Course Objectives
Implement a comprehensive Merging and Separating Identities Process to resolve cases, including:
- Collect and Organize Evidence Systematically – Learn systems to organize large quantities of data, maximize that data to build identity dossiers, and correlate the information to resolve or support the resolution of complex cases.
- Apply Proven Resolution Methods – Implement timelines, mapping, FAN club analysis, and other methodologies to merge or separate identities with confidence.
Course Description
Merging and separating identities is a critical part of genealogical research and a fundamental challenge in the field. Discerning identities among individuals who share names, locations, birth years and other descriptors is a prevalent challenge for researchers of all levels. The course focuses on the scenarios including: same name and one location, same name and multiple locations, different names and multiple locations.
Every session in the course will provide techniques and examples to help organize, analyze and solve M/S cases. Sessions will enhance each student’s proficiency identifying and gathering descriptors and resolving cases through:
- Identity Profiling – Systematically gather and organize descriptors including biographical, geographical, social, and familial characteristics to build comprehensive identity dossiers.
- Research Methodologies – Select and implement proven analytical methods such as timeline construction, onomastic analysis, geographic mapping, FAN club identification, contextual research, and negative evidence collection.
- Analytical Tools – Utilize spreadsheet techniques, visualization methods, and emerging technologies to correlate data, identify patterns, and resolve complex identity questions.
Identity resolution challenges are among the most complex issues facing genealogical researchers, as evidenced by the extensive literature devoted to the subject. This course addresses these challenges through a multi-faceted learning approach:
- Foundational Instruction – In-depth presentations covering theory, methodology, and practical application techniques.
- Applied Case Studies – Analysis of real-world examples that demonstrate successful problem-solving strategies and decision-making frameworks.
- Interactive Workshops and Exercises– Structured exercises providing hands-on experience with identity correlation and analysis methods.
- Common Data Set – A small group of records is used for pre-course preparation and classroom application, enabling students to practice techniques before, during, and after instruction.
Anticipated Target Audience
Intermediate / High Intermediate / Advanced
Designed for intermediate and advanced genealogists, this course offers the opportunity to learn and practices techniques that will help students to master identity resolution. Participants will refine analytical techniques, deepen their understanding of genealogical methodology, and develop the skills necessary to confidently resolve difficult merging and separating cases.
Prerequisites
The course integrates traditional and cutting-edge methodologies, from offline paper-and-pen techniques to digital tools including Microsoft Excel for data organization, AirTable for advanced data management and visualization, and artificial intelligence platforms for enhanced data gathering and analysis. Basic Excel familiarity is recommended to maximize course benefits.
Pre-course work is optional but strongly recommended. Students receive the Common Data Set and detailed instructions one month prior to the course. Participants typically invest 10-20 hours in preliminary analysis before the first session.
Technical Support Requirements
- Spreadsheet Proficiency – Students should have familiarity with spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets, or AirTable). The course focuses on applying spreadsheet functions for identity resolution rather than teaching spreadsheet basics.
- NGS Membership – Recommended for access to the comprehensive Literature Review database, which includes articles from National Genealogical Society Quarterly and National Genealogical Society Magazine.
- Database Access – FamilySearch (free) and Ancestry subscriptions provide access to the curated record set used for pre-course preparation and classroom exercises.
Course Materials
Rather than a standard syllabus, students receive a comprehensive toolkit of practical resources including fillable templates, reference guides, and analytical tools designed for immediate application and long-term use in genealogical research.
Schedule
Course Coordinator
Jan Joyce is a board-certified genealogist whose journey began in 1998 while managing the marketing initiatives at Genealogy.com. Her personal research delves into ancestral roots across Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, tracing lineages back to England, Germany, Ireland, and Norway. She holds the CG and CGL certifications from the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and the AG accreditation from ICAPGen.
Specializing in research methodology, Jan divides her time between personal research, writing, and education. She developed the comprehensive “Assemblage” course for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), which guides students through preparing, writing, and revising case studies and includes Artificial Intelligence. Her innovative Document Work Workshop helps aspiring genealogists prepare for BCG certification. And she pioneered the new institute course “Merging & Separating Identities: Strategies and Tactics to Solve” to advance the field’s research strategies and tactics.
Instructors
Kristin Britanik
Kristin is a Senior Researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists with more than a decade of professional experience conducting genealogical research across North America. Before joining Legacy Tree, she worked in archival digitization at the University of Pittsburgh and managed the digitization of art and archival materials at the Andy Warhol Museum. She also served as a researcher at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where she contributed to Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s website, The Root. Combining her expertise in research and digital preservation, Kristin continually explores how technology can enhance our understanding of the past.
Lynn Nelson
Lynn Nelson holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and specializes in researching ancestors from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Italy.
Kim Richardson
Kim is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She retired from the State of Mississippi after 25 years of service, advocating for victims of violent crime and working in highway traffic safety programs.
Now, she works as a professional in the field of genealogy. She channels her energy into coaching others to conduct research successfully. She especially enjoys speaking to audiences across the country. Her favorite part of her genealogy life is empowering people to accomplish research goals they believed were out of reach.
Kim created the Brick Wall Buster Cards to help researchers overcome challenging genealogy obstacles. Her writing appears regularly in various genealogy society magazines, and she authored the “Mississippi Research Guide” for Family Tree Magazine.
Patti Lee Hobbs
Patti Lee Hobbs, Certified Genealogist®, Certified Genetic Genealogist®, resides in Clever, Missouri. She considers herself blessed to have ancestors from many geographical locations leading to research in varied repositories. She serves on the editorial board for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and is former trustee for both the Board for Certification of Genealogists and the BCG Education Fund. Patti is the coordinator for the course “Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA” at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Her two articles “DNA Identifies a Father for Rachel Lee of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania,” in March 2017 and “DNA Merges the Families of Stephen Stilwell of Dutchess County, New York; Cornwall, Upper Canada; and Coshocton County, Ohio,” in March 2024 were published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. She is a contributing author of Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies.
Nicole Elder Dyer
Nicole Dyer is a professional genealogist specializing in Southern United States research and genetic genealogy. She is the creator of FamilyLocket.com and the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She co-authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and Research Like a Pro with DNA and is an instructor for the study groups of the same name. She lectures at national conferences and institutes, with a particular focus on technology applications in genealogical research. Her presentations cover innovative approaches such as using Airtable for research logs to track documents, FANs, and DNA matches, as well as essential software tools for genealogists and emerging artificial intelligence technologies. Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in History Teaching. At Family Locket Genealogists, Nicole is a project manager, editor, and researcher.
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