Category: Scholarship

Lackey Award Winner for 2024 – Julie Huffman

April 19, 2024

The Gen-Fed Alumni Association is pleased to present Julie Huffman as the winner of the 2024 Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship. 

Julie Huffman has been the genealogy librarian at the Central Library of Los Angeles Public Library for 10 years and—over the course of 23 years at LAPL—a young adult, children’s, and adult reference librarian.

Her Master of Library and Information Science is from UCLA and she has a Bachelor’s of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Welcome, Julie, to the class of 2024!

Announcing Date Change for Gen-Fed 2024

February 13, 2024

Gen-Fed 2024 Date Change!

Due to unforseen circumstances, the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records will now be held in-person at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.,
from Sunday, August 11th through Saturday, August 17th, 2024.

Sometimes, we just have to roll with the punches. If these new dates allow you to attend now, Gen-Fed is still accepting entries for the registration drawing through February 16th, 2024. One of the benefits of this change is that we can add three more seats.  It may not seem like a lot, but with our limited classroom size, we try to accomodate as many as we can.  If you have already signed up for the drawing and cannot now attend, send an email to info@gen-fed.org.

To enter your name in the drawing click here after reading the FAQ below: https://airtable.com/app89NTnfxcLGjVIM/shrEBtczX6ITPEa6S 

The form closes at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday, 16 February 2024. Gen-Fed will send an email to entrants after the form closes on 16 February with the Zoom link for the live drawing on Saturday, 17 February at 1:00 p.m. ET / noon CT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. PT.  You do not need to attend to be awarded the registration seat. Please mark “info@gen-fed.org” as a safe contact in your email!

READ THE F.A.Q. FIRST 

Q: How will I know if I won a Gen-Fed seat?
A: Winners will be randomly drawn on Saturday, 17 February 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET during a live session, viewable by all, via Zoom (you don’t need to be present to win).

Q: How many seats are available?
A: In 2024 we will be now be drawing 38 seats. This is determined by (a) the number of persons allowed in the space reserved for us at Archives I, plus (b) the number of 2023 scholarship winners or sponsored students who selected Gen-Fed as their institute of choice. Twenty additional names, above and beyond the remaining available seats, will be drawn for waitlist status.

Q: How many times can I enter?
A: Once, please. Duplicates will not be included in the drawing.

Q: When will waitlist entrants be notified that they’re “in?”
A: ASAP, if/when seats become open.  No waitlist students will be notified after July 10th. The waitlist students will not be held over for 2025.

Q: When do I pay tuition?
A: Payment ($650) will be due, in full, upon email notification that you’ve won a seat and are officially registered.

Q: What if I’m attending on a scholarship (ex: Lackey, ASG, BCG, other sponsorship, etc.)?
A: No need to fill out the form–your seat has already been reserved.

Q: What about hotel and transportation?
A: Each student is responsible for their own transportation and board. Gen-Fed has contracted with a local hotel for a lower group rate.  Go to the Registration FYI page for more.

Q: What else should I know?
A: Students must all agree to abide by the Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct to be allowed to register.  Additionally, the National Archives has COVID regulations in place, and the Gen-Fed Institute has also amended it to include their own recommendations. Both must be at least read before a person can be entered into the drawing.  Read them here.

Q: Am I ready for Gen-Fed?
A: This is an important question. Gen-Fed is a week of advanced-level courses on federal records in a complex facility.  It is best to have at least intermediate to higher-intermediate level skills and education going into this week.  Try this self-evaluation test here.

Good luck and we hope to see you in the second week of August!

Rebecca and Mary

 

Announcing Registration for Gen-Fed 2024

January 1, 2024

The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records will be held in-person at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., from Sunday, August 4th through Saturday, August 10th, 2024.

Gen-Fed will begin accepting entries for the registration drawing the week of February 10th through February 16th, 2024. More people want to attend Gen-Fed than we can accommodate at NARA. For that reason, we use a random selection process to even the playing field:

    1. Fill out the Attendee Seat entry form (remains open for one week).
    2. If you win a seat in our random drawing, you’ll be registered.
    3. If you are selected, you must be prepared to pay the fee, agree to policies, and attend the week of Gen-Fed.

To enter your name in the drawing click here after reading the FAQ below: https://airtable.com/app89NTnfxcLGjVIM/shrEBtczX6ITPEa6S 

    • Form opens at 9:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, 10 February 2024
    • Form closes at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday, 16 February 2024

Gen-Fed will send an email to entrants after the form closes on 16 February with the Zoom link for the live drawing on Saturday, 17 February at 1:00 p.m. ET / noon CT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. PT.  You do not need to attend to be awarded the registration seat.

READ THE F.A.Q. FIRST 

Q: How will I know if I won a Gen-Fed seat?
A: Winners will be randomly drawn on Saturday, 17 February 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET during a live session, viewable by all, via Zoom (you don’t need to be present to win).

Q: How many seats are available?
A: In 2024 we will be drawing 35 seats. This is determined by (a) the number of persons allowed in the space reserved for us at Archives I, plus (b) the number of 2023 scholarship winners or sponsored students selected Gen-Fed as their institute of choice. Twenty additional names, above and beyond the remaining available seats, will be drawn for waitlist status.

Q: How many times can I enter?
A: Once, please. Duplicates will not be included in the drawing.

Q: When will waitlist entrants be notified that they’re “in?”
A: ASAP, if/when seats become open.

Q: When do I pay tuition?
A: Payment ($650) will be due, in full, upon email notification that you’ve won a seat and are officially registered.

Q: What if I’m attending on a scholarship (ex: Lackey, ASG, BCG, other sponsorship, etc.)?
A: No need to fill out the form–your seat has already been reserved.

Q: What about hotel and transportation?
A: Each student is responsible for their own transportation and board.  Gen-Fed has contracted with a local hotel for a lower group rate.  Go to the Registration FYI page for more.

Q: What else should I know?
A: Students must all agree to abide by the Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct to be allowed to register.  Additionally, the National Archives has COVID regulations in place, and the Gen-Fed Institute has also amended it to include their own recommendations.  Read them before you fill in your entry form.

Q: Am I ready for Gen-Fed?
A: This is an important question. Gen-Fed is a week of advanced-level courses on federal records in a complex facility.  It is best to have at least intermediate to higher-intermediate level skills and education going into this week.  Try this self-evaluation test here.

Good luck and we hope to see you this year!

Rebecca and Mary

 

2024 Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship: Open for applications

November 30, 2023

The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Alumni Association sponsors the Richard S. Lackey Scholarship. The Gen-Fed Alumni Association’s purpose is to promote, conduct, and foster education, research, study, and analysis related to genealogy and to disseminate information and support other similar undertakings.

Richard S. Lackey (1921-1983) of Mississippi was a leader in the drive to improve the professionalization of the genealogical community. In addition to lecturing and teaching, he was an author/compiler of standards for genealogical writing, and of Mississippi source material. His work exemplified the highest standards of competent research and scholarly citation of sources. At the time of his death, Richard was President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

The Lackey scholarship is awarded annually to an experienced researcher active in a paid or volunteer position which directly benefits the genealogical community. This year the scholarship will award $1000, which covers full tuition for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), and partly defrays hotel and/or meal costs. Provided the public health situation allows it, the Gen-Fed Alumni Association will also provide dinner at the Gen-Fed Alumni Banquet on Friday night, August 9, 2024, where a check for the amount less tuition will be presented to the recipient.

Gigi Nelson, the 2023 Lackey winner, says:

“It was a true honor to be selected to attend Gen-Fed 2023 as the Lackey Scholarship awardee. Gen-Fed is like Coachella for genealogists. It’s a week to immerse yourself in learning about the records that are stored at the National Archives, and do deep-dives into record sets that are of particular interest. Attending Gen-Fed has definitely helped me further develop my research skills. In addition to the education that the Gen-Fed experience provides, it also allowed me to network with genealogists from around the country. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I would recommend it to any genealogist serious about honing their craft.”

The application can be downloaded here.

Details:

  • All applications and additional attachments must be submitted in PDF format, combined in one file.
  • The completed application form and attachments should be emailed to Jonathan Deiss at jdeiss@soldiersource.com with “Lackey Scholarship 2024” in the subject line.
  • The PDF file name should include your last name and first initial, such as “DoeJ Lackey Scholarship 2024 Application.”
  • A complete application must be received by midnight (EST) January 31, 2024.

The winner will be notified by 1 March 2024. Other applicants will be notified shortly after that date. The scholarship winner will automatically be accepted for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records to be held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., from August 4-10, 2024.

Lackey Award Winner for 2023 – Aungelic Nelson

March 15, 2023

The Gen-Fed Alumni Association is pleased to present Aungelic “Gigi” Nelson as the winner of the 2023 Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship. 

Gigi is an accomplished speaker, genealogist, and historian. Born in Los Angeles and raised in an Army family, she spent her school years living all over the country and overseas.  She holds both a BA (Columbus State University, Columbus, GA,) and a master’s degree (University of Alabama, Birmingham) in American History, and taught college-level history courses and other related subjects.  After years of teaching, she became a military historian with the Air Force and completed two deployments downrange as a combat historian.  In 2017, she finally settled down in Washington, DC, where her passion for genealogy became a mission.

That passion led her to create the Majani Project, a nonprofit online genealogical club for Black youth (www.majani.org).  When she realized there were no books specifically to introduce Black young adults to genealogy, she wrote and published one herself.  For The Culture:  A Genealogy Handbook For The Cool Kids is a labor of love with lots of pictures and activities to get youth started on their genealogical journey of connecting to their ancestors and finding strength, resilience, and self-identity in their Black heritage.

Gigi has also developed a public speaking program on “Restorative Genealogy” directed to religious and social organizations where she speaks nationwide to groups about how genealogy can be more than just a hobby if more family historians are willing to put all family records (the great and the not-so-great) online.  Making records available and searchable is a gift that can have profound effects on those attempting to piece together their own family story. Her book on that will be published this year.

Gigi is a member of various local and national historical societies and genealogical associations.  A former elected commissioner for her neighborhood in Washington, DC, she enjoys researching genealogy for herself and others, skating, dancing, and cooking.

Richard S. Lackey Scholarship for 2023

December 20, 2022

2023 Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship Application

Genealogical Institute on Federal Records Alumni Association

The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Alumni Association is sponsoring the Richard S. Lackey Scholarship. The Gen-Fed Alumni Association’s purpose is to promote, conduct, and foster education, research, study, and analysis related to genealogy and to disseminate information and support other similar undertakings.

Richard S. Lackey (1921–1983) of Mississippi was a leader in the drive to improve the professionalization of the genealogical community. In addition to lecturing and teaching, he was an author/compiler of standards for genealogical writing, and of Mississippi source material. His work exemplified the highest standards of competent research and scholarly citation of sources. His books Cite Your Sources: A Manual for Documenting Family Histories and Genealogical Records (1980) and Write it Right (1983), co-authored with Donald R. Barnes, promote proper documentation of sources within family histories and genealogical papers. At the time of his death, Richard was President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

The scholarship is awarded annually to an experienced researcher active in a paid or volunteer position which directly benefits the genealogical community. This year the scholarship will award $1000, which covers full tuition for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), and partly defrays hotel and/or meal costs. Provided the public health situation allows it, the Gen-Fed Alumni Association will also provide dinner at the Gen-Fed Alumni Banquet on Friday night, August 11, 2023, where a check for the amount less tuition will be presented to the recipient.

Susan Schuler, the 2022 scholarship recipient, says, “Attending Gen-Fed 2022 through the Lackey Scholarship was monumental for my genealogical education.  The opportunity to learn from some of the most knowledgeable and generous professionals in genealogy bolstered my own knowledge and confidence.  This has allowed me to grow and develop the genealogy program at East Lake Community Library in Palm Harbor, Florida, and in turn has benefited our patrons and their research.”

For more information about the Institute, visit www.gen-fed.org. The application can be downloaded from the Scholarships page. All applications and additional attachments must be submitted in PDF format, combined in one file.

The completed application form and attachments should be emailed to Jonathan Deiss at jdeiss@soldiersource.com with “Lackey Scholarship 2023” in the subject line. The PDF file name should include your last name and first initial, such as “DoeJ Lackey Scholarship 2023 Application.” A complete application must be received by midnight (EST) January 31, 2023. The winner will be notified by 1 March 2023. Other applicants will be notified shortly after that date. The scholarship winner will automatically be accepted for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records to be held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., from August 7-12, 2023.

Good luck!

 

Gen-Fed Registration 2022: March 12th

March 10, 2022

R E G I S T R A T I O N  F O R  G E N – F E D   V I R T U A L – 2 O 2 2

A drawing for the remaining seats plus 20 waitlist names will be held online live on Saturday, March 12th, at 10 am Pac./11 am Mtn./12 pm Cent./1 pm EDT.  We originally planned to host that publicly, but due to privacy concerns, the link will only be shared with those persons who signed up for a chance at registration. Thank you for your understanding.

If you are one of the over 100 requests we received for the remaining seats, please check your emails and your spam folders for the link.  Attendance is not required to gain a seat.

A total of 30 seats will be drawn for registration and 20 waitlist names, in case of cancellations. The drawing will be completely randomized, we want to make this as fair as we can.

Good luck!

Rebecca & Cinda

 

Register Now for Gen-Fed 2022: March 1 to March 7

March 1, 2022

R E G I S T E R   N O W   F O R   G E N – F E D   V I R T U A L


 

Read the following carefully before registering:

  • Gen-Fed will be held virtually Monday, August 8th through Saturday, August 13th. Classes run everyday 10 am to 6 pm EST, except Saturday which ends at noon.
  • Registration will stay open until Monday, March 7th at 6 pm Pac./7 pm Mtn./8 pm Cent./9 pm EDT.
  • The applicants’ names will be put in a drawing throughout that week, therefore the day and time of application will not determine place in line for a seat.
  • A drawing for the remaining seats (once we know how many of the current students will stay), plus 20 waitlist names will be held online LIVE on Saturday, March 12th, at 10 am Pac./11 am Mtn./12 pm Cent./1 pm EDT.  We will post the link for that a few days before here at this website news page.
  • By registering, you accept the responsibility to pay the institute fee by check or money order of $575.00.
  • Note: Due to limited seating, it is Gen-Fed policy to not allow persons to re-take Gen-Fed again for 5 years.

Please use the airtable link here to register: https://airtable.com/shrYzeJRCxg5M7Zwn.

For your information (and anticipation!) the classes and events you can expect for the virtual session:*

  • Pre-Class Videos: History of NARA & Understanding Accessioning; Ordering Records; Using Finding Aids
  • The National Archives’ Catalog by archivist Claire Kluskens
  • NARA’s Records—Coast to Coast by archivist Trevor Plante
  • Q&A with NARA Archivists
  • NARA Records in Other Online Sources by Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
  • US Immigration & Nationality: Beyond Basics with Marian L. Smith
  • Blasting Brick Walls with Legislative Records by Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
  • Mining Land Entry Records with Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
  • Basic Military Records at NARA by archivist John Deeben
  • Pension Records at the National Archives by Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL
  • Reward for Service: Bounty Land Records by Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
  • Introduction to the Records of NARA Fort Worth by archivist Jenny Sweeny
  • Records of Archives II: U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Records by Archives Staff
  • Records of Archives II: Federal Civilian Agency Records by Archives Staff
  • Introduction to the Library of Congress for Genealogists by Ahmed Johnson & Staff
  • Underused Sources at the National Archives by Debra Hoffman, PLCGS
  • Unique Map Holdings by Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
  • Researching Enslaved African Americans in Federal Records by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG
  • Introduction to Federal Records Documenting Native Americans by Kenneth W. Heger, PhD
  • Court Records: Making a Federal Case Out of It by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
  • BCG Board Certification: Your Questions Answered with LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG
  • Busted, Bankrupt, Banged Up: Stories in Federal Court Records by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
  • Introduction to the Daughters of the American Revolution Library by Elizabeth Ernst
  • …and throughout the week: 1) hands-on practice exercises dealing with many of the records we learn about, 2) each student signs up for a 20-minute personal session with a archival records specialist, 3) one each personal military consultation with specialist Jonathan Webb Deiss, and 4) each student is promised 2 record pulls (within reasonable limits!) once the Archives opens. (*sessions subject to change)

We can’t wait to see you there!

Rebecca & Cinda

 

Registration for Gen-Fed 2022: March 1 to March 7

February 21, 2022

GEN-FED 2022 WILL BE A VIRTUAL SESSION

As much as we hope that the National Archives may be open in August, we fear it may not be as open as we wish or that it may be forced to close again just as we are ready to start classes.  So it is with an abundance of caution (and disappointment) we make the decision to hold Gen-Fed virtually again.  Our instructors’ and students’ safety is our primary consideration.

  • Gen-Fed will still be held Monday, August 8th through Saturday, August 13th.
  • A registration link will be posted to this website, here at Gen-Fed.org News on Tuesday, March 1st. The link opens that day at 6 am Pac./7 am Mtn./8 am/Cent./9 am EDT and it will stay open until Monday, March 7th at 6 pm Pac./7 pm Mtn./8 pm Cent./9 pm EDT.
  • The applicants’ names will be put in a drawing throughout that week, therefore the day and time of application will not determine place in line for a seat.
  • A drawing for the remaining seats (once we know how many of the current students will stay), plus 20 waitlist names will be held online LIVE on Saturday, March 12th, at 10 am Pac./11 am Mtn./12 pm Cent./1 pm EDT.  We will post the link for that a few days before here at this website news page.
  • The price for Gen-Fed will remain the same as it has since 2020: $575.00 for the week.

Our next most important consideration, besides safety, is the quality of instruction. While none of us can really predict what will happen about closings, we can certainly predict the excellence of our instructors’ talents, no matter the situation.  As a precursor, here are the classes and events you can expect for the virtual session:*

  • Pre-Class Videos: History of NARA & Understanding Accessioning; Ordering Records; Using Finding Aids
  • The National Archives’ Catalog by archivist Claire Kluskens
  • NARA’s Records—Coast to Coast by archivist Trevor Plante
  • Q&A with NARA Archivists
  • NARA Records in Other Online Sources by Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
  • US Immigration & Nationality: Beyond Basics with Marian L. Smith
  • Blasting Brick Walls with Legislative Records by Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
  • Mining Land Entry Records with Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
  • Basic Military Records at NARA by archivist John Deeben
  • Pension Records at the National Archives by Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL
  • Reward for Service: Bounty Land Records by Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
  • Introduction to the Records of NARA Fort Worth by Archives Staff
  • Records of Archives II: U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Records by Archives Staff
  • Records of Archives II: Federal Civilian Agency Records by Archives Staff
  • Introduction to the Library of Congress for Genealogists by Ahmed Johnson & Staff
  • Underused Sources at the National Archives by Debra Hoffman, PLCGS
  • Unique Map Holdings by Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
  • Researching Enslaved African Americans in Federal Records by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG
  • Introduction to Federal Records Documenting Native Americans by Kenneth W. Heger, PhD
  • Court Records: Making a Federal Case Out of It by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
  • BCG Board Certification: Your Questions Answered with LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG
  • Busted, Bankrupt, Banged Up: Stories in Federal Court Records by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
  • Introduction to the Daughters of the American Revolution Library by Elizabeth Ernst
  • …and throughout the week: 1) hands-on practice exercises dealing with many of the records we learn about, 2) each student signs up for a 20-minute personal session with a archival records specialist, 3) one each personal military consultation with specialist Jonathan Webb Deiss, and 4) each student is promised 2 record pulls (within reasonable limits!) once the Archives opens. (*sessions subject to change)

Please stay safe and well everyone. We hope to see you there!

Rebecca & Cinda

 

Update on Gen-Fed 2022

February 1, 2022

The big question in my emails all month has been “When does registration start for Gen-Fed 2022?”

The answer is: hopefully soon.  The wave of different variants of the COVID virus and rates of inoculation have changed the dynamic this year, but it is still too soon to tell if we can have Gen-Fed in person at NARA in Washington D.C., or if we should hold it virtually.  So we ask you to wait patiently with us a little more.

Updates to research room policies at NARA are found at https://www.archives.gov/coronavirus.  If NARA does take a large group, we still do not know if they will take our full capacity of students (so we do not know how many yet to register if we go in person).  If we are there in person, be prepared that the current NARA vaccination status rules state that researchers/students will have to be fully vaccinated and sign an attestation form. Or unvaccinated researchers/students must bring a negative COVID-19 test, see: https://www.archives.gov/research/news/faqs-research-room-reopenings.

We will do our next update and hopefully make a decision by President’s Day, February 21st.  As with last year, if Gen-Fed is virtual this year, those who already have a seat will be allowed to defer to another year. Whatever does happen, we have the most amazing staff of instructors and archivists to make your learning a success.

Thank you,

Rebecca & Cinda