FUGA Award: D. Joshua Taylor
The Utah Genealogical Association Fellow Award is given in recognition
of those living individuals whose distinguished contributions and ongoing
commitment to the field of genealogy are of national or international scope.
This may be evidenced by any combination of publications, teaching and
speaking, or leadership of major genealogical organizations over a significant
period of time.
The latest recipient of the UGA Fellow Award is D. Joshua Taylor. Joshua
is well-known nationally as a researcher, speaker, author, and leader of
genealogical organizations. A native of Logan, Utah, he served in his young
adulthood on boards and committees and as an officer of the Utah Genealogical
Association. Many binders full of the history of UGA have been collected by him
(and are now in the process of being digitized). In recognition of his
knowledge and service, he was invited in 2021 to keynote the 50th Anniversary
UGA Summit of Excellence.
Since 2009, Joshua has almost annually coordinated or taught in courses
offered by the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Just this week, he led the
SLIG course on “Advanced New England Research.” Next month, he coordinates and
teaches the SLIG Academy course called, “You’re Invited: Public Speaking from
Concept to Delivery.” Joshua has taught and presented at a myriad of other
events, including conferences of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the
Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and
local and regional societies too numerous to list.
Residing now in New York City, Joshua is the president and CEO of the
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, the world’s second-oldest
genealogical organization. Previously, he worked on staff with Genealogy
Roadshow, FindMyPast, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. He
is a past president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies.
Over the years, Joshua has written for several genealogy columns. He has
penned numerous articles for UGA Crossroads, the Association of
Professional Genealogists Quarterly, American Ancestors, and other
periodicals. He is the author of The Keane and Sheahan Families of
Bridgeport, Connecticut, a study of a family’s immigration and life in New England
after the Irish famine.
Joshua’s passion for genealogy and his impact on so many genealogists
learning and working today is indisputable. UGA is proud to honor him as a Fellow
of the Utah Genealogical Association.
