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BCG Learning Center

Serious genealogists never stop learning. There are many options for genealogical education; the opportunities listed below are not exhaustive, nor are they compulsory. Each of us starts from a different place. Each of us has to choose what will work best given our different interests, aptitudes, friends, colleagues, budgets, and learning styles. That said, serious genealogists do not confine themselves to the local, the familiar, or the easy. Those who succeed in becoming certified—and growing beyond that point—typically combine a variety of learning opportunities. BCG’s internal statistics show that applicants who engage in ambitious learning opportunities have a higher success rate than those who have not.

The purpose of the BCG Learning Center is to provide serious genealogists with resources for genealogical education. It is up to you to determine which options are appropriate and of value.

Related Resources

BCG supports and is supported by the genealogical community as a whole. While independent in every respect, BCG's mission to foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners, and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard is advanced by collegiality and cooperation with other genealogical and allied organizations and with the many libraries and archives that house collections useful for genealogy.

 

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Genealogical Organizations

Genealogical Organizations

Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS)

AAHGS was founded in 1977 “to trace the historical ties that bind us one to another, mold the present, and shape the future” with local chapters and national conferences.

American Society of Genealogists (ASG)

ASG is an honorary society founded in 1940 and limited to a membership of fifty published scholars. Instrumental in founding two institutes and BCG, it publishes The Genealogist (http://fasg.org/the-genealogist/) twice a year.

Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)

APG is an international organization supporting those engaged in the business of genealogy through advocacy, collaboration, education, and the promotion of high ethical standards. It is the largest organization of genealogical professionals. Members pay dues, sign an ethics code, and submit annual accounts of their continuing education. Webinars, focused discussion sessions, the members-only email list, local chapters, and Special Interest Groups help foster professional development and a sense of community. The APG Quarterly (a member benefit) deals with the full spectrum of business and professional issues in genealogy.

BCG Education Fund

Founded in 2000 as an independent non-profit charitable trust, the Education Fund advances the educational aims of BCG. In addition to the “Putting Skills to Work” workshop prior to NGS conferences, it sponsors the Helen F. M. Leary Distinguished Lecture at the NGS and FGS conferences, and the Donald Mosher Memorial Award for Colonial Virginia research.

Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG)

CAFG, established in 2011, holds an annual institute and offers four levels of membership as well as credentialing. Forensic genealogy applies genealogical standards to cases with legal implications, usually involving living individuals.

International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS)

IAJGS coordinates the activities and annual conference of more than 70 national and local Jewish Genealogical Societies around the world.

International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)

“The first society to promote the use of DNA testing in genealogy,” ISOGG continues to advocate and educate on the subject through workshops, a wiki (https://isogg.org/#ISOGGWiki), a speaker's bureau, forums, and meetings, fosteringa supportive network for genetic genealogists.

National Genealogical Society (NGS)

Founded in 1903, NGS provides education and training, fosters increased quality and standards, and promotes access to and preservation of genealogical records. Its enterprises include two quarterlies, an annual conference, educational and awards programs, the Genealogy Hall of Fame, and concise state-by-state research guides.

New England Historical and Genealogical Society (NEHGS)

Founded in 1845, NEHGS advances the study of family history in America and beyond by educating, inspiring, and connecting people through scholarship, collections, and expertise. NEHGS publishes two quarterlies and its eight-story library and archive offers what it describes as “the largest collection of original family history research materials in the country.”

New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B)

Founded in 1869, the NYG&B preserves, documents, and shares the stories of families whose lives have touched the state of New York. Central to this are its quarterly, publications, educational programming, and website.

Records Preservation and Access Coalition(RPAC)

RPAC is a joint effort of three sponsors—NGS, FGS, and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (http://www.iajgs.org/blog/)—and six participating members (APG, BCG, ICAPGen, ASG, ProQuest, and Ancestry). It advises genealogists about records preservation, records access, and legislative issues.