TIGR 2019 Faculty

The Texas State Genealogical Society expands TIGR in 2019 to encompass two courses led by nine notable genealogy researchers, speakers, and records experts. Along with case studies, discussions, and problem solving exercises, the expertise of the TIGR faculty will enhance the learning experience of TIGR students.

Under the leadership of TIGR coordinator Kelvin Meyers, Texas Research Essentials addresses a critical need for genealogists researching complex Texas records. Advanced Southern Research Techniques, led by J. Mark Lowe, develops crucial skills for successfully researching Southern families and records.

Teri E. Flack

Teri E. Flack is a genealogy and historical researcher, consultant, and lecturer who has been researching family history for over 35 years. She chairs the TxSGS Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC) and serves as the Texas state liaison to the national RPAC. Teri spent much of her career in Texas government working with the Texas Legislature. She used that experience in 2013 and 2015 to work with the genealogical community in Texas to prevent legislation from passing that would have further restricted access to Texas birth and death records. For her work in records preservation and access, Teri was elected a Fellow of the Texas State Genealogical Society. Teri serves on the Texas State Historical Resource Advisory Board, a state-level board dedicated to the preservation and use of Texas’ documentary heritage. She is the first genealogist to serve on the board in over a decade.

Teri is a member of the Travis County Historical Commission, serving as Travis County Historical Marker Chair. She is also a volunteer archivist at the Texas State Archives, currently processing over 1,100 volumes and 300 cubic feet of Galveston County records and creating findings aids to make them accessible to the public.

Patti Gillespie

Patti Gillespie brings energy and humor to her classes.  An avid hobby genealogist for 30 years, Patti formed Family Lines & Stories, her own research company 4 years ago. A former teacher of French & English, Patti enjoys speaking and teaching genealogy research processes for local societies and at TxSGS conferences. Patti serves on committees for the Association of Professional Genealogists – Lone Star Chapter, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and the Texas Institute for Genealogical Research. She previously served as the chairman of the video and streaming portion of the national Professional Management Conference sponsored by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and she was awarded the Birdie Monk Holsclaw IGHR scholarship. Patti is a founding member and third-term president of the Wise County Genealogical Society, and she also teaches a six-week beginner’s genealogy course in her community. Patti also serves on the boards of Wise County Historical Society and Wise County Historical Commission.

Theresa Howell, MLIS

Theresa Howell started her genealogical pursuit with the search for her birth parents over 15 years ago, and she hasn’t stopped since. She currently focuses her research on 19th century Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in addition to other southern states. Theresa holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Drexel University, and a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.

She is a former board member of the Dallas Genealogical Society. She is employed as a digital content librarian with Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, Texas, and she devotes as much time as possible to traveling, researching, and writing.

Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA

Mark Lowe describes himself as a lifelong genealogist. He is a full-time professional genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South. Mark lives in Robertson County, Tennessee, just north of Nashville near the Kentucky border.

Mark enjoys opportunities to share what he has learned over the years. He serves as the Course Coordinator for ‘Research in the South’ at IGHR (Georgia Genealogical Society), Webinars for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, and also directs Southern courses for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). He has worked on several genealogical television series including Finding Your Past, African American Lives 2, Who Do You Think You Are?, and UnXplained Events, and provided content for podcasts on Gimlet Media, including Twice Removed.

Mark has published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (APGQ), National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), the Genealogical Speakers’ Guild’s SPEAK!, and FGS’ FORUM, The Longhunter (So. Ky. Genealogical Society), the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society Quarterly and other society publications. He formerly was President of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), President for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), and President of the Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society. Mark is a Certified Genealogist and a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Society, and was awarded the Graham T. Smallwood award by the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Kelvin L. Meyers

A fifth generation Texan and professional genealogist since 1990 and an avid researcher-historian since 1979, Kelvin is a frequent speaker to many genealogical societies and family associations throughout the US. After being employed for ten years in the Genealogy Department of the Dallas Public Library, Kelvin now has a solo practice as a forensic genealogist serving clients that include probate attorneys, trust department of banks, the US Immigration Service and energy companies., identifying missing or unknown heirs to estates and oil and gas leases. Kelvin worked for three years with the New England Historical and Genealogical Society as their southern research expert.

In 2016 Kelvin completed the Research in States Guide for Texas, published by the National Genealogical Society. Kelvin is the Coordinator of the Texas State Genealogical Society’s Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR). He is a founding member and has served on the board of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy.

Laurel Neuman

Born in Dallas and raised in Arlington, Laurel’s family has deep roots in Texas. Laurel graduated from Texas State University in 2008, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in History. She has worked at the Texas Government Land Office (GLO) since 2008, first in the scanning and duplication department, and later joining the Research Room team in 2010. Her work in the Research Room includes fielding reference questions, assisting both internal and external customers with their research needs, and giving tour that showcase the GLO’s archival collection. Laurel also travels and gives presentations on various aspects of the GLO collection. She is passionate about Texas history and enjoys getting to share the GLO collection with genealogists researching their roots in early Texas.

John A. Sellers

John A. Sellers, a fifth generation native to Hopkins County, Texas, graduated from Texas Tech University, with a degree in advertising/public relations, and received his teaching certificate in history from Texas A & M, Commerce. A genealogical researcher since 1985, John’s favorite area of research is in the courthouse. He has visited courthouses in several southern states and has conducted extensive research in Texas and Louisiana.

John is an active member of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society and has served fifteen years on the executive board and as President, 1997-1998, 2017. He was a speaker at the FGS National Conference in 1997 and 2004, and NGS in 1994. He has been the featured speaker for more than 65 all day seminars located in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. John has given over 275 programs on genealogy and history. He was the featured speaker at the DRT Genealogical Conference at the Alamo in 2002, 2003, and 2011, and also the Louisiana Historical and Genealogical Seminar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2007 and 2011. He has been a faculty member for Angelina College Genealogy Conference, 1999-2014 in Lufkin and was a featured instructor at the new Texas Institute of Genealogical Research in 2017, and will be on the faculty again in 2019. He has completed Genealogy as a Profession, Advanced Methodology, and Advanced Library Research courses at the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, Samford University. John was a lecturer at the Institute of Genealogical Research, Samford University, 2009, 2010, 2014, and University of Georgia, 2018. He compiled an addendum to the 1850 Census of Hopkins County.

He is an Assistant Vice President – Director of Marketing with City National Bank of Sulphur Springs. John is Mayor of Sulphur Springs and serving his third term on the City Council.

Patrick Walsh

Patrick Walsh is a Research and Outreach Specialist for the Texas General Land Office Archives and Records Program. Patrick graduated from the University of Chicago in 2006 with a degree in Political Science. He has worked at the GLO since 2013, contributing to public exhibitions of the agency’s archival materials at the Alamo, the Witte Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. He writes and edits for the GLO’s blog (http://www.medium.com/@txglo), works to promote the Save Texas History Program, speaks to historical and genealogical groups across the state, and provides support for historians, genealogists, energy industry professionals, surveyors, and landmen.

 Ari Wilkins

Ari Wilkins is a genealogist and library associate at Dallas Public Library, where she provides genealogy-programming education. She worked with the esteemed genealogist, Dr. James Rose, on his project, “Generations: The WPA Ex-Slave Narrative Database.” Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, RootsTech, Texas State Genealogical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, American Library Association, and a multitude of local societies. Ari has concentrated her interests in North Carolina and Louisiana research and specializes in African American genealogy and research.