Speaker: Gail S. Blankenau

Areas of focus or expertise:

  • Helping researchers with Germanic roots through research, writing, and speaking.
  • Other areas of expertise are land records, American homesteading, New England and Midwestern regional research.

Email contact: gail@discoverancestry.org

Web/social media:

Home: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Native language: English

Presentation language(s): English

Preferred presentation type: virtual and in-person

Travel preferences: It depends on the reimbursement available. I have traveled all over the United States to speak.

Biography

Gail Shaffer Blankenau is a professional historian, genealogist, speaker and author, specializing in Germanic genealogy, Midwestern roots, New England roots, as well as American lineage research. She first became interested in family history by looking for treasures in the family attic. As a teenager, she started labeling old family photographs and things progressed from there. Over the years, she has tackled a wide variety of research problems and has grown up with the explosive growth of genealogy as hobby and profession, so her experience ranges from traditional to state-of-the-art research tools.

In addition to performing private client research, Gail enjoys speaking and writing about history and genealogy. Her articles have appeared in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, The Genealogist, The National Genealogical Society Magazine, Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy, The Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly, Nebraska History Magazine, and more. Most recently, she was a research consultant for an award-winning history book A Question of Freedom: The Families who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to the Civil War, by William G. Thomas III. She also serves as the genealogist for the Nickerson Family Association on Cape Cod, a research consultant for the College of Arms in Great Britain (American lines), a member of the Nebraska Historical Newspaper Advisory Board, and board member for the Germanic Genealogy Society.

Adding to the mix, Gail is the James L. Sellers award winner for the best article appearing in a volume of Nebraska History magazine; author of Journey to Freedom: Uncovering the Grayson Sisters’ Escape from Nebraska Territory,” (University of Nebraska Press, 2024) that tells the dramatic story of freedom seekers (fugitive slaves) from Nebraska Territory in the run-up to the Civil War. 

In which societies are you a member? Germanic Genealogy Society; Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogy Society; Greater Omaha Genealogical Society; Sacramento German Interest Group; Mid-Atlantic German Genealogy Society, and more.

Speaking experience/references

My speaking experience is very long and detailed. I would be willing to send a Word or PDF file that summarizes the presentations, who sponsored them, and when they were given. I began speaking on genealogy in 2009.

Recording of previous presentation OR an IGGP partner you have presented for: Germanic Genealogy Society; Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogy Society; Greater Omaha Genealogical Society; Sacramento German Interest Group; Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society, and more.

Payment/expense arrangements

How do you approach payment for making a presentation? I charge a fixed fee shared to the potential clien.

Other expenses you would like to have reimbursed if you travel? Travel expenses, which may include mileage when driving, hotel when needed, necessary meals while traveling, flights, car rental.

Recordings/additional materials

Are you willing to prepare a handout? Yes

Would you be willing to develop a presentation on another topic? Yes

Do you have any restrictions on recording, re-use of recordings, handouts, etc? My restrictions involve the amount of time copyrighted material is available to attendees. If a webinar is recorded, it can be open while live, but once given, if the sponsor wants to put it in their webinar archive, I allow it to be available to members only for two months. Some organizations negotiate the time period. Handouts have similar restrictions.

Are you willing to have the presentation translated or translate it yourself? Yes

Presentation topics

Please email to request a PDF summary of the many presentations I have.