Established in 1996, the ASG Scholar Award is a scholarship to support attendance at one of major academic genealogical programs in the United States. The award is open to all genealogists, genealogical librarians, and researchers working in related fields. Applicants submit a published work or a manuscript of work in progress, to be judged by a panel of Fellows. The goal of the award is to recognize talent and build genealogical expertise by providing promising genealogists the opportunity to receive advanced academic training in genealogy.
The ASG Scholar Award provides financial assistance for a developing scholar to attend one term of one of the well-established academic programs in American genealogy listed below. The recipient of the ASG Scholar Award may register for the program of his or her choice. For programs with limited enrollment, ASG Scholar Award recipients have historically been granted priority enrollment.
The amount, date, and means of disbursement of the ASG Scholar Award is dependent on the program in which the recipient intends to enroll. The award will cover registration and similar fees for a single term. Typical registration or related fees for the below programs are in the range of $500 to $800.
The ASG Scholar Award is granted at the ASG’s annual meeting in the Fall of each calendar year, to fund genealogical study in the following calendar year.
Programs the award can support:
- The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), formerly NIGR, held for one week each year and based at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., is the nation’s oldest institute for genealogical education, founded in 1950. Gen-Fed provides a unique program of advanced instruction in the use of National Archives records.
- The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), held for one week each June, was founded in 1964 to provide a structured program of genealogical study at an academic level. Based through 2016 at Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, it moved to Georgia in 2017 and is affiliated with the Georgia Genealogical Society. IGHR offers tracks of study, ranging from beginning to advanced research methodology, professional genealogy, and other specialized topics. Contact: IGHR at Georgia Genealogical Society: ighr@gagensociety.org.
- The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Association, is in its 20th year and is a week-long intensive educational experience that takes students deep into their topic of choice. SLIG is dedicated to offering courses that fill a high-intermediate and advanced-level educational need. However, each year a handful of courses are included which provide a wealth of information and background information required to help intermediate and transitional genealogists strengthen their core understanding of the research process. Contact: The Utah Genealogical Association, PO Box 1144, Salt Lake City, UT 84110; email: info@ugagenealogy.org.
- The GRIP Genealogy Institute (in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is led by instructors who are all experienced genealogical researchers, lecturers, and writers who bring their expertise into the classroom with case studies and problem solving exercises. The students come from a wide variety of backgrounds but all share their passion for family history and for learning how to efficiently break down “brick wall” genealogical puzzles. Various different week-long genealogical courses which incorporate hands-on learning in a state-of-the-art and friendly community atmosphere. Contact: grip@ngsgenealogy.org.
Programs no longer operating which the award supported in the past include courses at Boston University’s Genealogical Research Program leading to BU’s Certificate in Genealogical Research; and genealogy courses (online) at Excelsior College, Albany, New York.
Applications
Applications received by August 31 of each year are announced at the ASG’s annual meeting that fall. Awards made in the fall defray expenses in the following calendar year at one of the above listed programs.
- a résumé that emphasizes activities relating to genealogy and lists the applicant’s publications in the field, if any (prior publications are not necessary).
- a manuscript or published work of at least 5,000 words, demonstrating an ability to conduct quality genealogical research, analyze results, and report findings in an appropriately documented fashion. If the submission is to be returned, it should be accompanied by an envelope or bagging with sufficient postage.
- a statement (100–150 words) which (1) identifies the individual’s choice of program and (2) explains why the individual feels that attendance will enhance his or her growth as a genealogical scholar.
The ASG Scholarship Committee, chaired by the ASG Vice President, will make the selection for the award. Appications should be addressed to the ASG Scholar Award Committee and sent by email to:
ASG Scholars
Past recipients of the ASG Scholar Award are listed below, along with the title of the published work or manuscript submitted at the time. Awards here are listed by the year in which the award was granted; the awarded stipend was used in the following calendar year.
2025
Bonnie Wade Mucia, AG, of Bluffton, South Carolina: “Samuel Beal Shea of the 19th Maine at the Battle of Gettysburg,” published The Maine Genealogist.
2024
Allison Kotter, of Ringgold, Georgia: research report on the Fambro family of Georgia.
2023
Jari C. Honora, CG, of New Orleans, Louisiana: “Rooted in Revolution, Radicalism, and Race: The Roudanez Family.”
2022
Kathrine C. Aydelott, MLIS, PhD, of Raymond, New Hampshire: “Darius Andrews of Sumner, Maine: A Descent from Henry Andrews of Taunton, Massachusetts.”
2021
Michael G. Hait Jr., CG, CGL, of Harrington, Delaware: “African American Families Enslaved by the Carrolls of Maryland.”
2020
Faye Jenkins Stallings, of Montgomery, Texas: “Using Indirect Evidence to Find the Father of Robert Y. Jones of Hopkins County, Kentucky.”
2019 (two awards)
Denise Cross, of Berlin, Massachusetts: “Uniting the Identity of Samuel Fletcher of New York and Vermont.”
Candace Marx, of Norridge, Illinois: “A Luxembourger Family Comes to America: The Wagners of Aurora, Illinois.”
2018
Jan M. Joyce, of Los Altos Hills, California: “796 Acres Acquired in 36 Years: A Story of Land Acquisition and Its Cagey Distribution in Holmes County, Ohio.”
2017
Stephanie K. West, of Lodi, California: “Who Was the Father of George W. West of Tioga County, Pennsylvania?”
2016
Steven W. Morrison, MPA, of Olympia, Washington: “Quaker John Starr of Antrim and Cavan, Ireland, and His Five Sons Who Sailed to Pennsylvania.”
2015
Darcie Hind Posz, CG, Washington, D.C.: “Tanaka and Ishihara Families of Hiroshima Prefecture and Papaaloa, Hilo, Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii.”
2014
Chip Rowe, Garrison, New York: “Who Was Joel Holcomb of Wallingford, Connecticut?”
2012
Paul K. Graham, Salt Lake City, Utah: “McCombs of Milledgeville, Georgia.”
2011
Aaron Goodwin, New York, New York: “The Prussian Origins of William Aufermann of Manhattan and New Jersey.”
2010
Janey E. Joyce, CG, San Antonio, Texas: “Identifying the Parents of Lucy P. Barber (1778-1861), Wife of William Barber of Enosburg, Vermont.”
2009
Jay H. Fonkert, CG, Saint Paul, Minnesota: “Three Studies of Six Morstad Siblings.”
2008
Ruth Randall, Albuquerque, New Mexico: “A Family for Suzanne.”
2007
Dawn C. Stricklin, Springfield, Missouri: “The Many Mothers of John Little Crow.”
2004
Birdie Monk Holsclaw, CG, Longmont, Colorado: “Life and Death on the Frontier: The Robert and Loana McFarland Family of Boulder Valley, Colorado.”
2003
Nancy S. Peterson, Gig Harbor, Washington: “The Missing Randalls: Descendants of John(1) Randall of Westerly Through His Son Peter.”
2001
Douglas S. Shipley, Fredericksburg, Virginia: “Frank and Fanny Austin: Oral and Documentary Research of a Formerly Enslaved Family.”
2000
Carol Gohari, Glendale, New York: “Jacob Eaton of Brookhaven, Long Island, New York, and His Children.”
1998
June Reidrich Zublic, CG, Turnersville, New Jersey: “After the Treaty of Paris of 1783: One Quaker Family in Saratoga, Albany County, New York. Israel and Amity (Harris) Phillips.”
1997
Peter E. Carr, San Luis Obispo, California: “Guide to Cuban Genealogical Research: Records and Sources.”
1996
Patricia Law Hatcher, CG, Dallas, Texas: “A Multiplicity of Marys: Corrections and Additions to Genealogies of the Abbott, Hale, Hovey, Jackson, and Jewett Families of Essex, Massachusetts.”