Welcome to the Washington DC Family History Center
7th Annual Conference

Presenter Bios

Bartlett, James Presenting: DNA � The Newest Tool for Genealogists and Intermediate DNA for Genealogists Mr. Bartlett has been an active genealogist since 1974. Since 2002 he has expanded his research tools to DNA. He is an avid fan of all DNA tools, and can offer insights into how to use them to expand your genealogy. He has been the Administrator of the BARTLETT-DNA Project for 10 years and enjoys teaching this simple, yet powerful, new tool to other genealogists. DNA testing is now available for men and women for all ancestors.

Bennet, Bernice Alexander Presenting: Observations of the U.S.Colored Troops Widows Pension Records Ms. Bennett is a family historian researching and documenting her African American roots in Orleans, St. Helena, and Livingston Parishes of Louisiana, and Edgefield and Greenwood Counties of South Carolina. She has presented her research at the International Black Genealogy Summit; Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Association; South Carolina Genealogy Society Summer Workshop; National Genealogy Society and, the Washington DC Family History Center. She is also the host of her own Blogtalkradio show - Research at the National Archives and Beyond! that offers a virtual learning opportunity from an array of guest speakers every Thursday at 9 pm eastern time at https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bernicebennett. Ms. Bennett served as volunteer at the Washington, DC Family History Center for two years as the Coordinator of the African American Interest Group and is a Citizen�s Archivist at the National Archives where she is preparing Civil War Widows Pension Records for preservation and digitization.

Branch-Miles, Nathania Presenting: African-Portuguese Research Ms. Branch-Miles, a long time resident of Prince George�s County, is a lecturer, resource specialist and author working on her fourth book on Prince George�s County: Living on the Border in the Civil War. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a major in Urban and Regional Planning and a minor in Business Management. She has a certificate in Women�s Studies from the Howard University Women�s Studies Program and is currently working on a Masters of Sociology at Howard University. Ms. Branch-Miles has been recognized for her community service and now serves as a Commissioner on the County�s Commission for Historic Preservation. She is a member of several historical and genealogical societies.

Coldren-Walker, Julia Presenting: Research at the DAR Library: There and From Home and Genealogy & The Internet Ms. Coldren-Walker began personal research 1967 although with only sporadic activity until 1987 when it became a passion. She began internet genealogy in 1990 with Compuserve Genealogy Forum. She has served as Registrar Toaping Castle Chapter NSDAR 1993? 2000, 2002?2206 and 2008?2010. She began genealogical lecturing in 1999 as part of the Prince George's Genealogy Society Library series. She has lectured at the Baltimore Stake FHC every year since 2001 and at the Washington DC FHC since 2006. Ms. Coldren-Walker is a graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Research at NARA. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogist (APG). She has attended the NGS Family History Conference in 1990, 1993?1997, 1999?2000, 2003, 2007, & 2009 and the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in 2001,2007, 2008, and 2010 along with the concurrent APG Professional Management Conference. She has a B.A. in History and in Government & an M.A. in International Relations.

DearMyrtle DearMYRTLE is the nom de plume of Pat Richley-Erickson who has been teaching and writing genealogy columns on and off the net since 1995. She is the author of DearMYRTLE�s Joy of Genealogy, host of the Mondays With Myrt webinars, host of Just Genealogy in Second Life. Honored each year as an Official RootsTech Blogger, Myrt keeps on top of the latest technology. She founded GeneaWebinars.com (a central blog and calendar). Myrt and her husband maintain homes in Alexandria, Virginia and greater Salt Lake City, Utah. Find Myrt on the web at DearMYRTLE.com.

Evan, Mary Ann Presenting: The Essentials of European Research, Part 1 (History) and Part 2 (Resources) Ms. Evan has been researching her own extended family since 1990 and considers herself a poster child for the resources at the Family History Center � she was able to trace her ancestors, who lived in remote mountain villages of Poland, back to the 1700s without ever leaving Kensington! She has been a volunteer at the FHC on Saturday afternoons for many years, and enjoys working with patrons to research in different eras and in different locations around the world. Ms. Evan loves to apply to genealogical research the analytical skills she uses in her day job in Information Technology and the creativity and imagination she employs in her avocation as a writer.

Hodges, Sharon Presenting: The Fire Burned What? Finding Your WWII Relative and Researching in New York City Ms. Hodges is a professional genealogist, instructor, author and lecturer having been involved in genealogical research for 25 years. She has presented lectures at numerous genealogical society monthly meetings and conferences in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Washington, DC. In 1997, Ms. Hodges completed the National Genealogical Society Home Study Course for which she is now a grader. She is a 2000 graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Research, where she presented a lecture on The File Burned � Now What, Finding Your World War II Ancestor in 2010. She is frequently a guest on Tracing Your Family Roots on Channel 10 in Fairfax County. Presently, Ms. Hodges is President of the Mount Vernon Genealogical Society, where she previously held the positions of Vice President, Programs, Secretary, and Chair of the Training and Education Committee. As a member of the Fairfax Genealogical Society, she was Secretary for two years, on the Conference Committee for two years, and presently co-ordinates the Mid-Atlantic Special Interest Group. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Genealogical Society. In addition Ms. Hodges is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Genealogical Society of New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society, and numerous New Jersey genealogical organizations. In her free time Sharon assists clients with their genealogical research. She specializes in Northern New Jersey, District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia research.

Hoffman, Debra Presenting: Researching Your Civil War Ancestor Specializing in Maryland research, Ms. Hoffman has over 30 years of experience conducting genealogical research. She is the owner of Hoffman Genealogical Services. She has completed Brigham Young University�s Family History Certificate Program, has completed three courses at the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University and recently completed the Advanced German Research course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Debra is a member of the NSDAR and the Association of Professional Genealogists as well as other national and local societies.

Howard, Charles Presenting: The Magic of RootsMagic Genealogy Software Mr. Howard was born in Baltimore, Maryland where he lived and attended public schools. After graduating from the University of Maryland � Eastern Shore he relocated to Washington, D.C. He received a MA from Antioch University, Yellow Springs, Ohio. After hearing a lecture at Howard University featuring Alex Haley and AAHGS co-founder James Dent Walker in 1978, he was inspired to begin researching his family's history. He has documented the lives of over 3,000 family members. Mr. Howard is the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Immediate Past President, former conference chair, and former Vice President. He has also served as the President of the AAHGS James Dent Walker Chapter, Washington, D.C. since 2000. He is a life member of the Multicultural Genealogical Center, Chesterhill, Ohio and a member of the Athens County (Ohio) Historical Society and Museum; the Ohio Genealogical Society; the Ohio Historical Society, the Gallia (Ohio) Genealogical Society, the North Carolina Genealogical Society, the National Genealogical Society and, the Burke, Brown and Steppe (Charlottesville, Virginia) Chapter of AAHGS. In addition to conducting workshops and presentations, he has provided genealogical assistance in cemetery preservation in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and assisted the research efforts of several students in preparing for post-graduate degrees. In 2005, Mr. Howard retired as the Chief, Office of Investigations and Compliance, District of Columbia Government. He is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the former historian of the Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, the treasurer of the Historic Kappa House Restoration Foundation and volunteered in the Kappa�s local mentoring program for court-involved youth. In addition to his love of genealogy, travel and all things electronic, he is an avid skier, deep-sea fisherman, photographer and father of two sons.

Joyce, Lin Presenting: Family History Meets the 21st Century; The Joys of Uncovering and Preserving Your Family's Stories Ms. Joyce is The Head Interviewer for Reel Tributes, a personal historian and ethical will facilitator working in Metropolitan Washington DC. She has worked in the field of reminiscence for over ten years. As a hospice volunteer she founded �LIFE STORIES,� a program in which hospice patients can record and preserve their stories. Ms. Joyce assists legacy-minded people with ideas they can use to preserve their memories through audio/video interviews, life story writing, and family heirloom documentation or in writing ethical wills. She presents informative and interactive workshops throughout the DC area. She is a freelance writer and her articles on the value and benefits reminiscence have appeared in newspapers and in hospice publications.

Legare, Phyllis Presenting: Courthouse Research Ms. Legare has been researching for her family for ten years. For the past six years she has been lecturing frequently at Family History Centers, Genealogy Societies and special events. Her research is primarily in New England, New York, Tennessee, North Carolina and France. Ms. Legare is the current First Vice President of the Program Committee for the Fairfax Genealogical Society. She is past Education Chair Person, having served for two years, and continues to serve on the Education Committee. She also served on the 2010 Nominating Committee. She is a past Newsletter Editor for the Mt. Vernon Genealogical Society. Additionally, Ms. Legare teaches a variety of genealogy courses at the Adult Education Programs in Loudoun and Fairfax counties Virginia. She is a member of the Fairfax Genealogical Society, The Mt. Vernon Genealogical Society, The New England Historical Society and the Maine Genealogical Society.

McGhie, Angela Packer Presenting: Read All About Your Ancestors by Locating Historic Newspapers and Exploring the FamilySearch Wiki Ms. McGhie is a genealogical researcher, lecturer, and instructor. She is the Administrator of the Professional Genealogy (ProGen) Study Program and past president of the National Capital Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She teaches genealogy courses at Howard Community College, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh.

McMahon, Dr. Margaret Presenting: Google for Genealogists and Genealogy and Social Networking Dr. McMahon is the hockey-playing genealogist. She has a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, and with the advent of parenthood, turned her technical talents to researching her family�s genealogy. She has over twenty-five years of engineering experience, as well as being a college and graduate school professor. She is an experienced presenter at national and international technical conferences. Dr. McMahon has been an invited speaker at several branches of her local Public Library and genealogical societies in the Washington DC area. She is a volunteer for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, and a member of the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society, and the Society of the Naval Treaty. Her interests include playing and coaching ice hockey and needlework.

Minor, Lorraine Dutcher Presenting: Beginning Genealogy, Parts 1 and 2 Ms. Minor is president of the Genealogy Club of the Montgomery County Historical Society and has served as chair of the Education Committee. She has completed the National Genealogical Society home study course and several Family History courses from Brigham Young University and attended the National Institute on Genealogical Research. She is a volunteer at the Washington DC Family History Center in Kensington, MD and teaches classes and speaks locally on basic genealogical subjects. She is currently doing research on her ancestors from Maine, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio and helping her husband with research in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

Mortensen, Sue Presenting: Using Wills in Family History Research Ms. Mortensen studied History and Family History at Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in American History from Western Connecticut State University. She has worked as a litigation paralegal for 20 years and is employed at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Ms. Mortensen is passionate about family history and is currently writing a book for her grandchildren, using stories about their ancestors to tell the history of America.

Sadauskas, Tom Presenting: The International Tracing Service - The Closed Archive That's Been Finally Opened After More Than 60 Years Mr. Sadauskas has been actively conducting genealogy research since 2000, with a special focus on Eastern Europe. All four of his grandparents and his father were born in Lithuania. He has made several research trips to Lithuania and Germany and has been successful in reestablishing contact with relatives in Lithuania as well as making contact with newly uncovered ones. He was privileged to be a member of the first group of genealogists to visit the International Tracing Service (ITS) archives in May 2008 following the opening of the ITS archives to public access. The ITS archives hold 50 million records on 17.5 million people including both Holocaust victims and survivors, forced laborers, and more than 8 million displaced persons (DPs). Mr. Sadauskas is a 2009 graduate of the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR). He has made numerous presentations at various genealogy conferences including those organized by the Polish Genealogy Society of Connecticut & the Northeast Inc. (PGSCTNE) and the Washington D.C. and Baltimore Family History Centers. He is also a frequent contributor to the monthly Polish genealogy e-zine Gen Dobry!

Singhal, Cheryl H. Presenting: Brick Walls - They Can Come Down! Mrs. Singhal began working in genealogy in January 1972. She has taught Free University classes in Genealogy (1976-79) at Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge, and has led workshops for the East Baton Rouge Parish (LA) Library in Baton Rouge. In 1993, she joined the thin ranks of computer genealogists. She is a Past President of the Baton Rouge (LA) Genealogical and Historical Society, and a Past President of the Capital PAF Users Group in Kensington MD. She is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and a Past Regent of her Chapter in Daughters of the American Revolution. She is the Genealogist for the Cresap Society and is a member of the Shanholtzer Reunion. She is also involved with the USGenWeb and administers several family surname boards at Ancestry as part of the GenWeb. Mrs. Singhal volunteered at the FHC in Baton Rouge (while it was housed at the University and called a Branch Library), and since 1991 has been on-staff at the Washington DC Family History Center. She is a frequent presenter at FHC workshops in the area. Additionally, she has participated in data-entry projects for the UDC, the DAR, and the FHL. In 2008, she received the National Genealogical Society's Award of Merit for her long-term involvement with their Member Ancestor Charts (MAC) project, now on-line.

Skinner, Vernon L. Jr. Presenting: Brick Walls - They Can Come Down! Mr. Skinner was born and raised just outside of Baltimore City. His father is descended from the earliest settlers of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia (Eastern Shore). His mother is a first generation American of German descent. He attended the University of Maryland at College Park, graduating with a B.S. in mathematics and an M.S. in computer science. He speaks German and French. After retiring from 30 years with IBM, Mr. Skinner continued his love of genealogy, both in Maryland and in Germany. He is the author of numerous articles and over 60 books, primarily abstracts of probate records of the Prerogative Court of Provincial Maryland. He is currently a member of Sons of American Revolution, Upper Shore Genealogical Society, and Maryland Genealogical Society. He is a past president of Maryland Genealogical Society, past director of Genealogical Council of Maryland, and past member of the Search Room Advisory Committee of the Maryland State Archives.

Sokolowsky, Mary Jean Presenting: Descendants Research Ms. Sokolowsky has been doing family history for seventeen years and a volunteer at the Washington DC Family History Center for three years. She is the mother of four children and a Cub Scout leader. She especially enjoys helping people discover the joy of family history.

Walton-Raji, Angela Presenting: Native American Research Ms. Walton-Raji is known nationally for her research and work on Oklahoma Native American records. Her book on Black Indian Genealogy Research is the only book of its kind focusing on the unique record set found within the Dawes Records. Ms. Walton-Raji is a founding member of AfriGeneas.com and host of a weekly genealogy podcast. She creates instructional videos and is an expert consultant on video documentaries. She is a featured speaker at numerous events at the Smithsonian Institution and the only genealogist in the nation to present regular genealogy lectures at the National Museum of the American Indian. Beyond public appearances, she hosts three blogs, a ten-year ongoing message board, three websites, and the only weekly podcast devoted to African American genealogy. Ms. Walton-Raji is an alumnus of the National Institute of Genealogical Research and has traveled to England, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Ghana, and Nigeria. She speaks Spanish and has a working knowledge of French. Beyond her special research areas of African and Native American family histories, she has assisted individuals not only in locating data on ancestors, but also in connecting with living relatives. She has found descendants and brought data forward from early 20th century records. She has conducted research for persons of black, white and American Indian backgrounds and has assisted families with the documentation of their immigrant ancestors as well. Ms. Walton-Raji currently lives in Maryland. She can be found online at:Blogs: www.africanrootspodcast.com, www.myancestorsname.blogspot.com, www.african-nativeamerican.com, www.usctchronicle.blogspot.com; websites: www.beginninggenealogist.com, www.arkansasfreedmen.com ,www.african-nativeamerican.com and YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/aywalton.