UGA Mission Statement

The Utah Genealogical Association provides genealogical information, sources and education through personal instruction and published media on state, national and international family history topics, while promoting high standards and ethical practices.

UGA Information

The Utah Genealogical Association was formally organized on September 25, 1971, and chartered on December 1, 1971, by the State of Utah as a nonprofit educational organization. The Association's interests are worldwide while still providing specific materials of interest relating to Utah. It is not affiliated with any religious or political organization.

The Association is governed by an Executive Committee comprised of the President, 1st Vice-President, and 2nd Vice-President plus a Board of Governors. Members of the Board are elected by the general membership of the Association and serve for a period of three years.

In addition, dozens of volunteers serve on various committees, staff booths at conferences, and work behind the scenes to assure the membership a vibrant, collegial, and enjoyable Association.

The Association publishes Crossroads, a quarterly journal of general interest in the field of genealogy and family history. The journal is sent to the general membership of the Association and is also available to the membership in an electronic edition on this website.

Association members can share information on specific surnames through our Surname Research page. We sponsor an annual meeting wherein outstanding service and accomplishments are recognized and awarded.

Also available to members is the opportunity to participate in a monthly "virtual chapter" meeting wherein experts in various aspects of genealogy and family history make hour-long presentations on their areas of expertise. These presentations are then archived for member review and access at any time.

UGA By-Laws

The latest revision of the Utah Genealogical Association ByLaws was approved on 13 April 2019, drafted by an ad-hoc Bylaws Committee made up of UGA Board members.

Bonnie Andersen

My name is Bonnie Andersen. I live in Lehi, Utah. I am currently attending Salt Lake Community College and am in the last semester of the Genealogy International Track. I previously took classes in Genetic Genealogy and received my certificate in U.S. Research. As a single young woman, I attended Brigham Young University, 1979-1982.

At the age of thirty-six, I found my birth mother. The next year I found my birth father. From that point on I have dug into as many records about my biological family as my shovel can scrape up. I have written generational research reports about some of them and still have many to finish. There have been so many miracles connected to this research.

For the past four years, I have been focusing my research in the Upper Midwest area of the U.S and in Canada. I would feel comfortable researching in any of the states and in several European countries. I know a wee bit of French and Spanish, and have lived in Portugal and Saudi Arabia.

At Salt Lake Community College, I have received A’s in all of my courses. I have so enjoyed learning from some of the best teachers around.

I feel that through my studies and training I could be an asset to others. I feel that through the personal research I have done as well as helping others to do their own research, I can move through a report with skill.

I am eager to help the Utah Genealogical Association with anything that I am able to do.

Julia Anderson, AG

Julia A. Anderson is an Accredited Genealogist® with expertise in the United States Gulf South Region. She teaches U.S. research classes at Salt Lake Community College for their genealogy certificate program, is a U.S./Canada Research Specialist interning with FamilySearch, and owns and operates Anderson Genealogical Research, LLC. Julia received a B.A. degree in History (with a Family History emphasis) and University Honors from Brigham Young University in 1993 and is currently pursuing an M.A. degree in History with an Education emphasis from Grand Canyon University. She is serving her second 3-year term on the UGA Board of Directors and is a member of the test digitization committee for the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Julia lives in Orem, Utah and is the mother of 8 children and grandmother of 5. In her spare time, she works closely with youth and adults in the Boy Scouts of America, teaching and training them to be servant leaders.

Teresa L. Brooks

Volunteering as UGA's treasurer is an honor and a great way to use my 40 plus years of experience in finance, along with my 30 plus years in genealogy. I am just your average numbers nerd who loves connecting people to their people, more numbers but with names.

Elise Godfrey

Elise Godfrey has a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Family History and Genealogy from Brigham Young University. Her love for, continued education, and hands-on experience with family history and genealogy research has grown in her time spent working for Legacy Family History, Inc. (2014-present), where her primary focus has been New England and Dutch research. She has served as a UGA Board member as well as content creator for Crossroads for Kids since July 2020. She is currently serving as the Crossroads Committee Chair.

Peggy Lauritzen, AG

Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS, was involved in genealogy before she was even born. The daughter of avid genealogists, she was spending time in courthouses and cemeteries while other children were playing on swings and going to the beach. The love of her family’s history has never left her. With her experience serving as a former and current Family History Director, she frequently speaks at genealogical societies, workshops, seminars, and webinars where she loves bringing genealogy to life. Some of those would include The Ohio Genealogical Society, The Ohio State University, Brigham Young University, and many other state and local genealogy societies. She has recently completed several Legacy QuickGuides on Appalachia, and is a well-known webinar presenter. In 2018, she was awarded the title of Fellow of the Ohio Genealogical Society, and received the Laura G. Prescott Award for Exemplary Service in Genealogy. Peggy is an instructor at Ancestry Academy, Family Tree University, a columnist for Reminisce magazine, and a former researcher for Ancestry ProGenealogists.

Elizabeth Miller

Elizabeth (Liz) Cays Miller’s love for genealogy was nurtured during childhood, took hold as a teenager, and has continued throughout her life. She formally trained for research in Spain, Latin America, and the southern states of the U.S.A. at Brigham Young University. Over the years, newer research opportunities have allowed her to broaden her knowledge and expand her skills. She especially enjoys on-site archival research and has researched at archives in Spain, Ecuador, Scotland, Wales, Canada, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Idaho, and Utah.

Currently, Liz serves UGA as First Vice- President, chairs the UGA Conference Committee, works with several other UGA committees, and represents UGA as the FGS Delegate.

Liz hopes to help others make new discoveries about their family history and to see them become excited about learning. She would also like to generate enthusiasm among UGA members and help them become more involved with the organization.

Tanner Tolman, AG

Tanner became an Accredited Genealogist in the Denmark region in 2018 and later than year was hired by FamilySearch as a Nordic Research Consultant. He is a 2017 graduate of the BYU Family History/Genealogy program. Tanner currently serves on the UGA Board and is the First Families Committee Chair.

Tristan Tolman, AG

Tristan L. Tolman, AG is a professional genealogist, author, editor, and publisher. She has a bachelor's degree in Family History and Genealogy from Brigham Young University and is accredited in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States through ICAPGen. She is the owner of Legacy Family History, Inc., a professional genealogy research firm, and is the lead genealogist for the award-winning television series, Relative Race. She has written curriculum for the Family History degree programs at Brigham Young University and BYU-Idaho. Tristan currently serves as president of the Utah Genealogical Association. She loves working with clients and specializes in U.S. genealogical research, writing personal and family histories, and preparing genealogical information for publication.

Rob Wallace

I started doing family history research back in high school, in the 1970’s. I worked on my family history off and on until the early 2000’s when I decide to make it a serious hobby. Since then, I have logged well over 3000 hours of research. I have studied family history extensively, reading, taking courses, and attending conferences. I have been and still am a member in several regional and national genealogical societies. I have served as a consultant in our community family history library and taught community family history classes (in California). I have extensive leadership experience professionally, in church, and in youth organizations. I am a retired engineer, living in Cedar Hills.

Maria Wittwer, CG

Maria Wittwer, CG has been a genealogical researcher for twenty-five years. She enjoys learning about people from the past and identifying individuals and connecting families using historical records, social history, and DNA. Maria serves on the Board of the Utah Genealogical Association.