Recently, at the Family History Benefit Dinner in Boston Massachusetts, David Rencher, Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch International, was awarded the prestigious Preservation and History Award, an award created to recognize outstanding leaders in preserving knowledge, culture, records, and history to benefit genealogists, historians, and the public at large. This award comes from American Ancestors®, the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS).
Brenton Simons of NEHGS explained that David has been instrumental in encouraging collaboration between the NEHGS, FamilySearch, and other genealogical and historical bodies to gather and preserve records. In his 42-year career at FamilySearch, David has earned wide recognition for his work in public outreach, making connections with Genealogical Societies and consortiums. Here are some of the many initiatives where David's help has been instrumental:
- Fundraising to work with the National Archives’ (NARA) “Preserve the Pensions” project, where pension records from the War of 1812 were imaged and made available online.
- Collaboration with the National Park Service to preserve the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
- Worked to uncover the Social Security Death Master Index and to put those records online.
- Collaborations between FamilySearch and the NEHGS have included many local indexing projects. NEHGS has relationships with many local organizations, and FamilySearch has a lot to offer with digitization tools and volunteer networks. As a team, they have been able to create many online databases of historical records and publish them on both websites.
Uniquely Qualified to Guide the Industry
David is a past president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and currently serves as a director on the board of the National Genealogical Society.
“As the Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch, David is uniquely qualified to guide the industry,” remarked Ed Donakey, Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer, and Vice President of Strategic Relations at FamilySearch. “He has seen the vision of promoting excellence in family history research and the importance of reliable sources. He knows the vast collections that the Family History Library has to offer and has taken its resources to the world and is leading out on raising research to a higher level.”
Donakey said one important thing about David is that despite his being a premier genealogist and unquestionable expert on Irish genealogy and Irish migration, he is constantly seeking to grow and learn. “He doesn’t sit back on his laurels. He is not afraid to say ‘I don’t know. Please help me learn.’ To be that humble at his level is unusual. He is one of a very rare group,” said Donakey.
Finding Connections Inside and Outside Genealogy Circles
David is an expert communicator with the ability to speak knowledgeably with top tier genealogists and then turn and talk with people who are just beginning research and speak at their level so that they understand. “David has taught many classes to the general public and to skilled genealogists. He has been a mentor to many genealogists, including many at the Family History Library,” added Donakey.
His ability to relate to others has given David a network of contacts with different skill sets—people he can call friends who he can reach out to and work with. He sees the value of outside skills and recognizes how they can benefit the genealogical world.
Using Technological Advances to Preserve Records
Speaking of making connections outside of the genealogy world, David Rencher was one of the key innovators involved in creating RootsTech, which was first established in 2011. He and Jay Verkler, then President and CEO of FamilySearch International, saw a need to encourage computer experts to find ways to help people gather, sort, and preserve records efficiently. They set up RootsTech to encourage innovation and genealogical progress. RootsTech has grown each year and now reaches millions worldwide, sharing genealogical concepts and technological advances.
David’s work promotes and supports genealogy research worldwide. It requires broad skill sets: experience in research; the ability to see the entire scope of the FamilySearch organization; recognition of future trends, problems and needs; ways to implement solutions; a vision of others’ talents and how to apply them; meeting, befriending, and relating to experts in many fields; communicating and teaching. He obviously has well-developed skills enhanced by talent.
Eating, Breathing, and Thinking Family History
“What do I love about my work? Absolutely everything!,” said Rencher. “People think I am lying. They say, ‘How are you today?’ and I say, ‘I am thrilled to be here.’ And I am. This work is everything, as far as I’m concerned. It has meaning. It has purpose. It is not routine.” Rencher said.
“Growing up I always knew that there was a job that I would absolutely love. I just didn’t know what it was until I found it. And when I found it, I’ve never looked back. I’ve never regretted a moment of it. I don’t remember the last time I worked an 8 to 5 shift, because I don’t work that way. Family history just absorbs me 24 hours a day. I eat, live, breathe, and think family history,” mused Rencher as he pondered his career in genealogy.
He says the job he has today, he couldn’t have scripted 45 years ago. “My job today fulfills everything I could have dreamed about a job. Friends throughout the world, the ability to travel, to speak to audiences around the globe. Personally, it has been rewarding to me to be able to put records up online that people wouldn’t normally see, ever."
“FamilySearch amazes me. We continue to do things on numerous fronts throughout the world, and we are addressing needs for all audiences. FamilySearch focuses on people, and records, and experiences…to weave together family relationships,” he said.
David recognizes the value of preserving many different types of record sets and has been able to reach out to gather and preserve them—including unusual records such the oral genealogies of Africa. He loves seeing the thrill in people’s eyes when they suddenly know they are from a particular area.
“It is family history’s time. There are so many things that can be done,” mused Rencher.
