Join the NYG&B for a one-day online seminar focused on writing genealogy and family history. Presentations will provide practical tools and insights into starting the writing process; using your word processing software productively; defining your writing project format and scope; and transforming probate or other straightforward, factual data into a compelling narrative. We will close with a panel discussion on citations, demystifying Evidence Style (Chicago Manual of Style), APA, and MLA.
This online workshop is ideal for researchers of all skill levels and will be especially useful for those just starting (or restarting) their genealogical writing. Presenters include Jill Nock, Sue Miller, and Thomas W. Jones.
All sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing through January 14, 2027.
Seminar Schedule (Subject to Change)
Saturday, November 14
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10:45 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions |
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10:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. |
Getting Started with a Genealogical Writing Project Presented by Tom Jones |
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11:55 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. |
Break |
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12:05 p.m. – 1:05 p.m. |
Set Up for Success: Using Word Productively Presented by Sue Miller |
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1:05 – 1:50 p.m. |
Lunch |
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1:50 – 2:50 p.m. |
Editing and Polishing Your Genealogical Writing Presented by Tom Jones |
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2:50 – 3:00 p.m. |
Break |
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3:00 – 4:00 p.m. |
Beyond the Obvious: Finding Hidden Family Stories in Probate Records Presented by Jill Nock |
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4:15 – 4:45 p.m. |
Panel Discussion on Citations |
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4:45 – 5:00 p.m. |
Wrap Up |
Pricing
- NYG&B Member Early Registration: $99.00 (ends October 14, 2026; after that the registration rate for members is $109.00)
- General Registration: $129.00
About the Presenters
Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGG, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, is an award-winning genealogical researcher, writer, editor, and educator who has pursued his family’s history since 1963. He co-edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly from 2003 through 2018. His genealogical writing includes thirty-six case studies published in genealogy journals, the textbooks Mastering Genealogical Documentation and Mastering Genealogical Proof, and three chapters in Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards. Also, in the summers of 2008–24 he coordinated and taught in the course “Writing and Publishing for Genealogists” at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.
Jill Nock, AG®, is a professional genealogist accredited through ICAPGen℠ in the U.S. Upper South. Inspired by the 1977 television miniseries Roots, she has been untangling family mysteries for nearly five decades. Through her business, Mountain State Genealogy, she specializes in DNA analysis, indirect evidence methodology, and transforming complex research into clearly written reports. A ProGen 59 graduate, Jill has completed advanced training at GRIP, SLIG, and IGHR. She is proficient in reading and transcribing historical handwriting from the 1700s forward, a skill that opens records inaccessible to many researchers. She is active in several genealogy societies. Her presentations range from beginner-friendly introductions to advanced methodology, with particular depth in Upper South records and DNA research.
An NYG&B member since 1993, Susan R. Miller oversees the NYG&B’s print and digital publications. She is the editor of the New York Researcher magazine and a managing editor of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer and the NYG&B county guide series. Sue also presents genealogical lectures on a national, regional, and local basis. A graduate of Brown University, Sue is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and several other genealogical and historical societies.