Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, a western Pennsylvania researcher for over 35 years, is the "Genealogy as a Profession" course coordinator at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia. She was co-director and creator of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) (2011-2023), an instructor and module creator for Boston University's Genealogical Research Certificate program (2008-2016). She was the mentor for ProGen Study’s first, 25^th, and 50th groups and author of two chapters in the 2018 Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice and Standards. She was a course co-coordinator of the AG/CG Preparation Course at Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). She is a national speaker on such topics as Pennsylvania records, methodology, professional development, and society management. She won the Association of Professional Genealogists 2017 Professional Achievement Award. She was honored in May 2010 with the NGS President's Citation in recognition of outstanding, continuing, or unusual contributions to the field of genealogy. 

She was a Trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists for nine years and BCG President (2012-2014). She was a Director for the Association of Professional Genealogists for six years; taught genealogy courses locally for fourteen years; co-edited a cemetery book series, appeared on the PBS-TV show Ancestors2 cemetery episode and on the Travel Channel’s Dead Files in 2015 (“The Instigator”) and 2019 (“Devil’s Triangle”). She is past-President of two Pittsburgh area societies and a contributing author to many publications including the NGS Quarterly and the APG Quarterly.

Along with local genealogical societies, memberships include the National Genealogical Society. She is a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); First Families of Ohio; First Families of Medina County, Ohio; Pioneer Families of Mahoning County, Ohio; First Families of Western Pennsylvania; and Society of Civil War Families of Ohio. She is a lifetime member of the Ohio Genealogical Society; the Medina County Chapter, OGS; and the Baltzer Meyer Historical Society (Greensburg, PA) which was named for her ancestor.

Geographic Specialties

OH, PA, WV, Mid-Atlantic, Pittsburgh

Geographic Specialities
OH, PA, WV, Mid-Atlantic, Pittsburgh

Publications/Media
Co-editor of: Pioneer Cemeteries of Hampton Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Pioneer Cemeteries of Pine and Richland Townships, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Lectures
You can see Elissa's video presentations on Legacy Family Tree Webinars. A basic lecture on cemetery research "Messages from the Grave" can be viewed on FamilySearch.org and at Legacy Family Tree Webinars http://familytreewebinars.com/elissapowell. Optional one-hour lecture or two-hour workshop: The Board for Certification of Genealogists: What is it and How Do I Apply? Beating the Bushes: Finding Jacob Bush's Parents using the Gen. Proof Standard Regional: Pennsylvania Finding Buried Treasure in the Published Pennsylvania Archives What's a Prothonotary?: Your Guide to Pennsylvania Courthouse Records How Did My Pennsylvania Ancestor Get Here?: Migration Trails Out of the Keystone State Methodology The Dreaded Research Report Twenty Years of Stuff: Now What Do I Do? Eating an Elephant: Managing Large Projects Hiding Behind Their Skirts: Finding Women in Records Messages from the Grave: Listening to Your Ancestor's Tombstone The Research Cycle: Don't Pedal Backwards Rubik's Cube Genealogy: A New Twist on Your Old Data Sailing into the Sunset: Tips for Finding Your Ancestors on Passenger Lists Society Management / Professional Managing a Cemetery Reading Project Efficiently Get Paid for Your Passion: Becoming a Professional Genealogist and many more...

Repositories
Courthouses in western PA and eastern OH, Family History Library, Salt Lake City

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century

Honorifics/Credentials
CG®

Affiliations
Past Co-Director, Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (www.GRIPitt.org); Member and former director, APG; Member, Great Lakes Chapter of APG; Past-president of Board for Certification of Genealogists (www.BCGcertification.org), mentor for ProGen Study.org groups 1, 25, and 50.

Degrees
BS (Mathematics)