Northern Arizona Genealogical Society

Home
United States
Prescott, AZ
Northern Arizona Genealogical Society

Northern Arizona Genealogical Society is a genealogical society serving Yavapai and Coconino counties. We provide monthly meetings whose focus is educational.

Our membership is mainly from Yavapai and Coconino counties in northern Arizona. Several times a year we offered regional or national speakers utilizing video conferencing technologies. In October we host a day long genealogy workshop showcasing our members expertise. Membership in our genealogical society is $15.00 annually and includes receipt of our quarterly newsletter, The Bulletin.

06/15/2026

NAGS Monthly Meeting Presentation
Tuesday, June 16 at 2:30 p.m/

“Periodical Source Index – Using PERSI in your Family History Research”
by Allison DePrey Singleton�

You are invited to a virtual meeting from Allen County Public Library (ACPL) by librarian Allison DePrey on their resource of the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). The index was created and is maintained by Genealogy Center staff. PERSI points researchers to millions of articles in genealogy and local history periodicals that place families within broader social, political, and economic contexts across the United States and beyond.�

A major enhancement to the Periodical Source Index was launched in May 2026. In addition to the continual indexing that adds thousands of records to the database each quarter, and under the direction of the project supervisor, Adam Barrone, ACPL started linking to digital copies of periodical issues indexed in PERSI and found available for free on the Internet. Whether the issues are on societies’ websites, the Internet Archive, the HathiTrust Digital Library, or any other posting entity and are available for free without need to login or acquire credentials, we are starting to link to those issues on the PERSI result pages!

To register to attend this virtual meeting, click on the link below and choose the June 16th meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AaMgIyT-QcCUcz17lrRCeA #/registration

05/16/2026

NAGS May Monthly Meeting and Presentation:
2:30 pm, Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Room 20, 1001 Ruth St, Prescott. Please park in rear.
This will be a hybrid meeting: both in person and via Zoom (registration link is below).

"Mom, Apple Pie, and the Fourth of July or Why Your Story Matters: Having fun researching and Writing Your Family History."
by Stuart Rosebrook

Writing your family history can seem daunting. But do not fear; writing family history and recording your story should be fun, with a little reflection and poignancy thrown in for good measure. The workshop is aimed at helping the beginner or the expert in researching, recording, and writing your family's story in today's digital era. We will talk about how to face the page (the screen) and overcome writer's block to write your reflections and family story, which will be enjoyed for generations to come. You might discover why your Mom always made apple pie on the Fourth of July!

Speaker Bio:
Stuart Rosebrook, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona. He is a public historian of the American West whose interest in family history was inspired by his father's stories of growing up in New York, Virginia, and Arizona. For more information see www.stuartrosebrook.com

Zoom Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AaMgIyT-QcCUcz17lrRCeA #/registration

04/18/2026

NAGS April Monthly Meeting - April 21st - 2:30 PM
In person at 1001 Ruth St, Prescott--or via Zoom

Featured Presentation:
"America at 250! Researching Your Revolutionary Ancestors"
by Scott Norrick

2026 marks the 250-year anniversary of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the time of America’s independence, the population of the American colonies was about 2.5 million. While 1776 is a pivotal year, the colonies fought the war for independence (the Revolutionary War) from 1775 to 1783. About 200 thousand Americans served in the Patriots’ cause in some capacity.

This presentation will provide a deep dive into discovering and researching your revolutionary ancestors. It will cover the top resources, strategies, websites, libraries, archives, and organizations for learning more about your ancestors at our nation’s founding. We will include resources and documents available at the National Archives, DAR, and SAR, as well as state and local organizations. The presentation will also reveal that many colonists did not support independence and supported the British/Tory cause. It is an exciting time to jump in and learn as much as you can about your revolutionary ancestors.

With an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree from Northwestern University, lead genealogist Scott Norrick combines over 30 years of family history research with the necessary skills and passion to provide meaningful and proven results. He has been published in the Indiana Genealogical Society's Indiana Genealogist, has presented at the Association of Professional Genealogists' annual conference and to the Wisconsin Genealogical Society, and has been a featured guest on the radio show/podcast Extreme Genes. Having traced and documented thousands of ancestors and relatives in both the United States and Northern Europe, he is experienced with all of the latest and time-tested genealogical tools and resources.

To register for this meeting via Zoom, use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AaMgIyT-QcCUcz17lrRCeA #/registration

03/24/2026

Pictured below are the Fall 2025 graduates of NAGS "Sleuth Hounds--Introduction to American Genealogy" course. This nine-week class is taught by Jeanette Shiel, CG, and is held at the Prescott Public Library. The Spring 2026 course is in session now with graduation scheduled for May 12th.

03/13/2026

NAGS Monthly Presentation:

MY REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTOR WAS A PATRIOT, BUT NOT A SOLDIER”
By Jeanette Shiel, Certified Genealogist and NAGS member

Time: 2:30 pm, Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Location: 1001 Ruth St., Prescott

Revolutionary War era Americans committed treason, subject to hanging by the British Crown, in more ways than just taking up arms and serving in militias. Many patriots swore an Oath to the American cause, and/or served in the new American government. Some aided troops offering supplies, food, and shelter. They were all Revolutionary War Patriots - even the women. This program will explore the various ways in which patriots served and how to find those records.

JEANETTE SHIEL is a board-certified genealogist since 2016 and a published author in NYG&B’s, The Record, and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) among other local journals and publications. She is a past president of the North San Diego County Genealogical Society, serving for over 15 years in various board positions, and has also served the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in several capacities. Her education includes completion of National Genealogical Society’s Home Study Course, ProGen Study Group 16 and GenProof Study Group 16. Giving back, she has served as mentor to ProGen Study Group 39 and GenProof Study Groups, 52 and 92. Her formal education includes a degree in History with a minor in Film Studies.

03/09/2026

GET FREE HELP WITH FAMILY HISTORY QUESTIONS AT THE PRESCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY!

1st & 3rd Thursdays of every month at 10am and 11am
One-hour sessions with a genealogy expert--this is a free service offered by the Northern Arizona Genealogical Society.

Register online on the Prescott Public Library's Events Calendar or call the library at 928-777-1526 for help registering. Meetings can be held in person at the library or virtually by Zoom.

Both the 10 am and the 11 am sessions for March 19th are still open.

02/25/2026

The 6th Annual Virtual
ARIZONA GENEALOGY DAY
Saturday - March 21, 2026 - 8:30 AM - 3 PM (MST)

Presentations Include:
—Honoring Ancestors: Native American Genealogy by Stefanie Ojibway Gerberding
—Finding Family: Genealogy in the Arizona Memory Project by Ryan Ehrfurth
—Add a Snapshot to Research by Allyson Maughan, AG
—Liberate Your Family History Research: Using an ‘Open Access’ Preservation Model by Taneya Y. Koonce, MSLS, MPH
—How the Weather Affected Your Ancestors by Ari Wilkins, FTxSGS

Registration is free. Sign up here:
https://azsos.libcal.com/calendar/starl/azgenday26

This FREE VIRTUAL event is sponsored by Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board and Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records

02/16/2026

NAGS Monthly Program:�
"Finding Your 19th Century Ancestors on Fold3 - Is There a Better Way?"
Brian Rhinehart, speaker
Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at 2:30 pm

Ever get confused searching on Fold3? Learn what records are available for your 19th-century military ancestors there and pick up some search strategies to narrow down what you’re looking for. Yes, there is a better way to search!

Brian Rhinehart is a professional genealogist and speaker and is the owner of CivilWarRecords.com. He is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate of Genealogy Research and is a regular researcher for the television show Finding Your Roots. A direct descendant of eight Civil War soldiers, Brian specializes in research and record retrieval for Civil War and War of 1812 soldiers at the National Archives in Washington DC and has retrieved military files for hundreds of clients there.

For Zoom meeting registration, click here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AaMgIyT-QcCUcz17lrRCeA #/registration

02/13/2026

INTERMEDIATE GENEALOGY ANALYSIS WORKSHOP
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 2-4 pm
at the Prescott Public Library
FREE and Open to the Public
Sponsored by the Northern Arizona Genealogical Society

A research-focused case study will be presented to attendees to analyze and resolve all conflicting data and determine a conclusion. This workshop DOES NOT teach you how to conduct genealogical research.

Sources: The heart and soul of research, but what do they mean? You have gathered documents but how do they relate to your research focus? Are they original, derivative or authored sources?

Information: Is the information contained within the documents primary, secondary or undetermined? Does all information impact your conclusion with the same weight?

Evidence: Does the information provide direct, indirect or maybe even negative evidence to your research question? What evidence makes your conclusion stronger – or weaker?

Pull It All Together: Through detailed examples, we will walk through the process of analyzing documents, breaking down the elements with the goal of understanding of how different sources support your conclusion.

Classes are held in the Training Lab (3rd Floor) at Prescott Public Library, 215 E Goodwin St, Prescott, AZ 86303

Genealogical level: Beginner Plus/Intermediate

Class size is limited. Registration is Required – see below.
Interested? Questions?

To register for a seat in the class, please contact
Jeanette Shiel, CG® at [email protected]

01/17/2026

NAGS Monthly Meeting Program:
"Kicking off the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War With The Boston Tea Party.”

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 2:30 pm
�Free and Open to the Public
Family History Center, Room 20, 1001 Ruth St., Prescott�

What really happened? The Turning Point in English Colonial History that led to America. “Hindsight can be deceptive. . . . we tend to think of the American Revolution as inevitable. But the truth is that, as little as two years before the outbreak of the war, few Americans were thinking in terms of independence.”

There will be a 30-minute educational video and then we hope to hear about any of your ancestor’s involvement in the colonial conflicts around the Revolutionary War – either Patriot [traitor to English rule] or Loyalist [keep the status quo].

Please come and introduce us to some of your family (either side) who participated in this ongoing European series of wars which led eventually to the United States. Especially any surprises or little known facts you encountered!

Register for the Zoom session here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AaMgIyT-QcCUcz17lrRCeA #/registration

Address

PO Box 11934
Prescott, AZ
86304

Telephone

+19288309685

Website

http://nagsprescott.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Northern Arizona Genealogical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Northern Arizona Genealogical Society:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Prescott?