I grew up going with my mom to the library for her to do research, spending hours looking at microfilm, while I sat nearby reading my Little House on the Prairie book. Fast forward to 2008, I am now following in her footsteps adding to the countless hours she undertook; this time I am reading chapters in Professional Genealogy, Ancestry magazine or the latest news from Dick Eastman. Over the last few years, I’ve discovered there can be more to genealogy than the average genealogist may realize some of it right within their reach.

Every year I am learning more about the “people” who are writing genealogical articles, speaking at conferences and developing the tools to help the everyday researcher gain those skills and tips. These women and men are giving us valuable information they’ve discovered through their own trial and errors; they want to help us avoid the pitfalls they have hit and benefit from their expertise.

Each week I will write about a person who has devoted their time to help researchers in either writings, software, websites, conferences, books or other means. I will learn, along with you, their tips and advise to help us in our research. Some of these people have been around, before the computer age, while some are newer to the group but have great input.

Do you know of someone in your state that has contributed to the benefits of genealogy? It may be someone that we all may wish to know about. Have you attended a conference or a cruise and heard a speaker that just really inspired you? Have you read a book that helped you break that brick wall?

Email me and let me know all about it.

Some of the Genealogists we will get to know better:

• Elizabeth Shown Mills
• Dick Eastman
• John Philip Colletta
• Tony Burroughs
• Christine Rose
• Elissa Scalise Powell
• Frazine Taylor K.
• Cyndi Howell
• Thomas Jones
• David E. Rencher
• Barbara Vines Little
• Megan Smolenyak
• Many, many more great genealogists!!!