David S. Vogels Award and its Recipients
David S. Vogels, Jr. , was founder and president of the Colorado Council in 1980, then became president of Federation of Genealogical Societies in 1982-1984. David was a legal administrator for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company in Denver. The David S. Vogels, Jr. Award was established in 1990 at Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and at the Colorado Council (CCGS) to honor the accomplishments of noted volunteers.
The Awards Committee is responsible for implementing
the procedure for the recognition of persons in Colorado who have given
outstanding service to the genealogical community.
The Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies (CCGS) established the Memorial Hall of Fame-David S. Vogels Award to recognize persons in Colorado who have given outstanding service to the genealogical community of Colorado as
a whole. The award is presented annually at the January Meeting of CCGS.
The plaque with names of the recipients is on display at the Western History/Genealogy
Department of the Denver Public Library. The committee also encourages Council members to recognize the service and work of local individuals with awards and has the goal of publishing their accomplishments in the Council media.
Criteria for Election to the Memorial Hall of Fame
- The nominee must have been deceased for at least 2 years prior to the nomination deadline.
- The nominee must have significantly contributed to the field of genealogy in Colorado in a way that is unique, pioneering or exemplary. The contributions may include but are not limited to the following:
- Authored books and/or other periodical material that added significantly to the published work relating to Colorado genealogy.
- Participated in projects making Colorado genealogical source records available to the public by preserving, transcribing, translating, abstracting, indexing, and/or publishing such records.
- Shared Colorado genealogical information and research methods and sources by teaching, lecturing and/or publishing educational materials.
- Contributed time, labor and leadership to a Colorado genealogical or historical organization/periodical.
- Contributed to Colorado legislation benefiting Colorado genealogy.
- Contributed to Colorado genealogy by organizing a society, oral history program or other similar endeavors.
Nominating Procedures
A genealogical society, similar organization or an individual may submit a nomination to the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies Memorial Hall of Fame Committee. The submitter is asked to include a completed nomination form, an obituary, a photograph if possible, of the nominee and the name and address of a relative or an associate willing to take part in the presentation. The number of awards given is left to the discretion of the committee. The committee may choose to award honorable mention certificates to an individual whose contribution to the local community is outstanding.
Nominations will be accepted between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 each year. Please
send nominations to the Vogels Award Committee, Colorado Council of Genealogical
Societies, P.O. Box 40270, Denver, Co 80204-0270.
Download a Memorial Hall of Fame - David S. Vogels Award Nomination Form (PDF)
Previous Recipients
1990 - David S. Vogels, Jr.(1925-1988)
1992 - Henrietta Bromwell (1858-1946)
1994 - Adelaide French (1878-1974)
1996 - Quantrille D. McClung (1890-1985)
1996 - Sanford Charles Gladden (1902-1992)
1998 - Alfred A. Look (1893-1992)
2000 - Bernice FitzSimmons Hathaway (1903-1988)
2002 - Everett H. Guerink
2004 - Bonnie Lou Brittain Yorgason
2010 - Joanne Claussen
2011 - Barbara Jones Brown
2012 - Birdie Monk Holsclaw
2014 - Carol Louise Rein Shwayder
2016 - Mary Margaret Kelly Davis (1931-2012)
2018 - Betty Summers
2018 - Kay Merill
2019 - Terry Quirke (1929-2016)
2020 - Pat Johnson
2021 - Larry Dodge
2021 - Shirley Sheets
2023 - Pamela K. Smith
The 1990 award honored David S. Vogels, Jr. His contributions included serving as President of the Colorado Genealogical Society and being the founder of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies.
The 1992 award honored Henrietta Bromwell an early Colorado Genealogist known for her books on early pioneers in Colorado. Her genealogical research notes of some forty years are in the manuscript collection of the Western History section of the Denver Public Library.
The 1994 award honored Adelaide French who served as President of the Colorado Genealogical Society seven times from 1932 to 1968. Miss French donated a collection of her diaries, genealogical papers, and research writings to Denver Public Library.
The 1996 award honored Sanford Charles Gladden and Quantrille D. McClung:
Mr. Gladden published numerous volumes and pamphlets on early Boulder history. His manuscripts and publications can be found at the University of Colorado Library and Denver Public Library.
Ms. McClung contributed to Colorado genealogy with her numerous genealogies of Colorado Governors. She worked on 3 volumes of the Carson-Bent-Boggs Genealogy and published Memoirs of My Childhood and youth in North Denver.
The 1998 award honored Alfred A. Look. Mr. Look contributed as an author of numerous books on Colorado history. His collection of manuscripts, photos and scrapbooks reside at the Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction.
The 2000 award honored Bernice FitzSimmons Hathaway. Ms. Hathaway served in numerous lineage and genealogical organizations in Colorado. She was President of the Colorado Genealogical Society from 1944 to 1945 and Editor of The Colorado Genealogist from 1951 to 1967. Bernice was the compiler of four family histories and was a nationally recognized expert in heraldry and heraldic art. In 1985 she was named "National Woman of the Year" by the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America.
The 2002 award honored Everett H. Geurink, who joined the Colorado Genealogical Society in 1978 and was made an honorary life member in 1989. He was co-editor of The Colorado Genealogist with Sue Lanham in 1981, with Edward McCune in 1982, Dianne Craig in 1983, and full editor 1984 to February 1988, when he retired from The Denver Post as an photoengraver, and moved to Iowa. He was past president of the Iowa Genealogical Society and the Scott County Genealogical Society of Iowa. He co-chaired the NGS Conference in the Quad cities, and was a member of the Scott County Historical Society and the Civil War Round Table.
The 2004 award honored Bonnie Lou Brittain Yorgason, who directed the effort to establish a genealogy research area in Colorado Springs newly opened Penrose Library in 1968. She set up the area with books and microfilm from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and recruited, trained and scheduled volunteers who worked there, as well as offering her expertise to the researchers. In 1975, when the LDS Church established their branch library in Colorado Springs, Bonnie set up the first, and still the largest, Family History Center in the city, and served as its Director until 1998. She was a charter member of the Pikes Peak Genealogical Society and served in many roles ensuring that genealogical research was not only taught in the community, but that resources were made available.
The 2010 award honored Birdie Monk Holsclaw. See the Birdie Monk Holsclaw profile for her outstanding achievements.
The 2014 award honored Carol Rein Shwayder, ... .
The 2016 award honored Mary Margaret Kelly Davis. View the video below for the award's celebration.
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The 2018 award honored Betty Summers. Bob Larson (pictured right in group photo), President of Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies in Denver, presented the David S. Vogels award certificate to Jean Jenes, daughter of Betty Summers, recipient of the 2018 award along with Gary Davis, President of Larimer County Genealogical Society in Fort Collins. Betty Summer is shown in photo on the right side.
The second recipient of the 2018 award honored Kay Merrill. Bob Larson (pictured left in group photo), President of Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies in Denver, presented the David S. Vogels award certificate to Larry Merrill, Jr., husband of Kay Merrill. Kay Merrill is shown in photo on the right side.
The 2019 award honored Dr. Terence (Terry) Thomas Quirke , Jr., who was active in the Colorado Genealogical Society, The CGS Computer Interest Group and also W.I.S.E He was one of the first members of the CGS/ Computer Interest Group. There were board members in the early days of CIG but Terry was designated the first actual president of the group serving from 1989 to 1991. He was also a member of the Irish Genealogical Society International.
Terry had held Certified Genealogist Status from the Board of Certification of Genealogist, Washington DC and a Fellow of IGRS (Irish Genealogical research society. He was also member of the Ontario Genealogical Society, the Kent Family History Society, The Sussex Family History Group, the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History. And the Society of Genealogist.
Terry was the recipient of the 2006 Ward for Excellence from the National Genealogical Society (NGS0. This award is given for a significant contribution to family Genealogy or family history through publishing. His 631 page publication showed significant excellence in genealogy.
Dr. Terence Quirke’s Book Quirke Genealogy and Family History of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland: India, New Zealand, England, Australia, South Arica, and the United States.
Attached are publications about Terence life and work.
1. NGS AWARD
2. Obituary, Denver Post
3. Colorado Genealogist article
Mr. Larry Dodge has been an enormous influence on Colorado Genealogy for many years as a teacher, researcher and contributor to individuals and local genealogy groups in the state. During the last 20 - 25 years of his life, genealogy was his life. He often did research up to 18 hours a day. The research he did was over 95% for other people, not his own family line. He did some research professionally but most of it was gratis.
Teaching was one of his favorite things to do. Anytime he was asked to teach at a genealogy organization, a church, a business function or special interest group, he would drop what he was doing to provide the service - both in state and out of state. He was listed on the Genealogy Speaker Directory for many years. His range of topics was large, and he relished preparing for a topic he was not familiar with in depth so he could personally learn about other topics. He did not publish any of his research but documented much of it on FamilySearch.org so others could benefit from his work.
Larry was the recipient of the 2006 Ward for Excellence from the National Genealogical Society (NGS). This award is given for a significant contribution to family Genealogy or family history through publishing. His 631 page publication showed significant excellence in genealogy.
Larry had extraordinarily strong computer and software skills. He often helped others set up computers and install genealogy software. These skills and his knowledge of genealogy led him to set up the Family History Center at a new Mormon Church on the south side of Parker, Colorado. He was given one computer which he considered inadequate to show the community what a real family history center could be like. Consequentially, he purchased several complete computer systems, eight stations in total, so each station would have a full research capability. He wrote software that would access information from the available CDs so each station could retrieve the information without having to load the CD individually. This would have been early in desktop technology. He then maintained the computers in the Center for many years.
Larry also set up the same computer network at two other churches and trained the staff to do family research, He even worked one night a week at the Family History Center until his health failed. He served as the Center Director for several years. The Center needed a microfilm copy machine which required the center to be open a required number of hours per week for a year. He was able to accomplish that threshold within three years of the Center being open.
Larry was asked to be involved in a committee that was formed to present Governor Bill Owens a book of the governor's own family history. He was incredibly involved in the research. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the actual presentation to the governor, but the credit was not important to him; it was the opportunity to contribute.
He was always ready to help in establishing or supporting genealogy groups. He taught monthly genealogy lessons at Heritage Eagle Bend for over two years and was involved in creating and establishing the Parker Genealogy Society. He often presented to the group several times each year on relevant topics to the membership. He would frequently fill in at the last moment when a speaker could not attend. He served in several official positions including as a special advisor to the board for advice and to manage various projects for the society. Another project he was heavily involved in was the indexing of the 1950 Census. He helped organize workdays and getting people involved in the project.
One of our charter members was asked what he remembered about Larry Dodge, he replied: "He was one of my most admired people; he was selfless in his dedication to helping others with their genealogy, a great inspiration to me and helped me find my ancestors many times. He was one of the members that made our society better."
When others asked him what they could do for him, Larry's reply was always, "Let me help you with your family history."
As a native Coloradan with ancestors who arrived here before statehood, Shirley Ann Sheets gave much of her adult life to supporting genealogical endeavors in Colorado. In 1975 she became a charter member of the Mount Rosa Chapter of the DAR. Shortly thereafter, she became the president of the Colorado Genealogical Society. She was later awarded an honorary life membership to CGS. Her 19 years as a genealogy librarian at DPL (retiring in 1994) gave her insight into the needs of researchers which led to her work in setting up “ethnic study groups”. This eventually led to her involvement with the founding of the Black Genealogy Search group in 1982 for which she was honored in 2013 and in 2017 during the Group’s 35th anniversary year. In an article called, “W.I.S.E. is 35—What Will the Next 35 Years Bring?” (Volume 19, Number 4, Oct.-Dec. 2018; front page) James Jeffery’s account of the history of W.I.S.E. is quoted (“The Evolution of W.I.S.E.: How a study group matured…”, 2008). It said, “When was W.I.S.E. formed and what is the back story? We trace our earliest history to the formation of an "ethnic study group" suggested by Shirley Ann Sheets.” Both BGSG and W.I.S.E. are vibrant, fully functioning societies today.
Shirley didn’t just care for the research needs of others, she cared for her own family’s history and artifacts. A newsletter from the Mount Rosa chapter of the DAR stated that Shirley had a fireproof vault where she stored her patriot ancestor’s documents and artifacts. Her cousin, Sharon de Spain Motto said that she tirelessly researched her de Spain family tree. Additionally, she served on the Board of Directors for Ruffner Family Association. In a tribute to Shirley, by Betty Lou Gaeng in the Ruffner Roots and Ramblings (Volume 22, Issue 4, Winter 2019), it stated that she was “one of the founder/leaders in the beginning years of the Ruffner Family Association. In 1995, she played the leading role in planning one of the family’s very early reunions in Charleston, West Virginia.” In 2007 she and her brother, Robert Newman Sheets planned another reunion which was held in Colorado. They also planned and held a board of directors meeting and “mini-reunion” in Denver in 2014. This statement from James Kroll seems to sum up Shirley’s genealogy life. “Shirley cherished genealogy and its habitants perhaps more than anyone else I met. She was the most welcoming librarian I ever had the pleasure to share a reference desk. She always delved into whatever a researcher needed. Her contributions were legendary: forming ten or twelve ethnic research groups, talking to other organizations, attending genealogy meetings on evenings and weekends…and overall providing support for everyone who worked on their family histories.” Publications and Recognition Awards, the following information was found on the web:
Publications and Recognition Awards: The following information was found on the website for the Denver Pen Women (Denver branch of the National League of American Pen Women) https://www.denverpenwomen.org/meet-ourmembers/shirley-ann-sheets/.
Robert Newman: His Life & Letters, 1752-1804 (researcher/editor), 1975. Co-authored with her brother, Robert Newman Sheets. This is the story of the sexton of Boston’s Old North Church who hung the lanterns in response to Paul Revere’s plan. “One if by land – two if by sea.”
Colorado Families: A Territorial Heritage (chief editor), Colorado Genealogical Society, 1981.
Harrison and Catherine Ruffner in the Valley of the Little Wabash (editor/“go-for”).
1999 Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History.
Honorary Life Member of Colorado Genealogical Society Honorary Life Member of Black American West Museum & Heritage Center.
Pamela K Smith's lasting contribution was to genealogy in Colorado and at the national level with Palatines to America (Palam). When no others wanted to assume leadership of the Colorado chapter, Palatines to America (president 2012- 2015) or the national society Palatines to America, Pamela stepped forward and even produced advancements. She was also a member and officer of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (CAPG) and was president (2006- 2008) of The Colorado Genealogical Society including Recording Secretary of the society. She joined both to learn skills, methods, and resources for genealogical research. Her patients to learn more about her German ancestors drove her to rejoin PalAm in 2007.
Pamela was academically gifted, having earned a PhD from Kansas State University. Thus, she brought research skills and knowledge of the need for documentation to her new passion for genealogical research which is why she joined CAPG. She attended countless national conferences sponsored by NGS (National Genealogical Society) and Palam and met the best speakers in the country. In her capacity as Vice President of Colorado’s PalAm chapter (2008-2012), (2015-2017), she brought the best nationally recognized speakers to educate German researchers about record sources, language interpretations, historical patterns that drove migration and many other forces with which the German ancestors had to contend. In her capacity as National PalAm President (2010-2012) she built relationships between board officers and widely dispersed chapters, guiding an organization with an office in Ohio and most of the members in the East and Midwest. She also guided the national organization spending patterns to achieve an increase in the year-end balance by her second year. Because of her bent towards professionalism, she gave PalAm a positive image with NGS and FGS thereby increasing PalAm’s stature.