2023 Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship Application
Genealogical Institute on Federal Records Alumni Association
The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Alumni Association is sponsoring 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 S. Lackey (1921–1983) 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. His books Cite Your Sources: A Manual for Documenting Family Histories and Genealogical Records (1980) and Write it Right (1983), co-authored with Donald R. Barnes, promote proper documentation of sources within family histories and genealogical papers. At the time of his death, Richard was President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
The 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 $1000, 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 it, the Gen-Fed Alumni Association will also provide dinner at the Gen-Fed Alumni Banquet on Friday night, August 11, 2023, where a check for the amount less tuition will be presented to the recipient.
Susan Schuler, the 2022 scholarship recipient, says, “Attending Gen-Fed 2022 through the Lackey Scholarship was monumental for my genealogical education. The opportunity to learn from some of the most knowledgeable and generous professionals in genealogy bolstered my own knowledge and confidence. This has allowed me to grow and develop the genealogy program at East Lake Community Library in Palm Harbor, Florida, and in turn has benefited our patrons and their research.”
For more information about the Institute, visit www.gen-fed.org. The application can be downloaded from the Scholarships page. All applications and additional attachments must be submitted in PDF format, combined in one file.
The completed application form and attachments should be emailed to Jonathan Deiss at jdeiss@soldiersource.com with “Lackey Scholarship 2023” in the subject line. The PDF file name should include your last name and first initial, such as “DoeJ Lackey Scholarship 2023 Application.” A complete application must be received by midnight (EST) January 31, 2023. The winner will be notified by 1 March 2023. 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 7-12, 2023.
Good luck!