Posted by William Nunnelley on 2006-06-13

More than 250 genealogy students from around the nation are studying family ancestry at the 44th annual Samford University Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) June 11-16. The nationally known institute has been hosted by the Samford library since 1962.

The IGHR offers 10 concentrated courses taught by more than 30 instructors in various aspects of genealogy. They include such offerings as Research in the South, advanced methodology, Scottish genealogical research, land records, Researching French ancestors and others.

Elizabeth Shown Mills, immediate past president of the American Society of Genealogists, teaches the advanced methodology course that she developed at Samford. Mills, longtime editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, has taught in the Samford institute since 1979.

Jean Thomason, director of the Samford's Harwell G. Davis Library, is IGHR director.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.