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    • 2026 TRACKS >
      • 2026 - ALL TRACKS
      • Track 1A: Fundamental Methods and Strategies for Genealogical Research
      • Track 1B: Methods and Strategies for Slavery Era Research
      • Track 2: DNA for Beginners: Foundations of Genetic Genealogy and African Ancestry Research
      • Track 4: Freedmen of the Five Tribes
    • PAST TRACKS
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT MAAGI
    • History
    • Staff
    • Faculty
    • Appreciation
    • Sponsors & Supporters
  • WHY MAAGI?
  • LOGISTICS
    • Location
    • FAQ
  • MEDIA
    • Press Releases
    • Videos
    • Photos
    • Podcast Resources
  • REGISTER
    • Register Online
    • Access My Account
    • Join our Mailing List
    • Registration Fees & Policies
  • TRACKS
    • 2026 TRACKS >
      • 2026 - ALL TRACKS
      • Track 1A: Fundamental Methods and Strategies for Genealogical Research
      • Track 1B: Methods and Strategies for Slavery Era Research
      • Track 2: DNA for Beginners: Foundations of Genetic Genealogy and African Ancestry Research
      • Track 4: Freedmen of the Five Tribes
    • PAST TRACKS
  • SCHOLARSHIPS
  • CONTACT US
  • GENEALOGICAL AUTHORS

MAAGI Tracks & Classes


2025 INSTITUTE TRACKS & CLASSES

Fundamental Methods and Strategies | Methods and Strategies for Slavery Era Research | DNA for Beginners | Writing and Publishing
Track: Fundamental Methods and Strategies 

​Faculty: Shelley Murphy, Judy Russell, Renate Yarborough Sanders, Vicki McGill, Ric Murphy & Toni Carrier

​Course Description
​
Time and File Management for Genealogists: Organize, Optimize, Achieve
Learn how to set clear research goals, create a system that works for your style, and effectively organize your files, both physical and digital. Discover essential tools, tips, and strategies to streamline your research process, from grouping records by surname to maintaining logs of assumptions and correspondence. This session will empower you to stay organized, save time, and make meaningful progress in your genealogy journey. Perfect for beginners and seasoned researchers alike!
SO, WHAT! Analyzing Records to Break Through Brick Walls
Discover the power of understanding community history, legal contexts, and the ripple effects of every record. This session equips you with practical tools and interactive exercises to transform your research and break through those brick walls. Don’t just collect records, analyze them and uncover the stories they hold!
Timelines in Genealogy: A Powerful Tool for Clarity and Discovery
Timelines are more than just dates, they’re a roadmap to your ancestors' lives. Join Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy, aka "familytreegirl," for an inspiring session that reveals the untapped potential of timelines in genealogy research. Learn how to organize critical events, resolve conflicts in records, and identify gaps with ease. This session will guide you in building detailed timelines that incorporate key life events, historical context, and community impact, offering insights that bring your ancestors’ stories to life.
​
​Class Offerings
  • Time and File Management - Shelley Murphy  
  • SO WHAT! A need to analysis - Shelley Murphy 
  • Timelines to Research Plans! - Shelley Murphy 
  • Public Records and the Law - Judy Russell 
  • Slavery and the Law, Part 1-  Judy Russell 
  • The Discriminating Genealogist: Telling Good Evidence from Bad -  Judy Russell 
  • Researching Free People of Color in the Antebellum South: 1800-1865- Renate Yarborough Sanders​
  • Going Local: Making the most of onsite research, Part 1 - Vicki McGill 
  • Going local: Exploring the Documents, Part 2 - Vicki McGill 
  • Tracing Roots in Early America: Part I - Genealogy Research on African Americans Colonial Period - 1619 to 1783 - Ric Murphy 
  • Tracing Roots in Early America: Part II - Genealogy Research on African Americans Post Revolutionary War to 1865 - Ric Murphy 
  • Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau - Toni Carrier 
Dr. Shelley Murphy
Shelley Murphy, B.S., M.A., D.M.
Track Coordinator
BIO
​Track: Methods and Strategies for Slavery Era Research 

​Faculty: Judy Russell, Toni Carrier, Bernice Bennett, Nicka Sewell-Smith, & Renate Yarborough Sanders

Class Offerings
  • Slavery and the Law, Part 2: African Americans at the Courthouse -  Judy Russell 
  • Slavery in the North -  Judy Russell 
  • Reconstruction Era Records: the Key to Breaking Through the 1870 Brick Wall - Toni Carrier 
  • Documenting Enslaved Ancestors: Working in Antebellum Records - Toni Carrier ​
  • Examining Slave Ship Manifests - Bernice Bennett 
  • Southern Claim’s Commission - Bernice Bennett 
  • Slave Runaway Ads for Slave Era Research - Bernice Bennett 
  • No Stone Unturned: Case Studies in Identifying the Last Slaveholder - Nicka Sewell-Smith 
  • The Proof is in the Pensions - Nicka Sewell-Smith 
  • Case Studies in Gray: Identifying Shared Ancestries Through DNA - Nicka Sewell-Smith 
  • Finding Our Ancestors in Antebellum Church Records - Renate Yarborough Sanders
  • Understanding and Using the Slave Schedules - Renate Yarborough Sanders​
Dr. Shelley Murphy
Shelley Murphy, B.S., M.A., D.M.
Track Coordinator
BIO
​Track: DNA for Beginners: Foundations of Genetic Genealogy and African Ancestry Research ⚠️ Not Offered in 2025
 
​​Faculty: Emmaline MacBeath, Renate Yarbourgh Sanders, Janice Lovelace, Nicka Sewell-Smith, Judy Russell.

Course Description

This course is designed for individuals new to DNA testing but have already completed at least one autosomal DNA test or manage the account of someone who has taken one through AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, or MyHeritage. It is intended for those who have not taken a formal genetic genealogy course or do not yet feel confident in understanding the basics. Participants should have access to their test results before attending the course.

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of DNA and its role in genetic genealogy, equipping participants with a solid foundation in understanding genetic concepts and their practical applications. Key topics include the ethical and privacy considerations of DNA research, the emotional and familial impacts of genetic discoveries, and the development of effective genealogy research plans tailored for DNA studies. Participants will delve into specialized techniques for tracing African ancestry, documenting enslaved populations, solving adoption cases, and gaining tools to uncover complex family histories.

The course also provides hands-on experience with popular DNA testing platforms and introduces essential tools for DNA analysis to enhance genealogical research. Participants will learn to integrate genetic data with traditional paper records and develop strategies for using autosomal DNA to trace family lineages, empowering them to uncover their ancestral roots with confidence and precision.

Course Materials and Requirements:
  • All students are required to purchase the following book: The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger
  • Must have received your autosomal and other DNA test results before the start of MAAGI.
  • Participate in one MAAGI DNA Conference Call (date TBD)
​
Class Offerings:
  • Privacy and Ethics - Judy Russell ​
  • FTDNA and MyHeritage - Emmaline MacBeath 
  • Strategies for Using Autosomal DNA - Emmaline MacBeath
  • Using DNA to Solve Adoption and Unknown Parentage - Emmaline MacBeath
  • The Emotional Side of DNA - Janice Lovelace 
  • Building a Genealogy Research Plan for DNA - Janice Lovelace
  • Getting Started-Autosomal, YDNA and mtDNA - Janice Lovelace
  • Putting it All Together: DNA and Paper Records - Janice Lovelace
  • Introduction to DNA for Genealogy - Renate Yarborough Sanders
  • Getting Started with AncestryDNA for African American Genealogy - Nicka Sewell-Smith 
  • Connecting Back to Africa with Ancestry DNA  - Nicka Sewell-Smith  
  • The Family DNA Project - Nicka Sewell-Smith ​ ​  
Lisa A. Fanning
Lisa A. Fanning
Track  Coordinator
BIO
​Track: Writing and Publishing

Faculty:  Angela Walton-Raji, Shelley Murphy, Bernice Bennett, Nicka Sewell Smith, Kanika Marshall & Orice Jenkins

Class Offerings
  • Introduction to Writing the Family Story - Angela Walton-Raji
  • Preserving Heritage Through Storytelling - Shelley Murphy
  • Writing Exercise-Prepare Your Own Book Proposal - Angela Walton-Raji 
  • Fiction or Non-Fiction What book to write - Angela Walton-Raji
  • Writing a Collaborative Book  - Bernice Bennett
  • Stages of Storytelling - Bernice Bennett​
  • Writing your Family's Story - Kathy Lynne Marshall
  • Self Publishing Your Family Book - Kathy Lynne Marshall
  • Writing a Story around a Significant Event - Orice Jenkins
  • Assembling a Family Book - Nicka Sewell-Smith 
  • Approaching a Mainstream Press - Angela Walton-Raji
  • Preparing the Book Proposal for Mainstream Press - Angela Walton-Raji
Angela Walton-Raji
Angela Walton-Raji, B.A., M.Ed.
Track  Coordinator
BIO
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