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.

Find Names for the Temple Part 6: Reserve Temple Ordinances

Sep 13, 2018

Now that you have added new relatives to FamilySearch Family Tree, attached sources, and ensured there are no duplicates, you are ready to reserve temple ordinances. To view previous posts in this series, click the links below: Part 1: Review the Accuracy of Your Tree Part 2: Analyze Your Pedigree Part 3: Analyze Descendancy Trees Part 4: Research Part 5: Record Your Findings Part 6: Reserve Temple Ordinances To view all the articles detailing each step,...

RLP 9: Report Writing

Sep 10, 2018

In today’s episode of the podcast we are talking all about why you should write your results at the end of a research project. There are so many reasons, but probably the most important is that the act of writing about something helps you make connections and solve problems. And of course, it also helps you to leave the project knowing that you can pick it back up in a year and know exactly where...

Find Names for the Temple Part 5: Record Your Findings

Sep 6, 2018

Recording what you found is an essential part of the research process. You should record the information in your own notes, FamilySearch Family Tree, and your personal genealogy database, (i.e. RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Ancestral Quest, Legacy Family Tree). To view the other parts in this series, click the links below: Part 1: Review the Accuracy of Your Tree Part 2: Analyze Your Pedigree Part 3: Analyze Descendancy Trees Part 4: Research Part 5: Record Your...

RLP 8: Research Logs

Sep 3, 2018

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss research logs. You know, that dreaded spreadsheet that you should keep when you’re doing research. We will discuss a few different types of research logs, including Research Ties, spreadsheets, tables, paper logs, and the research notebook. We will also talk about how we normally use our research log in our workflow. Diana is going to talk about how she never feels like she’s really doing research...

RLP 7: Source Citations

Aug 27, 2018

Today’s podcast episode is about source citations. We’ll discuss when you need to make citations, how to do it, and the questions to ask that will guide you as you create them: who, what, when, where within, and where in the world. If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of making source citations you’re not alone. Nicole tells about her experience really learning how to do it. Diana will tell us about layered source citations,...

Exciting Innovations at the BYU Record Linking Lab

Aug 25, 2018

Joseph P. Price, a professor of economics at BYU, presented at Education Week about his innovative Record Linking Lab. Summarizing from their website, the purpose of the Record Linking Lab is to improve the quality and coverage of the FamilySearch Family Tree by developing tools that link families and individuals across records. Those assisting in this effort include BYU students and academic researchers; yet the Record Linking Lab also works with FamilySearch.org. Their big ideas include...

Family History Music with Janice Kapp Perry at BYU Education Week

Aug 24, 2018

Dallyn Vail Bayles and Tammy Simister Robinson performing Teach A Child / I Love to See the Temple at BYU Education Week 2018 Janice Kapp Perry and her son and daughter, Steven Kapp Perry, and Lynne Perry Christofferson, shared their temple and family history music at BYU Education Week on Wednesday. It was a spirit-filled hour with experiences about temple work and uplifting lyrics sung by the talented Dallyn Vail Bayles and Tammy Simister Robinson. Many...

Find Names for the Temple Part 4: Research

Aug 23, 2018

Now that you have a research question, you are ready to do a research project to discover the answer. This is an exciting part of the process, but there are also several steps to follow to help you prepare and be more successful. Here are each of the steps: -Create an Objective -Make a Timeline -Learn About the Location -Make a Research Plan and Log -Search for Records -Analyze the Records To view previous steps...

Education Week Resources

Aug 22, 2018

We are loving Education Week at Brigham Young University this week. We’ve been attending classes, enjoying lunches with friends, and most of all, we are enjoying sharing and teaching about family history. Thank you to everyone who has been attending our classes. It has been great to meet you and hear your comments. We look forward to the next two days! For those of you who are attending our week-long series of classes entitled “The...

RLP 6: Research Planning

Aug 20, 2018

Today’s podcast episode is all about why you need to start creating research plans for every project, and how to do it. There are fives steps: Create a document with objective at top, compile a summary of known facts, write a hypothesis, make a list of sources to search, then finalize a prioritized strategy. We will talk about the need to be flexible as we follow our research plans, since plans change once you find...