Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to find your female ancestors. We interview Lisa Lisson, the author of the Are You My Cousin? blog. Lisa shares four helpful strategies to get around the common problems encountered when researching the women in our family tree. Join us as we talk about these proven strategies and unique record types (even cookbooks!). Links Researching Female Ancestors? You Can Overcome Those Research Roadblocks! – by...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Richard Miller’s new chrome extension, Goldie May. The extension logs each website you visit and offers helpful research guidance for research in the United States. Start with a person in your FamilySearch Family Tree, then set an objective. Goldie May advises you where to look for locality information, suggests reviewing the ancestor’s timeline, and reviewing the sources already attached. From there you can set additional tasks...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to write about your genetic genealogy research. After keeping track of your searches in your research log, you are ready to write about what you found in a report. We discuss what to include in the report, how to discuss genetic connections, and ideas for making the report flow. Links DNA Research Reports – the Ultimate Finish by Robin at Family Locket Writing a Research...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to use a research log in your genetic genealogy research. We discuss the sources and methods to include in your log, how to best keep track of your DNA matches, correspondence logs, and tech tools that will help you be efficient. We discuss how to use a database tool called Airtable to help you with big projects where you have a lot of DNA matches...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to find and use gazetteers in your genealogy research. Diana and Nicole discuss how to locate them using the FamilySearch Wiki, Google, and library catalogs, and what kind of helpful information they contain. They share several examples of helpful gazetteers, including Meyers Gazetteer for Germany, the U.S. Geographic Name Information System, Names in South Carolina, and more. Links Gazetteers – article at the FamilySearch Wiki...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to analyze a record thoroughly and find clues for future research. Nicole is preparing her portfolio to submit to the Board for Certification of Genealogists, so we are discussing portfolio element 3 – Document Work – in conjunction with this subject. For this portfolio element, applicants are given a document to transcribe and analyze. We focus primarily on parts 3C, 3D, and 3E – creating...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to include contextual information in your genealogical writing. Whether you are writing a research report, proof argument, or a family history narrative, adding context will aid you. You may want to flesh out an ancestor’s life with details about their occupation and community, or add to your body of evidence by discussing the laws that prompted a record set’s creation. Tune in as we discuss...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to create DNA source citations. We will discuss the importance of citing and saving DNA information, the citation elements described in Genealogy Standard #5, and how to cite DNA matches and tools using this formula. We give several examples of what each element could be, from the DNA testing company name, to the details about an mtDNA haplogroup. Join us to learn about how...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to create a research plan with DNA sources and methods. Robin Wirthlin joins us as we discuss the next step in the Research Like a Pro with DNA process. We talk about the summary of known facts for documentary sources, and also for DNA sources. We go over how to identify possible sources and methods, including DNA analysis tools, then prioritize them. Throughout the episode,...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with Michael Strauss, Accredited Genealogist Professional. Michael is an expert on United States federal records and military records. We will talk about military service records beginning with the Revolutionary War and ending with the Philippine Insurrection (1898-1902). Michael shares how Fred Ainsworth was instrumental in creating the compiled military service records and what you might find in them. We also discuss the Official Military Personnel...
