TGP 43 - Gen-Fed with Malissa Ruffner
07/11/16 • 29 min
In this episode Malissa Ruffner discusses details of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), a five-day program focused on researching federal records. Gen-Fed was formerly known as the National Institute on Genealogical Research.
According to Gen-Fed's website, "The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) is held at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. (Archives I), headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), official repository of the permanently valuable records of the United States government. Federal records document a wide variety of interactions between ordinary citizens and the government—in some cases providing unique genealogical information, and in others, biographical and contextual detail that enriches understanding of our ancestors’ lives.
About the InstituteGen-Fed is designed to instill a methodological framework and foster creative thinking about relevant records—setting the stage for federal discovery. Geared towards experienced genealogists, archivists, historians and librarians, it is a unique opportunity to explore holdings unavailable elsewhere.
The institute has been a leader in genealogical education since its founding in 1950 as a three-week comprehensive program. It has evolved throughout its history in response to growth in genealogical education, advances in record access, and changes in technology. Its trustees are representatives of the American Society of Genealogists, Association of Professional Genealogists, Board for Certification of Genealogists, Federation of Genealogical Societies,National Genealogical Society, and the institute’s alumni association. The National Archives, a non-voting member, provides strong support, on-site classrooms, and a welcoming atmosphere.
After a hiatus in 2015, the institute returns to its traditional July schedule in 2016 with a new name that reflects its mission."
About Director Malissa Ruffner Sachs PhotographyMalissa Ruffner, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College and a law degree and a Master of Library Science degree, both from the University of Maryland. In addition to genealogy, she has worked as a lawyer, and in schools, libraries and archives. Her genealogical pursuits include client work, writing and blogging, lecturing, and participation in conferences and institutes, including NIGR, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University, the Genealogical Research Institute at Pittsburgh, Forensic Genealogy Institute, ProGen, and “Come Home to New England” at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Malissa currently serves on the Maryland Genealogical Society Board of Directors and on the Intellectual Property Committee of the Board for Certification of Genealogy.
Contact Links
Other Links
In this episode Malissa Ruffner discusses details of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), a five-day program focused on researching federal records. Gen-Fed was formerly known as the National Institute on Genealogical Research.
According to Gen-Fed's website, "The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) is held at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. (Archives I), headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), official repository of the permanently valuable records of the United States government. Federal records document a wide variety of interactions between ordinary citizens and the government—in some cases providing unique genealogical information, and in others, biographical and contextual detail that enriches understanding of our ancestors’ lives.
About the InstituteGen-Fed is designed to instill a methodological framework and foster creative thinking about relevant records—setting the stage for federal discovery. Geared towards experienced genealogists, archivists, historians and librarians, it is a unique opportunity to explore holdings unavailable elsewhere.
The institute has been a leader in genealogical education since its founding in 1950 as a three-week comprehensive program. It has evolved throughout its history in response to growth in genealogical education, advances in record access, and changes in technology. Its trustees are representatives of the American Society of Genealogists, Association of Professional Genealogists, Board for Certification of Genealogists, Federation of Genealogical Societies,National Genealogical Society, and the institute’s alumni association. The National Archives, a non-voting member, provides strong support, on-site classrooms, and a welcoming atmosphere.
After a hiatus in 2015, the institute returns to its traditional July schedule in 2016 with a new name that reflects its mission."
About Director Malissa Ruffner Sachs PhotographyMalissa Ruffner, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College and a law degree and a Master of Library Science degree, both from the University of Maryland. In addition to genealogy, she has worked as a lawyer, and in schools, libraries and archives. Her genealogical pursuits include client work, writing and blogging, lecturing, and participation in conferences and institutes, including NIGR, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University, the Genealogical Research Institute at Pittsburgh, Forensic Genealogy Institute, ProGen, and “Come Home to New England” at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Malissa currently serves on the Maryland Genealogical Society Board of Directors and on the Intellectual Property Committee of the Board for Certification of Genealogy.
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Previous Episode
TGP 42 Lisa Alzo and Eastern European Research
In this episode, we highlight another genealogy author. I talk with Lisa Alzo about her latest book, The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Family Tree in Eastern Europe.
Bio – Lisa Alzo
Lisa A. Alzo, MFA, is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer specializing in Slovak/Eastern European genealogical research, writing family history, and using the Internet to trace female and immigrant ancestors.
She has written hundreds of magazine articles and ten books, including the award-winning "Three Slovak Women." She is a contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine and teaches online courses for Family Tree University and the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.
As a lecturer, she's been a frequently invited speaker for all of the largest US genealogical conferences, as well as genealogical and historical societies across the nation and in Canada.
An avid genealogist for over twenty-five years, Lisa also chronicles her family history adventures on her blog, The Accidental Genealogist.
Book Summary
Trace your Eastern European ancestors from American shores back to the old country. This in-depth guide will walk you step-by-step through the exciting--and challenging--journey of finding your Polish, Czech, or Slovak roots. You'll learn how to identify immigrant ancestors, find your family's town of origin, locate key genealogical resources, decipher foreign-language records, and untangle the region's complicated history. The book also includes timelines, sample records, resource lists, and sample record request letters to aid your research.
In this book, you'll find
- The best online resources for Polish, Czech, and Slovak genealogy, plus a clear research path you can follow to find success
- Tips and resources for retracing your ancestors’ journey to America
- Detailed guidance for finding and using records in the old country
- Helpful background on Polish, Czech, and Slovak history, geography, administrative divisions, and naming patterns
- How the Three Partitions of Poland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire affect genealogical research and records
- Information on administrative divisions to help you identify where your ancestors' records are kept
- Sample letters for requesting records from overseas archives
- Case studies that apply concepts and strategies to real-life research problems
Whether your ancestors hail from Warsaw or a tiny village in the Carpathians, The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Genealogy Guide will give you the tools you need to track down your ancestors in Eastern Europe.
Publication Info
Publisher: Family Tree Books (February 12, 2016)
Paperback; 240 pages.
The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Family Tree in Eastern Europe is available for purchase from shopfamilytree.com and Amazon.com.
The Interview
Researching Polish, Czech, or Slovak ancestry is complex. Lisa and I discuss how to overcome the challenges of this research area. Knowledge of the history of an Eastern European ancestor’s country is essential as boundaries changed but ethnic identity remained intact. Locating and getting access to record repositories can be difficult. Hiring an on-site guide/researcher can make a research trip to the old country more efficient and successful. Proper planning increases the satisfaction of heritage traveling to ancestral villages.
Links mentioned during the interview:
Next Episode
TGP 44 - Craig Scott on Publishing
Featured Guest Craig R. Scott
Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA is the author of The "Lost" Pensions: Settled Accounts of the Act of 6 April 1838 (Revised) and Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, Inventory 14 (Revised). His most recent work is Understanding Revolutionary War and Invalid Pension Ledgers, 1818 – 1872, and the Payment Vouchers They Represent. He has authored seventeen books and several articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Family Chronicle (now Your Genealogy Today) and other genealogical publications.
He is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 5,300 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than thirty years, he specializes in the records of the National Archives. He is a member of the Company of Military Historians on the editorial board of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and is a Director of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Craig has been a faculty member for several years of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and recently the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh. He is the coordinator for the 3rd Annual Heritage Books Genealogical Conference and Cruise. He was awarded the Grahame T. Smallwood, Jr. Award in 2008 and UGA Silver Tray Award in 2009. He became a Fellow, Utah Genealogical Association in 2014.
Contact Links
Business Website – Heritage Books, Inc.
Personal Website – Genealogy Brick Wall
Facebook – Heritage Books
Pinterest – Heritage Books, Inc.
Other Links
Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Art of War by Sun Tsu
One Action Genealogists Can Take Right Now"Go to the ProGen website and read it. Take the quiz. Determine whether you are in a place in your life that you should take that 18 or 19 month course known as ProGen.”
Recommended BookIf you like this episode you’ll love
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