTES AND DOCUMENTS
  • “John Porter Langdon: One of Four Brothers to Settle in California” by Shirley Langdon Wilcox, CG, FNGS
EDITORS’ CORNER
  • Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
SIDELIGHTS
  • Historical Recurrence?
  • Value of a Husband
REVIEWS 

The National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) is published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. The journal is edited by Nancy A. Peters, CG®, CGLSM, and Allen R. Peterson, AG, CG®.

24 September 2021

Meet the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

DEI committee


The National Genealogical Society is pleased and proud to introduce the members of its DEI Committee: Chair Andre Kearns, Bernice Alexander Bennett, Ken Bravo, Lisa Fanning, Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, and David Morrow.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Steering Committee is an advisory and working group to help NGS realize its vision to be a society open to all people seeking to discover their family stories, be inspired by them, and give voice to their ancestors. The committee is comprised of a talented team of genealogists who bring rich DEI expertise and fresh perspectives to the table.

The team formed last year as a Working Group and submitted their initial report to the board of directors at the May 2021 meeting. The board approved formation of an ongoing DEI Committee to continue their work and help implement their recommendations.

NGS gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Ellen Pinckney Balthazar, Janet Bailey, Melvin Collier, and LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson who served with or advised the DEI Working Group.

Biographies of the members of the committee can be found on the DEI Committee page at the society's website.

15 September 2021

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

 

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2021


It’s time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month which runs September 15–October 15, 2021.

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum have joined together to pay tribute to generations of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

Resource list:





The Family History Guide's Hispanic Resources


And don't forget that NGS members have full access to the NGS Magazine archives and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly archives. Articles of interest include:

"The Catholic Church in the American Southwest" by David McDonald, NGS Magazine, 39 (Oct/Nov/Dec 2013): 17–20.

"Introduction to Research in Latin America" by Debbie Gurtler, NGS Magazine, 41 (Jul/Aug/Sep 2015): 37–41.

"California Historic Missions and Their Records" by Sheila Benedict, NGS Magazine, 42 (Apr/May/Jun 2016): 23–26.

"War and Marriage: Some Reasons for Deportation in Hispanic North America" by George R. Ryskamp, NGSQ, 86 (June1998): 134-137.

23 August 2021

New Books for Alabama and Maryland Research from NGS

 

National Genealogical Society Introduces 

Two New Research in the States Books:

Alabama and Maryland


The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is pleased to announce the publication of two new books as part of its Research in the States series, which now covers research in thirty states and the tribal records of Oklahoma’s American Indians. The newest volumes are Research in Alabama by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, and a new edition of Research in Maryland, by Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL, and Debra A. Hoffman, PLCGS. The books are available in the NGS store in both PDF and print versions.

Both guidebooks provide detailed information on a wealth of resources, including:
  • Archives, Libraries, and Societies
  • Atlases, Gazetteers, and Maps
  • Bible, Cemetery, and Census Records
  • Court and other Jurisdictional Records
  • Directories and Newspapers
  • Ethnic, Land, Probate, and Religious Records
  • Military, Naturalization, State, Tax, Vital Records, and more

The guide books include the website address, physical address, and telephone number for each repository.


In Research in Alabama, Garrett-Nelson also reviews archival documentation regarding the state’s enslaved people and its free people of color, including non-traditional repositories. The author covers information on pertinent digital collections and databases such as bills of sale, estate inventories, and letters as well as postbellum records.

Alabama was one of the few states to grant property rights to married women prior to the Civil War. Historical records of testamentary documents, deeds, bills of sale, and more offer a possible pathway for tracing maternal ancestors. These topics and more are thoroughly addressed in Research in Alabama.

Garrett-Nelson is an author, lecturer, and a trustee and president of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG). She is the registrar general of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. Her articles have appeared in NGS Quarterly and the Journal of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society.


Research in Maryland, New Edition, is an invaluable guide for family historians who seek to trace ancestors who lived in Maryland as well as lands that were once part of the “Maryland Colony,” including Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania as far north as Philadelphia, and parts of what are Virginia and West Virginia. Koford and Hoffman explain the system of land grants during the colonial period as well as after America’s independence. They also discuss Maryland’s court system and its numerous name and jurisdictional changes during and after the colonial period.

Maryland’s state and local governments did not begin to keep records of births and deaths until the late nineteenth century. Research in Maryland reviews other sources including religious records for Anglican/Episcopalian, Baptist, Lutheran and Reformed, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and Quaker religions; and source material for several ethnic groups, including African American, German, Irish, Jewish, and Native American. The authors also describe the resources at Maryland State Archives (MSA) and its Archives of Maryland Online, which includes more than 471,000 historical documents.

Koford is an author and lecturer and Course One coordinator at the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Records (IGHR). She serves on the Board of the ProGen Study Groups, is the executive director of the BCG, and is director of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records.

Hoffman specializes in Maryland and German research. An author and lecturer, she has presented at IGHR and coordinated the Maryland course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is past co-director of Gen-Fed and recording secretary for the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society.

Research in the States series is edited by Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FUGAFVGS, a former NGS president and editor of the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. Research in Alabama and Research in Maryland are available for purchase in the NGS online store in both PDF and print versions.

02 July 2021

The July–Sept 2021 Issue of NGS Magazine is Now Online

 



The July–September 2021 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 47, Number 3, is being printed and is now available online in the Members Only section of the website. The USPS is still experiencing long delays in some areas for delivery of print copies. This issue's theme is Myths and Errors.


EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

Genealogists know that family traditions must be proved before they can be accepted as true. But some beliefs, such as assuming that a woman was the mother of all children in a family, are more insidious. In many situations, assumptions aren’t reliable, “facts” are legends, and official records are incorrect. This issue provides guidance for navigating the hazards of myths and errors in genealogy.

Jeanne Larzalere Bloom sets the stage by explaining four types of assumptions: fundamental, valid, unsound, and unrecognized. Through examples, she demonstrates that every assumption should be examined to determine if objective evidence verifies it. Recognizing and testing assumptions helps avoid inaccurate conclusions and tracing the wrong people.

Sometimes a single word can open a researcher’s eyes to previously unknown clues, theories, and records. Tony Burroughs discusses the paths he took when he noticed the word Corrected on a death certificate. The tale of his journey conveys valuable lessons relevant to any research.

Certain stories are common in Germanic families. Roger Minert dispels fifteen Germanic family history myths and beliefs, such as claims of nobility or assuming baptismal sponsors were relatives. Accepting these legends and misconceptions without verification can block research efforts unnecessarily.

Records in stone can be wrong, too. Despite multiple records for a Civil War soldier, the name on his military tombstone was inaccurate for more than a century. Bryna O’Sullivan describes the process for correcting a military tombstone and provides resources for national cemeteries.

The families of convicts transported from England to America often tried to hide their criminal past. Nathan Murphy summarizes the characteristics of 125 transportees to aid researchers in identifying ancestors among the forty-five thousand people sentenced to serve labor terms in Maryland and Virginia. Their records—many accessible online—pinpoint the parish where the crime occurred.

Concluding this issue’s theme of myths and errors, Kathy Petlewski's Reference Desk column stresses the need to evaluate the accuracy of other people’s work in online family trees.

In other columns, Pam Pracser Anderson and Magdalena Radovic-Moreno offer advice on developing and enhancing a county archive by cultivating relationships with genealogists and community partners; Paul Woodbury covers the meaning of ethnicity admixture estimates, how they work, why they may differ, and supplemental information provided by major testing companies; and Carla Cegielski outlines the effectiveness of password generators and managers for maintaining secure passwords.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

  • NGS 2022 Family History Conference: Mining for Ancestors in the Golden State by Kathleen O. Beitiks 
  • Assumptions: The Traps and Snares of Genealogy by Jeanne Larzalere Bloom
  • A Missed Notation: Opening a Pandora’s Box by Tony Burroughs, FUGA
  • Debunking Popular Lore in Germanic Family History Research by Roger P. Minert, PhD, Emeritus AG, FUGA
  • Correcting the Record on a Veteran’s Tombstone by Bryna O’Sullivan 
  • Proving the Identities of Transported Convicts by Nathan W. Murphy, MA, AG, FASG

Departments

  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Kathryn M. Doyle
  • NGS NEWS
    • NGS Announces 2021 Awards and Competition Honorees by Janet L. Bailey
    • The NGS Bible Collection by Shirley Langdon Wilcox, CG, FNGS, FVGS
  • SOCIETY FORUM
    • Developing a County Archive by Pam Pracser Anderson, MS, CG, and Magdalena Radovic-Moreno
  • REFERENCE DESK
    • Accuracy in Online Family Trees by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS

  • DNA DISCOVERY
    • Introduction to Ethnicity Admixture  by Paul Woodbury
  • TECH TIPS
    • Password Management for Genealogists by Carla S. Cegielski

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.

22 June 2021

NGSQ June 2021 Issue is Now Online!


William Kesey, ca. 1885–86
(22 February 1819 – 27 September 1886)


The June 2021 Issue of the NGSQ is Now Online

The June 2021 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 109, Number 1, is available online in the members only section of the website and printed issues are being prepared for mailing. The USPS is still experiencing long delays in some areas for delivery of print copies. We apologize if your print copy is affected.

 
CONTENTS:

FEATURE ARTICLES
  • “Louis Monet’s Daughters Dorothée and Dorothée: Sorting Tri-Racial Roots of Two Same-Named, Previously Merged, Colonial-Born Freedwomen” by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, FASG
  • “A Family for William Kesey of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California” by Pam Pracser Anderson, CG
  • “Geo-Genealogy Leads to a Birth Family for Mrs. Dena Gerloff of Ringgold and Lee Counties, Iowa” by J. H. Fonkert, CG
  • “Finding Thomas Richardson’s Mother Among Seventeen Births in Manchester, England” by Allen R. Peterson, AG, CG

COMMUNICATIONS

EDITORS’ CORNER
  • “Everything Has to Do with Geography”
SIDELIGHTS
  • A Conscientious Clerk
  • Wayfinding in 1917
  • South Carolina Mother’s Petition
  • A Troublesome Customer
REVIEWS 

The National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) is published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. The journal is edited by Nancy A. Peters, CG®, CGLSM, and Allen R. Peterson, AG, CG®.


19 June 2021

Happy Juneteenth!



Today we commemorate Juneteenth, the day in 1865 that enslaved African-Americans in Texas learned that they were free. NGS is committed to helping all people discover inspirational family stories of freedom and to share them forward.

NGS board member Bernice Alexander Bennett's discovery of a family story led to an exciting historic initiative: Honoring Black Resilience Through the Black Homesteader’s Project

Happy Juneteenth!




19 May 2021

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.

06 May 2021

Only Six Days Left to Register for NGS 2021 Live!


Only Six Days Left to Register for NGS 2021 Live!

You have just six days left to register for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2021 Live!

Just six days to sign up to hear The New York Times best-selling author, Dani Shapiro, discuss the sometimes unintended, but life-altering, consequences of genealogical DNA testing on 19 May at 1:40 p.m. (EDT).

To date, tens of millions of people have taken consumer DNA tests to search for ancestors. Shapiro explored the subject in Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity. During NGS Live! she will share her shock when she discovered that her deceased father was not her biological father and talk about her journey to come to terms with medical ethics, kinship, and the multitudinous facets that make up one’s identity. Her talk, Family Secrets, will not be available later on-demand.

Just six days left to register for two days of fascinating lectures on family history research with live Q&A.

Just six days left to be included in drawings for terrific giveaways, including:
  • Five, Annual World Explorer memberships to Ancestry
  • Five, Annual Fold3 subscriptions
  • Five, Annual Newspapers.com Publisher’s Extra subscriptions
  • Five, Ancestry DNA kits
  • Three, One Year MyHeritage Complete Plans
  • Three, Family Finders from FamilyTreeDNA
  • Two, MyHeritage DNA Kits
  • Two, Free registrations for the NGS 2022 Family History Conference in Sacramento, CA
  • Two, One-year NGS Memberships
  • One Each, Family History Guide: Hoodie, T-Shirt, Tote Bag, Large Tumbler, Mouse Pad

These are just some of the highlights of NGS Live! Don’t miss out on a rich array of learning opportunities for every area of interest and every level of expertise in family history.

Register Today!



02 May 2021

National Genealogical Society Announces SLAM! Idea Showcase Award Winners

 


National Genealogical Society Announces

SLAM! Idea Showcase Award Winners

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is pleased to announce that six organizations will receive awards during its 2021 SLAM! Idea Showcase on 18 May. The award winners were selected from among thirty-two recorded poster sessions highlighting innovative projects, programs, and activities benefiting genealogical researchers. Three submissions will receive cash prizes of $250 each:

  • St. Louis Genealogical Society, St. Louis, Missouri: “Congregation Project”
  • German Historical Institute, Washington, DC: “German Heritage in Letters”
  • Chester County (Pennsylvania) Archives: “1777 Chester County Property Atlas Portal”

Three will receive honorable mention:

  • Godfrey Memorial Library, Middletown, Connecticut: “Genealogy Roundtable”
  • Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, Kentucky: “Kentucky Ancestors Town Hall”
  • St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, Missouri: “Rooted in Inclusion: Forgoing the Family Tree Model”

All six will receive a one-year library subscription to photo enhancement software from VIVID-PIX.

Videos submitted by the award winners will be featured at the SLAM! Idea Showcase mainstage program on 18 May beginning at 3:00 p.m. (EDT). The program will also include the announcement of the 2021 Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship and a greeting from the Library of Virginia, the 2021 NGS Conference host library. Following the mainstage event, attendees will have the opportunity to view poster sessions and chat live with their submitters. The event is free, but registration is required. Visit the conference website to register.


The SLAM! Idea Showcase is a new NGS event to promote information sharing, collaboration, networking, and collegiality among genealogical information providers. The program is sponsored by VIVID-PIX, Ancestry, and Collectionaire.

The Virtual NGS 2021 Family History Conference is scheduled for May 19-22. Conference and registration information is available online.





21 April 2021

The April–June 2021 Issue of NGS Magazine is Now Online



The April–June 2021 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 47, Number 2, has been mailed to members and is available online in the Members Only section of the website. This issue's theme is Hard Times. 

The registration deadline is 12 May for all live events during the NGS 2021 Family History Conference. NGS 2021 On-Demand! provides access to even more lectures starting 15 June, available through 31 December 2021. An article in the news section has more details on all conference components.


EDITOR'S NOTE by Deb Cyprych

The past year has been difficult for everyone and tragic for many. Besides the direct impact of illness, long-term health complications, and death caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have suffered from loss of income, social isolation, mental health disorders, and other hardships.

Our ancestors endured hard times, too. Although few wrote about their experiences, many records of the organizations where they sought relief have survived. This issue explores the records of individuals created by almshouses, Freedmen’s Bureau offices, federal bankruptcy courts, and soldiers’ homes.

Almshouse residents included poor families, mentally ill people, orphans, frail older people, vagrants, and people with disabilities. Darryn Lickliter demonstrates that the admission registers, annual reports, and other records of almshouses can provide data not easily found in other sources before 1850.

After the Civil War, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands operated in fifteen states and the District of Columbia to assist formerly enslaved people and refugees struggling to survive. While many of the Bureau’s records provide personal details, their volume and method of organization makes using them difficult. Sharon Batiste Gillins presents a thorough guide for understanding and accessing the records.

Another complex but potentially rich record group was created by federal bankruptcy courts. Between 1800 and 1940, one and a half million individuals and companies filed for bankruptcy under four federal acts. Jessica Hopkins outlines the requirements of the acts and the current process for locating and requesting records.

“Old soldiers’ homes” have assisted veterans in the United States since 1833. Kathy Petlewski discusses the history and records of the US Naval Home in Philadelphia, the US Soldiers’ Home in Washington, DC, the branch homes of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in various states, and the homes funded by states and Confederate organizations.

Dedicated county archives provide many advantages to genealogists. Pam Pracser Anderson and Magdalena Radovic-Moreno describe the typical holdings of county archives and how to use them to expand research options.

In our new column, Society Forum, Gail Schaffer Blankenau illustrates the benefits of family associations for researchers and the hallmarks of successful societies.

Genealogists have become accustomed to meeting online during the pandemic. Learn more about finding and attending webinars in Carla Cegielski’s Tech Tips column.

Paul Woodbury continues his series on DNA testing with eight steps to pursue when new autosomal DNA test results are received.

May the next year bring better health and less stress than the last!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

  • NGS 2022 Family History Conference: Our American Mosaic by Kathleen O. Beitiks 
  • Researching Poor Ancestors: Almshouse Records by Darryn Lickliter
  • Navigating Freedmen's Bureau Records for Research Success by Sharon Batiste Gillins
  • A Wealth of Information: Federal Bankruptcy Records, 1800–1940 by Jessica Hopkins
  • Unique Resources in County Archives by Pam Pracser Anderson, MS, CG, and Magdalena Radovic-Moreno

Departments

  • PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Kathryn M. Doyle
  • NGS NEWS
  • SOCIETY FORUM
    • It’s All in the Family: Benefits of Family Associations by Gail Schaffer Blankenau
  • REFERENCE DESK
    • The History and Records of Old Soldiers’ Homes by Kathy Petlewski, MSLS
  • TECH TIPS
    • Genealogy Webinars by Carla S. Cegielski
  • DNA DISCOVERY
    • Eight Steps to Pursue with New Autosomal DNA Test Results by Paul Woodbury

NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available only as long as membership is active.

20 April 2021

A Perfect Mother’s Day Gift: #NGS2021GEN Family History Conference


 
A Perfect Mother’s Day Gift:
The National Genealogical Society
2021 Family History Conference


Are you at a loss over what gift to give the mothers in your life for Mother’s Day? Dinner out at a special restaurant may still not work this year. Round-trip airline tickets to visit you may not be an option for everyone just yet either. But, if your special mom is interested in her family’s history, a gift of registration to the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Virtual 2021 Family History Conference might be the perfect gift for her.

On Wednesday and Thursday, 19‒20 May 2021, from the comfort of home she can participate in NGS’s premier, two-day, virtual conference event― NGS 2021 Live!. Speakers include two award-winning authors and nationally recognized speakers who explore a wide variety of topics on researching family history. The two-day event also features a virtual expo hall with the newest genealogical products and services and drawings for exciting genealogy-related prizes.

In addition to NGS 2021 Live!, NGS offers a choice of either a twenty or forty lecture package on-demand. With these options, she may choose from more than eighty-five on-demand sessions available for viewing starting on 15 June. Program content also includes more than twenty additional bonus lectures provided by conference sponsors and sponsoring organizations.

As a free bonus, she can participate in the SLAM! Idea Showcase on 18 May. This debut showcase highlights creative and innovative projects or programs by societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs) from around the country.

Why not get your special person a wonderfully unique Mother’s Day gift. Purchase a registration for her to the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Virtual Family History Conference.


 



26 March 2021

NGSQ March 2021 Issue is Now Online!

Michael Templeton (1821–1909)

The March 2021 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 109, Number 1, is available online in the Members Only section of the website. Please note that printed NGSQ delivery may be delayed by the U.S. Postal Service. 


CONTENTS:

FEATURE ARTICLES
  • “Backtracking Longstanding Errors to Prove Negatives: William Templeton’s Alleged Pennsylvania Military Service and Mahoning County, Ohio, Burial” by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FNGS
  • “A Father’s Lynching and Multiple Maiden Names: Ida King of Ralls County, Missouri, and Des Moines County, Iowa” by Ricki L. King
  • “Whom Did Mary Marry? Finding Mary Browett’s Multiple Marriages in Early Nineteenth-Century Gloucestershire, England” by Amy Harris, PhD
  • A Birth Family for Moses W. Shields of Hardin County, Tennessee, and Spartanburg County, South Carolina” by Nicki Peak Birch, CG
COMMUNICATIONS

EDITORS’ CORNER
  • Tell Somebody about It
ADMINISTRATION

SIDELIGHTS
  • To Bow or Not to Bow? Social Etiquette, 1850s Style
  • Warning to Smokers
  • A Singular Event?
REVIEWS 

The National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) is published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. The journal is edited by Nancy A. Peters, CG®, CGLSM, and Allen R. Peterson, AG, CG®.


03 March 2021

Early Bird Discounts End 15 March for #NGS2021GEN



Early Bird Discounts End 15 March
for NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference


Time is running out for family historians and three representatives from each NGS society or organization to receive a discount on registration for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Virtual Family History Conference, 17−21 May 2021. After 15 March, the price of registration for NGS 2021 Live! and On-Demand! will increase $50 across the various packages available. To qualify for the early bird discount, attendees must register online by 15 March.

Join NGS on Wednesday and Thursday, 19‒20 May, for its premier two-day virtual conference event― NGS 2021 Live! Speakers include two award-winning authors, Dani Shapiro, author of Inheritance, and Ric Murphy, author of Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia. Other nationally recognized speakers will join them, including Barbara Vines Little, the keynote speaker for the opening session, Elizabeth Shown Mills, Thomas W. Jones, Judy Russell, Eric Grundset, Craig Scott, Janice Lovelace, and more. The two-day event also features the announcement of winners for NGS awards; the newest genealogical products and services from exhibitors in our virtual expo hall; and drawings for exciting genealogy-related prizes.

In addition to NGS 2021 Live!, NGS offers a choice of either a twenty or forty lecture package on-demand. Those who purchase a package may choose from more than eighty-five on-demand sessions available for viewing starting 15 June. Program content includes bonus lectures provided by conference sponsors and sponsoring organizations.

NGS will host additional events throughout the week. On Monday, 17 May, the Delegate Council Kickoff Workshop focuses on helping member organization delegates understand their role within NGS. Tuesday, 18 May, presents the debut of the SLAM! Idea Showcase, highlighting creative and innovative projects or programs by societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs). The week ends with Focus on Societies on Friday, 21 May, an all-day event devoted to presentations offering expert advice for society leaders on managing and growing their genealogical or historical society.

Take advantage of the discounted Early Bird registration fee, plus member discounts, when signing up by 15 March 2021. NGS member societies and organizations should have their representatives contact our registrar at [email protected] to have up to three officers or directors register at the member rate.