The Fourth Annual Arizona Genealogy Day is Saturday, February 24, 2024

Free, virtual event features expert speakers and exciting topics

PHOENIX – The Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board and the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records are pleased to present the fourth annual Arizona Genealogy Day, a free, virtual event on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Registration is free but seats are limited, visit https://azsos.libcal.com/calendar/starl/azgenday24 to register to reserve a spot!

“As an Arizonan with deep roots in the state, I am excited to participate in the fourth annual Arizona Genealogy Day,” said Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records has so many resources that are invaluable for anyone researching state and family history. This event reminds us that Arizona’s history is everyone's history, whether you've lived here for a generation or can trace your family to before this state was a territory.”

Secretary Fontes recorded a brief video about his visit to the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History building, and it will be broadcast on event day.

Leslie Carney is a professional genealogist, specializing in Southwestern United States, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Native American Indian and Sonora Mexico. She is a graduate of Boston University with a certificate in genealogical studies as well as a graduate of the professional genealogy study group, ProGen, and has been researching since 1992. Carney will be speaking on “More than Just a Mark: Livestock Branding.”

State of Arizona Research Library staff member Asa Espanto, MLIS, Newspaper Librarian, and University of Arizona News Research Librarian Mary Feeney, MLIS, will speak on “Finding Your Family in Historical Newspapers.”

Duane Roen, PhD, has been tracing his roots since his teenage years, building a database with more than 32,000 ancestors. Combining his professional and personal interests, Dr. Roen worked with colleagues to establish courses on writing and recording family history at Arizona State University. He also is the founding coordinator of the Project for Writing and Recording Family History in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at ASU. He will be speaking on “Weaving Cultural History into our Family History Writing.”

Professional genealogist Deborah A. Abbott, PhD specializes in genealogical methodology, manuscript collections, and African American family research. Dr. Abbott is the coordinator of the African American Track at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). She teaches at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR).  Dr. Abbott will be speaking on “Strategies & Techniques: African American Slave Research.”

Professional genealogist Thomas MacEntee specializes in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community. He will present “Mind Mapping Your Genealogy Research Plans and Results.”

Visit https://azsos.libcal.com/calendar/starl/azgenday24 for additional program details and to secure a spot for this free virtual event.