Nicole Elder Dyer

About Nicole Elder Dyer

Nicole Dyer is a professional genealogist specializing in Southern United States research and genetic genealogy. She is the creator of FamilyLocket.com and the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She co-authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide and Research Like a Pro with DNA and is an instructor for the study groups of the same name. She lectures at conferences and institutes and previously served as the secretary and publicity chair of the Pima County Genealogy Society. Nicole holds a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in History Teaching. At Family Locket Genealogists, Nicole is a project manager, editor, and researcher.

How to Research Like a Pro with Goldie May

Mar 28, 2020

Have you ever wished an automated research log could track all the websites you visit during a research session? Me too. I’m excited to introduce Richard Miller, the developer of Goldie May. This new app helps you keep a research log and offers research assistance. We asked Richard to tell us how his app can help us Research Like a Pro. Here’s his guest blog post. Enjoy! -Nicole p.s. I’m updating this to...

Genealogy Research in the 21st Century Part 2: Overcoming Bad Research Habits

Mar 27, 2020

Technology has made genealogy research more accessible, but how has it impacted our research habits? Depending on when you began your genealogy journey, you may have received your initial research training from family history websites and tree-building services. Searching in online databases and seeking information in record hints have created habits that many researchers now are trying to break. Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS gave the lecture, “The Advance of Research...

RLP 89: DNA Report Writing

Mar 23, 2020

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to write about your genetic genealogy research. After keeping track of your searches in your research log, you are ready to write about what you found in a report. We discuss what to include in the report, how to discuss genetic connections, and ideas for making the report flow. Links DNA Research Reports – the Ultimate Finish by Robin at Family Locket Writing a Research...

Genealogy Research in the 21st Century Part I: Genealogy Research is Still Hard

Mar 20, 2020

Genealogists have seen amazing advances in technology over the last 40 years. These advances have made many genealogical records more accessible and increased the speed of communication. But how has it affected our research habits? Do we fall victim to the random search-and-click hunting encouraged by the slot-machine effect? What can we learn from the pre-1980 era of genealogy research? How has the addition of DNA as a genealogically relevant source affected our research? Thomas...

Share Ancestor Character Traits with Kids: A Simple Activity

Mar 19, 2020

Today I’m sharing a guest post from Charlotte Barnes, author of the new book Turning Little Hearts: Over 90 Activities tot Connect Children with their Ancestors. Charlotte is sharing a fun idea for teaching children about the character traits of ancestors by creating a man out of a paper bag! This easy activity takes minimal time to set up and provides an opportunity to learn about ancestors in an engaging way. To watch a video of...

RLP 88: DNA Research Logs

Mar 16, 2020

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to use a research log in your genetic genealogy research. We discuss the sources and methods to include in your log, how to best keep track of your DNA matches, correspondence logs, and tech tools that will help you be efficient. We discuss how to use a database tool called Airtable to help you with big projects where you have a lot of DNA matches...

Research Like a Pro in 30 Minutes a Day: Free Webinar and 14 Day Challenge

Mar 13, 2020

Is your genealogy society cancelling their monthly meeting due to the Coronavirus? One of our subscribers mentioned that her society would like to stay home and watch a webinar for their monthly meeting instead. She asked if we could provide a lecture for their society. We thought we would share our Research Like a Pro in 30 Minutes a Day recorded webinar for her and for any of you who are in the same boat....

Review of How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records

Mar 10, 2020

I have been reading How to Find Your Family History In U.S. Church Records: A Genealogist’s Guide, a new book by Sunny Jane Morton and Harold A. Henderson, CG. I just finished it, and I’m excited to share my thoughts about with you. Genealogical Publishing Company sent me a copy of the book to review. I am grateful for the opportunity to read the book and the motivation that having this task provided. When I received...

RLP 87: Using Gazetteers in Research

Mar 9, 2020

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to find and use gazetteers in your genealogy research. Diana and Nicole discuss how to locate them using the FamilySearch Wiki, Google, and library catalogs, and what kind of helpful information they contain. They share several examples of helpful gazetteers, including Meyers Gazetteer for Germany, the U.S. Geographic Name Information System, Names in South Carolina, and more. Links Gazetteers – article at the FamilySearch Wiki...

RLP 86: Mining Records for Research Opportunities – Certification Preparation

Mar 2, 2020

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to analyze a record thoroughly and find clues for future research. Nicole is preparing her portfolio to submit to the Board for Certification of Genealogists, so we are discussing portfolio element 3 – Document Work – in conjunction with this subject. For this portfolio element, applicants are given a document to transcribe and analyze. We focus primarily on parts 3C, 3D, and 3E – creating...