What Would You Do With a Genealogy Time Machine?

Source: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090502052215/timemachine/images/4/45/The_Time_Machine.jpg

Lorine McGinnis Schulze (The Olive Tree Genealogy) posted a piece titled What Would You Do With a Genealogy Time Machine?  Do read her post (and the conditions for using the time machine) as well as the provided comments.

Though it is tempting to try and solve a brick wall (of which there are many), I think that since my family has always been a bit geographically dispersed and small, I would personally focus more on recent generations.  Additionally, I would rather see a bunch of little events and snippets of life than spend too much time with one person or family.  After all, I only have 24 hours!

That said, my 24 hours might look like this ... obviously, I’d have to be more specific if I ever did get access to a time machine and this is good enough for my hypothetical plan!

2 hrs	Oldham (UK) -- see my mom perform in a play as a teen (I’ve only seen newspaper clippings)
2 hrs	Oldham (UK) -- see my mom play piano (I’ve only heard that she was excellent)
2 hrs	Salem MA – see my dad “win” the race where the photographer captured his glory
2 hrs	Salem MA -- see my grandmother, grandfather and father when he was about 2 (his father died soon after and it would be nice to meet my grandfather and also see my grandmother when she was happy) (my father was an only son of an only son of an only son)
2 hrs	Somewhere along the Polish border – see my paternal great grandfather during one of the several attempts he made to leave the country before he was successful
2 hrs	Desno or Wola Pietrusza (Poland) – visit one of the ancestral towns of my Galician ancestors, just before they emigrated to the US
2 hrs	Salem MA –spent some time with my paternal great grandmother before she died in the influenza epidemic of 1918
2 hrs	Ylistaro (Finland) – visit the Kujanpaa farm before my other paternal great grandfather fell through the ice
2 hrs	Chadderton (UK) – visit the coal mine where a distant relative worked (I’d have to look up the details for this one first)
2 hrs	Hollinwood (UK) – spend some time with the Taylors and Wolfendens and their hatting business
2 hrs	Somewhere in the Atlantic, c. 1900-1910 – travel with either a Kujanpaa or Rajala or Blom from Finland or a Barna or Malecki from Galicia
2 hrs	UK – attend one of the Nelson family reunions, when the patriarch George Nelson was alive and ask that man about his father (okay – so, I put one brick wall item in my list )

And, what would you do if you had a Genealogy Time Machine?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Restricted Access to Oklahoma Death Certificates -- Your Help is Needed

We need your help! Access to Oklahoma death certificates has recently become restricted and efforts are underway to remedy problems that were created. If you have been denied a death certificate from the Oklahoma State Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics since 1 November 2011, please send that information to news@okgensoc.org. We have been asked by OSDH through the author of the bill to document how many people have actually been denied a death certificate since the enactment of a law restricting access went into effect. Please send any details that you are comfortable sharing.

Thank you,

Billie Fogarty

Oklahoma State Liaison for Records Preservation and Access Committee

Oklahoma Genealogical Society Corresponding Secretary

Source: http://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/e/ec/Vital_Records.jpg 

 +++++++++++++++++

BACKGROUND: At the request of the Oklahoma Department of Health during the 2011 legislative session, House Bill 1397 was authored by Rep. Doug Cox and Senator Clark Jolley. This bill was presented as a “clean-up” bill to correct terminology and it had “minor” amendments on all but 2 of the 62 pages. It passed by both houses and was signed by the Governor on 25 April 2011 with an effective date of 1 November 2011.

The bill amended Title 63 Section 1-323 by repealing the language which allowed death certificates to be issued upon request and payment of applicable fees. The law now says that it is unlawful for vital statistics records to be issued to anyone “except to the person who is the subject of the record or in such person’s interest unless ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Notwithstanding the new law, the Health Department continued to distribute death certificates without restriction for more than 15 months after its effective date. The bill escaped the attention of all interested parties until the Health Department began restricting death certificates by memo to staff dated 11 February 2013. While they are not following the law as it is written, i.e. allowing only the deceased to access their own death certificate, they have now determined that only “authorized applicants” shall receive them.

Authorized Death Certificate Applicants

• A surviving spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, or legal guardian;
• Legal representative of the estate of the deceased as documented by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction;
• An individual who can establish a familial relationship with the deceased;
• Funeral director of record or agent thereto, working in the capacity of their official business;
• Person with a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction;
• A person who was a co-owner or a joint tenant on real or personal property of the decedent;
• A person listed in a will of the decedent, provided the will is in probate; or
• Genealogist (must demonstrate familial relationship)

Under Oklahoma law, rulemaking is by the governing board of state agencies and must follow the procedures for enacting rules. We can find no evidence that this has been done in this case.

The Application for Death Certificate and the Instruction Sheet has not been changed and there is no reference to “authorized applicants” nor any restrictions mentioned. The Instruction Sheet still reads “An individual is eligible to receive a copy of a death certificate, if located, by submitting a proper death application with the required facts, a copy of current legal photo identification, and applicable fees.” As before, the Frequently Asked Questions still read “Any individual may obtain a death certificate upon written application, with proper information and identification and applicable fees.” [Accessed online 13 March 2013,  http://www.ok.gov/health/Birth_and_Death_Certificates/Death_Certificates/

Contact information:

Commissioner Terry Cline, PhD

Oklahoma State Department of Health

1000 NE 10^th

Oklahoma City, OK 73117

800-522-0203

TerryC@health.ok.gov

Representative Doug Cox, MD

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.

Room 331

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-557-7415

dougcox@okhouse.gov

Senator Clark Jolley

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd

Room 519

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-521-5622

jolly@oksenate.gov

For the names of the members of the governing body of the State Health Department see:

http://www.ok.gov/health/Organization/Board_of_Health/Board_of_Health_Members/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Early Bird Registration Discount Ends TOMORROW! 2013 Family History Conference Las Vegas, Nevada, 8–11 May 2013 Building New Bridges

Contact: Erin Shifflett

Phone: 703-525-0050, ext. 112 

eshifflett@ngsgenealogy.org    

For Release: 18 March 2013

ARLINGTON, VA, 18 March 2013: The NGS 2013 Family History Conference will be held 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (LVH), Las Vegas, Nevada. The early bird registration discount ends tomorrow, Tuesday, 19 March 2013. In addition to enjoying a $35 discount, only early birds have the opportunity to order a printed syllabus. (Everyone will receive a syllabus on flash drive.) NGS members get even deeper discounts, so this is a great time to join.

Space is still available for most breakfasts and luncheons, the NGS Banquet, and Tuesday bus tours. The BCG Education Fund Workshop is sold out. To be placed on the wait list, e-mail the NGS conference registrar, Courtney Holmes, at cholmes@ngsgenealogy.org .

All full-conference registrants will be entered in a drawing to win a seven-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square, courtesy of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel. The prize will also include a free spot on one the Ancestor Seekers Salt Lake City research trips. Be sure to attend the opening session to find out if you are the winner. The winner must be present at the opening session to claim the prize.

To register online, visit the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration and complete the registration form.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records.  The Arlington, VA-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists.  Please visit the NGS Pressroom for further information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

St. Patrick's Day -- Celebrate your Inner Irish while researching Irish ancestors!

Today is St. Patrick’s Day.  Many of us celebrate the IRISH in us, whether we have Irish ancestors or not!

Family Tree Magazine has posted a nice list of Six Irish Genealogy Websites. Dick Eastman (EOGN) posted IrishAncestorsLaunches with Unique Resources and Guidance for Family Historians. And GenealogyBank has a fun infographic and information at IrishAmerican Genealogy & Family History Facts Infographic.

Check out free access (through tomorrow, the 18th), Free Accessuntil 18 March 2013 to the Largest Online Collection of Irish Directories (Origins.net via EOGN)

Upfront with NGS has in the past posted about some Irish genealogy resources.  Check out these posts:

2012:

Luck of the Irish – Irish Research Resources
Irish Genealogy Research News
Republic of Ireland – Will Calendars
18 Everyday English Words That Come from Irish
Certificate of Irish Heritage is now available for Americans of Irish ancestry
First US Museum about Ireland's Great Famine Opens Next Month

2011:

            New Online Irish Archives Resource

What neat and/or new Irish genealogy and family history research resource would you recommend?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Researching Swedish Ancestors -- Free access at Arkdigital this weekend & new articles on Swedish Research

source: http://nordicgenealogy.org/images/NordicMap_Sweden.jpg

This weekend Arkdigital is providing FREE access to its Swedish research databases.  Additionally, a couple of NEW articles are available to help you with your research.

Read more in this summary of the PR material received ...

ArkivDigital for free March 16-17, 2013

During this weekend (Saturday March 16th until Sunday March 17th 2013) we offer everyone free access to our image database. Take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with ArkivDigital online and what we have to offer.

Instructions to get access to ArkivDigital

Introduction to Swedish Church Books

The Swedish church books are usually the first Swedish records that one uses when tracing one’s Swedish roots. These records are a "gold mine" because they are so complete and contain such detailed information. In many cases, one can trace a person’s life in the church books from birth to death or birth to emigration.

Introduction to Swedish Church Books

ArkivDigital online and Släktdata

Släktdata is a free online site where you will find transcription registers for many Swedish church birth, marriage and death records. While you will find transcriptions for many parishes throughout Sweden, many of the records are for parishes in the provinces of Bohuslän, Dalsland and Västergötland. These transcriptions are very helpful to decipher the old handwriting especially in the older records and in cases where the priest’s handwriting is difficult to read.

ArkivDigital online and Släktdata

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

Upfront Mini Bytes

Welcome to the fourth edition of our new bi-weekly feature Upfront Mini Bytes.  In Upfront Mini Bytes we will provide eight tasty bits of genealogy news that will help give you a deeper byte into your family history research. Each item is short and sweet.  We encourage you to check out the links to articles, blog posts, resources, and anything genealogical!

We hope you found the first edition, second edition and third edition helpful.

Do you have questions, suggestions for future posts, or comments?  Please post a comment or send an e-mail to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Genealogy research and frustration often go hand-in-hand.  Read this great post Avoiding Genealogical Search Frustration for some neat tips on how you can do better research and hopefully be less frustrated in the process.

Though we are not necessarily academicians, using exhaustive research methodology and extensive documentation of sources for family history research does make academics happy.  Since we share a desire for excellent source material and information with academicians and we are always on the quest for “search engines” to facilitate our online hunting of data, finding aids, published books and more, check out 12 Fabulous Academic Search Engines.

 

We can always use some good news!  We also know how invaluable family Bibles are.  Ohio man recovers stolen 300-year-old Bible handed down in his family through generations tells of a Bible where the dates for seven generations of family are recorded was stolen and then returned.

The preservation of structures and places of historic and genealogical importance continues to be a hot news topic.  Check out Preserving African-American Historic Places: New Resource Available. This relates to the recent Upfront with NGS post Historic preservation and access -- just as important to genealogists as document preservation and access.  And it’s never too late to prepare for Preservation Week 2013. Though this event focuses more on preserving collections, it is a reminder that we need to be preserving our heritage for generations to come.

Want to learn more about crowdfunding a genealogy or family history project?  See what the Genetic Genealogist has to say in Thought For the Day – Crowdfunding Genealogy and see the recent Upfront with NGS post Kickstarter -- Need a genealogy project funded? This might be the way to go!

It’s always great to read a story about a building renovation especially when “old” documents are discovered.  DA gives old court records to historical society.

Have some Irish ancestry?  Or, maybe just a yearning to visit Ireland?  Ancestry.com and Great Value Vacations have launched the Ireland Coast to Castle Sweepstakes. The winner receives a 1-week trip to Ireland as well as a 1-Year Global Explorer Ancestry.com Membership, AncestryDNA kit, Copy of Family Tree Maker (FTM) 2012 (PC or Mac) and up to 10 hours of ProGenealogists research support. Speaking of contests, check out this Pinterest page, Genealogy Contests and Giveaways.

Door County (WI) Library Newspaper Archive now live! This neat archive covers several newspapers and spans the period 1862 to1925. Learn more about the collection via Historic newspapers now available online.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow NGS via Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

National Genealogical Society Announces Two Research Trips to Salt Lake City, Utah

Contact: Patricia Walls Stamm, CG^SM, CGL^SM

Phone: 703-525-0050

researchtrips@ngsgenealogy.org

For Release:  15 March 2013

Arlington, VA, 15 March 2013: Join the National Genealogical Society for a weeklong guided research trip to the world renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Researchers can choose to attend 15–22 September 2013 or 5–12 January 2014. NGS offers a substantial discount with early bird pricing if you register for the 15–22 September 2013 trip by 15 June and register for the 5–12 January 2014 trip by 1 October.

  

The hosts for the September 2013 trip are Sandra MacLean Clunies, cg^sm, and Shirley Langdon Wilcox, cg^sm, fngs. The January 2014 hosts are Marie Varrelman Melchiori, cg^sm, cgl^sm, and Shirley Langdon Wilcox, cg^sm, fngs. These experts, all certified genealogists, are available to the attendees all week long to help them focus their research work and to take the utmost advantage of the Family History Library resources.

The library’s noteworthy records include deeds, wills, military, tax, and vital records from the United States, Canada, and around the world. Researchers have access to numerous commercial computer databases, more than two million rolls of microfilm, hundreds of thousands of microfiche, an immense collection of genealogical books, and outstanding area maps.

The land package includes:

• Seven nights at the adjacent Salt Lake Plaza Hotel

• Six full days of research at the Family History Library and guidance from NGS experts

• Sunday evening orientation and social

• Monday evening group lecture

• Wednesday evening pizza party

• Saturday evening group meal

• Shuttle van provided between airport and hotel

Airfare, meals (other than those shown above), and all personal expenses are not included in the package price. Each trip is limited to 30 attendees.

Registration costs vary depending on date of registration, room occupancy, and National Genealogical Society membership status. Registration fees are as follows:

Registration Fees	Member	Non-Member
Double/Shared Room Early Bird until 15 June (for 15–22 September 2013) 16 June and after (for 15–22 September 2013) Early Bird until 1 October (for 5–12 January 2014) 2 October and after (for 5–12 January 2014)	$675 $925 $675 $925	$1,050 $1,300 $1,050 $1,300
Single Room Early Bird until 15 June (for 15–22 September 2013) 16 June and after (for 15–22 September 2013) Early Bird until 1 October (for 5–12 January 2014) 2 October and after (for 5–12 January 2014)	$950 $1,175 $950 $1,175	$1,300 $1,550 $1,300 $1,550

For more information, visit the NGS research trip web page at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conferences_events/research_tips/slc_research_trip/slc_research_trip_general_information

The trip hosts Sandra MacLean Clunies, cg^sm, Marie Varrelman Melchiori, cg^sm, cgl^sm, and Shirley Wilcox, cg^sm, fngs, are seasoned experts in conducting research.

Sandra MacLean Clunies, cg^sm, is an experienced researcher, author, and lecturer, and has been board certified as a genealogist since 1993. She is a life member of NGS and NEHGS, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists’ National Capital Area Chapter.

Shirley Wilcox, cg^sm, fngs, served two terms as NGS president and has been board certified as a genealogist since 1973. Shirley was president of the Association of Professional Genealogists (1991–1993), president of the Virginia Genealogical Society (2007–2011), served on the Board for Certification of Genealogists (2000–2009), and currently serves as a member of the Board of Assistants of the Mayflower Descendants in the District of Columbia.

Marie Varrelman Melchiori, cg^sm, cgl^sm, specializes in records in the National Archives in Washington, DC. Marie has lectured at National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies national conferences since 1988. She has lectured on military records for Samford University’s Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG).

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists.