The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Alumni Association sponsors the Richard S. Lackey Scholarship. The Gen-Fed Alumni Association’s purpose is to promote, conduct, and foster education, research, study, and analysis related to genealogy and to disseminate information and support other similar undertakings.
Richard Stephen Lackey (1941–1983) of Mississippi was a leader in the drive to improve the professionalization of the genealogical community. In addition to lecturing and teaching, he was an author/compiler of standards for genealogical writing, and of Mississippi source material. His work exemplified the highest standards of competent research and scholarly citation of sources. At the time of his death, Richard was President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®.
The Lackey Scholarship is awarded annually to an experienced researcher active in a paid or volunteer position which directly benefits the genealogical community. This year the scholarship will award $1,000, which covers full tuition for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), and partly defrays hotel and/or meal costs. Provided the public health situation allows the event, the Gen-Fed Alumni Association will also provide dinner at the Gen-Fed Alumni Banquet on Friday night, 15 August 2025, where a check for the amount less tuition will be presented to the recipient.
Brenda Leyndyke, the 2025 Lackey awardee, commented, “The opportunity to attend Gen-Fed was an honor and a highlight of my genealogical journey. Exceptional instructors covered a wide range of topics, sharing deep knowledge and real-world experience that made Gen-Fed a truly unique program. I gained skills and insights that I will continue to use in my research, and I have already applied what I learned in my volunteer work at a local military historical society. Working hands-on with original records at the National Archives was especially meaningful, and touching pieces of history was unlike anything I had experienced before. That experience made the past feel very real and reinforced why preservation matters so much. Thank you to the organizers of Gen-Fed and Lackey Scholarship committee for providing me with this opportunity, one you don’t want to miss.
The 2026 Application Form can be downloaded by clicking here.
Details:
- All applications and additional attachments must be submitted in PDF format, combined in a single file.
- The completed application form and attachments should be emailed to Jonathan Deiss at jdeiss@soldiersource.com with “Lackey Scholarship 2026” in the subject line.
- The PDF file name should include your last name and first initial, such as “DoeJ Lackey Scholarship 2026 Application.”
- A completed application must be received no later than midnight, January 15, 2026 (EST).
The winner will be notified by 1 March 2026. Other applicants will be notified shortly after that date. The scholarship winner will automatically be accepted for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records to be held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., from August 30 to September 5, 2026.