Nicole Dyer Lecture Topics
Nicole is not currently accepting speaking engagements while she works on her portfolio for certification.
RootsTech 2020
Research Like a Pro with DNA
Learn a step-by-step process to help you confirm/reject a traced relationship or test a hypothesized ancestral relationship.
DNA Research Planning
Learn how to create a plan for your family history research that incorporates both DNA and traditional research.
DNA Research Logs
Learn methods for creating a research log that includes DNA matches and tools along with traditional sources.
Find Record Transcriptions and Build Context with PERSI
Learn how to use the Periodical Source Index to find periodicals with helpful contextual information about local history and genealogy.
Creating an Ancestor’s Timeline in Google Sheets
Learn how to add events, sources, and analysis of information in a Google Sheet, and how this process is helpful in your genealogy research.
Genealogy Research Collaboration in Google Drive
Use the powerful features of Google Drive to collaborate with relatives, fellow researchers, and others and make progress in your genealogy research.
Diaries Bring The Past to Life: The Immigration of a British Pauper Inmate
14-year-old Sarah Miller left Liverpool in 1856. Diaries of her contemporaries weave a compelling story about her experience as a pauper, passenger, and handcart pioneer.
Create Custom Google MyMaps with Land Records: Identifying the Right John Johnson
Plot locations of your research subject using Google MyMaps online to create a custom maps showing migration, census locations, and land ownership data.
Going from Searcher to Researcher: Set an Objective and Create a Prioritized Research Plan
Effective researchers create an objective and research plan. Learn how to stop going down rabbit holes and take a more disciplined approach in your research.
Add Context to Civil War Compiled Military Service Records with the Record of Events Cards
Record of Events cards tell the location of regiments during muster rolls and other events. Learn how to find them and what details they contain.
Tax Records Tell the Story: Cluster and Neighborhood Research
Learn how tax records can help locate individuals, identify neighborhood groupings, and separate individuals from others of the same name.
Using State Law Books on Google Books to Understand Legal Records
Learn how to find law books from the past online to help understand the records created during your ancestor’s life.
Doing a Genealogy Research Project from Start to Finish
Do you feel overwhelmed by the never-ending nature of your genealogy research? Dividing research into finite projects can help. We’ll review the basic genealogy research process and how to stay on track during your project. Use a research report template with sections for objective, research plan, locality information, and more.
Strategies for Overcoming Genealogy Roadblocks
When you hit a roadblock in your genealogy research, how can you find what you need to make progress? Discover how to stick to a research process, analyze clues, use the FamilySearch Catalog to identify new records to search, gather hints from DNA cousin matches, and locate sources that are only available on-site.
Right Under Your Nose – Analyzing Records You Already Have
Searching for clues about an ancestor but coming up empty? Helpful information is often hiding in documents that have already been found. Carefully analyzing records that are attached to your ancestor can shed new light on your research. We’ll discuss the reliability of informants, original vs. derivative records, and more.
Researching Civil War Soldiers and Pensions
Learn how to find your ancestor’s Civil War records and pension and the valuable information they might contain.
Sources to Research Confederate Soldiers Online
Confederate soldiers in your family tree may be more difficult to research than Union soldiers. Using the Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) as a starting point, we’ll dive into the world of the Civil War by finding regiment histories, photographs, hospital descriptions, and more to bring your relative’s service to life. Online state archive collections, the Library of Congress’ Civil War Photo and Maps collections, digitized letters and diaries, and civil war forums may contain valuable tidbits to help you understand why they served and what the war was like for them. Online syllabus
Kid Genealogists: Inspiring the Next Generation
As a mother and genealogist, I am passionate about sharing family history with children. Not only does knowing family history strengthen children to face hardships with confidence, but it ensures that precious family information will be preserved for future generations. Let’s discuss practical tips and project ideas to incorporate family history into the everyday lives of the children you love. Grandparents and parents can teach children genealogy by doing hands on projects, discussing ancestors in the context of historical events, creating kid friendly books with storyboard software, acting out family history through pretend and role play, using multimedia for storytelling, and more. Online syllabus
Full FamilySearch Tree? How to Find Names for the Temple
If you have a full family tree and your great-aunt seems to have done everything, you may have a hard time finding names for temple work. Come learn a method for finding the family lines that need temple ordinances. We’ll talk about analyzing your tree, keeping track of when your ancestors joined the LDS church, and researching the non-LDS branches. Your ancestors who were the first in their family to join the LDS church had siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins who did not join the church. Researching these relatives and their descendants can open many new lines and help you find temple ordinance work to reserve.
How to Involve the Whole Family in Family History Fun
Every family member connects with their family history in a different way. You may be the genealogist and researcher, but perhaps your other family members are not. Your brother might be the storyteller who gathers his nieces and nephews to tell them funny stories from the past. Your sister may be the musician who sings the traditional Christmas song each year, then writes down the notes and words and shares it with everyone. Grandma may help find names for the temple and the grandchildren may help complete baptisms in the temple for them. Your brother may be the technology expert who digitizes the old videos and slides and shares them with everyone. Your daughter may enjoy typing old handwritten documents into FamilySearch and your son may like learning about stories of his ancestors in the military. Everyone has a contribution to make to preserving family history. You can have a tremendous influence in your family by inviting others to use their talents to engage in family history. Come learn age appropriate activities to invite the children, youth, and young adults in your family to help with.
Family History Mythbusters: Asking Questions of your Family Stories
Sometimes when history is passed on by word of mouth it is exaggerated, changed, and added upon. Most family myths have a bit of truth to them. With careful research, you can uncover the truth! Learn about common family myths, why these myths are created, and how to discover the truth. When was the story created? Is it an original record, derivative record, or an authored narrative? Who is the author? What is their purpose, point of view, and bias? Is the information firsthand or secondhand? Research for more evidence about the story, then write a proof summary detailing whether or not the story is true based on your evidence analysis.