The NGS Awards program recognizes scholarship, service, excellence, and achievement in the fields of genealogy, history, and biography by presenting awards to individuals and to societies and organizations.
The NGS Awards program recognizes scholarship, service, excellence, and achievement in the fields of genealogy, history, and biography by presenting awards to individuals and to societies and organizations.
The presentation of these awards is administered by the NGS Awards Committee, which sets deadlines for the receipt of nominations. Notice of the deadlines is sent to the Board of Directors and to the membership through NGS Magazine, NGS Monthly, and by email and NGS Monthly. Nominations are submitted to the NGS Awards Committee, which reviews and evaluates the nominations. All nominations must include contact information (name, email, and phone) for nominees and the person(s) nominating them.
Nomination forms can be submitted online.
Deadline for all submissions is 15 December, annually.
Recognizes an individual whose positive influence and leadership have fostered unity and helped make family history a vital force in the community. The recipient need not be a member of NGS. Nominations require the submission of a high-resolution digital photo of the nominee. Stern Nominations Form (Online) >
The Lou D. Szucs Distinguished Service Award recognizes exemplary contributions to the work that enhances or elaborates on NGS’s mission. Nominees may be those who have wide-ranging genealogical leadership experiences over many years, actively work in the many categories of genealogical research (records preservation, forensic genealogy,
collections/compilations of diverse populations, GPS and its updates, and more), and/or served on national and/or international committees or boards whose work mirrors that of NGS’s mission.
Fellowship in the National Genealogical Society (FNGS) exemplifies servant leadership and is the Society’s highest honor. The fellow is awarded to a member for outstanding service to the National Genealogical Society and for their work in the field of genealogy or the related fields of history, biography, or heraldry. A nominee must have been a member of NGS for at least five years. See the list of Honored NGS Fellows >
Fellow of the National Genealogical Society Nomination Form (Online) >
Awarded to an individual or nonprofit genealogical or historical organization in recognition of exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years that have significantly aided research or increased interest in genealogy. The nominee need not be a member of NGS. This award may be presented to an individual or institution more than once.
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sylvia Tracy Doolos José Antonio González Marrero The Society of Sons and Daughters of WWII Veterans Jeffrey G. Herbert Ray W. Crouse Guild of One-Name Studies Randy Seaver Eva Holmes Michael Andrews |
| 2025 | BIFHSGO-Greater Ottawa Valerie Anne Lutz Annie Mabry Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal Pablo Antonio Pérez Donna Potter Phillips Allen Thomas Barbara West |
| 2024 | Thomas Koselka Pam Pracser Anderson Marlene A. Groves Jane Farrell Burgess D. Joshua Taylor |
| 2023 | Jill Morelli Shelley Murphy, PhD, BS, MA, DM David M. McCorkle Patricia M. Gailes Midwest African American Genealogy Institute |
| 2022 | Kathleen Rubano |
| 2021 | not awarded |
| 2020 | not awarded |
| 2019 | Florida Genealogical Society North Carolina Digital Heritage Center Carolyn Carter |
| 2018 | Shirley M. De Boer Nancy Peterson Gladys Cajke |
| 2017 | not awarded |
| 2016 | Janice Schultz |
| 2015 | Reginald Washington |
| 2014 | Donald Eckerle John Martino Robert Boeckle |
| 2013 | Carolyn Marguerite Hutchinson Brown |
| 2012 | Marvin Wilhite |
| 2011 | not awarded |
| 2010 | Louisiana Creole Research Association Megan Smolenyak-Smolenyak Jean Nudd |
| 2009 | not awarded |
| 2008 | Missouri State Archives David A. Bailey Peggy Brown Sherard Reidinger John M. Robinson Cheryl Singhal Kay Watson |
| 2007 | John Frederick Dorman, CG (Emeritus) Stephen P. Morse Joseph Crook Anderson, II, FASG Wesley E. Pippenger Lucille Kurtz Elrite |
| 2006 | not awarded |
| 2005 | not awarded |
| 2004 | not awarded |
| 2003 | not awarded |
| 2002 | not awarded |
| 2001 | not awarded |
| 2000 | Garland K. Childress Byron H. Sistler |
| 1999 | Richard A. Pence Chautauqua County Genealogical Society Sandra Sopak Jeannette Grosvenor |
| 1998 | Earl Beaty Nancy Craig Everton’s Genealogical Helper Donald L. Lutes, Jr Marian L. Smith |
| 1997 | Jane Davidson Vivian Taylor |
| 1996 | Gale Williams Bamman, CG Charles A. Sherrill Jim Hawkins Shirley Wilson, CG Mary Glenn Hearne, CG Mike St. Clair |
| 1995 | Gloria M. Osborn |
| 1994 | Karen Stein Daniel |
| 1993 | not awarded |
| 1992 | Anne S. Anderson |
| 1991 | Stanley R. Clarke Martha Mae Schmidt Elsa Schmidt |
| 1990 | Martha Walters Acker Robert C. Anderson Sally Govers Gray Eric G. Grundset Margaret M. Hofmann Henry Z. Jones, Jr. The Franklin County (Tennessee) Historical Society The North Carolina Genealogical Society |
| 1989 | Ralph J. Crandall James L. Hansen Joy Reisinger Marsha Hoffman Neil D. Thompson The Genealogy Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi The Western Reserve Historical Society Library |
| 1988 | Mary McCampbell Bell Sharon Sholars Brown Frank S. Cannon Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr. Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. |
| 1987 | not awarded |
| 1986 | Robert A. Cunning Mary Jane Henney Michael B. Clegg Carolyn B. Lewis William R. M. Houston Robert Scott Davis, Jr. W. Louis Phillips Anita Cheek Miller Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Library of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution |
| 1985 | Raymond B. Clark, Jr. Vivian Luther-Schafer Norman R. Peters Paul A. Andereck L.W. Anerson Genealogical Library Mary Margaret Davis Elaine Justesen Grahame T. Smallwood, Jr. Carlton M. Smith |
The Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism recognizes a volunteer/s whose generosity of spirit and time has greatly benefited the National Genealogical Society and the genealogical community in general over a period of years. Previous recipients have been long-term members of the board or its committees or served in pivotal moments of the organization’s history. The recipient must be a long-time member of NGS.
Sponsored by FamilySearch, this award honors an outstanding librarian whose primary focus is genealogy and local history. See list of Filby Award recipients.
Genealogy Tourism: Recognizes an individual’s or an organization’s efforts to communicate the importance of travel to repositories–libraries, archives, and research sites–and locations as “go to” destinations to fully advance family history research.
Award Criteria:
Two categories for consideration:
Individuals offering tours and services regarding specific areas for family research and connections; also those who provided access via website sharing of new resources or
compilations that otherwise would require travel. Key elements of this for the submission
includes what assistance is offered in preparation for travel, what elements of genealogical research are included, or what website features are available and continuously developed. Please note any of these in the submission.
Anchor Institutions – This can include libraries, archives, cemeteries, historical centers, and genealogical or historical society collections and assistance. Areas to include in the nomination submission include: Offering special assistance to those traveling from outside their service area; providing detailed information to facilitate travel to the
archive/library/museum to connect with families that originated or still live there; a
destination website that guides researchers to what to do, how to do it, how to prepare when at the location and helping to make connections to their holdings.
The following awards are nominated and decided by the Awards Committee, the NGS President and Board of Directors, and/or the NGS Family History Conference chairs. Applications not accepted.
Recognizes sustained service by a member organization in support of an NGS Family History Conference. They also acknowledge and express appreciation for the hard work of individual conference chairs.
Awarded at the discretion of the Society’s president to recognize and acknowledge particular, dedicated efforts on behalf of NGS.