The Society’s 81st Annual Meeting was held entirely by videoconference on Saturday, November 7, 2020.  Of the 38 Fellows in attendance, 33 were able to pose for this image:

Row 1: Murphy, Taylor, Saxbe, Dwyer, Dobson, J. Anderson.
Row 2: Ullmann, Sperry, Lennon, Hart, Baldwin, J. Hansen.
Row 3: Hinchliff, T. Jones, Sanborn, J. Fiske, Joslyn, Hill.
Row 4: Byrne, Smith, Rose, Reed, Williams, Hoff.
Row 5: W Fiske, Hatcher, Mathews, Stott, Dearborn, Bamberg.
Row 6: Remington, Mills, C. Hansen.

At the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Genealogists on November 7, 2020, the Society voted to give its Donald Lines Jacobus Award to The Littlefield Genealogy: Descendants of Edmund Littlefield of Wells, Maine, Through Six Generations, 2 vols.  (Waterville, Maine: Maine Genealogical Society, 2020), by Priscilla Eaton.

A Great Migration immigrant from Titchfield, Hampshire, England, Edmund Littlefield’s descendants grew to become one of the largest families in Maine, with branches extending to southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Quebec. Eaton’s research, supported by extensive documentation and detailed analysis, covers more than three thousand of Edmund’s descendants.

The Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists held their annual meeting on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Caleb H. Johnson of Paulden, Arizona, was elected to the Society as its 168th Fellow.

Caleb H. Johnson has conducted trailblazing genealogical research on the Mayflower passengers and their descendants for the past twenty-two years. In that time he has produced five books, a large number of scholarly articles, and an informational website, mayflowerhistory.com. This body of work includes the discovery, at first on his own and more recently in partnerships with two English scholars, of the origins of no fewer than twelve Mayflower passengers. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Johnson was editor of Mayflower Descendant and contributed much of the material in that journal for those years.

At the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Genealogists on November 7, 2020, Dr. Neil D. Thompson, our 100th Fellow, was elected as a Fellow Emeritus, in recognition of his lifetime of contributions to genealogy. Among Dr. Thompson’s many contributions to the field is the journal The Genealogist, which he founded in 1980 and edited and published for many years; it is now published by the Society.

The Henry Project is a database of the known ancestors of King Henry II of England (b. 1133, d. 1189). Begun in 2001 by Stewart Baldwin, FASG, it offers concise but detailed genealogical data backed up with original evidence. Hosted elsewhere since 2001, it is now hosted on the ASG’s website by special arrangement, with a new narrative preface by Professor Baldwin.

Link to The Henry Project.

Fellow George Ely Russell (1927-2013) has been named to the National Genealogy Hall of Fame at the 2020 meeting of the National Genealogical Society. He had been nominated by the American Society of Genealogists. The nomination paper read, in part:

George at the ASG’s 1994 Annual Meeting.

“George Ely Russell was one of the most prolific genealogists of our generation. In 1955, he started what became a massive output of genealogical articles and books, probably reaching around 150 publications. As its editor from 1970 to 1986, he brought the NGS Quarterly to its highest level, and it became recognized as ‘one of the four leading genealogical journals,’ the position it holds today. For several years, he was editor and publisher of Genealogical Periodical Annual Index, the pioneer in that field. His numerous articles on early Maryland families represent a significant contribution to the literature. As a lecturer at major genealogical conferences, he was an inspiration, mentor and teacher to many aspiring genealogists.”

Applications are now being accepted for the ASG Scholar Award for 2021 (deadline: August 31, 2020). This annual grant, now $2,000, is awarded for study at one of six major academic genealogical programs in the United States (listed below). Candidacy for 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 three 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 award granted at the ASG annual meeting in the fall of each year is to defray costs of attending a program in the following calendar year.

The ASG Scholar Award provides financial assistance for a developing scholar to attend one of six academic programs in American genealogy: the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), held in Athens, Georgia, under the auspices of the Georgia Genealogical Society (formerly based at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.); the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), formerly NIGR, in Washington, D.C.; the Certificate Program in Genealogical Research at Boston University; the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG); or the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), or one of two online courses, Advanced Genealogical Research (GENE 350) or Genetic Genealogy (GENE 201), at Excelsior College, Albany, New York. The recipient of the ASG Scholar Award may register for the program of his or her choice. The award is given in October of each calendar year, with the intention that it is used for genealogical study in the following calendar year.

• The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), formerly NIGR, held for one week each July 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. Write to: Gen-Fed Director, P.O. Box 24564, Baltimore, MD 21214.
• The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), held for one week each year, 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 Athens 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: Georgia Genealogical Society, PO Box 550247, Atlanta, GA 30355-2747; email: info@gagensociety.org.
• The Genealogical Research Certificate Program at Boston University consists of five modules, offered on Saturdays in seven-hour sessions: Foundations, Technology, Evidence, Forensic, and Ethnic and Geographic Specialties. Write to: Center for Professional Education, 1010 Commonwealth Ave., 2nd Floor, Boston MA 02215; or web: genealogyonline.bu.edu.
• 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. Write to: The Utah Genealogical Association, PO Box 1144, Salt Lake City, UT 84110 or contact info@ugagenealogy.org.
• The Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The instructors 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. Write to: GRIP of Pittsburgh, PO Box 44, Wexford, PA 15090; email: info@GRIPitt.org.
• GENE 350 (Advanced Genealogical Research—15 weeks) or GENE 201 (Genetic Genealogy—8 weeks) at Excelsior College, Albany, New York. These undergraduate credit-bearing courses are taught online by leaders in the field and meet or exceed standards for both genealogy and genetic genealogy.

Applications

Applicants for the ASG Scholar Award for 2020 should apply before August 31, 2020, by submitting the items below:

• 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. Announcement of the award winner will be made by November 10, 2020. Applications should be addressed to:

David C. Dearborn, Chair
ASG Scholar Award Com­mittee
P.O. Box 374
Sharon, MA  02067-0374

Email submission is preferred, to: dearborn@massed.net

Read more about the award and see a list of past recipients at Awards > ASG Scholar Award.

Today, 18 March 2020, marks the 175th anniversary of The New England Historic Genealogical Society. The following resolution was approved by the Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists on 27 February 2020:

For one hundred and seventy-five years, The New England Historic Genealogical Society has been a leader in genealogical research, education, and preservation of valuable family records and memorabilia. Its quarterly journal, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, is the oldest continuous genealogical journal in the United States and is a standard in scholarly genealogical writing. The American Society of Genealogists congratulates The New England Historic Genealogical Society with respect and gratitude on its achievement of this milestone anniversary.

On rare occasions the American Society of Genealogists awards a Certificate of Appreciation to an individual or organization in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the discipline of genealogy. At its Annual Meeting November 2, 2019, the Society awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to David Rencher, A.G., C.G., Chief Genealogical Officer of FamilySearch and, from 1999 to 2002 and again since 2018, Director of the Family History Library, in recognition of his vigorous and visionary efforts to serve the aims of scholarly genealogy at the Family History Library and at FamilySearch.

The ASG Scholar Award rewards talented genealogists with stipends to pursue advanced academic training in genealogy. At its meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, on November 2, 2019, the American Society of Genealogists granted the ASG Scholar Award to two recipients:

To Denise Cross of Berlin, Massachusetts, for her article “Uniting the Identity of Samuel Fletcher of New York and Vermont.”

To Candace Marx of Norridge, Illinois, for her article “A Luxembourger Family Comes to America: The Wagners of Aurora, Illinois.”

Ms. Cross will use her award to attend the Genealogical Research Program of Pittsburgh (GRIP) and Ms. Marx will use her award to attend the Excelsior College Genetic Genealogy Program.