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...
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...
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...
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...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about researching African American ancestors in United States federal records using land and military records. We discuss laws that impacted free black people and freedmen in the reconstruction era. Many records were created because of the Homestead Act of 1862 and Southern Homestead Act of 1866. We go over a brief history of African American involvement in wars beginning with the Revolutionary War up until the Vietnam War, and conclude with a strategy for finding military records for ancestors. Links Researching African American Ancestors in Government Documents Part 2 : Land and...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about researching African American records in U.S. Federal government documents. This is part one in the series. We discuss the Freedmen’s Bureau, the Freedmen’s Bank, and the U.S. Federal Census. Join us as Diana shares what she learned from the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Deborah A. Abbott’s course, “Researching African American Ancestors: Government Documents and Advanced Tools” and from exploring these record sets. Links Researching African American Ancestors in Government Documents Part 1 : U.S. Federal Census, Freedmen’s Bureau and Freedman’s Bank Records – by Diana at Family...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about identifying family photos and using family photos as a genealogical source. Learn how to use clues in the photo to figure out the date and the people in the picture. Maureen shares expert tips from her experience working with old photographs. She also shares a little about some of her photo projects, including the Last Muster project and Old Providence. Links The Photo Detective Podcast https://maureentaylor.com/ How to Date an Old Photograph by Maureen at her blog Stop. Look. Listen to Your Family Photos by Maureen at her blog Last Muster...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to write a research report after your have completed your research plan. Typically a client report is about research in progress. You discuss what was found in the amount of time that was allotted. A report for yourself can be similar. Discuss the starting objective and what was known, then go through the searches that were performed and what was found. Join us as we discuss how to begin, what voice to use, the major sections of the report, adding tables and footnotes, and more. We have enjoyed revisiting the...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about recording your searches in a research log. We talk about the benefits of using spreadsheet over a document for a log and discuss the tools we like to use – Excel, Google Docs, Airtable. We go over an example from Diana’s Nancy (Briscoe) Frazier research log for how to fill out the columns. We also discuss what to do with your research log when you get ready to write your report – how to correlate all the information, put the puzzle pieces together, make an outline, compare and contrast information, and...
