Research Tips – Family Locket

RLP 414: A Trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

Jun 15, 2026

Diana and Nicole share their recent visit to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they explore the facility’s premier resources. Listeners learn how to use the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) to locate articles by keyword, surname, or locality. The pair explains the value of city directories for tracking individuals after 1950 to uncover addresses and occupations. They also offer guidance on utilizing published family histories, specifically on evaluating an...

Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 2: Timeline and Locality Research

Jun 14, 2026

If you have an ancestor who is still a mystery despite years of research, you’ll relate to my Cynthia (Dillard) Royston project. I am currently working on phase 5 as part of the Research Like a Pro with DNA study group. Each phase has focused on a specific objective and has eliminated many Dillard candidates. Eventually, I hope to have one man left standing, whom documentary and DNA evidence point to as Cynthia’s father. In...

RLP 413: Using Claude’s Custom Skills for Genealogy Research Reports

Jun 8, 2026

Hosts Nicole and Diana discuss using Claude’s Custom Skills to automate genealogical report writing. Nicole begins by sharing her previous, challenging attempt to transform a Baldy Dyer research log spreadsheet into a research report using earlier Claude models. Diana provides an overview of Claude, noting its models (Haiku, Sonnet, Opus) and new features like Custom Skills, which are similar to Custom GPTs. Nicole explains that she set up a Custom Skill to convert spreadsheet files...

Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 1 Research Objective

Jun 6, 2026

RLP 412: Acadian Genealogy and Ancestral Intuition with Judy Nimer Muhn

Jun 1, 2026

The episode features guest Judy Nimer Muhn, a professional genealogist and author who specializes in French-Canadian, Acadian, and Indigenous ancestry. Judy is also the owner of Lineage Journeys and serves as the President of the Michigan Genealogical Council. Nicole and Diana discuss Acadian research with Judy, focusing on how she defines the Acadians and distinguishes them from French-Canadians. Nicole asks for the critical first steps researchers should take when beginning to use Acadian records, such...

A Trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

May 31, 2026

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) Genealogy Center is one of the premier genealogical research resources in the United States. If you’re ever in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, area, you may want to schedule a few days of research at the center. Nicole and I were there as part of the National Genealogical Society Conference and spent an afternoon exploring the center. In this post, I’ll share some of the great resources available there, along...

RLP 411: 23andMe Clustering and Chromosome Browser

May 25, 2026

This episode of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast focuses on the latest updates from 23andMe: the new DNA Relatives Clustering feature and the return of the chromosome browser. Nicole introduces the topic by explaining that both features are now available for premium users, stating that this move, while potentially disappointing for some, is necessary to support the profitability of DNA testing companies. Diana discusses the brand new DNA Relatives Clustering feature, clarifying that...

RLP 410: Catholic Nun Research with Sunny Morton

May 18, 2026

This episode of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast features guest Sunny Morton. Sunny is a genealogy educator, writer, and editor who specializes in US records, particularly those of religious denominations. She is the author of Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States. The discussion begins with the motivation behind writing the book, Searching for Sisters. Then, Sunny shares what the religious life was like for Catholic sisters...

RLP 409: Negative Search Results vs. Negative Evidence: When Nothing Found Means Something

May 11, 2026

On this episode of Research Like a Pro, Diana and Nicole discuss how to transform unsuccessful searching into powerful proof by distinguishing between negative search results and negative evidence. Diana mentions that she is reading an article from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly about a DNA cluster that links two distant lines of descent. Diana shares that a search that yields “nothing” may be exactly the evidence a genealogist needs, drawing from her presentation at...

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RLP 414: A Trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 2: Timeline and Locality Research

RLP 413: Using Claude’s Custom Skills for Genealogy Research Reports

Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 1 Research Objective

RLP 412: Acadian Genealogy and Ancestral Intuition with Judy Nimer Muhn

A Trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

RLP 411: 23andMe Clustering and Chromosome Browser

RLP 410: Catholic Nun Research with Sunny Morton

RLP 409: Negative Search Results vs. Negative Evidence: When Nothing Found Means Something

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