VGS Awards

2024: Eric G. Grundset – Eric has been a prolific contributor to the field of genealogy for more than forty years. Eric spent nearly thirty-five years at the DAR Library where he served as the Library Director for thir­ty-three of those years, assisting millions of researchers to locate records that helped create their family history and add the stories of their Revolutionary War ancestors to the larger history of America’s battle for indepen­dence. During the last five years at the Library Eric compiled, authored, and edited nine comprehensive bibliographic books that cover more than 5,000 pages of Revolutionary War states’ resources, including those of Virginia.

In addition to the Revolutionary War records guides, Eric has compiled, authored, and edited an impressive list of publications and articles. He has published more than twenty-nine books, and more than twenty-eight scholarly articles have appeared in such prestigious journals as Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, The American Genealo­gist, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Record, and New England Ancestors.

Before Eric began working at the DAR, he worked in the Virginia Room, part of Fairfax County’s Public Library System. It was here that he got hooked on gene­alogy. Eric is a fourteenth-generation native Virginian; his mother ingrained the family’s history in his head as a child, and then he picked up where a maternal great aunt left off after her death in 1971.

Eric’s volunteer work is also notable. He was very involved with the Virginia Genealogical Society and served as president from 1987-1989. While he was on the board, he proposed and helped establish the Virginia Institute for Genealogical Research that ran for sever­al years in the 1990s, and which VGS President Birch attended with her father. In 2006 Eric won the National Genealogical Society Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship; in 2009 he was awarded The Donald Lines Jacobus Award from the American Society of Genealogists for Forgotten Patri­ots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War; and in 2017 he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the American Society of Genealogists for his series of state-based bibliogra­phies of Revolutionary War sources.

2014: Shirley Langdon Wilcox – Anyone who has been involved in genealogy for a few years has likely heard of Shirley Langdon Wilcox. Given the significant amount of time she has devoted to the genealogical community, Shirley clearly meets the criteria for this award. In fact, Shirley has contributed so much that she even has an award named after her—the National Genealogical Society Shirley Langdon Wilcox Award for Exemplary Volunteerism. Of course, Shirley was the first recipient in 2011. Shirley has committed her time and talent to the genealogical community since becoming a Certified Genealogist in 1973. She taught classes, lectured, and solved research problems for clients. She leads NGS research trips to Salt Lake City and manages the NGS Bible records program. Shirley was also president of NGS from 1996 to 2000.

Besides NGS, Shirley was president of the Virginia Genealogical Society (2007–2011) and served on the Board of Governors (2001– 2013); president of the Association of Professional Genealogists (1991– 1993), as well as the local National Capital Chapter (1994–1996); presi­dent of two local genealogical societies, Fairfax Genealogical Society (1986–89) and Prince George’s County Genealogical Society (1973, 1975–1976). However, Shirley’s volunteering did not stop there. She served as a trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists (2000–2008); was a board member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the District of Columbia from 2006 to the present; was Records Chair for her DAR chapter; and is co-administrator of the Langdon DNA study. Many people have been the beneficiaries of helpful advice gleaned from Shirley’s knowledge of genealogy, as well as admiring her volunteerism.

Recognition is not new to Shirley. She was named a Fellow of the NGS in 2001, given the NGS President’s Award in 2003, and the NGS Board Award in 2005. Further, she received the APG Smallwood Award of Merit in 1995 and the Prince George’s County Genealogical Society’s McCafferty Award of Excellence in 1985. The May 2009 issue of On Board, the newsletter of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, stated that “Shirley’s resume reads like a description for a one-person hall of fame. Her parents brought her up on the philosophy, ‘to do your part if you belong to an organization.’” Shirley Langdon Wilcox has more than done her part.

2010: Barbara Vines Little – At its 50th anniversary celebration, the Virginia Genealogical Society (VGS) honored Barbara Vines Little, of Orange, Virginia, with her election as a Fellow of the Society. As the fifth VGS Fellow, Barbara joins previous honorees Fred Dorman, Netti Schreiner-Yantis, Robert Young Clay, and Wes Pippenger.

Barbara, a retired teacher who has a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Virginia, has been certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) since 2000. She is an expert on research in Virginia and West Virginia and is dedicated to promoting excellence in genealogy. In her classes and lectures, she not only discusses available records but also emphasizes the proper techniques for genealogy.

Since 1996, she has served as the editor of the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. She is a former president of VGS (1991–1993), as well as a past editor of the Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter. She is also the past president of the National Genealogical Society, and the Virginia coordinator and instructor at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) held at Samford University.

Barbara has authored numerous articles for various publications, including the National GenealogicalSociety Quarterly, the National Genealogical Society Newsletter, the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, and the Board for Certification of Genealogist’s publication OnBoard. In 1994 and 1995, when she was co-editor of the Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, that publication received first place in the NGS Newsletter Competition twice. In 2001, she received the National Genealogical Society Quarterly Award for Excellence for her article, “Teasing the Silent Woman from the Shadows of History: Mary Fitzhugh (Stuart) Fitzhugh of Virginia.” In addition to articles, Barbara has published three volumes of Virginia court records and edited others for publication.

2005: Wesley E. Pippenger – Wes has been actively involved in the genealogical community for many years. He served as President of the Virginia Genealogical Society from 1997–1999 and in 2010 was the Society’s webmaster. In addition to writing periodical articles, he has authored over 50 books, the majority of which were transcriptions of primary source records. His books on original records of Alexandria, Arlington, and Washington, D.C., have become the definitive sources for serious researchers in those jurisdictions. His ten-volume Index to Virginia Estates, 1800-1865, completed in 2010, was the most significant new source work on Virginia in the last twenty years.

1999: John Frederick Dorman (deceased 2021) – Mr. Dorman was recognized as editor of The Virginia Genealogist, compiler of numerous volumes of county record abstracts and co-editor of Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1624/5 (3rd edition).

The following obituary for Mr. Dorman appeared in the VGS Newsletter, volume XLVII, no. 4.

It is with regret that VGS announces the death of John Frederick Dorman, CG (Emeritus), FASG, FNGS, FVGS, on 26 November 2021, at age 93.

Fred Dorman was born in Louisville, Kentucky, 25 July 1928, the only child of John Frederick and Sue Carpenter (Miller) Dorman. His father was the child of German immigrants, but it was through his mother’s colonial mid-Atlantic ancestry that Fred developed his lasting interest in Virginia genealogy.

After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville in 1950, Fred served in the U.S. Army’s Army Security Agency from 1951 to 1953. He became assistant archivist at the College of William and Mary while studying for his M.A. in library science, which he received from Emory University in 1955. Fred then moved to Washington DC and became an independent professional genealogist.

Fred had a long and distinguished career, not only as an author, editor and co-editor of numerous genealogical publications, including The Virginia Genealogist which he launched in 1957 and continued until 2006, but also as a leader within the profession of genealogy, deeply involved in the education of genealogists. He was one of the founding board members of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Fred was an award-winning member of the Virginia Genealogical Society, becoming a “VGS Fellow” in 1995 and receiving the Virginia Records Award (VRA) in 2006. A more extensive obituary detailing Fred’s distinguished career can be found here: https://fasg.org/john-frederick-dorman-1928-2021/.

1999: Nettie Schreiner-Yantis (deceased 2022) – Nettie was an author, lecturer, and publisher. Among her major contributions are The 1787 Census of Virginia, A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia, and Genealogical and Local History Books in Print.

1999: Robert “Bob” Young Clay (deceased 2010) – Bob is a legend in Virginia genealogy, having helped countless individuals in his capacity as a Senior Genealogical Reference Archivist for The Library of Virginia since 1970. His lectures and articles on Virginia genealogical subjects have and continue to educate researchers nationwide. A speaker on various aspects of state and local records of Virginia, their location, arrangement, availability, and how they can be most effectively used, he is the author of Virginia Genealogical Resources (Detroit, 1980).

Bob, a native of Dixon Springs, Tennessee, died on 6 May 2010 at the age of 73 in Richmond. Throughout his life, Mr. Clay was a heraldic artist, producing hundreds of paintings of coats of arms. After retirement, he returned to landscape painting, selling his work through galleries in Richmond and Alexandria, Virginia. He also conducted extensive research on the Clay genealogy throughout his lifetime.

A descendant of John Clay, who arrived in Jamestown in 1613 and an ancestor of pre-Civil War statesman Henry Clay, Mr. Clay was, to most, “the premier Clay researcher in the country,” according to a citation from the Clay Family Association. He was president of the original Clay Family Association and a major contributor to its Clay Family Quarterly. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1960 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he studied painting under C. Kermit Ewing and Walter H. Stephens, after which the University of Tennessee Library employed him. In 1969, he received his Master of Library Science degree from George Peabody College in Nashville. From 1970, when he moved to Richmond, until his retirement in 2001, he worked as a genealogical reference archivist at the Virginia State Library and Archives, now known as the Library of Virginia. During that time and in retirement, he spoke nationally on research in Virginia records. Mr. Clay was a member of The Order of First Families of Virginia, The Order of First Families of North Carolina, the Order of the Crown in America, and was a fellow of the Virginia Genealogical Society.

2021: FamilySearch – in recognition of its valuable service to the genealogical community by digitizing and posting previously microfilm Virginia records, thus making them easily accessible. This was especially appreciated during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

2021: Senator Robert Creigh Deeds – for sponsoring Virginia Senate Bill 1051 that allowed any individual or entity lawfully in possession of pre-1901 Virginia public records, notwithstanding any provisions of a previously executed contract, to publish them in any format, including on the internet, thus providing researchers easy access to early Virginia records.

2020: Herbert Ridgeway Collins (deceased 2023) – Herbert Ridgeway Collins was awarded the Virginia Records Award on 24 October during the VGS Annual Meeting for his outstanding contributions to the Virginia Genealogical Society as founding member, president, and life member, and to the genealogical community in general, and Caroline County in particular, through his numerous publications and leadership in the establishment of historical and genealogical institutions.

It is quite literally impossible to do justice to the remarkable life of Herbert Ridgeway Collins in a few words in a newsletter. The only VGS founding member still alive, Collins was born in Caroline County, Virginia, and still lives at Green Falls, the house his ancestors acquired in 1787.

As a young man, Collins served in the Army at the Pentagon. During his time there, he took a class in genealogy at the National Archives. He published his first book about his family history at the age of 22.

After his tour of duty in the Army, Collins found a job as a junior researcher at the Smithsonian, where he worked for the institution until his retirement as the Executive of the American History Museum and Division Chief of the Political History Collection. Collins has many stories to share of his meetings and interactions with presidents and first ladies, from Truman to Bush Sr., during his years at the Smithsonian.

Over the years, Herbert Collins has served and led numerous genealogical and historical societies and organizations. He served as the third president of the Virginia Genealogical Society from 1962 to 1964 and has remained a steadfast member of the organization over the years. Collins once again demonstrated his dedication to VGS when he became a life member at the age of 88! VGS was indeed honored to present the Virginia Records Award, so richly deserved, to Herbert Ridgeway Collins.

2019: Lena French Fuller (deceased 2019) – Fuller began studying the land surveys, grants, and deeds of Shenandoah Coun­ty in 1990, and after 20 years of intensive analysis and research, she published the survey atlas. Drawing from a variety of sources, including the four volumes of Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants abstract books, land survey microfilms at the Library of Virginia, and countless hours of deed searches at the county courthouse, Fuller developed her own process for producing the atlas. Having used DeedMapper software to generate a plat, Fuller would cut it out and superimpose it on a topographic map using a light box. If she made a mistake, she had to start over with a new map. Once the plat was correctly placed on the map, Fuller then marked the names of the landowners and grant information on a piece of paper taped to the grant on the topographic quadrant sheet. As each quadrant page was completed, she would take it to the publisher with the table legend. One can only imagine the painstaking effort required to map an entire county.

Fuller’s Original land survey atlas of Shenandoah County, VA, 1739–1850s is unfortunately no longer in print and is only available in a few libraries and at some courthouses in the Shenandoah Valley. The book can be found at the Library of Congress and at Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Library of Virginia (LVA) is currently working with the Shenandoah Library to obtain a copy for the use of LVA patrons.

A native of Woodstock, Virginia, Fuller graduated from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. Her love of genealogy and local history made her a popular re­source for others studying the Shenandoah Valley. Sadly, Fuller passed away on 6 November 2019, less than a month after receiving the award. VGS extends its condolences to the family of Lena French Fuller. Her contribution in recording an important element of Shenandoah County’s history will serve generations of historians and genealogists to come.

While only a single publication, the effort, the time, and the contribution to the historical and genealogical community cannot be over-emphasized. I attempted to plat a portion of the county in order to solve a genealogical problem, the poor surveying made the task impossible without tracking the land forward often for decades in deeds, wills, and tax records. I only wish I had known then that this volume existed. Although there are a number of counties that have plat maps, I have yet to find one this complete and this accurate and published in a format that gives the researcher the exactitude that this does.
-Barbara Vines Little

2016: Ronald Ray Turner – Ron has authored some 60 books. He has been called by some “the voice of Prince William County historical and genealogical records.” His website, https://www.historicprincewilliam.org/pwcvirginia/, offers many of his publications for free, arranged in a way that allows users to download the information. He believes, “History not shared is history lost.” If you use any of his works in your research, please ensure that you provide proper source credit. Ron continues to add to his website, featuring publications with pictures, abstracts of Prince William records from the Governor’s Executive Papers, the Auditor of Public Accounts, and articles on local history. Besides publishing, Ron was one of several volunteers who, in 2001, documented all the cemeteries in Prince William County to update the Cultural Resource maps. The Prince William County Historical Commission funded this project. This information is also available on Ron’s website. Many publications of his are also available in the RELIC Room of the Central Library in Manassas. They are considered an essential resource for staff and visiting researchers. He continues to aid Prince William County resources with his work in indexing the loose papers at the Courthouse. It takes a selfless person to be willing to share so much hard work.

2014: Marty Hiatt – Marty Hiatt has authored or co-authored numerous books on Virginia records, written articles for the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, and served as the founder and editor of Northern Virginia Genealogy from 1996 to 2004. Some of her books, used by many genealogists, include: Implied Marriages of Fairfax County, Virginia; Loudoun County, Virginia Tithables; Washington County, Virginia Marriages: Minister’s Returns, 1776–1855; Claims Presented to the Court of Augusta: 21 March 1782 to March 1785; and Marriage and Death Notices from the Genius of Liberty, 1817–1843, among others.

Besides publishing, Marty has served the genealogical community in various capacities. She was the Executive Director of the Board for Certification of Genealogists from 1996–2001. Later she volunteered for seven years with BCG’s Education Fund where, according to BCG, she “…was instrumental in guid­ing the annual Donald Mosher Memorial Award for Colonial Virginia Research.” Marty was the Assistant Director of the National Institute for Genealogical Research (2010–2011); President of the Loudoun County, Virginia, Genealogical Society (1996–1998); Coordinator of the Virginia Institute of Genealogical Research (2001–2004); and Governor and Secretary of the Virginia Genealogical Society.

When asked how Marty has contributed to the genealogical community, her many friends and colleagues quickly complimented Marty on her assistance. Alice Cox Phillips, past president VGS, remembered that “Marty was so kind when I was going through a very difficult time. She gave me some helpful suggestions as I began the journey of becoming certified. She is a remarkable woman and very deserving of this award.” Connie Lenzen, NGS, said “Marty is a role model for genealogists. One of her most engaging qualities is the way she welcomes others to share her passion for the field.” And Susan McCabe, President, SVGS, commented that “Early on, she contributed her time with free lectures when we had no funding, and was always on-call for questions regarding our start-up ideas. The morning of one program, when our speaker called to say he couldn’t make it, Marty gathered up her notes and rushed to cover the topic of deed records. So even at the last minute, she has given her all! Marty is, and always will be, a big deal for the Shenandoah Valley Genealogical Society.”

2009: Jean L. Cooper – At its 2009 spring conference on Saturday, April 18^th, the Virginia Genealogical Society presented the Virginia Records Award to Jean L. Cooper.

Jean Cooper has been active in library sciences for over 25 years. In recent years, she has served as both the University of Virginia Library Genealogical Resources Specialist and as a Grants and Information Services Librarian relating to genealogy and local history. She has established a University Genealogical Resources Center, and she trains University of Virginia library staff in the use of resources for genealogical and local history study. Ms. Cooper has published several books and numerous articles on southern genea­logical and historical research, including the following:

A Guide to Historic Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.

A Genealogical Index to Guides of the Microform Edition of Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations. [Bloomington, Ind.]: 1stbooks.com, 2003. This publication provides researchers with geographic plane name and family name indexed to microfilmed records that have long been available to the general public but of little value because of the researcher’s inability to identify records of possible interest. Many of these manuscript records are from families and businesses in burned record counties.

As a librarian, she has a goal to help other librarians understand the research needs of genealogists. Ms. Cooper is the author of Virginia Genealogy; A Guide to Genealogical Resources at the University of Virginia Library (rev. ed.). Charlottesville, Va.: University of Virginia Library, 2005. An abridged version of her Guide is available free online at https://guides.lib.virginia.edu/genealogy. In the revised, online version of the Guide, she wrote two prefaces: one for Genealogists, and another for Librarians. From the 2nd preface:

Many librarians have pondered the question of “What do genealogists want from us?” often accompanied by wild-eyed looks and the pulling of hair (their own hair, not the genealogist’s). What genealogists want is very simple. The genealogist is looking for recorded evidence of the existence of a person (related to them or not), and facts about the person and that person’s relationship(s) with others.

2008: Mary B. Kegley (deceased 2025) – Mary has been researching the genealogy of Southwest Virginia families for over 45 years. She received a Master’s Degree in history from Radford University and a J.D. degree from the University of Richmond. This combination of history and law has been a clear asset in understanding the court records that play such a significant role in authenticating the information in her publications. The Wythe County Bicentennial Commission chose Mary to write its bicentennial history. As a professional researcher, she has documented hundreds of families on the Virginia frontier, both in text and photographs in her fifty publications, having written more than 400 family sketches of these early Virginia adventurers. Her books are well known all over the United States and have also served researchers in Northern Ireland, England, Canada, and Australia. Ms. Kegley is the recipient of numerous awards, and in 1995 her name was inscribed on the Wall of Honor in Withers Park in Wytheville.

2008: Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis (awarded posthumously; deceased 2007) – Virginia was the author of the Tidewater Virginia Families books and for twelve years edited and published the Tidewater Virginia Families quarterly, documenting family lineages and social history in early Virginia. She also coauthored Jamestowne Ancestors and the Albemarle Parish Vestry Book. Virginia served on the Henricus Foundation Advisory Board and was a past Governor of the Virginia Genealogical Society. She served on the Human Genetics Advisory Board at the Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, and received the National Genealogical Society Award for Excellence. Tom and Robin Wadkins, Lee and Gordon Vliet, and Richard Wadkins, along with his daughter Sarah Wadkins, were present to accept this award on behalf of their mother and grandmother.

2008: Wesley E. Pippenger – Wes Pippenger has written or compiled over 40 books and over 20 serial articles. He compiled the volumes that constitute the Index to Virginia Estates 1800-1865 and has published books on his own family. He has also written numerous publications on the records of the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia, with a particular focus on cemetery inscriptions, death, marriage, orphan, and probate records, land records, church records, and census records. Wes has published meticulous abstracts from various newspapers and compilations of cemetery information for Alexandria and Richmond, as well as for Maryland. He is a past president and life member of the Virginia Genealogical Society and received its Fellow Award in 2005. He also received the Alexandria City History Award and the National Genealogical Society Award of Merit (2007).

2007: Mary Belle Garraghty Harrell (deceased 2023) – Belle was an English teacher in the Fairfax County Schools for many years and then taught creative writing classes before she returned to Bedford County, where she grew up. She published Abstracts of Will Book G-7 Bedford County, Virginia; Bedford County, Virginia Circuit Court Records, and Bedford County Will Book 4-A and 4-B. She also has lectured on genealogical topics to many groups and spoke on November 10th for the Bedford Genealogical Society on the starving time of Jamestown 1609–1610 from the perspective of the Cocke family ancestors. She has spoken on writing memoirs at the Bedford Genealogical Fair and has shared her expertise with other groups on various other topics. Belle has served several lineage organizations such as the Colonial Dames XVII Century and Dames of the Court of Honor. The copyright to the first book she published was given to the Liberty Hall Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century. She is also a member and has served as president and registrar of that chapter. She is a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Dames and Barons of the Magna Charta, Order of Ancient Planters, and the Jamestowne Society. She and her sister have done the research for fifteen lines in Colonial Dames. Belle’s other interests include her Garden Club, where she has served as president and secretary.

2006: John Frederick Dorman (deceased 2021) – This year [2006] marks the 50th anniversary of The Virginia Genealogist for which he has been the sole editor and publisher. Over his long genealogical career, he has also authored or published many other titles heavily used by Virginia genealogists. He abstracted seventy-eight volumes of colonial Virginia records and fifty-one volumes of Revolutionary War records. He also edited several editions of Adventurers of Purse and Person and Their Families, Virginia 1607–1624/5. He was the author of the two-volume Ancestors and Descendants of Frances Epes of Virginia (Epes-Eppes-Epsps); and, with Clairborne T. Smith, Jr., he authored Descendants of Colonel William Claiborne—The First Eight Generations. In accepting the award,
Mr. Dorman thanked those who had contributed articles to The Virginia Genealogist over the past fifty years.

2006: Patricia B. Duncan – The Virginia Records Award was presented to Patricia B. Duncan in recognition of her many contributions to Virginia source records. Made in the short span of six years, her compilations of Loudoun County, Virginia, records are extensive. The titles include abstracts of wills, probate records, deed records, birth records, guardian accounts, free Negroes, superior court books, marriages, personal property tax books, and census records. These records are in sixteen books and a CD, for a total of 4,313 pages. But that is not all. She has also compiled books about Clarke and Fauquier Counties, Virginia; Jefferson County, West Virginia; and Hunterdon County, New Jersey. In addition, she contributed data from the Fauquier County Death Register to the Virginia Genealogical Society Death Records Indexing Project. The Society was indeed honored that she traveled from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to receive this recognition.

The following tribute to Dr. Weisiger was written by Edgar MacDonald and appeared in the VGS Newsletter, volume XXI, March–April 1995.

Benjamin Boisseau Weisiger III, MD, of Richmond, died Monday, February 6, 1995, at his home after a long illness during which he had stayed remarkably resilient and active. He was born in Richmond, June 19, 1924, the son of the late B. B. Weisiger II and Elizabeth Thompkins Weisiger. Educated in Richmond Public Schools and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1941, Ben attended the University of Virginia, where he received his Bachelor’s and Doctor of Medicine degrees. He interned at the Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia and completed his residency at the Medical College of Virginia. He entered private practice in Alexandria and returned to Richmond in 1956 to serve as Chief of Gastroenterology at McGuire Veterans Hospital until 1966, when he reentered private practice. He retired in 1983.

“Retired” for people like Dr. Ben means entering a life of larger service. His interests ranged over opera, architecture, literature, and genealogy. His service to the Virginia Genealogical Society was a weer in itself: Governor-at-Large, Vice-president, President, and most importantly contributor to the Magazine and Chair of the Special Projects Committee, a committee that produced splendid publications back in the days when volunteers abstracted and indexed on 3×5 cards – and then paid for their own copies.

Ben’s name appears on the Articles of Incorporation of the Friends of the Virginia State Archives, and he served that organization as Vice-President and as President. While participating in these multiple good works, he found time to compile some thirty-five publications of court records and histories. His Old Manchester and Its Environs (1994) won him a Preservation Citation from the Historical Richmond Foundation for his contributions to the city’s architectural heritage. A member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Jamestowne Society, the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars, Ben’s interests extended to numerous historical societies. Despite Dr. Weisiger’s multiple accomplishments and honors, he was a modest man, simple in manner, friendly, ready to be of service to an individual or to a whole society. All these virtues were facilitated by an understanding wife. Theirs was a marriage of true minds, and in his final lingering illness, he had the privilege of nursing Nancy Lee Weisiger in her final submission to cancer in 1993. Their marriage produced two sons, Minor T. Weisiger and A. Lee Weisiger; a daughter, Sarah M. Weisiger; and five grandchildren. Close to his Episcopal heritage, Ben Weisiger let his light so shine that men saw his good works and were strengthened in their service to others.

1995: Dr. Benjamin Boisseau Weisiger, III, MD (awarded posthumously; deceased 1995) – Dr. Weisiger was a prolific publisher of early Virginia records including more than thirty-five publications of county court records and histories. He was known for his work in the burned record counties along the James River. Dr. Weisiger was a past president of the Virginia Genealogical Society serving from 1980–81.

1995: Ruth Lucile Trickey Sparacio (deceased 2007) and Sam Sparacio (deceased 2001) – Ruth and Sam published more than 250 volumes of abstracts and transcriptions for most of the counties in the northern third of Virginia.

1995: John Vogt – John is the owner of Iberian Publishing Company. He has produced, either personally or through the encouragement of others, hundreds of volumes of Virginia record abstracts and guides.

1995: June Banks Evans – Mrs. June Banks Evans of New Orleans has made significant contributions to the furtherance of serious genealogical research, both in the state of Virginia and nationwide. Through her company, Bryn Ffyliaid Publications, Mrs. Evans has published a definitive study of The Blackwells of Blackwell’s Neck, several historical accounts, and more than eighty volumes of record abstracts for various Virginia counties. Her abstracts of 18th- and 19th-century wills, deeds, marriages, land tax records, population censuses, and court records provide researchers with easy access to names, dates, and events—the essence necessary to piece together a documented neighborhood of families or establish a family tree. These abstracts have been meticulously prepared from microfilmed copies of original records, a very time-consuming process that requires considerable knowledge, extreme patience, tedious attention to detail, and dedication to the task. Mrs. Evans is, without a doubt, a formidable presence within the genealogical community, and the value of her publications is immeasurable.

2017: Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center – There are numerous reasons the Fairfax Archives received this award. First, is the online index to various records, including deed books from 1742 through 1866; will books from 1742 through 1935; birth and death indexes for the county from 1912-1917; marriage record index from 1853-1957 by bride and groom; and other records. A copy of the record can be ordered via email and will be returned to the researcher in PDF format. The indexes can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/histor­ical-records-finding-aids.htm.

Second, and one of my favorite reasons, is the index cards. Over the years, individuals read court order books, will books, land cause records, and numerous other court books, and completed index cards which include the name of the person mentioned in the record, the name and date of the court book where the entry can be found, and a short summary of the contents. There are also indexes for births, deaths, and marriages mentioned in documents, as well as a subject/topic catalog. Essentially, you can let your fingers do the walking. Additionally, there is a remarkable manuscript collection.

The Archives, back in the 1960s, was relegated to the basement of the “old” 1799 courthouse. In 1983, when the “new” courthouse was constructed at the Judicial Complex, the Archives was relocated but remained housed in the basement until it finally moved to the third floor of the courthouse in 2003. But it was in 2012 that the real magic happened. With renovation funding from the locality and its museum-quality, temperature-controlled environment, the 1799 Historic Fairfax Courthouse once again became home to the Fairfax historic records. It is a beautiful setting in which to research those documents, which are filled with Fairfax County history. One of the main reasons the Archives is so successful in maintaining and preserving the old records is due in part to having the backing of the Clerk of the Court, John T. Frey, and his staff. Chief Deputy Clerk Gerada Culipher, Esq. oversees employees in the Clerk’s Office as well as the Archives Team. Ms. Culipher, according to the Archives Staff, is their number one supporter, encouraging the staff to use social media to showcase interesting pieces of the collection; to publish a monthly blog entitled “Found in the Archives;” and to “take the show on the road.” The Archives has been asked to serve on Fairfax County’s 275th Anniversary Commission, and is hosting a Spring “Speakers Series,” with monthly talks by historians and community leaders, with the actual celebration to be held on June 17th on the “old” 1799 courthouse grounds. To sign up to receive the blog, see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/historical_records.htm.

2015: Central Rappahannock Heritage Center – Any researcher with ancestors who lived in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, area should consider visiting the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center (CRHC), http://crhcarchives.org/. The room housing its collection is not large, but it is jam-packed with records just waiting for researchers to avail themselves of its treasurers. CRHC likes to say it is “Reclaiming Local History One Page at a Time.” The Center preserves historically valuable material for the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford and the city of Fredericksburg, making those materials available to the public for ancestral and scholarly research.

The Center strives to preserve not only “ancient” materials but also materials documenting today’s people, places, and things. The very first collection “rescued” was from a discard pile at an estate sale.  It now comprises 44 document boxes of letters and dozens of photographs and architectural drawings from the family of Frank and Betty Stearns.  According to the Center, this collection is a perfect example of ordinary people who have left their mark on the history of this region.

The fact that this organization is staffed by 35 to 40  part-time volunteers, with no paid staff, has implemented an online catalog that cross-references to other Heritage Center collections, and accumulates, preserves and makes available to researchers, a large historical and modern collection reflecting the Fredericksburg area which would otherwise be lost to the garbage pile, is a testament to the dedication of the Center.  Volunteers, such as those of the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center, who typically accumulate 6000 hours in a given year, should be recognized and thanked for their tireless dedication.

Its holdings include original court records, personal and family papers, church records, store accounts, oral histories, photographs, maps, yearbooks, and much more. Since its inception in 1997, the all-volunteer organization has managed to accumulate and archive more than 120,000 documents and photos dating from the present to the early 1700s. It is repositories such as Central Rappahannock Heritage Center that keep our history alive and allow those who love to “dig through the past” to tell their ancestor’s stories. Without these types of facilities, much of our history would be lost.

2016: Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Association – The Association is the go-to resource if you have ancestors in Southwest Virginia. The motto “Preserving history for future generations” is precisely what this organization does. Formed in 2003 with approximately a dozen members, the organization now has over 350 members in 37 states and Canada. In 2014, the Association gained recognition as a Regional Research Center due to its extensive holdings of records from many Southwest Virginia counties. The library holds more than 1,500 books, offering the best collection available for any researcher seeking family history in Southwest Virginia. A researcher will also find approximately 3,500 photos cataloged and available for research, more than 18,000 tombstone inscriptions, and funeral home records from 1909 to 1946. Along with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, members of the Association removed 35,000 marriage records for the years 1790 through 1968, which were stored in old, corrugated fiber boxes. To preserve them, the records were placed in acid-free folders in filing cabinets. These records were copied and are now available for research. Volunteers spent hours in the courthouse copying original records and publishing books on births, deaths, marriages, wills, deeds, surveys, school records, and Freedmen’s Bureau records, with more to come. The Association hosts the Annual Family History Institute of Southwest Virginia, which brings in speakers and researchers from all over the United States. They document and have for research information on the First Families of Wythe County, promoting early Pioneers who were residents of the county on or before December 31, 1810.

2013: Stewart Bell Jr. Archives – Although not an easy task, this year’s recipient, the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, has more than met the Commonwealth Award’s requirements. Located in the beautiful Handley Regional Library in Winchester, the Archives is home to an extensive collection of materials on the people, places, and events of the Lower Shenandoah Valley from 1732 to the present.

The collection includes archival material of the Handley Regional Library and the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society; a database of over 20,000 photos of which more than 11,000 have been scanned and are on the Family and Local History page of the library website; 600 linear feet of manuscripts; maps; newspapers from 1787, with an online master obituary index covering the period 1896-1913 and growing; and over 4,000 books.

The staff, under the supervision of Archivist Rebecca A. Ebert, safely house and preserve the collections; maintain inventories of the online and searchable manuscript collection; give tours of the facility; and hold genealogy workshops.

A new project undertaken by the Archives is the recording of stories, histories, and photographs of the African American community in Winchester, that will be published through the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. The personal property tax list for Free Blacks in Frederick County for the years 1793 to 1862 is already online. During their free time, the staff, along with volunteers, help genealogical researchers, whether beginners or advanced, and bring them the treasurers they seek from the closed stacks.

On one of the walls at the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, numerous awards recognize volunteers for their hard work and dedication. It is called The Wall of Fame. At the VGS Spring Conference held April 20, 2013, at the Ash Creek Clubhouse in Mechanicsville, Virginia, the Virginia Genealogical Society was pleased to honor and recognize the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives for its work and dedication to the genealogical community. The award was accepted by Rebecca A. Ebert, Archivist of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives.

2008: Tidewater Genealogical Society – At its Fall Conference [2008] on Saturday, November 1, the Virginia Genealogical Society presented the Commonwealth Award to co-host Tidewater Genealogical Society. President Alice Cox Phillips, CG, accepted the award on behalf of TGS.

The Hugh S. Watson Jr. Genealogical Society of Tidewater Virginia (TGS) was organized in 1969. Mr. Watson authored a weekly genealogical feature from 1935, first for the Virginia Gazette of Williamsburg and later until 1988 for the Daily Press of Newport News. The mission of the Tidewater Genealogical Society focuses on genealogical research east of the Virginia fall line and is dedicated to encouraging and sustaining interest in genealogy through educational and research programs designed to assist members in their search for ancestors. It collects, indexes, and files family records of its members. The society also publishes a quarterly, Virginia Tidewater Genealogy, holds an annual “How To” workshop, sponsors research trips, and has published guides to research in several Tidewater localities. It has also published cemetery books and records for Nansemond County. Its website contains some very interesting and helpful information, including the Original Stockholders of the Dismal Swamp Canal taken from records of the Superior Court at Edenton, North Carolina, and located at the Tennessee Archives. The Society won the Site of the Month Award in 2000 from Adventures in Genealogy.

2008: Fairfax Genealogical Society – The society, which has over 400 members, was established in 1974 to promote fellowship and cooperation among genealogical researchers; to further the use of sound genealogical methods, standards of accuracy, and scholarly research; and to aid persons conducting research in its geographical area. Dorothy Bishop, president, accepted this award on behalf of the Fairfax Genealogical Society. For the past three years, Ms. Bishop has also represented her society on the VGS Board as a Local Society Director.

2007: Bedford Genealogical Society – The Bedford Genealogical Society maintains a genealogical library in the old Masonic building across the street from the courthouse. A dedicated staff of volunteers helps visitors and answers queries from people who live too far away to visit. The society is proud of the recent publication of a CD containing records of 1,480 county cemeteries containing over 36,000 names. It presently is taking GPS readings on these cemeteries, which are being placed on the Bedford GIS (Geographical Information System) and are available online in a database. For several years the society has sponsored a free Genealogical Fair at the Central Virginia Community College, with over 500 people attending to hear exciting speakers about genealogical research. Family groups at the Fair help people find who is kin to whom. Some organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Town of New London, and other genealogical societies have vending booths, and a local church serves lunch. The Bedford Genealogical Society also publishes a quarterly with news of coming events, genealogy, queries, and a variety of genealogical information. Co-editors are Belle Harrell and Carole Field Lacy. Genealogical books sold there include some by Belle Harrell and others on Bedford County, The Beale Treasure, and other interesting items. The quarterly has listed marriages in Bedford County so that readers can find the exact reel and number to locate the marriage of their choice.

2007: Virginia-North Carolina Piedmont Genealogical Society – The Virginia-Carolina Piedmont Genealogical Society, another recipient of the Commonwealth Award, is located in a room built onto the Danville Public Library to accommodate the large collection of books, CDs, and other resources owned by the society. Volunteers staff the library and help members that live at a distance for a nominal fee. The society has a fine collection of Family Tree Maker and vertical files to assist researchers. It publishes a quarterly that includes records from Pittsylvania, Halifax, Franklin, and Henry Counties in Virginia, and Rockingham, Caswell, and Person Counties in North Carolina. The society’s collections cover all of Virginia and other states as well, and it offers publications for sale. Many Pittsylvania County cemeteries, for example, have been catalogued and are for sale.

2006: Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC) – RELIC was recognized for their more than thirty years of service. Among its activities it has: preserved local records; provided genealogical education through programs, a users group, and a twice monthly consultation ser­vice by Donald Wilson; maintained a genealogical research library; produced Reliquary, a high-quality journal; compiled an index to local newspapers that is published free on the Internet; digitized publications related to the county and posted them for free; and answered questions from the Internet, postal mail, and in person visits. Beverly Veness and Darlene Hunter, CGSM, both of the library system, accepted the award on behalf of Donald Wilson who was out of town speaking at another genealogical event.

1995: Virginia-North Carolina Piedmont Genealogical Society – This very active society of more than 500 members maintains an excellent research library, and has produced a number of quality publications for those with interest in Pittsylvania and surrounding counties. Mary Leigh Boisseau, a past president of VA/NC PGS, accepted for the Society.

2019: Becky B. Howard – Becky B. Howard is a long-term enthusiastic volunteer for the Nelson County Historical Society, although her roots are in Giles and Craig counties. Becky came by her interest in genealogy honestly. Her mother was a charter member of the Giles County Historical Society and a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), while her father was a member of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR). Her mother wrote a family history book, while her father wrote several books on Craig County’s history.

Becky retired in 2001 from Nelson County Public Schools as a high school math teacher. Immediately upon retirement, she became involved in the Nelson County Historical Society and Oakland Museum and has been an integral part of the society and museum since that time. Her contributions are too numerous to completely expand on, but a few of the more outstanding ones include:

• Securing funding to support the organization and archiving of artifacts and genealogy resource material. This material is now being made available online at the Society’s website.
• Working as a volunteer conducting research in response to queries on Wednesday afternoons at the Nelson Memorial Library. Her assistance encompasses both on-site assistance as well as responding to email queries and letters with copies of documents and helpful referrals.
• Organizing and chairing the biannual historic home tours since 2005, including researching the history of the homes and families.
• Researching, documenting, and publishing the Nelson County Cemetery Book in 2007 and an update. The book provides an index by surname and geolocation references to assist genealogists in locating many forgotten cemeter­ies in the county.
• Serving as editor of the quarterly Nelson County Historical Society Newsletter since 2005. Under her leadership the newsletter has expanded to include articles of historical and genealogical significance on Nelson County fami­lies, individuals, communities, and other key locations.

Becky Howard’s contributions have benefited countless individuals in their search for information and knowledge on Nelson County’s history, specifically family histories. Her vision and leadership have provided the resources to ensure that the history of Nelson County, its families, and communities is preserved and made available for future generations.

2018: Lavonne Patterson Allen – Historian of the New Kent Historical Society. La­vonne Patterson Allen, often called the “jailor,” has done extensive historical and genealogical research centering on New Kent County. She served as her family’s historian for over forty years, documenting her Patterson family from the formation of New Kent County in 1654. She is a member of VGS, the Virginia Historical Society, the African-American Heritage Society of New Kent County, and the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Additionally, Lavonne serves as the facilitator of a spring and fall course at Rappahannock Community College on the history of New Kent County. The course includes tours of historic homes, the Old Courthouse, and Civil War trails, as well as other notable historical sites.

Lavonne currently serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the 50th Anniversary commemoration of Green v. County School Board of New Kent County, an important United States Supreme Court case dealing with the freedom of choice plans developed in response to Brown v. Board of Education. Lavone is the co-author of several books: The Heritage of African Americans, New Kent County, Volume I: Early Education, Colored Schools; New Kent County, Virginia, Confederate Soldier & Widow Pension Records; and United States Colored Troops born in New Kent County. Her next book, James Lafayette America’s Hero, is about a Virginia slave who became a double agent and is often referred to as “The slave who helped to end the Revolutionary War.” The book is scheduled for release in late August.

2015: Carole Field Lacy – At its spring conference held in Richmond on April 11, 2015, VGS honored Carole Field Lacy and the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center for their contributions to the genealogical community. Carole Field Lacy was recognized for her many years as a volunteer for the Society. Carole has written the Society’s sixteen-page quarterly magazine for the past eight years; maintained the Society’s web site for five years; helped promote the Society’s goals; and worn many hats as treasurer, membership chair, board member, teacher, webmaster, editor, and researcher.

Her interest in genealogy began many years ago when she began asking her mother, Nora (Field) Rakes, questions about the Field family. She published The James Field Papers based on records donated to the Library of Virginia. Carole did not live in Bedford County when she began her research but arrived in 2005 soon after joining the Bedford Genealogical Society. Carole is appreciative of groups such as the Bedford Genealogical Society and the Virginia Genealogical Society for providing a support structure for volunteers seeking to increase knowledge about county and state genealogy. The Virginia Genealogical Society appreciates volunteers like Carole Field Lacy, without whom no society could disseminate genealogical information, and is pleased to award her the 2015 Volunteer Award.

2012: Ruth Blevens – A native of Giles County, Ruth Blevins as a child was not interested in history. However, she became involved in the county’s history in 1956 when she not only helped with the County’s sesquicentennial celebration but also took over when the committee chair became unable to do so. Because of this “encounter” she became an avid Giles County historian and is one of the founding members of the Giles County Historical Society.

She recruited members, cataloged artifacts, researched the county’s history, and aided in establishing the Research Library. To accomplish this, Ms. Blevins began telephoning county citizens and placing advertisements in local newspapers, encouraging everyone to record their family history. From this beginning, many local family files became available for researchers. Ruth did not stop there. She compiled these family histories, adding data from old county records, and visited cemeteries. This effort resulted in two published volumes—the first with over 440 pages and the second with 378 pages.

Ms. Blevins has been instrumental in building the research library from a few family files to a facility that is poised to outgrow its current location—a converted garage on the Johnston property. Patricia Jacobs, a volunteer at the Historical Society says of Ms. Blevins: “When I returned to graduate school a few years ago, the Office of Historic Preservation encouraged me to study and learn from Mrs. Blevins, as that office considered her to be one of the best historic researchers, amateur or professional, that it had ever seen. For me, she is an inspiration and continues to serve as my mentor…” Ms. Blevins continues to serve as a Giles County genealogist and local historian and is on-call to answer queries. The Giles County Historical Society is located on property that dates to before the Civil War. Its history includes being used as a Union headquarters in 1862 by Col. Rutherford B. Hayes and Sgt. William McKinley, both future presidents of the United States. The property housing the Historical Society is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features the family home, built in 1829 by Andrew Johnston’s family. His heirs deeded the property to the Society in 1987. What a location for a Historical Society—a house with a rich history that serves as a facility to preserve the history of Giles County.

2012: Temple Lawrence – Temple Lawrence is carrying on the work begun by Ruth Blevins not only by continuing to catalog documents and adding to the Research Library, but also by conducting research. Temple responds to all inquiries that come to the Society. This includes conducting research at the county courthouse for genealogists outside the area, serving as a genealogist for the Society for over ten years, and donating numerous hours to assisting the public with genealogical research.

2011: Char McCargo Bah –  “Ancestors are watching and they will take you in the right direction—when it is time.” This is a favorite genealogical quote of Char McCargo Bah, this year’s volunteer award recipient. A native of Alexandria, Char has been doing genealogical research for more than twenty-six years. Besides being a pub­lished author—in the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society Newsletter; NGS Magazine; Halifax County, Virginia Heritage Book; and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Journal—Char gives back to her Alexandria community.

Her work on the Freedmen Cemetery project in Alexandria, Virginia, garnered Char the 2009 Alexandria History Award. She is continuing in the same vein with her lecture series, “Their Voices Can Be Heard,” which began with her research into descendants of people buried at Freedmen’s Cemetery. For those unfamiliar with the Freedmen’s Cemetery, it is a historic African American burial ground that was reclaimed by the City of Alexandria in 2007. Since 2008, Char has located dozens of descendants of people buried at Freedmen’s Cemetery, most of whom are fifth and sixth generations removed. Many of the descendants who still reside in Alexandria or the surrounding areas were unfamiliar with their Civil War-era ancestors.

In addition, she has appeared on the PBS show “History Detective,” been interviewed by the BBC, and was selected for a documentary with the Ellis Island Foundation. She is a member of the Virginia Genealogical Society and served on the VGS Board, where she also served as Historian for two consecutive terms. The Virginia Genealogical Society is pleased to honor Char McCargo Bah with this year’s Volunteer Award.

2007: Vicie Waskey “Babe” Fowler – Babe received the award for exceptional or long-term volunteer service that supports or advances local or statewide Virginia genealogical research. She related that one night she had a wild dream in three parts. The first part was to start a genealogical society in Roanoke; the second part was to start a quarterly magazine; and the third part was to have a building for genealogical records. So she and a co-founder started the Roanoke Genealogical Society in 1977. Then they began a quarterly that she edited for more than twenty years. She said that the building will take a little longer, but she still hopes
her dream will come true. Babe convinced Mr. Charles Burton, who had done a lot of source records for Botetourt County and other counties in this area, to give her his material with permission to publish through her society. She worked to get the money to buy a copier and a microfilm reader for the Virginia Room at the Roanoke Public Library, and then convinced folks to donate books. She attended the Virginia Institute for Genealogical Research for several years, and said she enjoyed every class because she always learned something. Babe thinks her first class in genealogy was a class on stupid mistakes, because she thought she had not been doing anything right after taking it. But by then she was hooked! The Waskeys came to the colonies in 1735, with her paternal line being Moravian and her maternal line being Bohemian. A cousin who is a college professor in Georgia told her the name was Vaska, meaning mysterious people, and she thinks they may have descended from Dracula! And she would like it if the quarterlies would please print her family in them.

2016: Donald Wayne Moore – Don assisted in arranging VGS conferences from 2003 to 2010. He began his tenure on the VGS Board in 2000 as a Governor-at-Large and was elected Vice President in 2003. Don served as Assistant Editor of the VGS Newsletter from October 2001 to October 2004, becoming the editor with the December 2004 issue, and continued as editor through the December 2015 issue. Don served as the Chair of the Website Committee and Web Content Manager. Don has concurrently held multiple VGS positions, all without compensation, and has been a great asset to VGS.

2016: Charles A. Novak Jr. (deceased 2019) – Chuck had been a dedicated supporter of genealogy and the Virginia Genealogical Society. He is an expert at arranging conferences, not just for VGS, but also for the Fairfax Genealogical Society. He has been organizing conferences for VGS since 2010, sometimes two a year. He was instrumental in setting up the 2014 NGS conference in Richmond, in which VGS was a participating partner. It was one of NGS’s most successful conferences. Chuck was a VGS Governor-at-Large in 1999, President-Elect in 2000, President for 2001–2002, and Past-President from 2003 to 2005. After a short break, he rejoined the VGS Board as a Governor-at-Large in 2009. He also serves as a member of the Website Committee and Website Content Committee. VGS’s successful conferences would not be possible without Chuck.

2010: Library of Virginia –

2010: James Morris Bagby (deceased 2013) –

2010: Edgar E. MacDonald (deceased 2011) –

2000: Barbara Vines Little –

1999: Dennis Ray Hudgins (deceased 2014) –

2022: Teresa A. Kelley – for outstanding contributions to the growth and success of VGS by demonstrating a commitment to advance the mission of the society by volunteering as needed; serving as an officer, including as president for four years; helping Chuck Novak organize the in-person fall and spring conferences, including three NGS Richmond conferences; organizing the transition to virtual fall conferences; planning and leading the webinar program; writing articles for the VGS publications; and helping to maintain a VGS presence on social media.