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• Writing /Publishing

Shannon Combs-Bennett is a Qualified Genealogist (QG) based in Northern Virginia. She is an award-winning author who lectures in the United States and internationally on various genealogical subjects, from genetic genealogy to genealogical methodology. Shannon earned her BS in Biology with an emphasis in genetics from Indiana University and her MSc in Genealogical, Heraldic, and Paleographic Studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in History and Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde. She was recently elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
 

Geographic Specialities

• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Washington, DC
• West Virginia
• Limited Research in the UK and Ireland

Publications/Media
PUBLICATIONS – ACADEMIC

• Westward Ho! Following a Family Migration Across America, 33^rd Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences Glasgow, Scotland, 2016
• The Life of Harry Coad: Separating Facts From The Family Legend to Tell The True Story of an American Civil War Soldier, 34^th Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences Arras, France, 2018
• A New Aristocracy? The Evolution of Lineage Societies in the United States, 35^th Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2022
• American Genealogical Research and Lineage Society Membership: Public Perceptions and Their Impact on the Field of Genealogy, British Association for American Studies Annual Conference, Keele, United Kingdom, 2023
• Three Brassfield Brothers Settled in Virgina—Or did they? A Genealogical and DNA Analysis of the Brassfield Family of England, Virginia, and North Carolina. 36^th Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, 2024 

PUBLICATIONS – BOOKS

• Combs-Bennett, Shannon. (2021) Genealogy Basics In 30 Minutes. Second Edition. Boston, MA: i30 Media Corp.
• Kirkpatrick, Brianne and Combs-Bennett, Shannon. (2019) The DNA Guide for Adoptees.
• Combs-Bennett, Shannon. (2016) Genealogy Basics In 30 Minutes. Boston, MA: i30 Media Corp.
• Combs-Bennett, Shannon. (2014) A Genealogist’s Guide to Richmond, Virginia. Uttica, OH: The In-depth Genealogist.
• Combs-Bennett, Shannon. (2014) A Genealogist’s Guide to the Washington, D.C. Area. Uttica, OH: The In-depth Genealogist. 

PUBLICATIONS – ARTICLES

• Family Tree Magazine, 2012 – present
• Utah Genealogical Society Magazine, Crossroads, Volume 11, Number 4, Applying to Lineage Societies, Fall 2016
• FGS Forum, Columnist, 2015 – 2020
  • Creating a great presentation (July 2020)
  • At home library (April 2020
  • Generational differences in volunteer work (January 2020)
  • Knowing your worth (October 2019)
  • Imposter syndrome (July 2019)
  • Self promotion (April 2019)
  • Finding your niche (January 2019)
  • Just get to it: writing your (and your ancestor’s) family history (October 2018)
  • Revamping your organization (July 2018)
  • Organization tools and calendars (April 2018)
  • Omeka platform (January 2018)
  • Scholarships available to genealogists (October 2017)
  • Creating scholarships with your group (April 2017)
  • Younger people in leadership roles (January 2017)
  • Why You Should Attend A Conference…Any Conference (October 2016)
  • Certificates Certifications and Degrees: they are all the same thing…right? (April 2016)
  • The Importance of Self Editing (January 2016)
  • Developing your leadership qualities (November 2015)
  • Keeping up with the ancestors: self-education and the genealogist (September 2015)
  • Networking (July 2015)
  • Who are the NextGen of Genealogy? (June 2015)
• Going In-Depth Magazine, 2016
  • Secrets to Searching The U.S. National Archives Online (July 2016)
  • Why should I do this? Introduction to DNA Testing (April 2016)
  • Review of 2016 RootsTech (April 2016)
• Going In-Depth Magazine: The Society Pages, 2012-2013
  • Pioneer and First Family Societies: for those of us who like to be first!  (October 2014)
  • Celebrating Ancestors from Mr. Madison’s War (August 2014)
  • Honoring the Founders of New England (July 2014)
  • California Societies (May 2014)
  • The Indian Princess and the English Gentleman: Celebrating the 400^th Anniversary of the Marriage of John Rolfe and Pocahontas (April 2014)
  • Societies for Irish Descendants (March 2014)
  • Florida Pioneer Societies (February 2014)
  • Ancestors in Paradise (January 2014)
  • Getting You Pointed in the Right Direction (December 2013)
  • Male Descendants of Civil war Veterans (November 2013)
  • Civil war Societies for Female Descendants (October 2013)
  • Embracing your Revolutionary Past (September2013)
  • Huguenot Societies (August 2013)
  • President and Declaration Societies (July 2013)
  • Learning from the Society of Friends (June2013)
  • Royal Lineage (May 2013)
  • Law and Order Criminals (April 2013)
  • Children’s lineage societies (March 2013)
  • Beginning the Process (February 2013)
  • Lineage Society:  Beginning the process (December 2012)

Lectures
Please see my blog for a full listing of previous and currently scheduled lectures.
http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/p/presentations-and-speaking-topics.html

Repositories
As I am located in the greater Washington, DC, metro area, I can easily research at any DC, Northern Virginia, or Western Maryland repositories. I am willing to travel further as needed. 
 

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century
• 17th Century
• 16th Century and Earlier

Honorifics/Credentials
Qualified Genealogist (QG) 2018 - present
Fellow in the Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSAScot) Elected 25 April 2024

Certificates

• PGDip: Post Graduate Diploma in Genealogical, Paleographic & Heraldic Studies (Strathclyde) 2018
• PGCert: Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical, Paleographic & Heraldic Studies (Strathclyde) 2017
• ProGen 24 
• PLCGS: Certificate in Genealogical Studies (National Institute of Genealogical Studies) in American Records 2016
• BU (Boston University) Certificate in Genealogical Research OL13, 2013

Affiliations
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Alpha Chi Sigma (Professional Chemistry Fraternity, past collegiate member, current professional member)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Association of Professional Genealogists
• British Association for American Studies
• International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (Southeast Regional Director 2016-2018)
• National Council on Public History
• Register for Qualified Genealogists

 
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society
• Fairfax Genealogical Society
• Guild of Genealogical Speakers
• Indiana Genealogical Society
• Mount Vernon Genealogical Society
• National Genealogical Society
• New England Historical and Genealogical Society
• NextGen Genealogical Network (founding member / Education Chair 2011-2016)
• North Carolina Genealogical Society
• Virginia Genealogical Society

 
LINEAGE SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars
• Descendants of American Prisoners of War
• General Society of Mayflower Descendants
• National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society Daughters of the Union 1861-1865
• National Society United States Daughters of 1812

Degrees

• Current - PhD, History and Genealogical Studies, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Thesis Topic: Genealogy and Lineage Societies in the United States 1970-2020
• MSc, Genealogical, Heraldic, and Paleographic Studies, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland 2019
  • Graduated with Merit
  • Dissertation:  How Valuable are Collections of Letters for Genealogical Research? A Case Study of the Mott Family Letters, 1835-1849.
• BS, Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA 1999
  • Concentration: Genetics, minor in Chemistry
  • Undergraduate Research: Crystallographic Software Development: Condensing the Myriad of Programs into one (under the direction of Dr. John Huffman)