For many genealogists, teaching begins as an act of service—giving a lecture at a local society, hosting a library workshop, or mentoring a friend who wants to build a family tree. What often surprises practitioners is how much they grow professionally through the act of teaching itself. Preparing lessons, fielding questions, and adapting material for different audiences transforms teaching into one of the most powerful forms of continuing education.
Why Teaching Strengthens Research Skills
To teach a topic well, you must master it yourself. Creating a one-hour program on courthouse research, for example, requires revisiting sources, double-checking procedures, and reviewing new publications. In preparing examples, you may discover gaps in your own understanding or outdated assumptions. The very process of organizing information sharpens your ability to analyze and synthesize evidence.
Teaching also forces genealogists to practice explanatory clarity. It is one thing to understand a record set; it is another to explain it in plain language to beginners. Developing accessible explanations strengthens your ability to write clear research reports and proof arguments.
The Feedback Loop of Student Questions
Questions from audiences are among the most valuable professional development tools. A student may ask about a record you’ve never used, challenge an assumption you thought was obvious, or share a case study that complicates the lesson. Each question pushes you to expand your perspective.
For example, while presenting a workshop on probate research, you may be asked how enslaved individuals are represented in wills. This could prompt you to study manumission practices, state-specific laws, and new databases you had not previously explored. In this way, teaching creates a continuous feedback loop: your students educate you as much as you educate them.
Opportunities for Genealogical Educators
Teaching opportunities exist at every level:
- Local societies and libraries often seek volunteers to lead beginner workshops.
- State and regional societies host conferences and webinars where genealogists can debut formal lectures.
- National organizations like the National Genealogical Society (NGS) and Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) provide platforms for experienced educators.
- Academic settings occasionally offer adjunct opportunities for genealogists to teach in history or archival studies programs.
These venues differ in scale, but all offer professional benefits: practice in public speaking, exposure to new colleagues, and opportunities to publish or share materials.
Teaching as a Path to Writing
Many genealogists discover that preparing lessons naturally leads to writing. Lecture handouts, syllabi, or slide notes can evolve into articles or blog posts. Teaching thus becomes a driver for scholarly publication and professional visibility. For instance, a handout on using land plats could be expanded into an article for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly or adapted for a society newsletter.
Mentorship and Informal Teaching
Not all teaching happens behind a podium. Mentorship is another critical form of genealogical education. Serving as a mentor in a ProGen Study Group or within a society provides chances to review others’ work, offer constructive feedback, and reflect on your own practice. Informal peer teaching—explaining a tricky citation to a colleague or helping someone navigate DNA match lists—provides similar growth.
The Challenge of Pedagogy
While subject expertise is crucial, teaching also requires pedagogical skill. Genealogists must consider how adults learn best: using examples, encouraging participation, and presenting material in digestible steps. Professional development in pedagogy—through workshops on public speaking or adult education—can significantly enhance a genealogist’s effectiveness as a teacher.
Ethical Responsibility in Teaching
Educators shape how genealogical standards are understood and applied. Teaching inaccurately or carelessly can mislead beginners and propagate bad habits. For this reason, genealogical educators carry ethical responsibilities: citing correctly, acknowledging uncertainty, and modeling the Genealogical Proof Standard. Staying current with scholarly debates and revising presentations regularly helps ensure accuracy.
Teaching as Professional Branding
Beyond skill development, teaching enhances professional reputation. Speaking at societies or conferences positions genealogists as experts in their niches, often leading to client referrals, writing invitations, or leadership roles. Even free local presentations can have ripple effects, connecting genealogists to networks that enrich their careers.
Conclusion
Teaching genealogy is a form of continuing education in disguise. Preparing lessons, answering questions, and engaging with learners refines your skills, expands your knowledge, and strengthens your professional identity. For genealogists seeking growth, teaching is not just a way to give back—it is one of the most powerful ways to move forward.
Citations
- Board for Certification of Genealogists. Genealogy Standards. 2nd ed. Nashville: Ancestry.com, 2019.
- Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogical Proof. Arlington, VA: National Genealogical Society, 2013.
- Association of Professional Genealogists. “Speaking and Education.” https://www.apgen.org.
- ProGen Study Groups. “About.” https://progenstudygroups.com.
- Knowles, Valerie. “Pedagogy in Genealogical Education.” APG Quarterly 41, no. 2 (2019).
South Central Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists 