The Sixth Annual Arizona Genealogy Day is Saturday, March 21, 2026

PHOENIX – The Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board and the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records are pleased to present the sixth annual Arizona Genealogy Day, a free, virtual event on Saturday, March 21, 2026. 

Time is running out and spots are limited! Visit Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records website to register and reserve your spot today!

“Arizona Genealogy Day is an exciting, educational event, and features expert speakers on topics of genealogical importance,” said Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “I invite all to register for the event and learn about strategies and resources to find, document, and share your family’s history.”

Stefanie Ojibway Gerberding will speak on “Honoring Ancestors: Native American Genealogy.” She is a professional genealogist with over twelve years of research experience. As a genealogist specializing in Native American ancestry, Stefanie assists individuals and families in navigating tribal, federal, and historical records to uncover their heritage. She combines traditional genealogical methods with cultural knowledge to produce accurate, meaningful family histories. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges of documenting Native American ancestry, Stefanie connects families to the stories and identities of their ancestors. Stefanie is an enrolled citizen of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and a descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Ryan Ehrfurth has worked at the State of Arizona Research Library for 10 years. He manages the Arizona Memory Project, the Library’s map collection, and provides Research Support for the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names. He earned a Master’s Degree in Public History from Arizona State University. He will speak on “Finding Family: Genealogy in the Arizona Memory Project.” Attendees will learn how to search the Arizona Memory Project and learn about the many genealogical resources available on the platform.

Allyson Maughan, AG, will teach attendees how to examine clues from photographs to find new family members, solve family mysteries, and begin new research in her presentation “Add a Snapshot to Research.” She is an Accredited Genealogist and a professional speaker, writer, and consultant. She specializes in photographic record sets, genealogical methodology, and family history writing. She speaks for groups ranging from international to local including Salt Lake Institute for Genealogy and RootsTech. Her writing has been featured in Crossroads Magazine where she shares her ancestors’ lives in the West. A member of the Utah Genealogical Association board, she helps with the magazine and ProTalk webinar content. Find her work and resources on her website.

Taneya Y. Koonce, MSLS, MPH combines 25+ years in information science with a passion for genealogy. She will introduce attendees to a new perspective on their role as contributors to a collective historical record in her presentation “Liberate Your Family History Research: Using an ‘Open Access’ Preservation Model.” She is an enthusiastic educator and dedicated volunteer leader in the genealogy community (e.g., Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, the WikiTree, USGenWeb Project), she champions preserving family legacies and focused memory keeping. Through her Academy of Legacy Leaders & Taneya Junk Journals newsletters and communities she fosters inspiration and makes research, memory keeping, and organization approachable, guiding others in tracing and safeguarding their personal and family histories for future generations.

Ari Wilkins, FTxSGS, will share how weather events may explain disease, death, migration, property loss, and more in her presentation “How the Weather Affected Your Ancestor.” She is a genealogist, lecturer and instructor who has been actively researching family history for over twenty-five years. Ms. Wilkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She speaks on a variety of genealogical subjects and specializes in African American research and Southern research.  As a lecturer, Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, RootsTech, and a multitude of state and local societies.  She has also led the African American course for the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research for the past three years. Ari is active in the genealogical community. Previously, she served as a board member of the Dallas Genealogical Society and the Texas State Genealogical Society. She has been active with the National Genealogical Society and served on numerous committees.

Visit azsos.libcal.com/calendar/starl/azgenday26 for program details and to secure your spot for this free virtual event.

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For more information, contact the State of Arizona Research Library at 602-926-3870 or visit the website at azsos.libcal.com. The library also provides information on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.

This program is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.