We are genealogists and our family’s historians. We have learned that all the research, photos, and ephemera in our collections are meaningless without their stories.
We discovered that using the Guided Autobiography approach, we can write engaging stories that families want to read. We want to share this process and experience with others who want to preserve their stories.
For genealogists, these courses offer an opportunity to capture the emotions, insights, and memories of lived experience that vital records cannot. Participants write two-page stories, share them in small groups on a weekly basis. They complete creative writing exercises designed to turn simple descriptions into vivid portraits.
Your Certified GAB Instructors
Cynthia Heidorn, PhD, CG®
Cynthia holds a Certified Genealogist® credential and Guided Autobiography Instructor credential. She taught for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is a mentor for ProGen Study Group and for the National Genealogical Society’s Advance Skills Courses. Cynthia also holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s Online Program (OL31). Dr. Heidorn is a retired public-school superintendent.
Caron Primas Brennan, MBA
Caron Primas Brennan belongs to several local and regional genealogy groups as well as being a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Caron is Founder and Executive Director of the Iroquois Theatre Fire Historical Society (ITFHS) and a former Registrar and current Director for the National Society Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) Anan Harmon Chapter. She has been speaking at local libraries and genealogical societies, and teaching at the Newberry Library in Chicago for over ten years with consistently excellent feedback.
