Julie Cahill Tarr, AG, is a genealogy consultant who specializes in Midwestern families with German, Luxembourgian, Irish, Italian, and British heritage. As an award-winning editor and author, she also produces educational materials in the form of articles, guides, and courses.
Julie’s Story, In Her Own Words
Back in 2007, I set out on quest to prove a family story, and in the course of doing so, I came to realize that I really didn’t know who my family was. All of my great-grandparents were gone before I was born, and all my grandparents and my father died by the time I was twelve. So for me, genealogy research became my connection to the past and the immediate family I never really got a chance to know. I continue to do research to maintain that connection, so for me, it is very personal. (But, I will admit, I love the thrill of the hunt and all the neat discoveries I come across on my journey.)
Before I set out on my professional genealogy endeavor, I enjoyed the career of a technical writer after earning my bachelor’s degree in English from Illinois State University. I loved taking difficult concepts and making them understandable. I loved the research involved in many of my projects. I loved helping people learn. While I sometimes miss my old “day job,” I have found a way to take those skills and combine them with my passion for genealogy. Since 2011, I have been a professional genealogist, helping clients discover and share their family history.
Research Interests
Julie specializes in Midwestern research, with a focus on Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. She also has a strong background in Luxembourg research. Her personal and professional research has led her to all sorts of places including colonial New England (particularly Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont); upstate New York; Ontario, Canada; Germany/Prussia; France, Ireland, Italy, and England.
Experience
- Technical writer/editor (2003–2008)
- Personal genealogy research (2007–present)
- Freelance writer/editor (2008–present)
- Professional genealogist (2011–present)
- Course writer for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (2012–2015)
- Managing editor and design/technical editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society’s Quarterly (2013–2015)
- Editor and design/layout editor of the Dallas Genealogical Society’s publication Pegasus (2014–2016)
- Managing editor and design/layout editor of the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ quarterly magazine FORUM (2015–present)
- Editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists’ newsletter eNews (2017–2020)
- Course developer (2020-present)
- Managing editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (2022-present)
Service to the Genealogy Community
Almost since she started her genealogical journey, Julie has been involved with various organizations within the genealogy community.
- Illinois State Genealogical Society, board and/or committee member (2009–2015)
- Letitia Green Stevenson Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, board and/or committee member (2009–2013)
- Federation of Genealogical Societies, local publicity chair (for 2011 conference), conference publication committee chair (2014–2017)
- Association of Professional Genealogists, conference syllabus coordinator (2018–2019), board member (2019–2020)
Professional Development
Like many fields, Julie believes that genealogy and family history require continuous education. Standards evolve, research interests change, and new avenues for resources constantly emerge. In addition to reading books and periodicals and attending local and virtual presentations, she has participated in various other educational opportunities including:
- ProGen Study Group 5 (2009–2011)
- Illinois State Genealogical Society Conference (2009, 2018, 2019)
- National Institute for Genealogical Studies (2010–2011)
- Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference (2011, 2013, 2016, 2020)
- Fox Valley Genealogical Society Conference (2011)
- RootsTech (2012, 2021, 2022)
- Midwestern Roots Conference (2012)
- GenProof Study Group 11 (2013)
- Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
- Problem Solving (2014)
- Virtual Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum (2018, 2023)
- Corpus Juris: Advanced Legal Concepts for Genealogy (2021)
- Operation Jumpstart: Beyond the Basics of Military Research (2022)
- Bridging the Gap: New England to the Midwest 1780-1850 (2023)
- National Genealogical Society Conference (2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research
- Writing & Publishing for Genealogists (2016)
- Advanced German Genealogy (2018)
- Advanced Methodology & Evidence Analysis (2020)
- Military Records I: The Colonial Era to the Vietnam War (2021)
- Land Records: Using Maps in Genealogical Research (2022)
- Researching New York: Resources and Strategies (2023)
- Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh
- You Be the Judge: Practicum Using Standards to Evaluate Genealogical Work (2018)
- Advanced Practices in Social History (2022)
- Women and Children First (2022)
- Mastering the Art of Genealogical Documentation (2023)
- Luxembourg American Cultural Society Conference (2018)
- Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference (2019, 2022, 2023)
- International German Genealogy Partnership Conference (2021)
Society Memberships
- Alliance of Independent Authors
- Association of Professional Genealogists
- Illinois State Genealogical Society
- National Genealogical Society
- National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
- New England Historic Genealogical Society
- New York Genealogical & Biographical Society
- Nonfiction Authors Association
- Utah Genealogical Association
Awards
- International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, Excellence in Writing Competition, 3rd Place in Category V: Unpublished by Published Author (2011)
- Federation of Genealogical Societies, Award of Merit (2011, 2016), Presidential Citation (2016), Certificate of Appreciation (2017)
- Letitia Green Stevenson Chapter NSDAR, Outstanding Junior (2011, 2012), various other awards (2011, 2012)
- AncestryProGenealogists Scholarship (2018)
Research Featured In…
Dead Files, “Devil’s Plaything,” Season 6, Episode 10, air date 4 June 2016. Dead Files is a paranormal investigation series that combines historical research with the medium’s findings. Julie conducted historical research and appeared as an on-camera expert for the episode.
Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging, by Alex Wagner (One World, 2018). Ms. Wagner is an American journalist and co-host of The Circus on Showtime. Futureface received much praise and was among Barack Obama’s summer reads for 2018.
Publications
Julie’s articles have appeared in various genealogical publications including: APG Quarterly, The Appalachiana, Crossroads, Family Tree Magazine, FORUM, Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly, and NGS Magazine. Some of her favorites include:
- “Watch YouTube Videos to Grow Your Genealogy Skills.” Internet Genealogy. January 2023
- “Marketing Your Book.” APG Quarterly. September 2022
- “Track Genealogy Books with Goodreads.” Internet Genealogy. Apr/May 2020.
- “Can a Book Become Your New Business Card?” APG Quarterly. March 2020. The first in a column about writing and publishing.
- “Add PERSI to Your Genealogy Toolkit.” Crossroads. Winter 2020.
- “Blueprint for Success: Building a Genealogy Education Plan.” FORUM. Fall 2017.
- “Busted.” Family Tree Magazine. May/June 2017.
- “Infiltrate the Web Using Public Profiles.” APG Quarterly. December 2015.
- “Educational Opportunities in Genealogy: Parts 1 and 2.” NGS Magazine. October–December 2014 and January–March 2015.
- “World War I Heroes of Brigham City.” Crossroads. Fall 2014.
- “Revitalize Your Society.” FORUM 25, no. 3 (2013).
- “Newspapers: Going Beyond Obituaries.” Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly. Winter 2012.
- “A Genealogist’s Treasure Trove in Central Illinois.” Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly. Fall 2009.
She also produced course materials for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, including the US: Newspaper Records course (major revision to existing course) and the Skill-Building: Breaking Down Brick Walls course (which was a new course prepared in 2015).
Julie also developed four Legacy QuickGuides™:
- Using Historical Newspapers for Genealogy Research (2013)
- Researching County Histories (2013)
- US City Directories (2013)
- Lineage Societies and Genealogy (2013)