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”

What to Know Before You Go: Info to Help You Enjoy the NGS 2026 Family History Conference

 

Thank you to everyone who is registered for the NGS 2026 Family History Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the virtual conference. We look forward to being together, spending time with friends, meeting new people who share our interest in family history, attending outstanding presentations, and enjoying all the terrific networking opportunities.

Please take the time to read through all of the information below as part of your preparation for the conference.

Location for the In-Person Conference

The conference takes place at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Floor plans are available on the Whova app at the bottom of the Home page by clicking "Floormap." There are several workshops and events taking place at the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) on Tuesday and Wednesday, in addition to the tours of the Genealogy Center taking place there throughout the conference. The ACPL is one block away from the Convention Center on the corner of W. Washington Blvd. and Webster Street.

Whova App

Please download the Whova app for the latest conference program. You can download the Whova mobile app or access the web platform on a computer.

Use the Whova app to check each session's speaker, topic, title, time, and room. The app also includes floor plans, exhibitor information, giveaways and discounts, the names of conference attendees, and numerous ways to connect with attendees in Fort Wayne and online.

Download the Whova App

We encourage you to sign in to Whova, update your profile, upload your photo, and start connecting with other attendees. Please visit the Registration Desk if you need assistance with Whova on-site.

Speaker Handouts and Compendium

You can access speaker handouts in two ways:

1. NGS has shared a link to the Compendium with conference registrants. You'll be able to download the PDF to your computer. You may print one copy for your personal use.
2. Each session listing in the Whova app or web portal will have the speaker's handout available for download in the coming weeks. You can open the handout right on your laptop or mobile device. The speaker often references websites and resources in the handout, which requires less note-taking.

Please note that capturing, transmitting, or redistributing materials from either the Compendium or the individual handouts in the app, or taking photos, videos, or screenshots of the presentations in a lecture, infringes on the intellectual property rights of the speakers. Review the NGS Social Media Policy in the Compendium.

NEW: RSVP and Add to my Agenda for Sessions

The interactive sessions with an "RSVP" button in Whova have limited seating and are NOT being recorded. RSVP for those now if you are sure you want to attend. If you change your mind and decide not to attend, please un-RSVP so someone else can have your spot.

All other sessions with an "Add to My Agenda" button are open seating until the room is full. Those sessions ARE being recorded and you will find the recordings in the Whova app within 24-48 hours of the live session.

Session Recordings

Conference session recordings will be available in Whova 48-72 hours after a session concludes to complete post-production processing. Recordings are available to watch through 11:59 p.m. ET on 15 July 2026.

PDF Schedule

If you prefer to view the main conference schedule as a PDF or print a copy, you can find it in Whova under Resources > Documents. Please print the PDF before you leave if you need a printed copy. We will post any last-minute speaker cancellations or changes to the Whova app.

Badge Pickup and On-Site Registration

On-site registration and badge pickup are located at the registration desk in the lobby of the Grand Wayne Convention Center near Convention Hall A on the Ground Floor. Materials will be released only to the person named on the registration and upon presentation of a valid ID consistent with the name of the person who pre-registered.

Registration Hours:

• Tuesday, 26 May | 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, 27 May | 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, 28 May | 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
• Friday, 29 May | 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, 30 May | 7:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Expo Hall

The Expo Hall in Fort Wayne is open to all conference participants with a badge. Exhibitor information is available in the Compendium and the Whova app.

Expo Hall Hours:

• Wednesday, 27 May | 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Expo Hall Opening Event
• Thursday, 28 May | 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
• Friday, 29 May | 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, 30 May | 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Tours

If you registered for a tour, you should meet at the bus loading area 30 minutes before your tour begins. Tour groups will meet in the hallway between Convention Hall A and the Harrison meeting rooms, near the Washington Blvd. entrance. Please be sure you pick up your badge before your tour departure. You need a badge for every session or event. For workshops taking place on Tuesday before registration opens, there will be a registration list at the workshop room entrance, and you will be admitted without a badge.

Buy/Sell/Trade Tickets

All ticketed events are sold out, or registration is closed. You may sell or trade your tickets with other attendees via the BUY/SELL Conference Event Tickets discussion in the Community section in Whova.

Wi-Fi

There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotels and convention center.

Clothing

Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You will do a lot of walking and sitting. NGS cannot control the temperatures in the facility, and event rooms may be hot or cold, so prepare for both. Please remember, temperature is subjective. You may be chilly, but others may be warm. If temperatures are highly uncomfortable, please notify a room monitor, who will contact event management.

Food and Beverage

There are water stations throughout the hotel. We encourage you to bring a refillable bottle to use throughout the week.

There will be concessions available in the Exhibit Hall 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Parking

Please visit https://www.visitfortwayne.com/plan/tools/transportation/parking/ for more information on parking in Fort Wayne. Make sure you have license plate information with you for times that may be needed in a parking app.

Have Fun, Be Kind

We want everyone to have the best experience possible in Fort Wayne. NGS does not tolerate inappropriate behavior in any form. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to abuse, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or sustained disruption. Email us or stop by Registration if you need to discuss a concern or ask for staff assistance.

See You Soon in Fort Wayne and Online

If you have any questions, please email conference@ngsgenealogy.org. Enjoy the NGS 2026 Family History Conference, America at 250!