06/16/2025
Congratulations to Cynthia Spurgat Jacobson who is the namesake of the new "Spurgat Award for Research Excellence." IAGL President Owen M McCafferty II had the honor of presenting Cynthia with this new award, which has been created by the IAGL Board, during the International German Genealogy Partnership conference this past week in Columbus, Ohio. The Board will soon unveil the requirements for future award winners soon. Congradulations, Cynthia! Well deserved! You can read the full text of Owen's speech below:
Before we close, there is one final and very special recognition I’d like to make. This is not an official IGGP award—but I’m deeply grateful to the IGGP Board for allowing me the opportunity to share this moment with you tonight.
This recognition comes from the International Association of Germans from Lithuania, or IAGL—a partner organization I am proud to have co-founded and now serve as president. This year marks our fifth anniversary, a milestone we recently celebrated at our very first in-person gathering in beautiful Bremen.
Unfortunately, one of our most important members couldn’t be with us there. And in truth, it would not have felt complete without honoring her contribution. So tonight, I have the privilege of presenting a new award created by the IAGL Board—an award that reflects not just recognition, but legacy.
The recipient of this inaugural honor is someone many of you know well: Cynthia Spurgat Jacobson.
Cynthia has been researching the Germans from Lithuania for longer than I’ve been alive—and I say that with admiration and deep respect. Her pioneering work, particularly on the German communities of southwest Lithuania and northeast Poland, laid the foundation for an entire field of study that had been largely overlooked.
Long before the convenience of online indexes, searchable databases, or even email, Cynthia was doing the hard work—digging through archives, corresponding by mail, connecting dots with a remarkable eye for detail and a passion that has never wavered.
About seven years ago, I encountered Cynthia’s research—and it changed everything. It transformed genealogy for me from a personal hobby into a serious academic pursuit. Her example lit a path that I—and many others—have followed. Even now, when I face a challenge in my own research, I find myself asking, “What would Cynthia do?” And when I follow that instinct, my work always gets better.
Cynthia has continued to guide and elevate our community—not only as a trailblazer and mentor, but as the longtime editor of our beloved publication, Die Weite. Her editorial leadership, tireless research, and unwavering commitment have shaped the IAGL from day one.
In conversations with our Board about how we might begin to thank Cynthia for all she has done, one answer stood out: create something lasting—something worthy of her legacy.
And so, it is with great pride and heartfelt appreciation that I announce the creation of the Spurgat Award for Research Excellence—an annual honor bestowed by the IAGL to those whose work reflects the high standards, rigor, and inspiration that Cynthia has set for us all.
Cynthia, your contributions have shaped not just an organization, but a field. You’ve given us all a foundation to build upon, and we are forever grateful.
Please join me on stage as we honor you with this inaugural award!
