The NYG&B is delighted to announce the 2025 honorees of its Preservation in Action annual series, which spotlights leaders and trailblazers whose innovative work inspires, educates, and has a lasting impact on the genealogy and family history field. This year’s theme, “The Power of One,” celebrates those who have conducted impactful archival in New York State—in some instances with very limited help or support. Our 2025 honorees are:
- Michelle Henry, Research Historian, Office of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Former Chautauqua County Historian
- William P. Tatum III, Dutchess County Historian
The NYG&B recognizes the impressive contributions our honorees have made—and continue to make—to the body of knowledge and preservation of family history. We look forward to hearing from them in their own words as part of a virtual panel discussion, moderated by NYG&B President and CEO D. Joshua Taylor, later this fall.
Learn more about our “Power of One” honorees below.
Michelle Henry
After serving as Director of the Chautauqua County Historical Society in Westfield, NY, for eight years, Michelle Henry began working for Chautauqua County government to establish a Records Management Program and Archives. In 2000 she was appointed County Historian, and with grants from federal, State, and local sources, helped build an award-winning records program. Chautauqua County was the first county government to be recognized by the National Genealogical Society for its efforts to make records available to genealogists. In 2012 Ms. Henry received the Wheeler B. Melius Award for excellence in establishing a records management program, and in 2011 she received the Julia Reinstein Award for Excellence in the Field of Public History.
Ms. Henry is a New York State registered historian. She has served on the State Historical Records Advisory Board, the board of the NY Association of Local Government Records Officers, and the board of the Government Appointed Historians of Western New York.
Since retiring in 2023, she has been working as a research historian for the Office of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
She earned a BA from Pennsylvania State University and an MA from Arizona State University, both in Anthropology. While at Arizona State University, she also earned a graduate certificate in Museum Studies.
Read a Q&A with Ms. Henry for insights about her work, experiences, advice for the family history community, and more.
William P. Tatum III
William P. Tatum III has served as the official government historian of Dutchess County, NY, since October 2012. His extensive research experience, spanning archives from Michigan to Edinburgh, Scotland, has informed his approach to records access and researcher services. During his tenure as Dutchess County Historian, he has designed and supervised 11 years of digitization work on the Dutchess County Ancient Documents Collection, comprising county court records from 1721–1888. He also introduced the Archival Imaging Initiative, through which the county has offered free digitization services to local governments and historical societies to preserve especially valuable archival material and improve public access.
His extensive research experience, spanning archives from Michigan to Edinburgh, Scotland, has informed his approach to records access and researcher services. During his tenure as Dutchess County Historian, he has designed and supervised 11 years of digitization work on the Dutchess County Ancient Documents Collection, comprising county court records from 1721–1888. He also introduced the Archival Imaging Initiative, through which the county has offered free digitization services to local governments and historical societies to preserve especially valuable archival material and improve public access.
He holds a BA in History and Anthropology from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, and a MA and PhD in History from Brown University.
Read a Q&A with Mr. Tatum for insights about his work, experiences, advice for the family history community, and more.