The Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board and the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records

present a free, virtual event:

The 6th Annual

Arizona Genealogy Day

Saturday, March 21, 2026
 

Important Details

• Registration is FREE!
• Registration is limited to 1000 participants.
• The presentations will be on Zoom.
• To view select past recordings from previous genealogy events from the State of Arizona Research Library, click the YouTube link here. 
• Please note that this event will be recorded and recordings made available to registrants for a specified amount of time. More information and links will be shared a couple of days after the event.
• You do not need to be an Arizona resident to attend. Everyone is welcome!
• Event flyers are available for download (see below) in PDF and PNG formats.
• If you have any questions, please contact us at https://azsos.libanswers.com/form

Schedule (all times listed are Mountain Standard Time)

8:30 am - 8:45 am      Virtual doors will open at 8:30 am

8:45 am - 9:00 am      Welcome messages from AzGAB President, State Librarian, and Arizona Secretary of State

9:00 am - 10:00 am   Session 1 - Stefanie Ojibway Gerberding - Honoring Ancestors: Native American Genealogy

Discover the foundations of researching Native American genealogy and family history in the presentation Honoring Ancestors: Native American Genealogy. An overview of key resources, research methods, and cultural considerations unique to Native American genealogy will be shared. Topics include understanding tribal enrollment, Indian census rolls, Bureau of Indian Affairs documents, and allotment and treaty records. Whether you are just beginning your family history journey or seeking to expand your knowledge, this presentation provides practical tools and respectful approaches for exploring Native American roots.

10:00 am - 10:15 am   Break

10:15 am - 11:15 am  Session 2 - Ryan Ehrfurth - Finding Family: Genealogy in the Arizona Memory Project

In this session you will learn about the many online digital items available on the Arizona Memory Project (AMP). Genealogical resources on AMP include newspapers, city directories, yearbooks, and more! You will also learn how to use AMP as a genealogy resource, including search techniques, creating an optional Member account, bookmarking favorite items, and organizing bookmarked items into custom collections.

11:15 am - 11:30 am   Break

11:30 am - 12:30 pm  Session 3 - Allyson Maughan, AG - Add a Snapshot to Research

You spent months researching census records, deeds, and obituaries and have hit a wall. You have lingering questions. “What else can I learn about Grandpa?” “Is there a way to solve a family mystery?” “Did I miss other family members?”  It is time to add a research tool: photographs. Photographs hold answers to your family questions. By examining clues from the front and the back you will find new family members, solve family mysteries, and begin new research.

12:30 pm - 12:45 pm   Break

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm    Session 4 - Taneya Y. Koonce, MSLS, MPH - Liberate Your Family History Research: Using an “Open Access” Preservation Model

This presentation introduces an open access approach to family history research and preservation, encouraging genealogists to move beyond private, siloed trees and toward shared stewardship of the past. Drawing on principles from library science and digital preservation, the session explores how collaborative platforms like WikiTree and FamilySearch support accuracy, strong sourcing, reduced duplication of effort, and long-term access. Attendees will gain a new perspective on their role as contributors to a collective historical record and leave with practical ideas for preserving and sharing their research in ways that ensure it remains discoverable and meaningful for future generations.

1:45 pm - 2:00 pm       Break

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm      Session 5 - Ari Wilkins, FTxSGS - How the Weather Affected Your Ancestor

Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and droughts impacted the lives of our ancestors. Learn how weather events may explain disease, death, migration, property loss and much more. This interesting lecture will show how numerous sources such as vital records, newspapers, oral histories and manuscript collections can aid in genealogical research.

Speaker Bios 

Stefanie Ojibway Gerberding is a professional genealogist with over twelve years of research experience. As a genealogist specializing in Native American ancestry, Stefanie assists individuals and families in navigating tribal, federal, and historical records to uncover their heritage. She combines traditional genealogical methods with cultural knowledge to produce accurate, meaningful family histories. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges of documenting Native American ancestry, Stefanie connects families to the stories and identities of their ancestors. Stefanie is an enrolled citizen of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and a descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Ryan Ehrfurth has worked at the State of Arizona Research Library for 10 years. He manages the Arizona Memory Project, the Library’s map collection, and provides Research Support for the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names. He earned a Master’s Degree in Public History from Arizona State University.

Allyson Maughan, AG, is an Accredited Genealogist and a professional speaker, writer, and consultant. She specializes in photographic record sets, genealogical methodology, and family history writing. She speaks for groups ranging from international to local including Salt Lake Institute for Genealogy and RootsTech. Her writing has been featured in Crossroads Magazine where she shares her ancestors’ lives in the West. A member of the Utah Genealogical Association board, she helps with the magazine and ProTalk webinar content. Find her work and resources on her website rememberingrelatives.weebly.com.

Taneya Y. Koonce, MSLS, MPH combines 25+ years in information science with a passion for genealogy. An enthusiastic educator and dedicated volunteer leader in the genealogy community (e.g., Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, the WikiTree,.USGenWeb Project), she champions preserving family legacies and focused memory keeping. Through her Academy of Legacy Leaders & Taneya Junk Journals newsletters and communities she fosters inspiration and makes research, memory keeping, and organization approachable, guiding others in tracing and safeguarding their personal and family histories for future generations.

Ari Wilkins, FTxSGS, is a genealogist, lecturer and instructor who has been actively researching family history for over twenty-five years. Ms. Wilkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She speaks on a variety of genealogical subjects and specializes in African American research and Southern research. 

As a lecturer, Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, RootsTech, and a multitude of state and local societies.  She has also led the African American course for the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research for the past three years.

Ari is active in the genealogical community. Previously, she served as a board member of the Dallas Genealogical Society and the Texas State Genealogical Society. She has been active with the National Genealogical Society and served on numerous committees.

Arizona Genealogy Day is supported in part by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Arizona Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.