About Prairie Genealogy & Gary Ball-Kilbourne PhD, PLCGS
Prairie Genealogy is owned and operated by Gary L. Ball-Kilbourne, a professional genealogist residing in Fargo, North Dakota. 
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Meet Gary Ball-Kilbourne:

​     I began researching my own genealogy as a hobby over forty years ago. After a career as a pastor and a senior editor, I started Prairie Genealogy to help persons find their family roots, especially in the Northern Plains, spreading out from the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
     My personal family stories have also caused me to develop research expertise in Maryland, Connecticut, and Germany.
     Besides straightforward genealogical research, I am available to coach you as you work on your own research, as well as to engage with family history projects involving organizing information and files, writing, and editing.
    My recent client work has included such projects as:
  • helping persons push their family trees back additional generations in locales such as early 19th century Pennsylvania and Missouri;
  • finding towns of origin for immigrant Norwegians, Germans, and Germans from Russia;
  • discovering the month-by-month Civil War activity and location for a Confederate soldier from Virginia;
  • conducting local research for the ​Who Do You Think You Are? television show.
     I also am a lead facilitator for the Foundations and Evidence Evaluation & Documentation modules of the online certificate course in Genealogical Research of Boston University.
Training:
  • Boston University—Certificate in Genealogical Research (2016)
  • National Institute for Genealogical Studies—Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS), American Records, with distinction (2017); German Records, with distinction (2019)
  • Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy—Burned Counties and More: Overcoming Destroyed, Missing, or Non-Extant Records—Sources and Techniques/ Methods (2019); Virtual Nordic Research (2018); Virtual Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum (2016)
  • Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh—Tackling Tough Research Problems (2018); Advanced Research Methods (2016)
  • Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research—Genetics for Genealogists (2017)
  • Excelsior College--Genetic Genealogy (2019)
  • GenProof 43—Mastering Genealogical Proof (2015)
  • Vanderbilt University—Doctor of Philosophy, religion

Recent Appearances:
  • 12 October 2018—North Dakota State Genealogical Society, Bismarck, North Dakota ("Redeeming Family Heirlooms and Finding Genealogical Artifacts Online")

​Professional & Lineage Society Memberships:
  • Association of Professional Genealogists
  • National Genealogical Society
  • North Dakota State Genealogical Society
  • South Dakota Genealogy Society (research member)
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society
  • Red River Valley Genealogical Society (eastern North Dakota & western Minnesota)
  • Wisconsin State Genealogical Society
  • Iowa Genealogical Society
  • Illinois State Genealogical Society
  • Indiana Genealogical Society
  • Ohio Genealogical Society
  • Maryland Genealogical Society
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society
  • Connecticut Society of Genealogists
  • Utah Genealogical Association
  • Southern California Genealogical Society
  • Germans from Russia Heritage Society
  • Norwegian American Genealogical Center
  • Norwegian-American Historical Association
  • Sons of the American Revolution (Maryland Society, Col. Tench Tilghman Chapter; Dakota Society)
  • Swedish Colonial Society (Forefather Member)

Let's get started!
If you are ready to work on your family's story, then let's get started!