Contact

The contact infrastructure for Genealogy Authority supports researchers, professionals, and institutions seeking reference clarification, record access guidance, or professional service information within the United States genealogical research sector. This page describes available contact channels, geographic service scope, and the information required to receive an accurate and efficient response.

Additional contact options

Genealogy Authority maintains structured reference functions across the core domains of documentary research, professional credentialing standards, and DNA evidence methodology. Depending on the nature of the inquiry, different contact pathways serve distinct needs.

General reference inquiries address questions about how the genealogical research sector is organized — including record systems maintained by institutions such as the National Archives and Records Administration, professional credentialing bodies, and access protocols for federal and state-level holdings.

Professional and institutional inquiries originate from credentialed genealogists, probate attorneys, hereditary society administrators, medical genetics coordinators, and immigration counsel. These inquiries typically involve specific record system questions, credentialing verification procedures, or jurisdictional scope determinations. The two primary credentialing bodies — the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) — each operate independent inquiry channels for credential-specific questions; those are handled through their respective organizations, not through this reference.

Research methodology questions related to topics covered across this reference — including the Genealogical Proof Standard, source classification frameworks, or the distinction between autosomal and Y-DNA methodologies — can be directed through the primary contact form.

How to reach this office

The primary contact method is the web-based message form accessible from this page. Messages submitted through the form are routed by subject category, which reduces processing time and ensures alignment with the appropriate reference function.

The following categories are available when submitting a form inquiry:

1. Record access and repository guidance — questions about locating specific record types, understanding NARA holdings, or navigating state-level vital records systems
2. Professional standards and credentialing — questions about BCG or ICAPGen credential requirements, the Genealogical Proof Standard, or professional service evaluation criteria
3. DNA evidence methodology — questions about autosomal testing scope, Y-DNA patrilineal applications, or integrating biological evidence with documentary research
4. Institutional and legal applications — questions related to genealogical research in probate, citizenship, hereditary society eligibility, or medical genetics contexts
5. Site content and reference accuracy — corrections, clarifications, or feedback on published reference material

Messages without a selected category are processed under general reference and may experience longer response intervals than categorized submissions.

Service area covered

Genealogy Authority operates as a national-scope reference for the United States genealogical research sector. Geographic coverage encompasses all 50 states and U.S. territories for purposes of federal record systems, including census schedules, military service records, immigration manifests, and naturalization files administered through NARA and affiliated repositories.

State-level record systems — vital records, probate court filings, land patents, and county-level church registers — are addressed within the reference framework for the jurisdictions in which those records originate. Because genealogical research frequently crosses state lines, multi-state inquiries are handled as single cases rather than requiring separate submissions per jurisdiction.

International scope is limited to U.S.-origin records pertaining to immigrants and emigrants, including ship manifests, passport applications, and consular registration files. Inquiries concerning foreign civil registration systems or overseas archives fall outside the operational scope of this reference and are better directed to jurisdiction-specific genealogical societies or foreign national archives.

Scope contrast — federal vs. state holdings: Federal record systems are standardized in access protocol and are navigable through NARA's genealogy research portal. State-level holdings vary substantially — some states have digitized and indexed vital records back to the mid-1800s, while others restrict access to records fewer than 100 years old under privacy statutes. Inquiries involving state-specific access restrictions benefit from specifying the state and approximate record date range.

What to include in your message

Complete and specific messages receive faster and more precise responses. The following information, where applicable, should be included in any submission:

1. Record type or research category — specify whether the inquiry concerns documentary records, DNA evidence, professional standards, or a legal or institutional application
2. Geographic jurisdiction — name the state or territory relevant to the inquiry; for multi-state questions, list all jurisdictions involved
3. Time period — provide the approximate date range of the records or events under research (e.g., 1880–1920 immigration records, post-1950 vital records)
4. Institutional context — if the inquiry originates from a legal proceeding, hereditary society application, medical genetics review, or credentialing process, identifying that context allows routing to the appropriate reference function
5. Specific question — a single, clearly stated question produces a more actionable response than a general description of a research problem

Messages that include all 5 elements above are processed with priority over incomplete submissions. Supporting documentation — such as record citations, NARA file numbers, or prior research notes — may be referenced by description but should not be attached in the initial message unless the contact form specifically enables attachments.

For foundational orientation on how the genealogical research sector is structured before submitting an inquiry, the Genealogy: Conceptual Overview and Frequently Asked Questions pages address the most common structural and procedural questions without requiring direct contact.