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.

RLP 46 – Scandinavian Research with Jenny Hansen, AG

May 27, 2019

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Scandinavian Research. We talk to Jenny Hansen, AG, who has been an accredited genealogy professional for 20 years. She tells us tips for researching relatives in the Scandinavian countries. We ask her all of our questions and learn more about researching our ancestors from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Her wealth of knowledge and experience is evident as she speaks. We’re so glad we got to talk...

RLP 45 – Three Reasons to Revisit Your Research

May 20, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss why you might want to go back to research that you did in the past and check it again. There are three specific reasons why we suggest doing this, which we talk about in this episode. Hint hint – you’ll discover more things as more records become available and online! Links 3 Reasons to Revisit Your Research – blog post by Diana How to Research Like...

RLP 44 – How to Know Which Record to Search First

May 13, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss the last element of research planning – making a prioritized list. During this part of research planning, you choose what to search first. Many people wonder how to know which record is the best to search first. We answer that question in today’s podcast. Links Research Like a Pro eCourse – on sale beginning May 8! $99. Sale ends May 22. How to Research Like a...

RLP 43: Create a Genealogy Reference Center with Evernote

May 6, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to create a genealogy reference center in Evernote. Do you have stacks of handouts from genealogy conferences and classes? What are you doing with that blog post or online article you know you’ll need in the future? Can you quickly find reference information that you saved from a lecture? Knowing how to access these items can help you become more efficient in your genealogy research....

RLP 42: Evernote for Research

Apr 29, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to use Evernote, a popular note-taking app, to gather and organize data in your genealogy research projects. Have you ever wished you could cross reference your genealogical findings? Find all the census records in a certain county for a family? Look at all of the mentions of a surname in a city? We’ll talk about tagging, using Evernote with Google Drive, and using the Evernote...

RLP 41: FamilySearch FamilyTree and the GPS

Apr 22, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to apply the genealogical proof standard (GPS) as you work in collaborative trees – specifically the FamilySearch Family Tree. We talk about each element of the GPS and how you implement it with small changes in the way you add reason statements, sources, and additional explanations about your research to the tree. Links How to Improve the FamilySearch Family Tree with the Genealogical Proof Standard...

RLP 40: DNA, Mind Maps, and Diagramming

Apr 15, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss one of our new favorite tools, Lucid Chart! After Robin Wirthlin, our genetic genealogist friend and guest blogger, wrote about using LucidChart, and helped Nicole get started using it, we quickly realized how useful it is when doing client projects involving DNA matches. We talked about how Diana found her sister’s biological parents with DNA diagramming complex relationships of matches with MindMup, a free open source...

Why Miracles Occur in Temple and Family History Work

Apr 14, 2019

I’m excited that I’ll be speaking at Brigham Young University’s Education Week again this year, August 19-23. Education Week is a unique conference experience where classes are part of an overarching course with a unifying theme. Last year, I taught a course with Olivia Jewell entitled “Families Doing Family History Together.” There were four classes within that course, and one of them was entitled “Experiencing Miracles Together through Family History. I enjoyed preparing that lecture...

RLP 39: Tools for Using Your Ancestry DNA Matches

Apr 8, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss three tools we love in AncestryDNA for sorting and using cousin matches. In addition to those three tools, we discuss some of the new features that AncestryDNA just announced at RootsTech as well! We talk about adding notes to your matches, using the shared match tool, and using unlinked family trees. We also discuss the new beta features called “New & Improved DNA Matches” that...

RLP 38: Three Tips for Connecting with Your DNA Cousins

Apr 1, 2019

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to best contact your DNA matches so that they respond, creating a family tree in your software that includes living cousins, and sharing research and memories with the cousins you find. We also talk about Diana’s experience meeting in person with a 2nd cousin she found through DNA and what interesting family document she had which gave Diana helpful information to sort through a difficult...