Lori Thornton is a professional genealogist specializing in Southern States (especially North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi) and in religious records. She speaks on genealogical topics at local, regional, and national events. She authored Research in Mississippi in the National Genealogical Society’s Research in the States series.
Lori earned a Master of Religious Education degree in 1990 from Cincinnati Bible Seminary. She earned a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from University of Kentucky in 1994. During the academic year, she works as a librarian at a liberal arts university.
Lori completed the following genealogical institute courses:
-
- “Military Records” (2010) coordinated by Christine Rose, CG-Emeritus (IGHR)
- “Writing and Publishing for Genealogists” (2017) coordinated by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG (IGHR)
- “Fundamentals of Forensic Genealogy” (2018) coordinated by Catherine B. W. Desmarais, CG with additional lectures by Michael S. Ramage, CG, and Kelvin Meyers (GRIP)
- “Research in the South: Colonial States” (2019) coordinated by J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA (IGHR)
- “Intermediate DNA: Planning for and Conducting Research Using DNA and Documentary Sources” (2020) coordinated by Karen Stanbary, CG (IGHR)
- “Beyond Fundamentals” Hands-On Forensic Genealogy” (2021) coordinated by Catherine Wiest Desmarais, CG (GRIP)
Lori completes many hours of continuing education each year through webinars, conferences, and self-directed study.
Lori accepts a few clients as time permits during the academic year, but the majority of client work is done in summer months.