Diana Elder

About Diana Elder

Diana Elder AGⓇ AGL is a professional genealogist, author, and speaker. She is accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education and has turned her passion for teaching to educating teens and adults in proven genealogy techniques. Diana is the author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogists Guide and creator of the “Research Like a Pro” study group. She writes regular articles for FamilyLocket.com, the genealogy website created by her daughter, Nicole Dyer. She presents regularly at genealogy conferences, sharing the methods she uses every day to solve challenging genealogical problems.

Becoming an Accredited Genealogy Professional – Diana Elder, AGⓇ

Aug 10, 2017

Have you been following my journey of accreditation for the past two years? If so, I’m pleased to announce that as of July 15th 2017, I am now an Accredited Genealogy Professional. Today I’ll fill you in on my path to accreditation including the bumps and pitfalls along the way. July 2015 I attended the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy. Included in the conference was a track of classes by The International Commission...

Research Like a Pro, Part 4: What’s the Plan?

Aug 5, 2017

Have you ever sat down at your computer to do some genealogy research and two hours later you come up for air? You’ve found interesting documents and looked at a lot of websites, but you didn’t find what you wanted and you don’t know where you looked? If so, you are not alone! Disciplining yourself to create a simple research plan and follow through is the hallmark of the true professional. The fourth in the...

13 Kid-Friendly Mormon Pioneer Sites in Salt Lake City

Jul 19, 2017

Do you live in the Salt Lake City area or are you planning a visit in the near future? 24 July 2017 marks the 170th anniversary of the first wave of Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley. What better way to celebrate your pioneer heritage than to load up the children and go on an adventure. Here are 13 places to check out, along with maps, links, and tips for parent/grandparent survival. East of...

3 Tips for Connecting with your DNA Cousins

Jul 17, 2017

What happens when you discover a new cousin through DNA? You may find exciting family photos and information. You might even be able to meet that individual who shares your family history. I had the pleasure of meeting my cousin, Patty Hoskins, last month. We connected through Ancestry DNA and today I’m sharing 3 tips to help you connect with your DNA cousins. DNA cousin, Patty, and Diana. Tip # 1 Reach out to your...

“These is My Words” – July Book Club Selection

Jul 10, 2017

Do you need a great summer vacation book? One to lose yourself in? If so, then These is My Words – The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner is the book for you. I first discovered this book several years ago and recently reread it with an ear for the family history included. The author wrote it in the form of a diary, based on her family memoirs, so it’s a perfect...

Research Like a Pro, Part 3: Where Did They Live?

Jun 29, 2017

Updated links as of 16 October 2024 When faced with a tough research problem, have you considered digging into the location? Often clues or even the answer to your question can be found with an in-depth look at the places your ancestor lived, worked, and died. Professional genealogists thoroughly research any new area as part of their planning and so can you! In Part 1 of the Research Like a Pro series, you learned...

Back to the Basics with U.S. Census Research – Part II

Jun 26, 2017

Which census records are the best to search? All of them! Each census of an individual’s life provides valuable information. The trick is in learning to evaluate and analyze the data. You don’t know what you don’t know, so today I’ll be sharing ideas for how to use the censuses that you’ve already located. I’ll also share my favorite links for census research, and demystify the non-population schedules. If you missed it, in Back to the...

“The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me” – June Book Selection

Jun 17, 2017

What would you do if you discovered a huge family secret when you were ten years old that shook your world? Paul Joseph Fronczak learned from old news clippings that he had been abandoned in front of a New Jersey store as a toddler. FBI agents determined he was the missing child of a Chicago couple whose infant had been kidnapped from the hospital two years earlier. Reunited with his supposed parents, Paul grew up...

Illustrating Family Stories: The Adventures of Cowboy Bob – The Tornado

Jun 13, 2017

How can you engage your children or grandchildren in family stories? Give them paper and crayons and let them illustrate the story as you tell it. I’ve been writing fictionalized accounts of my dad’s tales so that his posterity could know him. Having my grandchildren in town gave me the chance to tell them the latest story in his saga and see their creativity. We marveled at his surviving so many adventures. So far I’ve written...

Research Like a Pro, Part 2: Analyze Your Sources

Jun 7, 2017

Do you have a stack of research for a problem ancestor? The one who is hard to pin down. The one with unknown parents. How do you even get started on the brick walls in your family tree? Join in this summer’s Research Like a Pro series and see if you can make progress in your research skills and journey in finding your family. To read more about the process, check out my book, Research Like...