Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about writing a DNA proof argument. First we discuss three types of proofs: proof statements, proof summaries, and proof arguments. Then we talk about how to organize a proof argument that includes DNA evidence. We discuss figures and tables and how to include numerical data. Join us as we discuss how to write DNA proof arguments! Links How to Write and Publish a Proof Argument with DNA Evidence by Nicole DNA Case Studies in the NGSQ – Google Sheets Document RLP 125: Privacy and Permission in DNA Report Writing Mastering Genealogical Proof...
This is part 2 in a six-part series on tracing your Irish ancestor back to Ireland. In the last post, we discussed the critical questions to ask before conducting research (when your ancestor immigrated, what was their religion, their birth date, and names of Irish-born relatives, which county they came from in Ireland). Now, we’ll discuss which resources will help you find the answers to these questions. The resources discussed here are U.S. based; given the scarcity of Irish records (which will be discussed in a later post), it’s essential to find as many of your answers as possible in...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about sharing your written research documents. Whether its a report, proof argument, or ancestor biography, sharing is a great way to get your research out there. We discuss how to add a few safeguards to your report in case pages of it get separated – like footnotes, copyright notices, and headers and footers. Listen in for a discussion on uploading your report to Ancestry, FamilySearch, or your own blog/website. Links RLP Study Group Mentors How to Prepare DNA Research Reports for Sharing Best free PDF editors 2020: edit PDF documents the easy...
Discovering you have Irish ancestors can be very exciting. Where in Ireland did they come from? Is there a tombstone or an ancestral farm you can visit on your next vacation? Before you start googling, know that accurately tracing an ancestor from America to Ireland isn’t easy; in fact, it’s one of the hardest fields in genealogy. Irish immigrants were often illiterate, and many key records in both America and Ireland have been lost. But rather than feel overwhelmed, take comfort in knowing the journey is not impossible. This is the first of a six-part series that will help you...
Do you have Eastern European Jewish ancestry? Have you wondered about the historical events that might have affected your ancestors and how to discover their stories? Daniella Weiss Ashkenazy’s new book, Playing Detective with Family Lore: How plugging the holes in a family history unintentionally came to tell the saga of Jews in a microcosm showcases how a journalist set out to discover her family origins. The author provides the reader with informative footnotes on each page, that we as family historians will appreciate. Written in a conversational style, Playing Detective takes the reader on the research journey, and along...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about asking permission from living individuals in your DNA reports and proof arguments to include them in your paper. We also discuss different types of sharing – private sharing and publication – and what permissions you may need to request. We talk about privatizing living individuals by removing personally identifying details, in case your message to request permission goes unanswered. Links How to Prepare DNA Research Reports for Sharing Privatizing DNA Research Reports for Publication DNA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – at the Board for Certification of Genealogists’ website Research Like a...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the Southern Claims Commission. This record set was created for loyal southerners to seek redress for supplies seized by the Union Army during the Civil War. Many free people of color filed claims. Many witness and personal statements of former slave owners and the formerly enslaved are included. To access the records, use the index at Ancestry.com and follow the ideas at the FamilySearch Wiki article about the Southern Claims Commission. Links Researching African American Ancestors in Government Documents Part 4: Southern Claims Commission To The Letter DNA Southern Claims Commission...
What is your confidence level in your family tree? Have you been carefully adding new branches – or have you added extra ancestors based on hints and suggestions from online programs without much analysis? How about past research – is it up to current standards? If you are like me, some of the branches of your family tree might need pruning out and perhaps some new ancestors grafted in. How can we be more prudent in working with our tree? It all starts with sources and analysis. The Problem – Incorrect Family Branch When Nicole and I first started...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about records created during the New Deal in the 1930s that can help research African American ancestors. This is the third part in our series on researching African Americans in federal government documents. Diana shares more record groups she learned about during her IGHR course, including the 1940 census, WPA Personnel records, CCC Enrollee Records, the American Guide Series, Slave Narratives, and the Historical Records Survey. Links Researching African American Ancestors in Government Documents Part 3 : WPA Projects and Slave Narratives RLP 121: African American Research Part 1 The Living New...
Are you wondering how to tell if an AncestryDNA Thrulines estimate is reliable, or even possible? The Thrulines algorithm works by comparing your DNA matches, their trees, and all the searchable trees in the Ancestry public member tree database. If the algorithm can make your tree and your DNA match’s tree connect somewhere, the hypothesis shows up in Thrulines. One problem with this is the many errors in the public member trees database. Also, Thrulines is a computer algorithm, not a genealogist. Sometimes it merges identities that should not be merged. Also, most of us have thousands of matches in...
