IGHR - Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research
IGHR is an annual week-long institute for genealogy education, held via Zoom during the last week of July. Each course costs $545. What is IGHR?
In 2026, we will also have once a week courses are also offered. Learn more at https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) is an annual week-long educational institute for genealogists. It differs from a genealogy conference in that attendees register for one course for the entire week, thus allowing them to delve into a specific topic or methodology more deeply than what a typical conference might allow. Hosted by the Georgia Genealogical Society, IGHR attendees travel from across the country and around the globe to attend the popular institute. It's important to understand that IGHR is not just for individuals whose research involves Georgia or southern ancestry. The institute is for genealogists of ALL backgrounds and skill levels from beginning to advanced. It educates hobbyists and professionals alike. Traditionally IGHR enrolls about 400 attendees each summer. 2021 attendees were from 45 states, Canada, & the Netherlands. Established in 1962, IGHR is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary! You can view 2022 course offerings at https://bit.ly/3koLLDZ.
We were so pleased to be at the 2025 York County Library Genealogy & Family History Expo in South Carolina! As we are currently putting all the final touches on our planning for 2026 we were able to showcase our upcoming IGHR 2026 South Carolina course with Cheri Hudson Passey and the rest of the lineup at our IGHR booth. We met old friends, checked in with faculty members, and made new friends at this fun and informative event. Thank you to John Skardon and his team for making it a great day. And an extra thank you to Lillian Wingate for setting up and running the booth all day. 2026 is going to be another year for exceptional genealogical education!
10/18/2025
IGHR is proud to announce our 2026 course lineup! We have six IGHR Summer courses and six courses for IGHR Spring and IGHR Fall. We are really excited for every one of them, including a brand new course for South Carolina! Please mark your calendars for the dates of the courses and the registration dates because you don't want to miss out on any of these exceptional genealogical educational experiences! Join the Georgia Genealogical Society now to get a $50 discount on IGHR tuition.
Spring 2026 Registration: November 15, 2025 to February 20, 2026
Summer & Fall 2026 Registration: February 28 to June 7, 2026.
IGHR is offering three free evening sessions, July 28, 29, and 30, 2025. These will be good storytelling with solid methodology woven throughout. See the website for details and register today! https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-2025/evening-sessions/
07/05/2025
Registration for IGHR 2025's summer session (July 27-August 1) ends TODAY at just before midnight! Don't miss out. Eleven top-quality courses to choose from: https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/.
07/04/2025
Happy 4th of July for those in the United States! And for everyone: don't forget that IGHR 2025 summer session registration ENDS TOMORROW (July 5th). There's just enough time to pick your course and register: https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/. "See" you there, July 27-August 1!
07/03/2025
Need help with your family history research? Don't miss out on the chance to take an IGHR 2025 course to take you to the next level! Choose from the course list at: https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/ but be sure to register by this Saturday at 11:59 p.m.!
07/02/2025
IGHR 2025 (virtual) is full-time during the week of July 27-August 1. Can't take that amount of time off? Got Southern ancestors? J. Mark Lowe's "Research in the South: Colonial States" is our most flexible course. All presentations are pre-recorded. Watch when you can, then join the students and instructors for scheduled live Q&A sessions during the week. This course is always one of our most popular picks for a reason! Check it out and register at: https://ighr.gagensociety.org/course-nine/
07/01/2025
It's time to pick your IGHR 2025 summer session course! The summer session runs from July 27-August 1st. Have a conflict during that time? No worries -- sessions are recorded and can be watched later. We look forward to seeing you at IGHR 2025! https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/
06/30/2025
IGHR has something for everyone! Choose from one of three methodology courses or advanced DNA. Are your interests more specialized? How about courses in African American, Japanese (new!), English, Pennsylvania, or U.S. southern research? You can also learn advanced land platting or how to unearth your family's past using maps (also new!). Learn more and register at https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/. Registration ends this Saturday! (July 5th)
06/29/2025
Don't miss IGHR 2025's summer session! Registration ends on July 5th, and there's a virtual class seat waiting for you. Methodology, DNA, African American, Pennsylvania, English ancestry, mapping -- there's something for everyone. Summer session July 27-August 1st. Enjoy looking through the list of courses and choose yours soon! https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/
06/28/2025
Are you planning to register for the IGHR 2025 summer session? ONE WEEK LEFT until registration ends on Saturday, July 5, at 11:59 p.m. Not sure what IGHR is all about? Eleven top-notch genealogy courses run concurrently on full days during the week of July 27-August 1. Choose from courses focused on beginning/intermediate/advanced methodology, mapping/plats, DNA, or African American, English, Pennsylvania, or Japanese ancestry. All courses recorded and recordings available for two weeks afterwards. Learn more and choose your course at: https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-2025/.
06/27/2025
Been attending IGHR for years? Well, take a look at our three NEW courses! Choose from the only Japanese genealogy course, a brand new way to look at using maps, and learning to do Pennsylvania-specific research. We're holding a spot for you! Learn more and register at https://ighr.gagensociety.org/ighr-courses/. Registration ends July 5th!
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The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) is an annual week-long educational institute for genealogists. It differs from a genealogy conference in that attendees register for one course for the entire week, thus allowing them to delve into a specific topic or methodology more deeply than what a typical conference might allow.
Hosted by the Georgia Genealogical Society, IGHR attendees travel from across the country and around the globe to attend. IGHR is not just for individuals whose research involves Georgia or southern ancestry. The institute is for genealogists of all backgrounds and skill levels from beginning to advanced. It educates hobbyists and professionals alike. Traditionally IGHR enrolls about 300 attendees each summer.
IGHR 2019 will take place Sunday, 21 July 2019-Friday, 26 July 2019 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Athens, Georgia. Be sure to come a day early on Saturday, 20 July 2019, for our FREE Family History & Genealogy Expo sponsored by FamilySearch. Registration for 2019 courses opens Saturday, 2 March 2019, with a rolling schedule. Visit ighr.gagensociety.org for details such as course descriptions, tuition price, accommodations, etc.
IGHR’s history is more than fifty years old. Established in 1962, the institute’s first session was held at Howard College––now Samford University––in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded by Elizabeth Wood Thomas, the institute was originally known as the Willo Institute of Genealogy.
Through the years, the institute has greatly evolved. What began as a simple two-day event with forty students quickly expanded into a well-respected institute for serious genealogical researchers. Within three short years, IGHR became a week-long event that took place each June and the name changed to the Institute of Genealogy.
Under the leadership of directors such as F. Wilbur Helmbold and Jean Thomason, attendance and course offerings grew as did the institute’s reputation in the genealogy community. The tremendous growth and success of the institute eventually meant it needed to move to a larger campus; consequently, after fifty-four wonderful years in Alabama, IGHR moved to its current home––the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Athens, Georgia––under the leadership of past-director Laura Carter, MLIS, SLIS, MEd. This current facility allows for all classrooms, food, and most hotel accommodations to be under the same air-conditioned roof. Additionally, IGHR attendees benefit from access to the world-class libraries of the University of Georgia, including its law library and special collections libraries.
