Elizabeth Shown Mills

Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA has been recognized as "the genealogist who has had the greatest impact on American genealogy in the post-Roots era." Mills edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly for 16 years.

In her instruction, Mills stresses the importance of the Genealogical Proof Standard. She points out the significance of not only searching records for an ancestor's surname, but also paying attention to documents about the ancestor's "FAN Club" (Friends, Associates, Neighbors). Learning more about these individuals is a great way to discover new information about your direct lineage, as these people are often listed together in deeds, wills, court cases, road orders, etc., which will help you build a stronger case about relationships in your direct family.

She has published many Catholic parish registers from Louisiana and Mississippi created during the period of French rule.

A partial resume includes:


 * Editor, National Genealogical Society Quarterly (16 years)
 * President, The American Society of Genealogists
 * President, Board for Certification of Genealogists
 * Faculty, Samford University Library Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research
 * Faculty, National Institute on Genealogical Research

Articles

 * "Academia vs. Genealogy: Prospects for Reconciliation and Progress," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71 (1983):99-106.
 * "Analyzing and Reviewing Published Sources," OnBoard, Vol. 3 (May 1997):16. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "Analyzing Deeds for Useful Clues," OnBoard, Vol. 1 (Jan. 1995):8. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "Analyzing Wills for Useful Clues," OnBoard, Vol. 1 (May 1995):16. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "Applying the Preponderance-of-the-Evidence Principle to a Southern Frontier Problem: William Medders of Alabama," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 82 (1994):32-49.
 * "Censuses - Often-Overlooked Basics," OnBoard, Vol. 4 (Jan. 1998):8. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "Citing Your Sources," OnBoard, Vol. 1 (Sep. 1995):24. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "The Genealogist's Assessment of Alex Haley's Roots," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 72 (1984):35-49. (with Gary B. Mills)
 * "Good Genealogical Writing," OnBoard, Vol. 4 (Jan. 1998):16. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "Guidelines for Responsible Editing in Genealogy," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 84 (1996):48-49. (with Gary B. Mills, Jane Fletcher Fiske, David L. Greene, Robert Charles Anderson, Henry B. Hoff, Harry Macy Jr., and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking)
 * "Producing Quality Research Notes," OnBoard, Vol. 3 (Jan. 1997):8. Digital version at BCG website.
 * "In Search for 'Mr. Ball': An Exercise in Finding Fathers," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 80 (1992):115-133. (with Sharon Sholars Brown)
 * "The Search for Margaret Ball: Building Steps Over a Brick-Wall Research Problem," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 77 (1989):43-65.
 * "Slaves and Masters: The Louisiana Metoyers," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 70 (1982):163-189. (with Gary B. Mills)
 * "Spanish Records: Locating Anglo and Latin Ancestry in the Colonial Southwest," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 73 (1985):243-261.
 * "Transcribing Source Materials," OnBoard, Vol. 2 (Jan. 1996):8. Digital version at BCG website.

Books

 * Evidence!: Citation &amp; Analysis for the Family Historian. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997..
 * Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2009..
 * Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2001. . (with Donn Devine, James L. Hansen, and Helen F.M. Leary)

Websites

 * Biography: "Mills, Elizabeth Shown -- IGHR," Samford University Library Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.
 * Video Interview: "Elizabeth Shown Mills - 2008 Genealogy Conference/Cruise," Interview by Dick Eastman, Roots Television.