Executive director and president of the East Hillsborough Historical Society Shelby Bender attending the 2016 Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Her attendance was supported with a Professional development grant by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.
Professional development grants are provided to continue enhancing the skills of organizational staff members, thereby advancing their growth and longevity.
This is Bender's third year of attendance at the institute. Previous courses attended were African American Genealogy Research in the 20th Century, in 2014, and The Five Civilized Tribes, in 2015.
The institute, now in its 53rd year, is a weeklong course that covers genealogical research led by professional and certified genealogists. It is co-sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists and regularly enrolls over 200 students from around the country.
Bender will lead two free class sessions from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, and Thursday, August 25, at the Quintilla Geer Bruton Archives Center, 605 N. Collins St. Pre-registration or additional information is available by calling the East Hillsborough Art Guild at (813) 757-9226 or emailing qcenter@tampabay.rr.com.