Helen F. M. Leary Lecture Series

Board for Certification of Genealogists Education Fund
Press Release: 7 October 2006
For additional information, contact:
Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL @ khfreilich@verizon.net

As part of its mission to foster genealogical education, the Board for Certification of Genealogists Education Fund has established the Helen F. M. Leary Lecture series.

The series is named for Helen F. M. Leary, Certified Genealogist (Emeritus), FASG, former BCG president and long-time trustee who is known for her richly informative and entertaining lectures on methodology and regional subjects. Among her other contributions to genealogical education, Helen developed and headed the Professional Genealogy Track at Samford University Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, was editor and contributing author of North Carolina Research, and wrote several chapters for Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians including the chapter on lecturing. Her many scholarly publications include the seminal National Genealogical Society Quarterly study “Sally Hemming’s Children: A Genealogical Analysis of the Evidence.” Throughout her career Helen has worked to promote the educational aims of BCG, goals shared with the BCG Education Fund.

Thomas W. Jones, PHD, CG, CGL, will present the first Helen F. M. Leary Lecture at the 2007 NGS conference in Richmond. A current trustee and former president, Jones has lectured frequently at national and regional conferences since 1997 on methodology and problem solving topics. In 2004 he received the Graham T. Smallwood Award from the Association of Professional Genealogists “for his leadership role to increase genealogical standards.” His topic for the inaugural lecture is “Honesty, Courtesy, and Confidentiality: Ethics for Family Historians.” Under consideration for future conferences are lectures that focus on other aspects of genealogical education.

The Board for Certification of Genealogists Education Fund was established in 2000 to promote the educational aims of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Other programs sponsored by the fund are hands-on workshops on genealogical skills and grants for research. Established as a Massachusetts charitable trust, the Fund functions under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to aid the Fund’s mission are accepted and are tax deductible.