RaNae Vaughn
ProGen Member Overview
My interest in genealogy began through my father. He always had an interest in his ancestry, and I thought that I would assist him in some of his research. Little did I know that the “genealogy bug” would strike me! I traipsed through abandoned cemeteries galore, and my parents courageously attempted to blaze these trails with me.
My maternal grandfather was orphaned at the age of three, but he knew his parents’ names from an old Bible. His father was allegedly from Illinois, but do you know have many men in Illinois in the early 1900s are named George Washington Ellis? Nevertheless, I found his grave in an abandoned cemetery in the middle of a cornfield. Hurriedly calling on cousins, we had a “mini” reunion in that cornfield with the consent of the landowners. We cleaned up that cemetery and had pictures taken with the tombstone. But guess what? I was wrong … further research at the courthouse showed me the error. I ate humble pie, but we sure had a great time in that Illinois cornfield! I also learned a great lesson about performing thorough research. DNA later assisted me in locating my great-grandfather, George Washington Ellis.
Education
My formal education:
B.S., Business Administration
M.L.A., Library and Information Science
Instituto de Idiomas, Cochabamba, Bolivia, South America. Total immersion in studying Spanish for six months; instructors did not speak English.
My genealogical education includes:
- Professional Genealogy (ProGen 45), study group, September 2019‒December 2020
- Continuing Genealogical Studies—Effective Use of Deeds, December 2020
- Continuing Genealogical Studies: Federal Land Records, November 2020
- NGSQ Study Group B, November 2020; Karin Coppernoll, NGSQ Study Group B Facilitator
- Certification Discussion Group (CDG), Seattle Genealogical Society, October 2020; Jill Morelli, moderator
-Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Course 5: Genetics for Genealogists: Beginning DNA, 2020, Patti Lee Hobbs, instructor
- Genealogical Research Certificate Program, Boston University (BU), May 2019
- Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Course 7: Irish Genealogical Research, 2018; David Rencher, instructor
- Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Course 2: Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies, 2016; Angela McGhie, instructor
- Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Course 9: Genealogy as a Profession, 2015; Elissa Scalise Powell, instructor
- Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Course 1: Techniques and Technology, 2014; Pamela Boyer Sayre, instructor
Experience
In 2004, I began volunteering at the Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society in Iuka, Mississippi. After the construction of a new county courthouse, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, relinquished possession of the old courthouse to the historical society, and it was opened as a museum. With my background as a reference librarian, I single-handedly set up a genealogical library in the county museum. I also handled all genealogical questions received by the society. Before moving to Missouri, I was actively involved as a local historian, compiling historical data in northeast Mississippi, and actively and effectively assisting in the development of the county’s historical museum for 15 years. Researchers visited the museum’s library, wrote letters, and called. I handled each query on a pro bono basis and any donations received were placed in the historical society’s coffers.
My collaboration with the Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society included spearheading specialized programs for the historical society and local tourism, including genealogy workshops, an annual Heritage Day, and frequent Civil War re-enactments. I taught sessions at the workshops on beginning genealogy, how to search resources within our facility, and more. For other events, I served as a docent and gave guided tours of the museum.
I continue to actively perform genealogy research on a pro bono basis in Missouri. Most of these pro bono clients are linked to my Mississippi origins. I plan to open a home-based genealogy research company soon.