Genealogical Education – IGHR in Birmingham, AL
Week-Long Summer Class for Beginning and Experienced Genealogists
Oct 17, 2009
The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research is sponsored by Samford University, along with the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and is designed as an “educational forum for the discovery, critical evaluation, and use of genealogical sources and methodology through a week of intensive study led by nationally prominent genealogical educators,” as the IGRH website states.
Courses are led by experienced genealogists, most of whom are writers, speakers, and researchers with years of experience and national reputations in the field. Each class consists of many lectures by different speakers, so students are exposed to a wide variety of viewpoints and information. Classes run Monday through Friday morning, with breaks for snacks and meals. Additional speakers are scheduled Monday through Wednesday evenings, and Thursday night is devoted to the annual banquet.
Genealogical Classes
IGHR offers classes for beginners that focus on fundamentals of research and methodology. The institute also schedules a number of classes for intermediate or advanced genealogists –these classes emphasize research methodology and source materials in areas. Classes in military records, land records, and legal records are frequent course offerings. German, Irish, and Scottish, and African-American research classes have been offered in recent years. There are generally ten courses each year; some repeated every year, others new or repeated occasionally.
Many people attend year after year, since there are always new classes along with the standards like Techniques and Technology, Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies, and Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis. Classes in Genealogy as a Profession and Writing and Publishing for Genealogists are offered in alternating years
Institute Facilities
Attendees can stay in campus dorm rooms or at local hotels. While the dorm rooms are spartan, they have the advantage of being close to the classrooms, library, and dining hall. Attendees bring their own bedding and linen, and are provided with a small two-person room with attached bathroom. They may use any common areas of the dorm, as well. Attendees, whether staying on or off campus, can eat at the dining hall, which has an expansive menu and ample portions of southern style cooking. Meals at the dining hall provide great opportunities for meeting and getting to know other genealogists.
Samford University
Samford University is a small private Baptist college set on an180-acre wooded campus in Homewood, Alabama, a Birmingham suburb. The 50 Georgian Colonial buildings are close together, making everything quickly accessible on foot, and the campus is green and inviting. Of course, since it’s in June, the weather will be hot. Samford’s library is known for its genealogical collections and is especially strong in Alabama and southern U.S. resources. Many attendees of the Institute try to make time during the week to take advantage of the opportunity to pursue their own genealogical research in its collections.
Other Options for Genealogical Education
For those interested in learning more, there are many other options for genealogical education. Genealogy classes are increasingly being offered at community colleges and various universities, and genealogical societies often hold local workshops. One of the most comprehensive and widely accessible home-study courses, American Genealogy, is offered by the National Genealogical Society, and is open to anyone who wishes to learn the basics of research in a systematic way.
Source:
Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR)
 |
 |
 |
 |
