Speakers
NOTE: Additional details will be released in the coming months; please continue to check this site for more information.
The Fairfax Genealogical Society is pleased to offer the following experienced lecturers for the 2013 Annual Conference.
Char McCargo Bah
A native of Alexandria,Virginia, Char has been doing genealogical research for more than 26 years. Besides being a published author – having been published in the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society Newsletter, NGS Magazine, Halifax County, Virginia Heritage Book, and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Journal – Char gives back to her Alexandria community.
Her work on the Freedmen Cemetery project in Alexandria, Virginia, garnered Char the 2009 Alexandria History Award. She is continuing in the same vein with her lecture series, "Their Voices Can Be Heard" which began with her research into descendants of people buried at Freedmen's Cemetery. For those of you who do not know about the Freedmen's Cemetery, it is a historic African-American burial ground reclaimed by the City of Alexandria in 2007. Since 2008 Char has located dozens of descendants of people buried at Freedmen's Cemetery, most of whom are 5th and 6th generations removed. Many of the descendants who still live in Alexandria or nearby, were not familiar with their Civil War-era ancestors.
Besides all of this she appeared on the PBS show History Detective, has been interviewed by the BBC, was selected for a documentary with the Ellis Island Foundation, is a member of the Virginia Genealogical Society, and was on the Board and served as its Historian for two consecutive terms.
The Virginia Genealogical Society recently honored Char with the 2011 Volunteer Award.
Dorothy A. Boyd-Bragg, Ph.D.
Dr. Boyd-Bragg's biography is forthcoming.
DearMYRTLE
A genealogy blogger, lecturer and webinar host, DearMYRTLE is the nom de plume of Pat Richley-Erickson. She is the author of DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Column, appearing first in the AOL Golden Gates Genealogy Forum, then in website format, now in blog format (1995-present), DearMYRTLE's Monthly Organization Checklists (1996-present), "Virtual Presentations: an alternative for genealogy speakers" Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, Dec 2009, "Genealogists: Get a Second Life" Digital Genealogist Volume 3, Number 3, DearMYRTLE's Joy of Genealogy (2006), The Everything Online Genealogy Book (2001) and the "Church Records" chapter, Beginning Genealogy (Family Chronicle 1999).
Founder, GeneaWebinars.com (2011- present); Official Blogger, RootsTech 2011; Co-Organizer, BetterGEDCOM Project (2010-present); Co-Founder Genea-Quilters (2010-present); Coordinator, Union of Genealogy Groups in Second Life (2007-present); Discussion Leader, Just Genealogy in Second Life (2007-present); Vice President, Utah Genealogical Association, (December 2008-June 2010); Podcaster, DearMYRTLE's Family History Hour (2000-2004); Computer Instructor, Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton, Florida (1991-2005; President, Manasota Genealogical Society (2001-2005); Instructor, Manasota PAF Users Group (1993-2005); Leadership Team, AOL Genealogy Forum (1991-2000); Patron Services Director, Bradenton Florida Family History Center (1989-2002); Leadership Team, Q-Link's Your Family Tree (1984-1989).
Pat has studied at Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (2009, 2010, 2011) and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (2011). Find Myrt on the web at: www.DearMYRTLE.com.
Sharon Hodges
Sharon's biography is forthcoming.
John Humphrey, CG
John's biography is forthcoming.
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS
Tom works full-time as a genealogical author, editor, educator, and researcher. A past president and former trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, he has co-edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly since 2002. Tom lectures frequently in national and local venues, where he is known for information-packed lectures benefitting genealogists at all skill levels. His articles and lectures address genealogical research methods, proof, and problem solving. A professor emeritus at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., Tom teaches "Evidence Evaluation and Documentation" in Boston University's online and classroom-based genealogy certificate programs, "Advanced Genealogical Methods" at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and "Writing and Publishing for Genealogists" at Samford University's Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. He specializes in Virginia and Georgia research and solving "brick-wall" genealogical problems.
Charles S. "Chuck" Mason, Jr., CG
Chuck is a Certified Genealogist, specializing in Southern New Jersey and 19th and 20th Century Death Records. He is a graduate of NGS's American Genealogy: Home Study Course, (1994), is an instructor for the course, a graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Research (NIGR) at the National Archives (1996 & 2001), and has attended numerous NGS conferences, state and local conferences in the Washington, DC area and in New Jersey.
Chuck is a member of both the Fairfax and the Mt. Vernon Genealogical Societies, served in various positions on the board of both societies including President (MVGS 2000-2002 and FxGS 2008-2009). He is a past President (2004-2006) of NIGR Alumni Association, and was a Director of the Northern Virginia Association for History (1999-2006).
Chuck has been a frequent contributor to the National Genealogical Society Magazine and is a co-host of Tracing Your Family Roots (tracingroots.nova.org) at Fairfax Cable Television Channel 10. In July 2009 he received the Distinguished Service Award from NGS and the MVGS Sustained Service Award in 2010.
Judy G. Russell, CG
Judie's biography is forthcoming.
Gerald "Jerry" Smith, CG
Jerry's biography is forthcoming.
Page Last Updated: 5/6/2012