Have you been researching your family history for decades? Have you recently inherited someone's research collection? Do you have piles, boxes, or bags holding your research? Is it difficult to find the correct document quickly? Or are you new to genealogical research and want to start on the right foot?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this program is for you. Elissa Scalise Powell* will be discussing ways of organizing, preserving, and sharing your family history. After all, an organized collection of research documents will put all of your information at your fingertips. She will also go into how to plan for the collection’s final disposal.

Participants will gather in the Spillette Room at the Library. Elissa will be joining us via Zoom on the big screen. Participants will be able to watch and communicate with the presenter throughout the program. 

*Elissa Scalise Powell, CG^®, CGL^SM, a western Pennsylvania researcher for over 30 years, is the co-director of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and “Genealogy as a  Profession” course Coordinator since 2007 at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). She has been an instructor, course coordinator, and instructor at several universities, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and the Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research (VIGR). She was honored with the Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Achievement Award in 2017. She is a regional and national speaker on such topics as Pennsylvania records, methodology, professional development, and society management.

She has been Board-certified since 1995, successfully renewing every 5 years since. In April 2011, Elissa earned the additional credential Certified Genealogical Lecturer(SM) from the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She was a Trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists for nine years, their President for two years, and past Outreach Committee Chairperson. She was a Director for the Association of Professional Genealogists for six years; taught genealogy courses at the local community college for fourteen years; co-edited a cemetery book series, appeared on the PBS-TV show Ancestors2 cemetery episode and on the Travel Channel’s Dead Files in 2015 (“The Instigator”) and 2019 (“Devil’s Triangle”) episodes. She is a past-President of two local Pittsburgh area societies and a contributing author to many publications including the NGS Quarterly, NGS Magazine, and the APG Quarterly. An NSDAR member, she is also a lifetime member of the Ohio Genealogical Society; the Medina County Chapter, OGS; and the Baltzer Meyer Historical Society (Greensburg, PA) which was named for her ancestor.