In the podcast episode of “Research Like Pro,” Betsy Ko, a mentor and leader of the WikiTree Events Committee, discusses her background and role at WikiTree. Betsy began her genealogy journey influenced by a family belief related to historical ties and deepened her commitment by studying genealogical principles. She participates in projects focused on England, Scotland, Wales, and Canada, leads the Events Committee, mentors new members, and hosts livecasts. WikiTree itself was described as a...
In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole introduce Cyndi Ingle, the creator of CyndisList.com, a renowned resource for genealogical research. Cyndi, with over 44 years of experience in genealogy, is currently serving as the Executive Director for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). They discuss the distinctiveness of genealogy institutes in comparison to other forms of genealogy education and inquire about Cyndi’s preference between virtual and in-person institutes. They delve into topics...
After taking a mitochondrial DNA test and reviewing your results at Family Tree DNA, you might wonder what else you can do with it. Perhaps you took the mtDNA test to compare with a descendant of a hypothesized ancestor. Or, you might have taken the mtDNA test to see your haplogroup. By adding your matrilineal line to the collaborative Wiki Tree, you can also add your mtDNA haplogroup, which will then populate the profile of...
In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole talk with guest Michelle Mickelson, AG, about the significance of the Homestead Act of 1862 in spurring westward expansion and its implications for genealogy. They explore how this act allowed people to claim and cultivate land in states like Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and discuss how genealogists can access these land records through the National Archives, Bureau of Land Management’s General Land Office, and...
On this Mother’s Day weekend, I want to honor the women on my matrilineal line. This branch of my family tree goes straight back to Denmark, and the stories of these women inspire me. I share mitochondrial DNA with these women, and I like to think that along with that unique inheritance, I also inherited some of their strength and determination. About Mitochondrial DNA We all inherit mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from our mothers, but only...
In this podcast episode, hosts Diana, Nicole, talk with Michelle Mickelson, AG, and discuss the crucial role of church, cemetery, Native American, and Spanish language records in Southwestern genealogy. They emphasize that these records, often predating government documentation, are indispensable for exploring family relationships, migration patterns, and cultural practices through details found in baptism, marriage, and burial entries. The discussion covers a variety of denominations including Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist, among others. They also offer...
Artificial Intelligence tools have made huge strides in transcribing handwritten text in recent years. I’ve already written about FamilySearch’s use of AI to transcribe thousands of deed and probate images here: AI-Powered Full-Text Search of Handwritten Text at FamilySearch. In this post, I’ll share how I’ve been using ChatGPT 4.0 (the paid version) and Claude (free version) to upload images (.jpg and .png) and transcribe them quickly. These large language models (LLMs) do a pretty...
In this episode, Diana and Nicole welcome guest Michelle Mickelson, AG, to discuss key records and repositories for researching ancestors in the Southwestern United States. They explore the differences between federal, state, and local records, highlighting the importance of each for uncovering vital information. Michelle guide listeners through navigating the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), state archives, historical societies, local government records, university archives, and private collections. They emphasize the value of collaboration...
Finding an immigration record for an ancestor arriving in the United States after 1906 will depend on record availability and good search techniques. Identifying your ancestor among people of the same name is a challenge and thorough research in the U.S. records is important to find every clue available. Timeline of Immigration Laws Key to understanding 20th-century immigration is knowing the laws and historical context that influenced an ancestor’s desire to emigrate from their home...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the story of Eliza Ann Isenhour (1850-1898) and the family lore that claims she was a full-blooded Cherokee. The conversation starts with the 1884 incident that left Eliza a widow with four young children and another on the way after her husband, William Henderson Shults, died following an accident. Faced with the challenges of widowhood, Eliza remarries Jacob Meek, and they eventually move to Indian Territory,...
