Are you ready to tackle a DNA research project but you’re not sure what should be your focus? You could consider confirming one of your family lines or researching a hypothesized line. Before choosing a research objective, using the surname search features on the testing websites can help you determine which lines have pertinent DNA matches. If you are considering researching a brick wall ancestor, a surname search can determine if there is enough information...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is a continuation of our series on tracing 19th century German ancestors. Heidi Mathis is back sharing about what to do next after you find the hometown of your ancestor in Germany. We discuss Archion, the German website for Protestant records and how to find baptismal records there. We also talk about the German mega-site, CompGen.de which can be used to locate German Genealogical Societies, German State Archives,...
We share ancestors with every one of our DNA matches. Sometimes, we can identify the exact shared ancestor(s) without much effort. Other times, we need to put in more time and energy to discover the ancestral connection. A lot of our time working with our DNA matches involves building family trees or seeing where a previously made family tree intersects with ours. Family tree building by researching ancestors back in time is the primary effort...
Have you wondered about hiring a professional genealogist but not known how to start? Your questions could range from “How do I find a professional?” to “How do I prepare for a consultation?” In this article, I’ll share some insights from my work as a professional genealogist. Why Hire A Professional Genealogist Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? – You have a brick wall genealogy problem that you can’t break down. – You don’t...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is another interview with Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse member, Allison Kotter. In this series, Allison shares her experience studying each lesson in the course and how she has applied the lessons to her own family. This episode covers the assignments for lessons 7 and 8 in the course. Allison tells about creating a research plan that includes both DNA and documentary sources. She also talks...
Wouldn’t it be great if your autosomal DNA matches were automatically labeled as maternal or paternal? This is also known as “bucketing.” It is helpful to know which side of your family a match is on before you start checking their tree for surnames you recognize or send them a message. What if I told you that you can make this happen at FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA)? All you need to do is link close matches and...
Are you interested in becoming a professional genealogist? Have you wondered what might be involved in taking clients or what career options are available in the genealogy world? Participating in a ProGen study group can help you find answers to these questions. In 2007 ProGen 1 began by reading and discussing the first edition of Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Run strictly by volunteers,...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with one of our Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse members, Allison Kotter. In this series, Allison shares her experience studying each lesson in the course and how she has applied the lessons to her own family. This episode covers the assignments for lessons 5 and 6. Allison tells about doing locality research for her project in Alabama and Texas. She also talks about...
When you hear the words “Forensic Genealogy,” what is the first definition you think of? One of my first thoughts is “DNA and documentary research.” Using DNA to solve unknown parentage cases is one of my areas of focus as a genealogist, and it is a significant aspect of Forensic Genealogy. I recently had the great opportunity to take the virtual Beyond Fundamentals: Hands-on Forensic Genealogy course at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP)....
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with one of our Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse members, Allison Kotter. In this series, Allison shares her experience studying each lesson in the course and how she has applied the lessons to her own family. This episode covers the assignments for lessons 3 and 4. We discuss creating a timeline, source citations for documentary sources and DNA sources, source, information, and evidence...
