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 19: Interview with Study Group graduate Sherri Hessick

Nov 19, 2018

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I are interviewing Sherri Hessick, a former Research Like a Pro study group member. Sherri was part of our first study group in 2017. When she joined, she was a graduate of the Boston University online genealogy program. Sherri tells what she learned from doing the study group and how it helps her research today. Update: Sherri agreed to share her research plan from the study group. Here...

RLP 18: How to Create a Locality Guide

Nov 12, 2018

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss the process of making a locality guide. If you are feeling unsure about how much information to add and how to know if you’re finished, you’ll want to take a listen! Links ArchiveGrid – 5 million records describing archival materials held in archives, libraries, museums, etc. Periodical Source Index (PERSI) at FindMyPast.com FamilySearch Research Wiki FamilySearch Catalog Purchase our book Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s...

Family History Miracles: Help from the other side

Nov 8, 2018

Did you know that many people have shared experiences about deceased relatives helping them with their genealogy research? I have four anecdotes to share today, and I think you will find them fascinating. To me, these stories show the connection of our deceased relatives to us. Deceased Grandmother Appears to Help Researcher Pyschic Roots, by Hank Z. Jones, Jr., F.A.S.G., is a collection of experiences from genealogists who felt the influence of coincidence and serendipity...

RLP 17: Discovering Ancestor Actions – WWII War Mothers

Nov 5, 2018

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss using the Research Like a Pro process to discover more about the actions of our ancestor, Florence Creer Kelsey. She was a War Mother during WWII, and Diana did a project to discover what that was and learn more about the organization. Veteran’s Day this year is the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, so we discuss a little bit about honoring our ancestors who are veterans....

RLP 16: How to Deal with Skeletons in the Closet

Oct 29, 2018

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to deal with and write about family secrets that we uncover during genealogy research. Often these skeletons in the closet bring up difficult emotions and threaten to upset family members. As the historians in our family, do we have a duty to tell the story? How should we tell it? Diana shares some thoughts about uncovering how her great grandfather died, and how another great...

Discover Your Roots Junior High Lesson Presentation and Handout

Oct 24, 2018

Today I had the pleasure of teaching three classes of Pre-AP 8th graders about beginning genealogy research. They are embarking on a yearlong project to discover their ancestors and create a display for their annual family history showcase in the spring. All of this is coordinated by an incredible teacher at Emily Gray Junior High, Chris Voutsas, who I wrote about here: 8th Grade Family History Project: My Story in American History. I want to...

RLP 15: When to Hire a Professional Genealogist

Oct 22, 2018

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss what professional genealogists can do for you. We discuss hiring researchers to solve difficult problems in your family tree, transcribing and translating documents, writing family history books, researching on-site, heritage trips, etc. We also discuss how to choose a professional genealogist and what you should expect. Let’s get started! Links Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) APG website – search for a professional by specialties APG website...

RLP 14: Lucinda Keaton Case Study

Oct 15, 2018

In our podcast episode today, I’m discussing my research project to discover the parents of Lucinda Keaton of Pendleton, Anderson County, South Carolina. Diana and I will review what I knew when I started the project, how I found clues leading to a hypothesis that her father was William Keaton of Pendleton District, South Carolina, and what records I searched to prove the hypothesis. We’ll discuss each step in the research like a pro process,...

Find a Name Scavenger Hunt for Children

Oct 12, 2018

Children can help their families find names for the temple and learn how to navigate the FamilySearch Family Tree at the same time! Here is a worksheet for children to use as they search for icons in FamilySearch. I made this worksheet for a one-day family history camp for children at the Tucson Family History Center. My friend organized the event for the primary children in her stake. This was just one of the stations...

RLP 13: Education

Oct 8, 2018

In today’s podcast episode, Diana and I are talking about continuing education in genealogy. Benjamin Franklin said, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” We discuss accreditation, the importance of keeping up with new methodologies and developments in the field such as DNA, and how to go about improving your genealogy education. Learning about records, localities, and methodologies are a good place to start. We also talk about setting goals, creating an education plan,...