What lies ahead for genealogy and family history in 2020? Taking a look back at 2019 can be helpful in predicting where we might be headed in 2020. The most viewed blog posts on Family Locket for 2019 included those on DNA, Organization, and Productivity. If you missed any of these, I invite you to do some browsing and see if there is something that could help you in your research for 2020. Below are...
Have you noticed Ancestry DNA’s Thrulines and perhaps clicked around exploring this new feature? How can it help you in breaking down brick walls? Are there limitations to it’s use? We’ll take a look at these questions and more in this article. If you haven’t yet discovered Thrulines, some exciting clues might be waiting for you. What is Ancestry DNA ThruLines? First, what is ThruLines and how does it work? A big clue is directly...
Do you have a tough research question involving autosomal DNA? Do you like visualizing your data? Have you considered using a network graph to see connections between matches? Let me tell you how a network graph helped me break my Dyer brick wall and gave me new avenues for research. Who were the parents of John Robert Dyer? I have been searching for the parents of my husband’s 3rd great grandfather for the last several...
After completing a research like a pro with DNA project, you may not have come to a proven conclusion. Or perhaps you finished your objective and are ready to move forward with something else. What’s next? How do you continue to make progress on your goal or choose a new goal? Here are several suggestions. Continue Your Research and Writing Start another iteration of the same objective If you didn’t come to a proven conclusion...
Do you write reports after you’ve completed some research on your family? Have you worked with DNA to prove a hypothesis that traditional research could only hint at? If so, you’ll want to get your conclusions out of your brain and on to paper. What does a research report look like? Today I’m sharing the report I wrote on my hypothesis of Benjamin Cox as the father of Rachel Cox. I used DNA as part...
You’ve analyzed your DNA, compared it with family history information and records, and worked diligently to gather information about your family—What’s next? The final step in the Research Like a Pro with DNA process is to write your conclusions and correlate the information in a report. This report may be written to yourself, family members, or clients. It’s a summary of the information about your DNA matches, common ancestors, and verification of biological connections to...
Have you discovered the value of using a research log? If not, you might want to experiment with using one for your next research project. Fine tuning a research log that worked for me was a major benefit of the accreditation process. When I started adding DNA as evidence in my research, I needed to tweak the log to reflect my correspondence with my DNA matches. I’ve shared each step of my DNA research project...
Updated 24 February 2022 When working on a case involving DNA test results, it may feel like you look at hundreds of DNA match pages, reports, family trees, and shared match lists each time you sit down to research. Do you want a better way to keep track of all the sources you consult in a DNA research project? It’s time to take your research log to the next level. In the Research Like a...
I am new to genetic genealogy. I began to realize several months ago that I needed to add DNA research to my list of skills, so I purchased Ancestry DNA kits for myself and my husband at RootsTech in February. I received my results and didn’t really know what I should do next, so I started reading the articles about DNA right here at Family Locket and listening to all of the Research Like a...
This series is about how I found my grandmother’s father with DNA. To read the other posts in the series, click below: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 For many people working on genealogical projects for adoptees, connecting with the biological family is the end goal. You never know how people will react to this kind of news, but it’s hard not to get excited about the possibilities of a relationship....