Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with Debra Hoffman, a professional genealogist specializing in Maryland and Germany and member of our Research Like a Pro with DNA online course. Debra recently took the Proving Your Pedigree institute course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and shares her takeaways from the course. The purpose of the Proving Your Pedigree intermediate level virtual course was to create a narrative genealogy with DNA evidence confirming traced second great grandparents. Join us as Debra shares what she learned! Transcript Links Debra Hoffman profile in the APG Directory: https://www.apgen.org/users/debra-a-hoffman ...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about what Nicole learned at the SLIG course, DNA Dreamers in Action: Writing Proof Arguments in January. Karen Stanbary coordinated the course and was assisted by Tom Jones, Nancy Peters, and Scott Wilds. The course was a chance to practice writing a DNA proof argument while learning essential skills. Peer review was included as part of the course as well. Join Diana and Nicole as they discuss five takeaways from the course and gain ideas for studying proof arguments in the NGSQ. Transcript Links NGS Conference 2022 Program – Nicole and...
Have you thought about working towards a genealogy credential? Would you like to become a better researcher in a certain locality? If so, you might consider accreditation through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). To take the mystery out of the accreditation process, my ICAPGen colleagues and I have created an institute course through the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) titled “Becoming an Accredited Genealogist®: The Why, What, and How.” We would love to have you join us! Six years ago I started my own journey towards accreditation. I remember sitting in a track of...
This week, I learned about genealogical and historical records created before England created the civil registration system in 1837.[1] I’ve learned a wealth of knowledge that I look forward to using to confirm known ancestors and discover new ones through documentary research. The lessons made me think about confirming and discovering ancestors who lived before 1837 using DNA. Autosomal DNA can be used to research ancestors about 6-8 generations back in time. For me, ancestors that lived 6-8 generations were born in the late 1700s and early 1800s. What if I want to use DNA to research ancestors even further...
Before 2000, DNA was not a source genealogists had access to. Now there are over 29 million people in DNA testing databases. This is an enormous change. Like other sources available to genealogists before the advent of advanced technology, we still need to analyze these sources carefully, understand the context, and create research plans. Genealogy standards guide us in our efforts. Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS gave the lecture, “The Advance of Research Habits over Recent Decades—And the Downside” at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) in January. The lecture was part of the “Meeting...
Genealogists have seen amazing advances in technology over the last 40 years. These advances have made many genealogical records more accessible and increased the speed of communication. But how has it affected our research habits? Do we fall victim to the random search-and-click hunting encouraged by the slot-machine effect? What can we learn from the pre-1980 era of genealogy research? How has the addition of DNA as a genealogically relevant source affected our research? Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG®, CGL®, FASG, FUGA, FNGS addressed this in his lecture, “The Advance of Research Habits over Recent Decades—And the Downside” at the...
How can genealogists know if they are using DNA evidence correctly to prove conclusions? What is required to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard when incorporating DNA evidence? Since the 2nd Edition of Genealogy Standards was published last year, I have been studying the new standards relating to DNA evidence, Standards 51-57. Then at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) last month, I had the opportunity to learn from Karen Stanbary and her team of experienced instructors on this subject. The course was titled “Meeting Standards Using DNA Evidence — Research Strategies,” with the following description: This all-new course is...
How often do you get the opportunity to learn from a master genealogist? In the genealogy world we can gain our education in several ways. Most common are watching webinars and videos, reading books and articles, listening to podcasts and recordings of presentations, and attending conferences and institutes. If we’re lucky, we can learn from someone who is willing to share a lifetime of research experience. My week at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) gave me that opportunity. When the courses for 2020 were first announced in early 2019, I eagerly perused the offerings. Seeing that Barbara Vines...
How would you like to take a deep dive into your research area? Have been working in the same localities for so long that you’re out of ideas for what to do next? You might want to consider attending a genealogy institute to open your mind to new possibilities. I attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) last week and was treated to five days of learning from expert southern researcher, J. Mark Lowe. The class title was “Advanced Southern Research and Resources,” and after 15 years of researching in the south, I was hoping for a new way...
Have you heard of SLIG – the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy? I recently attended and want to share my experience today. I had heard of SLIG and other institutes but had never attended. Because registration is several months prior, in the summer of 2017, I decided to attend my first institute. Browsing the course titles, I decided “A Practical Approach: Establishing Genealogical Proof with DNA” would be the most beneficial for my research. Knowing this would probably sell out quickly, I registered within minutes to secure my spot. The course leader, Karen Stanbary, sent a welcome email in the...
