Theresa's presentation starts at the 48-minute mark.

Presentation Description:

This informative presentation will shed light on some of the most requested records for genealogical and family history research, the personnel records of the United States. The speaker will provide a brief history of these records and dive into many of the key records series. These include the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), the Official Personnel Folder (OPF), the records of the Selective Service System, Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs), Deceased VA Claim Files (XCs), Courts-Martial records, and many others. Also presented will be information on how to access and request records along with additional resources to guide researchers.

Presenter’s Bio:

Theresa Fitzgerald joined NARA in 2007, as a temporary student employee with the National Archives at St. Louis. Her position then transitioned to the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), and she became a permanent archives technician upon completion of her education. Theresa was selected as an archivist under the Archivist Development Program (ADP) in 2010. She then became the Reference Supervisor for the Archives in St. Louis in 2015 and was selected as the Chief of Archival Operations and Director of the National Archives at St. Louis in 2018.

Previously Theresa worked for The Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center from 2006 to 2007. She holds a bachelor's degree in history from Oklahoma State University and a Master's of History from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.