MICHAEL L. STRAUSS, AG is the principal owner of Genealogy Research Network.
Education:
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- B.A. Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, Attended 2002-2006.
Major Field: History-Civil War and 19th Century America.
- B.A. Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, Attended 2002-2006.
Certifications and Credentials:
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- Accredited Genealogist by the International Commission of Accredited Professional Genealogist (ICAPGEN), Salt Lake City, UT since 1995.
- Court Qualified Expert Witness in New York (New York, Bronx, Queens, Kings, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, West Chester, and Erie Counties)-In Surrogate Court.
- Court Qualified Expert Witness in New York (Richmond County)-In Supreme Court.
- Court Qualified Expert Witness in New Jersey (Sussex County) In Surrogate Court.
- Court Qualified Expert Witness in Pennsylvania (Elk, Butler, and Delaware Counties) In Court of Common Pleas.
- Court Qualified Expert Witness in Virginia (Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, and Newport News Counties) In Circuit Court.
- Genealogist, United States Department of Defense, to locate DNA qualified family members of MIAs and POWs from WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam, 2012-2014.
- Private Investigator License, Commonwealth of Virginia from 2013-2017 with the Department of Criminal Justice Services ID#99-296113.
Teaching Experience:
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- Instructor-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA Course-Genealogy: The Linear Connection (Spring 2023, and Fall 2023).
- Guest Lecturer–Brigham Young University-Provo, UT
HIST439-Seminar on Professional Family History Research (2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). - Instructor–Brigham Young University-Provo, UT
HIST493R-Family History Research (Summer-2000, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019). - Instructor–Samford University-Birmingham, AL
Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (Summer-2010, 2014, 2015, 2016-moved to University of Georgia). - Instructor–University of Georgia-Athens, GA
Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (Summer-2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023). - Instructor–LaRoche University-Pittsburgh, PA
Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh (Summer-2018, 2019, 2022). - Instructor–Utah Genealogical Association-Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (Winter, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024). - Teaching Assistant-Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
HIST438-Soldiers and American Society (Summer-2004, 2005)
ENVS371-Documentation of Historic Properties (Fall, 2005) - Instructor-Warren County Community College, Washington, NJ
Non-Credit Genealogy Course (Summer, 2001).
Research Grant Recipient:
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- Foundation for Coast Guard History-Seattle, WA-2005
- The General George C. Marshall Foundation-Lexington, VA-2006
Books and Edited Collections:
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- Strauss, Michael L. “Fredericksburg at War” Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania: The History, Stories, and Photographs of the Village of Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, formally Stumpstown including the communities of Hamlin and Shirksville, edited by Kathy Bicksler Stouffer, et al. Grantville, PA: Wert Publishing, Inc., 2021.
Peer-Reviewed Articles:
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- Strauss, Michael L. “Master Signal Electrician: The United States Army Air Service during World War I” Journal of the Company of Military Historians 75:1 (Spring 2023): 6-7.
- Strauss, Michael L. “Brothers in Arms: Americans in the Canadian Expeditionary Force” National Genealogical Society Magazine 44:1 (January-March 2018): 48-53.
Public History Writing:
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- Strauss, Michael L. “Born on the Fourth of July” New York Archives Magazine 22:1 (Summer 2022): 40.
- Strauss Michael L. and Sunny Jane Morton “These Honored Dead: Learn About Your Ancestors’ Civil War Service with These 21 Records and Resources” Family Tree Magazine: 22:3 (May-June 2021): 18-27.
- Strauss, Michael L. and Jerry Crow “Vanishing Footprints: Cedar Creek Battlefield Revisited” First Landing 27:1 (February, 2010): 12-13.
- Strauss, Michael L. “Genealogy Magazine and Historical Database set to Benefit members of VBGS” First Landing 25:2 (May, 2008): 7.
- Strauss, Michael L. “Historical Maps: The World at your Fingertips” Ancestry 22:3 (July/August 2004): 31-40.
Digital Publications and Blogs:
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- Genealogy: A Journey of a Lifetime Historic Books for Kids, published June 14, 2023.
- Dog Tags: Identifying our Deceased Military Veterans, Fold3 Headquarters Blog, Division of Ancestry.com, published May 1, 2023.
- U.S., List of the Adjutant General’s Office for Carded Records of Military Organizations (The Ainsworth List), 1765-1899, published finding aid, Fold3, Division of Ancestry.com, published March 14, 2023.
- Identifying Military Personnel: Decoding Serial Numbers, Fold3 Headquarters Blog, Division of Ancestry.com, published February 27, 2023.
- Reconstructing the Past-Part II The National Personnel Record Center Fire of 1973, Fold3 Headquarters Blog, Division of Ancestry.com, published December 5, 2022.
- Reconstructing the Past: The National Personnel Record Center Fire of 1973, Fold3 Headquarters Blog, Division of Ancestry.com, published September 28, 2022.
- Remembering the Civil War 160 years later, Family Tree Magazine, The Genealogy Insider, published May 1, 2021.
- Researching World War I Soldier Gandolfo Scarnici, Pima County Genealogical Society, published May 25, 2020.
- The Story of Memorial Day, Genealogy Gems, published May 24, 2018.
- Celebrating Women in United States Military History, Genealogy Gems, published March 19, 2018.
- Five Branches in United States Military Records, Genealogy Gems, published February 19, 2018.
- Military Terminology for Genealogists: Regulars, Volunteers, and Militia, Genealogy Gems, published January 22, 2018.
- Official Military Personnel Files for United States Military Ancestors in World War I, World War II, and Beyond, Genealogy Gems, published December 6, 2017.
- How to Find Compiled Military Service Records for your Ancestors, Genealogy Gems, published November 13, 2017.
- How to Find Draft Registration Records and What They May Tell you About your Ancestors, Genealogy Gems, published September 30, 2017.
Book Reviews:
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- Journal of America’s Military Past, Review of Mary Jane Phillips Koenig, et al. Answering the Call: Erie County, Pennsylvania in World War One. Erie, Pennsylvania: Erie County Pennsylvania World War One Centennial Committee, 2021. Volume 47, no. 3 (Fall 2022): 62-64.
- Journal of America’s Military Past, Review of Gary W. Clark’s Grand Army of the Republic and Union Veteran Research. Wichita, Kansas: PhotoTree.com, 2021. Volume 47, no. 1 (Winter 2022): 106-107.
Media Appearances:
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- Every Family Has A Secret, Season 4, Episode 4 “Grace Karskens and Ming Balintong” aired November 9, 2023. Ancestry sponsored on Australian SBS Network.
- Roots Less Traveled, Season 3, Episode 8 “For Country and Family” Aired December 11, 2021. Ancestry sponsored television show available on NBC. Additional crew researcher for Ancestry.
- Roots Less Traveled, Season 3, Episode 6 “The Price of Freedom” Aired November 27, 2021. Ancestry sponsored television show available on NBC. Additional crew researcher for Ancestry.
- Film Historian and Genealogist for Documentary “Finding Vivian Maier” Released September 9, 2013. Nominated for 2015 Oscars for best documentary film. Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
- Legacy Family Tree Webinars-My Heritage, Inc. 22 total recorded webinars available in library.
Filmed and Recorded Presentations:
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- Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Presentation “Influenza: The Twentieth Century’s Deadliest Pandemic” recorded December 15, 2022.
- RootsTech 2019 Presentation “Descendancy Research: Another Pathway to Genealogy” filmed March 1, 2019-In Salt Lake City, UT.
- Genealogy Gems Interview with Lisa Louise Cooke “Solving a World War I Mystery” filmed November 12, 2018-In Salt Lake City, UT.
- Ancestry Academy-Presentation “Researching Your Ancestors in World War I Ancestor” filmed December 7, 2016-In Provo, UT.
- Ancestry Academy-Presentation “The Reconstruction Era: Refugees, Claims, and Conscription” filmed May 23, 2015-In Provo, UT.
Recorded Podcasts:
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- Podcast-The Research Like A Pro Genealogist with hosts Diana Elder, AG and Nicole Dyer, Episode 94 “United States Federal Pensions” aired April 27, 2020.
- Podcast-The Research Like A Pro Genealogist with hosts Diana Elder, AG and Nicole Dyer, Episode 82 “Military Service Records” aired February 3, 2020.
- Podcast-Extreme Genes with host Scott Fisher, Episode 153 “Fraternal Organizations & Secret Societies: Where are the Records” aired August 22, 2016.
- Podcast-The Genealogy Professional with host Marian Pierre-Louis, Episode 10 “Diversifying Services” aired February 3, 2014.
In the News:
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- Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)-Lecturer to Headline Event- published March 31, 2019.
- Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)-Events Mark 100 Years Since U.S. Joined War-published April 1, 2017.
- Joplin Globe (Missouri)-Relatives of Missing World War II Soldier Hope His Remains Finally Found-published December 2, 2013.
- Reading Eagle (Pennsylvania)-Mystery is Solved: Private City Burial Ground Started by Gerber Family-published May 19, 1991.
Professional and Community Service:
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- Board Member-Utah Genealogical Association-Salt Lake City, UT-Term: 2017-2022.
- President-Virginia Beach Genealogical Society-Virginia Beach, VA-Term: 2012-2015.
- Vice President-Virginia Beach Genealogical Society-Virginia Beach, VA-Term: 2009-2012, and Former Member at Large from 2008-2009.
Professional Membership:
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- Association of Professional Genealogists
- Company of Military Historians
- The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGEN)
- The Society of Civil War Historians
- The Society for Military History
- Utah Genealogical Association (Board of Directors, 2017-2022)