The TxSGS Awards Program presents awards in the categories of books, manuscripts, periodicals, websites, blogs, and student projects. Presidential Awards are also announced during this ceremony.
View recording of 2024 TxSGS Awards Ceremony.
Entry requirements for all awards can be found on the TxSGS website: https://www.txsgs.org/programs/awards-grants/writing-awards/. We encourage you to begin or continue your writing journey and consider entering in 2024. Judging criteria are subject to change, so please check the website prior to submitting your entry.
Writing Awards
Book Awards – Chair: Bill Buckner
Grand Prize ($400)
Under the Double Eagle: Citizen Employees of the U.S. Army on the Texas Frontier, 1846-1899 (2024) by Thomas T. (Ty) Smith, Texas State Historical Association
Category I: Books by Non-Professional / Family History
1st Place ($200)
Kenny-Colwell: History of an Early Texas Family (2024) by Mary Jo Kenny
2nd Place ($100)
Jonathan Knight: Pathfinder of American Roads (2024) by Patrick F. Chase
3rd Place ($50)
Lula Mae and the Baseball Player: Their Love, Their Lives, Their Losses (2024) by Jeremy B. Myers
Category I: Books by Non-Professional / References
1st Place ($200)
Thoughts, Theories, and Impressions of … Groveland Pioneer Cemetery, located in Groveland, Livingston County, New York (2024) by Karen Lindberg Rasmussen
2nd Place ($100)
Halito, Gianna! (2024)by Becky Villareal
3rd Place ($50)
How Rhineland Stayed Alive: Tests and Tasks 1995-2020 (2024) by Jeremy B. Myers
Category II: Books by Professional / References
1st Place ($200)
Beneath Sacred Ground: The Mission San Antonio de Valero Burial Records Transcribed, Translated, and Annotated (2024) by Art Martinez De Vara
Category VII: Books Published by Partner Societies
1st Place ($200)
Compiled Index to Various Books, etc. About Smith County, Texas (2024) by compiler Jeanne Sellers and editor Scott Fitzgerald (East Texas Genealogical Society)
2nd Place ($100)
Our Heroes: Rio Grande Valley Veterans, Volume II (2023) by Bertha “Bertie” Lucio Caballero and Ruben Jaime Caballero (Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society)
3rd Place ($50)
Montgomery County, Texas: Historical Timeline, volume 1-2, updated 2nd edition (2023) by Larry L. Foerster, J.D. (Montgomery County Historical Commission)
Manuscript Awards – Chair: Pat Gordon
Category III: Manuscripts (Non-Professional)
1st Place ($100)
“No Descendants? No Problem! Where to Donate Your Genealogical Materials” (published in Stirpes, v. 62, no. 4, December 2023 pgs. 61-63) by Nancy Gilbride Casey
2nd Place ($75)
“Hidden in Plain Sight and Demolished Right Before Our Eyes: Sommers Saloon (1871-2023); and Three Grandfathers: Francis, Carter, and O. W. Chulie Sommers” (published in Our Heritage, v. 65, nos. 1 & 2, Fall and Winter 2023-2024, pgs. 12-20) by Rita Rozelle Schimpff
3rd Place ($50)
“Bringing the Past to Life: Finding My Great-Grandfather Albert Joseph Pope” (published in Our Heritage, v. 65, nos. 1 & 2, Fall and Winter 2023-2024, pgs. 34-39) by Peggy Durack
Blog Awards – Chair: Jaycie M. Smith
Category IV: Blogs (Individual)
1st Place ($100)
“Leaves on the Tree,” by Nancy Gilbride Casey (https://myleavesonthetree.blogspot.com)
Category IV: Blogs (Partner Societies)
1st Place ($100)
Dallas Genealogy Society (https://dallasgenealogy.org/news/). Edited by the DGS Newsletter staff: Michelle Dwyer Cohen, Jo Ann Graham, Susan Rainwater, Suzan Younger, Barbara Ware and Patricia Hernandez.
2nd Place ($75)
San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society (https://saghs-tx.org/blog-php?sid=4). Written by Jana Jenkins.
Periodical, Quarterly, and Journal Awards – Chair: Karen Stein Daniel
Category VI: Official Periodicals of Partner Societies / Newsletters
1st Place ($100)
DCGS News, Denton County Genealogical Society, Nancy Gilbride Casey, editor
2nd Place ($75)
SAGHS Newsletter, San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society, Carol Thompson and Barbara Holmes, Editors
3rd Place ($50)
Los Portales Newsletter, San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society, Lillian Trujillo, editor
Category VI: Official Periodicals of Partner Societies / Quarterlies
1st Place ($100)
Heart of Texas Records (Central Texas Genealogical Society), Mary Bullard, editor
2nd Place ($75)
Bosque County Genealogical Society Journal (Bosque County Genealogical and Historical Society), LeAnne McCamey, editor
3rd Place ($50)
Hopkins County Heritage (Hopkins County Genealogical Society), CarolAnn Dixon, editor
Category VI: Official Periodicals of Partner Societies / Journals
1st Place ($100)
The Genealogical Record (Houston Genealogical Forum), Dr. Cynthia L. Chappell, editor
2nd Place ($75)
Our Heritage (San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society), Kathryn Messec Jones, editor
3rd Place ($50)
Keys to the Past (The Genealogical Society of Kendall County), Kathryn Adam Hurst, editor
Website Awards – Chair: Randy Whited
Category I: Website for a Partner Society
1st Place ($100)
San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society (www.saghs-tx-org), Jana Jenkins, webmaster
2nd Place ($75)
Central Texas Genealogical Society (https://ctgs.org), Dianne Howard, webmaster
3rd Place ($50)
Mid-Cities Genealogical Society (https://txmcgs.org), Angie Schumway, webmaster
Category III: Website for an Individual (General Genealogy)
1st Place ($100)
Betsy Mills, Hopkins County: Part of the TXGenWeb (https://www.txgenwebcounties.org/hopkins/)
Presidential Awards – Susan E. Ball, TxSGS President
Volunteer of the Year
Sharon Bowles, Dallas Genealogical Society
Certificates of Appreciation
Angie Shumway, TxSGS Social Media
Susan Kaufman, TxSGS Live! Host
Presidential Citations
Barbara Coakley, Whova Exhibits and Sponsors
Nancy Gilbride Casey, Stirpes Editorial Team, Conference Door Prizes
Tony Hanson, Partner Society Leadership Forum
Laura Douglas, Secretary, Stirpes Study Group
Betsy Mills, Conference Registrar
William “Bill” Buckner, Awards Chair
Presidential Commendations
Sandra J. Crowley, 2024 Conference Co-Chair, webinars and much more!
Emily Coffman Richardson, 2024 Conference Co-Chair, Podcast, Partner Society Leadership Forum