Family Locket

Confirming a Father for Clemsy (Cline) Weatherford Using DNA Shared Matches and Cluster Research

When we have a female brick wall ancestor with no clues to her origins besides a maiden name, careful research can provide a hypothesis that DNA evidence can confirm. In the case of my third great-grandmother, Clemsy (Cline) Weatherford, the research was challenging because of record loss in the northeastern Arkansas counties that could have held records stating relationships. I discussed the documentary research in federal and state records in my post, 5 Tips for […]

By Diana Elder June 1, 2024 DNA, Research Tips

5 Tips for Research When the Courthouse Burned

If you’ve tried researching in an area with severe record loss, you’ll know this comes with many challenges. Often, the records you need most to prove relationships don’t exist: probate, marriage, deeds, etc. All is not lost, though; with perseverance, you can make progress one step at a time. Using my research in northeastern Arkansas burned counties, I’ll show examples of how I reconstructed a family using alternate jurisdictions, attention to detail, and correlating every […]

By Diana Elder May 27, 2024 Research Tips

RLP 307: Build Your Family Tree at WikiTree with Betsy Ko

In the podcast episode of “Research Like Pro,” Betsy Ko, a mentor and leader of the WikiTree Events Committee, discusses her background and role at WikiTree. Betsy began her genealogy journey influenced by a family belief related to historical ties and deepened her commitment by studying genealogical principles. She participates in projects focused on England, Scotland, Wales, and Canada, leads the Events Committee, mentors new members, and hosts livecasts. WikiTree itself was described as a […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 27, 2024 Podcast

RLP 306: Institutes and Continuing Education with Cyndi Ingle

In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole introduce Cyndi Ingle, the creator of CyndisList.com, a renowned resource for genealogical research. Cyndi, with over 44 years of experience in genealogy, is currently serving as the Executive Director for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). They discuss the distinctiveness of genealogy institutes in comparison to other forms of genealogy education and inquire about Cyndi’s preference between virtual and in-person institutes. They delve into topics […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 20, 2024 Podcast

WikiTree and My Mitochondrial DNA

After taking a mitochondrial DNA test and reviewing your results at Family Tree DNA, you might wonder what else you can do with it. Perhaps you took the mtDNA test to compare with a descendant of a hypothesized ancestor. Or, you might have taken the mtDNA test to see your haplogroup. By adding your matrilineal line to the collaborative Wiki Tree, you can also add your mtDNA haplogroup, which will then populate the profile of […]

By Diana Elder May 19, 2024 DNA, Research Tips

RLP 305: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mikkelson part 3 – Land, Mining and Agricultural Records

In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole talk with guest Michelle Mickelson, AG, about the significance of the Homestead Act of 1862 in spurring westward expansion and its implications for genealogy. They explore how this act allowed people to claim and cultivate land in states like Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and discuss how genealogists can access these land records through the National Archives, Bureau of Land Management’s General Land Office, and […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 13, 2024 Podcast

Honoring my Matrilineal Grandmothers: A Look at Mitochondrial DNA

On this Mother’s Day weekend, I want to honor the women on my matrilineal line. This branch of my family tree goes straight back to Denmark, and the stories of these women inspire me. I share mitochondrial DNA with these women, and I like to think that along with that unique inheritance, I also inherited some of their strength and determination. About Mitochondrial DNA We all inherit mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from our mothers, but only […]

By Diana Elder May 11, 2024 DNA

RLP 304: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mickelson Part 2 – Church, Cemetery, Native American, and Spanish Records

In this podcast episode, hosts Diana, Nicole, talk with Michelle Mickelson, AG, and discuss the crucial role of church, cemetery, Native American, and Spanish language records in Southwestern genealogy. They emphasize that these records, often predating government documentation, are indispensable for exploring family relationships, migration patterns, and cultural practices through details found in baptism, marriage, and burial entries. The discussion covers a variety of denominations including Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist, among others. They also offer […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 6, 2024 Podcast

Transcribing Document Images with ChatGPT and Claude

Artificial Intelligence tools have made huge strides in transcribing handwritten text in recent years. I’ve already written about FamilySearch’s use of AI to transcribe thousands of deed and probate images here: AI-Powered Full-Text Search of Handwritten Text at FamilySearch. In this post, I’ll share how I’ve been using ChatGPT 4.0 (the paid version) and Claude (free version) to upload images (.jpg and .png) and transcribe them quickly. These large language models (LLMs) do a pretty […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 3, 2024 Research Tips

RLP 303: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mickelson – Part 1 – Jurisdictions and Manuscripts

In this episode, Diana and Nicole welcome guest Michelle Mickelson, AG, to discuss key records and repositories for researching ancestors in the Southwestern United States. They explore the differences between federal, state, and local records, highlighting the importance of each for uncovering vital information. Michelle guide listeners through navigating the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), state archives, historical societies, local government records, university archives, and private collections. They emphasize the value of collaboration […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer April 29, 2024 Podcast

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Confirming a Father for Clemsy (Cline) Weatherford Using DNA Shared Matches and Cluster Research

5 Tips for Research When the Courthouse Burned

RLP 307: Build Your Family Tree at WikiTree with Betsy Ko

RLP 306: Institutes and Continuing Education with Cyndi Ingle

WikiTree and My Mitochondrial DNA

RLP 305: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mikkelson part 3 – Land, Mining and Agricultural Records

Honoring my Matrilineal Grandmothers: A Look at Mitochondrial DNA

RLP 304: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mickelson Part 2 – Church, Cemetery, Native American, and Spanish Records

Transcribing Document Images with ChatGPT and Claude

RLP 303: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mickelson – Part 1 – Jurisdictions and Manuscripts

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