Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally known lecturer and award-winning writer, her lectures are always popular.

She will present two sessions at the NGS 2026 conference:

FR08 Twenty-Eight Volumes of Gold: U.S. Territorial Papers
Friday, 29 May 2026, 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
From the Northwest Territory to Alaska, much of America’s story unfolds in the Territorial Papers of the United States—28 volumes rich with names, petitions, disputes, and daily life. Learn how to access, search, and use these invaluable records to uncover the people who built the nation from the ground up.

SA17 Occupants, Owners or Nations: Native Rights to Land
Saturday, 30 May 2026, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
From King Philip’s War to the Trail of Tears, conflicts between settlers and the rights of those already on the land transformed the legal landscape. Learn how each shift in policy—from treaties to allotments—left a paper trail that family historians can use today. (This session is part of the BCG Skillbuilding series, sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists.)

Early bird registration ends 28 February 2026. Register here.