The North Carolina Genealogical Society wishes a very happy birthday to North Carolina genealogy legend Helen F. M. Leary, CG Emeritus, FASG, FNGS, who turns 90 today! (May 5, 2025).
Almost everyone researching NC genealogy uses or is aware of the book “North Carolina Research Genealogy and Local History” which she edited and was a contributing author. It set the standard for state research guides, and is the go-to resource for NC research with details on the various NC records used for family history research, what they mean, and where to find them. The book can be ordered directly from NCGS here.
That’s just one of her many contributions to North Carolina genealogy. Another was a series of webinars she recorded on a variety of NC topics which are available to NCGS members under the “North Carolina Series” . Here is a free preview of Tar Heels in Your Family Tree .
Helen Leary is not just about North Carolina. She is a distinguished genealogist who spent her career working to educate all serious genealogists. She served twenty-three years as a Trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and she served as the president twice. She served as a trustee for the Association of Professional Genealogists, chair of the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies, and President of NCGS. With Thomas W. Jones, Helen edited the “BCG Genealogical Standards Manual”. In 2007 BCG honored her by initiating “The Helen F. M. Leary Distinguished Lecture Series.” https://bcgedfund.org/helen-leary-lecture .
Helen wrote several chapters of “Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians” including the chapter on lecturing. She also has an extensive portfolio of scholarly publications featured in the “National Genealogical Society Quarterly”, the “American Genealogist”, and our own “NCGS Journal”.
In 2015 Helen became the first and only winner of the NCGS Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to North Carolina Genealogy. In addition to her many genealogy accolades, she is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is among the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina.
In honor of this milestone and her extraordinary contribution to North Carolina genealogy, NCGS is renaming our annual award which recognizes individuals whose longtime genealogical contributions have greatly enhanced the study of family history in North Carolina. Starting in 2025 this award will be named “The Helen F. M. Leary Award for Outstanding Contribution to North Carolina Genealogy”.
Helen has asked well-wishers to give a donation in honor of her to Feeding America, https://give.feedingamerica.org/a/donate-in-honor… . Please put Helen Leary as the Honoree Name on the form. If you want her to be notified of your donation, please use in**@*********gy.org as the email address for the notification. We’ll make sure she gets the information. If you wish to donate by phone or mail, please see https://give.feedingamerica.org/a/hope-card for instructions.