In this program, Katherine Collins, MLISc, will explain what armorial and gateway ancestors are, standards of evidence, best practices, and where to register historical arms.  She will demonstrate how to use traditional books in our local libraries and archives, online databases, and the records of lineage societies to prove the connection to a documented armorial ancestor or “gateway ancestor.”

Katherine Collins has graduate degrees in Library and Information Science and Counseling Psychology.  She has over 20 years of experience as a college instructor, researcher, archivist, historian, and regional supervisor.  She has taught workshops at the state and national level.  She has proven her own armigers and is a member of many lineage societies including the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of the 17^th Century, and Associated Daughters of Early American Witches.