A number of BCG Associates were honored by the National Genealogical Society (NGS) at the annual banquet held on 4 May during the NGS 2018 Family History Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Melinde Lutz Byrne, CG®, FASG, of Derry, New Hampshire was named an NGS Fellow. Fellowship in the National Genealogical Society recognizes a valued servant of the NGS. Since 2006, Byrne has edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly with Thomas Jones, PhD, CG®, CGL℠, FASG, FNGS, FUGA. As editor she has made a major contribution to NGS by continuing and enhancing the Quarterly’s standing as a premier scholarly journal of genealogy. She has authored or co-authored thirty books and written more than sixty articles as well as numerous editorials and reviews. She is the director for genealogical programs at Excelsior College and at Boston University (BU), including BU’s Essentials, its Genealogical Research Certificate program, and the Summer Seminar Series. A past president of the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), she was elected a Fellow of ASG in 1993.
Two BCG associates were presented with Awards of Merit. The Award of Merit is presented to an individual or non-profit genealogical or historical organization to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years, which has significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy.
Shirley DeBoer, CG®Retired, of Grand Rapids, Michigan received this Award in recognition of her efforts on behalf of NGS. She has been a very active member of the Western Michigan Genealogical Society for many years. DeBoer has taught many genealogy classes, led research trips to various research facilities, worked on local genealogy projects, and spoken at conferences. She wrote the National Genealogical Society’s Research in the States: Michigan guide. She has also published a number of pamphlets and indexes.
Nancy Simons Peterson, CG®, of Portola Valley, California received an Award of Merit in recognition of her efforts on behalf of NGS. She served the California Genealogical Society for more than a decade. Her search for her maternal ancestors led ultimately to the publication of the definitive San Francisco research guide, Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research. The guide was first published in 2006 and revised and updated in 2011. Peterson volunteered countless hours as the Society’s research director. She co-led numerous research tours and served on the board of directors for three terms. Her research, writing, editing, and lecturing skills were always in demand, and she generously gave her time for an endless variety of projects.
Sharon L. Hoyt, MLIS, CG®, of Saratoga, California was named the winner of the Family History Writing Contest for her entry, “Her Sixth Matrimonial Venture: The Many Marriages of Ida May Chamberlain.” This award is to encourage NGS members to write a family history that covers at least three and not more than four generations of their family.
The National Genealogical Society Quarterly’s Award for Excellence is presented for an outstanding article published in the NGSQ in the previous calendar year. For 2017, the editors chose “George Washington Cottrell of Texas: One Man or Two?” by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL℠, of Avenel, New Jersey. The article was published in the September 2017 issue of the NGSQ.
The words Certified Genealogist and letters CG are registered certification marks, and the designations CGL and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.
