Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy is the Descendant Project Researcher at the University of Virginia where she spearheads the study of the enslaved laborers who laid the university’s foundational stones.
Her background spans with nonprofit and local government work focused primarily on real estate, affordable housing and fair housing discrimination issues. An avid genealogist for over 30 years, Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy, aka “familytreegirl,” was born and raised in Michigan, now living in central Virginia. She conducts genealogy workshops at local, state and national conferences. Murphy is known for her inspiring & interactive “SO WHAT” with genealogical research, along with interesting problem-solving methodology lectures such as the use of Timelines.
Murphy is also a coordinator and instructor at the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) and serves on the Boards of the Library of Virginia and the Albemarle Charlottesville and Fluvanna Historical Societies. She is currently the Genealogist General for the Society of First African American Families of English America (SOFAFEA). She has developed educational programs for the Center for Family History at the International African-American Museum (IAAM). She is a founding member and current President of the Afro-American Historical Genealogical Society Chapter of Central Virginia (AAHGS) and Vice-President of the Central Virginia Genealogical Association. She holds memberships with local, national, state genealogy groups, various historical societies in the United States, including the National Genealogical Society (NGS) and Association of Professional Genealogists and Central Virginia History Researchers. Dr. Murphy’s personal research focuses on Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia/West Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
A respected voice in the genealogy sphere, Dr. Murphy has been featured on prominent platforms such as Family Tree Magazine and multiple times as a presenter at the world’s largest family history conference, Roots Tech. Her insights on tracing African American roots were showcased on CNN with Victor Blackwell and The Today Show with Craig Melvin, reflecting her expertise to a global audience.
Degrees
DM (Doctorate in Management – Organizational Leadership)
MA (Organizational Management)
BS (Social Psychology)
Specialties
African American
Civil War
Colonial
Federal Records
Land Records
Lineage Societies
Mayflower
Military (WW1 and WW2)
Revolutionary War
Affiliations
National Genealogical Society
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, VA
Albemarle/Charlottesville African American Genealogical Group, VA
Central Virginia Genealogical Association
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, VA
Jefferson County Historical Society, WV
Benzie County Historical Society, MI
Franklin County, Historical Society, PA
Virginia Genealogical Society, VA
Society of First African American Families of English America
Family Tree Girl 