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:

  • NGSQ/MGP Monday 1:00 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cyndi Ingle – SOLD OUT
  • NGSQ/MGP Monday 3:30 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cyndi Ingle – SOLD OUT
  • NGSQ/MGP Tuesday 1:00 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cari Taplin – SOLD OUT
  • NGSQ/MGP Tuesday 7:00 pm Eastern Sessions, with Cari Taplin – SOLD OUT

To be notified when the 2025 groups are forming, please sign up on the waitlist.

The current schedule for 2024 will be as follows (article titles will be posted as soon as they are chosen):

  • Jan 15 & 16 – Karen Stanbary, CG, “A Charming Scoundrel and a Tragic Victim—Charles Mapes and Maggie McBurney of Rock Island County, Illinois: Biological Parents of Myrtle Eva (Porter) Dewein,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (June 2023): 85–110.
  • Feb 12 & 13 – Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais, CG, “Was Nancy a Northamer? DNA Helps Identify a Revolutionary War Militiaman’s Daughter,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (June 2023): 129–146.
  • Mar 11 & 12 – Nancy A. Peters, CG, CGL, “A Birth Family for Sophia Corine (Dyches) Rowell of Barnwell County, South Carolina: A Case of Forgotten Identity,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (March 2023): 35–57.
  • Apr 8 & 9 – Darcie Hind Posz, CG, “Lost Sons: DNA Confirms the Parents of Robert Bradford Murray of Andrew and Worth Counties, Missouri,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 110 (December 2022): 245–263.
  • May 13 & 14 – Jill Morelli, CG, CGL, “Kirstin Pehrsdotter: Indirect Evidence Helps Build a Seventeenth-Century Swedish Family,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (March 2023): 59–74.
  • Jun 10 & 11 – Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, “The Recordless Marriage of Virginia Jones from Caroline County, Virginia, and Henry Brooks of Covington County, Alabama,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (September 2023): 165–183.
  • July 8 & 9 – Worth Shipley Anderson, JD, “Recovering the Identity of Barsheba (Morris) Johnson of North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 107 (March 2019): 43–54.
  • Aug 12 & 13 – Ricki King, “Separating Identities of Two Hattie Campbells of Marion and Ralls Counties, Missouri, Reveals Hattie King’s Mother,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 110 (December 2022): 265–273.
  • Sep 9 & 10 – Eva Holmes, CG, AG, “Stanislao Cesta and Fortunato Cesta: Merging Identities,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (September 2022): 185–198.
  • Oct 14 & 15 – Susan Michael, CG, “Willis Gay: The Testator, The Groom, and Their Wives,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (September 2023): 221–234.
  • Nov 11 & 12 – Rachal Mills Lennon, CG, FASG, “Southern Strategies Revisited: Expanding ‘Reasonably Exhaustive Research’ to Find Solomon Harper’s Roots in the Carolina Backcountry,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 111 (March 2023): 5–23.
  • No class in December