Category Archives: Family History

Accreditation, Education, Family History, Genealogy, ICAPGen, Testing

Who is ICAPGen?

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Who we are

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGenSM), is a globally recognized, fully independent non-profit credentialing organization dedicated to advancing professional excellence in genealogical research and reporting.

A Board of Commissioners comprised of both elected and appointed AG professionals oversees the organization, and ICAPGen remains fully independent of any other organization. Its primary credential award is the Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) credential, with a secondary designation for Accredited Genealogist LecturerTM (AGLTM).

What the Accredited Genealogist credential means

The AG credential recognizes experience and expertise for research in specific geographical regions. Expertise is evaluated through a series of rigorous written and oral examinations. Candidates who demonstrate depth of expertise, ethical practice, and mastery of regional research standards, meeting stringent competency benchmarks, they are awarded the AG credential and designated research experts in that region. The credential provides clients and the public with confidence in their professional capabilities and commitment to industry best practices.

What the Accredited Genealogist Lecturer credential means

The AGL credential recognizes experience AG professionals who demonstrate excellence in both subject matter and presentation skills. Candidates must hold an active ICAPGen accreditation and have a consistent track record of delivering high-quality genealogy lectures at a variety of skill levels and venues.

Where we are

Our Accredited Genealogist professionals can be found worldwide. Each has proven research expertise in one or more of 10 United States regions and 34 different countries, with more accreditation regions coming soon.

What we know and do

Those who hold the AG credential have demonstrated knowledge of the key sources, history, geography, methodologies, and language of their region of interest and know how to access those records, wherever they exist, whether it is through personal onsite research, correspondence with repositories, or through a representative onsite.  They are also proficient in the use of digitized original sources online. Accredited Genealogist professionals possess skills to transcribe and abstract handwritten documents, analyze and interpret evidence, and communicate research results in quality written reports.

Additionally, AG professionals who also hold the AGL credential have demonstrated clear instruction, logical organization, effective visual aids, well-documented materials, and responsive teaching practices in outstanding genealogy presentations covering multiple skill levels in a variety of venues.

Where we test

Exams are primarily held at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. For those who prefer to test elsewhere, a proctored exam may be arranged at a local facility. All Oral Reviews are conducted through videoconferencing.

For more about our history, the accreditation process, regions of accreditation, and more, please visit our website: ICAPGen

Education, Family History, Genealogy, State resources, Websites

Mountain States Resources: New Mexico

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View_to_the_southwest_from_Sandia_Peak-NM
Photo by Fluzwup

Claire V. Brisson-Banks, BS, MLIS, AG®

The Sandia Mountains one can see when in Albuquerque, New Mexico are on the eastern edge of the Rio Grand Rift Valley. Click here to learn more about this set of mountains. Having lived in N.M. for a few years, the beauty of the mountains is often breath taking.

When searching for ancestors who lived here, it’s best to remember the state began recording births in 1920, yet the first ‘Spanish’ colony, San Juan, was established in 1598. Already occupied by the ‘Pueblo’ Indians, they revolted and drove out the Spanish, but, by the 1700s they reestablished control. The history provided in the FamilySearch Research wiki helps provide important dates needed when researching. The New Mexico History website also has a great section going back much further, however the sections from 1598 maybe far enough back for researchers.

In 1912, it became the 47st state in the United States. There are other records available going back to the 1600s in the manuscript resources and land grants at the State Records Center and Archives. Some of the earliest records are the Roman Catholic Church records covering 1694 to 1957 for the areas covered by the Archdioceses of Santa Fe and Las Cruces. Ancestry has some of the United Methodist Church records covering 1870-1970, includes places in Texas. FamilySearch.org has 9 collections with the earliest beginning in 1726.

There is a ‘Resident Index’ for 1790 with Ancestry and other early ‘territorial’ census records. Military records cover the major wars, plus the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War and a large collection of all the ‘forts’ located there during the various conflicts. Linkpendium adds some additional collections including oral histories, diaries, correspondence and more.

Cyndi’s List adds even more smaller collections depending on your area of research. When you combine these resources along with the vast online coverage chart and the Record Finder from FamilySearch, you’ll be able to aid your research even more.