NGSQ Study Groups

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Analyzing NGSQ articles with MGP Principles Study Group

This is a monthly study group that runs January through November each year, and will examine one National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) journal article per month as posted on the website NGSQ Study Groups.

We will study these articles with a focus on principles taught in Mastering Genealogical Proof (MGP) by Tom Jones.

Discussion topics cover the genealogy standards, evidence analysis and correlation, writing, citations, resolving conflicts, and more. The class fee is $95.

In this class, you will receive:

  • A monthly discussion group session for about one hour with your peers, led by Cyndi Ingle or Cari Taplin.
  • Unique discussion questions about two weeks prior to the online meeting. There is also a “deconstruction worksheet” that we use to analyze every article.
  • A private Facebook Group for mid-month discussion. This Facebook group is limited to study group participants only, so no outside noise!
  • Your commitment is for 11 months, to come prepared to discuss the questions (or simply show up and listen). We believe the benefit you will get out of a class is equal to the effort you put into it.
  • To keep the discussion manageable and allow everyone a chance to speak, class size is limited to 25 participants!

This is meant to be an INTERMEDIATE discussion group, not a beginner or advanced. If you aren’t sure if you fall into that category here are some possibly helpful descriptors to help you decide (all or none could apply but this is the type of group we’re aiming for):

  • You’ve read NGSQ articles and generally can follow them (I’m not asking if you fully understand them, but they aren’t “Greek” to you either)
  • You own Mastering Genealogical Proof (or at least know what it is and will buy a copy before this class starts)
  • You own or have access to a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills
  • You’re interested in certification or accreditation
  • You know what the Genealogical Proof Standard is
  • ***The above are not requirements just ways to help you decide if you are ready.

Please Note: You must have access to these articles either by being a member of NGS or from your local library. It is also highly recommended that you have a copy of Mastering Genealogical Proof. Due to copyright, we cannot provide copies of the articles to you.

There will be four sessions:

  • 2026 NGSQ/MGP Monday 1:00 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cyndi Ingle – SOLD OUT
  • 2026 NGSQ/MGP Monday 3:30 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cyndi Ingle – SOLD OUT
  • 2026 NGSQ/MGP Tuesday 1:00 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cari Taplin – https://square.link/u/PewpiBT4
  • 2026 NGSQ/MGP Tuesday 7:00 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cari Taplin – https://square.link/u/LCIJ8MxQ (few seats left!)

The current schedule for 2026 will be as follows (article titles will be posted as soon as they are chosen):

  • Jan 12 & 13 – Elizabeth Shown Mills CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, “Identifying a Teenage Mother in Rural Pre-1850 America: the FAN Suggests and atDNA Confirms Shadrack Odom’s First Wife,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (December 2023): 245–274.
  • Feb 9 & 10 – Shannon Green, CG, CGG, CGL, “Stephen Hicks of Flushing, Queens County, New York: Identifying His Children Through Uncommon Sources,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (September 2025): 165–178.
  • Mar 9 & 10 – Mary Kircher Roddy, CG, CGG, “Who are the Children of John Bradley of County Tyrone, Ireland, Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Scott County, Iowa?” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 112 (December 2024): 283–299.
  • Apr 13 & 14 – Darcie Hind Posz, CG, FASG, “New Jersey Pickels and a North Carolina Bückel: A DNA Cluster Links Two Distant Lines of Descent,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (March 2025): 5–19.
  • May 11 & 12 – Carolyn Schott, CG, “Finding the Father of Katharina Bohlander, a Black Sea German,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly113 (September 2025): 213–230.
  • Jun 8 & 9 – Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGG, FASG, “History of a Genealogical Error: The Misattributed Parentage of Atlanta Pioneers, Meredith and Merrell Collier,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (June 2025): 103–116.
  • July 13 & 14 – Paul K. Graham, CG, CGG, AG, “Joseph Lyon of Laurens District, South Carolina, and the Lyon House of DeKalb County, Georgia: A Corrected History,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (September 2025): 197–211.
  • Aug 10 & 11 – Michelle Roos Goodrum, CG, “Erickson, Oleson, or Jordahl: Unraveling Peter’s Multiple Identities in Freeborn and Becker Counties, Minnesota,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (June 2025): 85–102.
  • Sep 14 & 15 – Michelle Chiachiere, “Parents for Roxena Lawson: Assembling a Maine Family through Kentucky Marriage and Court Records” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (March 2025): 55–68.
  • Oct 12 & 13 – Jenny Rizzo Irwin, CG, “Generations of Familial Ties Identify Parents for Nathaniel Atwell of New York,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 112 (June 2024): 121–134.
  • Nov 9 & 10 – Elizabeth Shown Mills CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, “Identifying Ursule, the Métive Barthélemy LeCourt ‘Took as His Wife’,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 113 (March 2025): 31–53.
  • No class in December