About Prairie Genealogy & Gary Ball-Kilbourne PhD, PLCGS

Prairie Genealogy is a Northern Plains based professional genealogy research service.
Prairie Genealogy is owned and operated by Gary L. Ball-Kilbourne, a professional genealogist residing in Fargo, North Dakota. 
Picture
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:
  • tracking down when and how a large Germans from Russia family arrived in central North Dakota scattered over a 12-year period in the late 19th century;
  • moving past a 20th century birth record that remains sealed because the mother was not married to the putative father;
  • conducting local research for an episode of the ​Who Do You Think You Are? television show.
Training:
  • Boston University--Certificate in Genealogical Research (2016)
  • National Institute for Genealogical Studies (University of Toronto)--Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS), American Records (2017)
  • Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy--Virtual Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum (2016)
  • Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh--Advanced Research Methods (2016)
  • GenProof 43--Mastering Genealogical Proof (2015)
  • Vanderbilt University--Doctor of Philosophy, religion

Professional & Lineage Society Memberships:
  • Association of Professional Genealogists
  • National Genealogical Society
  • International Society of Family History Writers and Editors
  • North Dakota State Genealogical Society
  • South Dakota Genealogy Society
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society
  • Red River Valley Genealogical Society
  • Wisconsin State Genealogical Society
  • Maryland Genealogical Society
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society
  • Connecticut Society of Genealogists
  • Utah Genealogical Association
  • Southern California Genealogical Society
  • Germans from Russian Heritage Society
  • Sons of the American Revolution (Maryland Society, Col. Tench Tilghman Chapter)
  • 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!