Brian Rhinehart is the owner of CivilWarRecords.com. He is a researcher for Finding Your Roots & specializes in record retrieval for Civil War & War of 1812 soldiers at the National Archives. #history #PremierGenealogicalEducation #archives #ancestry #CivilWar
Michelle Goodrum, CG
Michelle Goodrum, CG®, is a genealogical researcher and educator whose passion for family history began with a junior high school project. After discovering ancestral roots that spanned countless regions across the US and the world, she was hooked. Michelle earned the Certified Genealogist® credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists in 2023. After ten years, she retired in 2024 from teaching in Boston University’s Genealogical Certificate Program, where she is also a certificate holder. Her commitment to genealogical education also includes three years of service on the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy committee and mentoring students through GenProof Study Groups using Mastering Genealogical Proof. Michelle holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington. She enjoys hiking, tending a summer vegetable garden, and savoring time with her growing family-including a new grandson. Michelle and her husband divide their time between Mesa, Arizona, and Whidbey Island, Washington.
The recipient of the Distinguished Service Award is Michelle Roos Goodrum, CG®! Congratulations, Michelle! #genealogy #FamilyHistory #SLIG #PremierGenealogicalEducation #education #ancestry #UGA #awards #service #research
Raymond S. Wright III
Raymond S. Wright III’s first love is his family, past and present. Learning about families of the past and helping others find ancestors is his second. Raymond has a BA in German and a master’s and PhD in European History from the University of Utah. Those degrees helped pave the way for careers at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and at Brigham Young University. He was introduced to the Genealogical Department by an internship offered there which led to a career at the Library, starting in 1972. In 1978, Raymond started teaching part-time at BYU and did so until 1988. In 1990, he was offered a full-time position which he accepted. He worked at BYU until 2003, when he returned to the Family History Library and worked there until 2007. He is grateful for the many friends he worked with in Salt Lake City, Provo, and elsewhere who taught, encouraged, and inspired him.
The Silver Tray Award 2026 is inscribed with the logo of the Utah Genealogical Association and the name Raymond S. Wright III. It is also inscribed "For Publication Efforts and Contributions to the Field of Genealogy."
The recipient of the Silver Tray Award is Raymond S. Wright III! Congratulations, Raymond! #genealogy #FamilyHistory #SLIG #PremierGenealogicalEducation #history #education
LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson
LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG®, FASG, earned a BA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, and both a Law degree and a Master of Laws degree from New York University. After a 35-year career as a tax lawyer she retired from a partner-level position at EY (Ernst & Young) in 2013 and became a full-time genealogist. Her research centers on African American families that survived slavery. She obtained the Certified Genealogist® credential in 2015 and served the Board for Certification of Genealogists® as a trustee, treasurer, and as President from 2019–2022. In 2021 LaBrenda was elected as the 170th Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), the field’s honorary scholarly society. In 2025 the Association of Professional Genealogists awarded LaBrenda the Kathleen W. Hinkley Professional Achievement Award that recognizes exemplary professional achievement in the genealogical field.
The plaque commemorating the award of the 2026 Fellow title to LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson in recognition of her contributions and ongoing commitment to the field of genealogy.
The Recipient of the UGA Fellow (FUGA) Award is LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson! Congratulations, LaBrenda, you absolutely deserve this! #SLIG #genealogy #FamilyHistory #PremierGenealogicalEducation
Happy Family History Month from the Utah Genealogical Association! Vintage photograph of a family in black and white tones over a red, orange, and blue background.
Happy #FamilyHistoryMonth! Celebrate with us and check out upcoming events in our October newsletter mailchi.mp/ugagenealogy... #genealogy #FamilyHistory #heritage #ancestry #newsletter #NationalFamilyHistoryMonth #history #October #PremierGenealogicalEducation
Has it been a week since Peggy Clemens Lauritzen's wonderful keynote at the #SummitOfExcellence already?! We're certainly going to make time to watch all the recordings before December 31st? What was your favorite Summit session? #genealogy #PremierGenealogicalEducation #FamilyHistory #research
As part of our mission to provide #PremierGenealogicalEducation we try to address all backgrounds. UGA members can watch past webinars including "Caught in a Web of Lies: Women & Children Immigrating to Hawaii during the Chinese Exclusion Era" sponsored by the Hybrid Chapter last February. 6/7
"It's gonna be May!" Which means our latest newsletter is available! Take a look at upcoming resources to see how we can help you solve mysteries! Remember you don't have to be a member to watch our webinars live. buff.ly/KmeUbOp #genealogy #FamilyHistory #PremierGenealogicalEducation
Our April Newsletter is now available! Check out upcoming events! mailchi.mp/ugagenealogy... #PremierGenealogicalEducation
#newsletter #genealogy #FamilyHistory #webinars #conferences #UtahGenealogicalAssociation
We are pleased to announce that Jenny Hansen is the new Director of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy! Jenny Hansen has been both a student & instructor of #SLIG & she is happy to help it grow. #UtahGenealogicalAssociation #genealogy #FamilyHistory #announcement #PremierGenealogicalEducation 1/5
