So have you thought about using DNA to do your family search? Do you see it as a quick solution to doing your research? Are there parts of it that you just do not get? Well for the next few days I will attempt to explain where DNA testing fits into our genealogy journey.
DNA became popular primarily due to high profile court cases where it was used to convict persons. As a tool for this type of work it works very well. Identifying a close relationship or owner of DNA is excellent as long as you have identified samples.
A variety of new processes have been developed with the genealogist in mind. The key here is to identify the one that most closely identifies the results or clues that you are looking for with your research. The bad news is you will still have to do your genealogy research.
The fascinating thing about DNA is that it stays relatively the same from generation to generation for 100's of years. The bad part is that it does not identify the individuals by name that share the DNA. It will identify one person back in time as long as other's have provided their DNA to match that person. The process takes many people to identify the trail along with solid genealogy.
As the databases get larger the results achieved with DNA testing will become better. We have only been using this as a genealogy tool for less than ten years.
Tomorrow I will talk in more detail what DNA can prove to the genealogist and what to expect. Please ask questions and I will attempt to answer them at the end of my writing on this subject.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Upcoming topics
Well things have gone well for the first to posts this year. Key here will be to keep things informative and timely. I am always looking for topics that appeal to you the reader. Please post me a comment on a subject that you are looking for further information. Would love to do the research on the subject and write about it. I have a variety of topics to come, but I look forward to your input.
Have a great weekend and see you on Monday. The first topic will be using DNA as a genealogy tool.
Have a great weekend and see you on Monday. The first topic will be using DNA as a genealogy tool.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Plans for 2015
Still having a hard time thinking it is 2015. Planning on have having many things continue from 2014 and start up some new things moving forward.
The first thing that I will be continuing is taking on new projects with clients. With some of my changes and the completion of the Wanzek project I will have more time to do this. Love helping others put the pieces of their family puzzles together.
I will continue to participate heavily in Social Media in the Genealogy world. It will continue to grow as time goes by and I plan on being a part of it. Would like to do some Webinars coming up this year. Will be doing one in May for the Florida Genealogical Society. Looking forward to it.
Continue to do speaking at various locations. Enjoy this a great deal and I learn a lot as well from the folks in the audience.
This year I am also going to be putting together some help guides on doing your research. It will cover a variety of subjects. The blogs will also be included more regularly in my daily work.
Continue to expand my work with the Social Workers to identify families. This has been very rewarding.
Finally I will start teaching again at some point here in the Toledo area. Have had three people respond to my post. If you would like to contact me directly on this I can be reached at daveyderek@gmail.com.
Look forward to hearing from you and again Happy New Year.
The first thing that I will be continuing is taking on new projects with clients. With some of my changes and the completion of the Wanzek project I will have more time to do this. Love helping others put the pieces of their family puzzles together.
I will continue to participate heavily in Social Media in the Genealogy world. It will continue to grow as time goes by and I plan on being a part of it. Would like to do some Webinars coming up this year. Will be doing one in May for the Florida Genealogical Society. Looking forward to it.
Continue to do speaking at various locations. Enjoy this a great deal and I learn a lot as well from the folks in the audience.
This year I am also going to be putting together some help guides on doing your research. It will cover a variety of subjects. The blogs will also be included more regularly in my daily work.
Continue to expand my work with the Social Workers to identify families. This has been very rewarding.
Finally I will start teaching again at some point here in the Toledo area. Have had three people respond to my post. If you would like to contact me directly on this I can be reached at daveyderek@gmail.com.
Look forward to hearing from you and again Happy New Year.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
New Year 2015
Happy New Year.
Well I have moved out of another past year and into a new one. Things were exciting in 2014 and I had many accomplishments.
The biggest one for me was finishing the Wanzek project. This was the complete family history that spanned from the 1700's in Germany, Holland and Poland to 2014. The family came to the United States in the latter half of the 1900's locating in Minnesota. Half the family shortly after arrival would move to North Dakota. Amazing the hardships and the challenges these families had to survive in a very under populated area of the United States. The project lasted for two years and will culminate in the publishing of a genealogy this year.
Secondly I was hired by Seneca Social Services to help in the location of family members for the possible connection to children that are in the process of going in to the foster system or have reached the age of eighteen. This has been a fascinating way to use my genealogy skills to help others. It has opened my eyes to the many problems in the Social Services System. The people that work in Social Services face many unique challenges on a daily basis. Not to mention what the children go through.
Thirdly, I continued to do my talks across the Tri State area. Lapeer was a highlight as usual. Enjoyed speaking on behalf of the Ohio Genealogical Society for their chapter training. Look forward to participating again this year. Teaching at the OGS library was also a highlight.
I also had some things that changed. The largest one was the discontinuation of my teaching at Lourdes. This was sad for me. I had been teaching there for four years. Hard to believe that people were not interested in learning more about their families history. Finally I discontinues administering the Indiana, Michigan and Ohio Genealogy research communities. Learned a lot from this experience and hope to use some of these skills moving forward.
Excited to see what lies ahead in 2015, but I will save that for tomorrow.
As always please share your thoughts and ideas.
Well I have moved out of another past year and into a new one. Things were exciting in 2014 and I had many accomplishments.
The biggest one for me was finishing the Wanzek project. This was the complete family history that spanned from the 1700's in Germany, Holland and Poland to 2014. The family came to the United States in the latter half of the 1900's locating in Minnesota. Half the family shortly after arrival would move to North Dakota. Amazing the hardships and the challenges these families had to survive in a very under populated area of the United States. The project lasted for two years and will culminate in the publishing of a genealogy this year.
Secondly I was hired by Seneca Social Services to help in the location of family members for the possible connection to children that are in the process of going in to the foster system or have reached the age of eighteen. This has been a fascinating way to use my genealogy skills to help others. It has opened my eyes to the many problems in the Social Services System. The people that work in Social Services face many unique challenges on a daily basis. Not to mention what the children go through.
Thirdly, I continued to do my talks across the Tri State area. Lapeer was a highlight as usual. Enjoyed speaking on behalf of the Ohio Genealogical Society for their chapter training. Look forward to participating again this year. Teaching at the OGS library was also a highlight.
I also had some things that changed. The largest one was the discontinuation of my teaching at Lourdes. This was sad for me. I had been teaching there for four years. Hard to believe that people were not interested in learning more about their families history. Finally I discontinues administering the Indiana, Michigan and Ohio Genealogy research communities. Learned a lot from this experience and hope to use some of these skills moving forward.
Excited to see what lies ahead in 2015, but I will save that for tomorrow.
As always please share your thoughts and ideas.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
Have you done your homework?
When resolving those brick walls that we all get in our genealogy a big mistake by many genealogist is not doing their homework, coming up with a plan and then following it. Genealogist spend a great deal of wasted time of not looking at the full picture.
The first step in resolving your brickwall is to determine what you are actually looking for with your ancestor. Make sure you are specific on what you are attempting to learn. Broad goals although helpful do not normally help in resolving brick walls. Evaluate what you have already found and where you have looked to resolve this problem. Don't assume you have looked at everything. Don't think you are the expert. When we do this it closes are thoughts to new sources. One example of this is Family Search that adds almost five million new sources a week.
Check to see what information is available to help you with your problem. Read on the subject on the Internet. Create a library of books that will help you in these situations. Attend local meetings and share with those in the group what you are dealing with. Watch videos or participate in online seminars. The chances for further learning are endless. It is also constantly changing. Don't assume you have looked everywhere. Educating yourself to new sources and methods is critical to your genealogy success.
Make a list of sources or records that you can consult to resolve your problem. Make sure you are able to find sources that help you. You won't find a vital record other than marriage in Michigan prior to 1850, because they just weren't kept. You are going to have to look in other sources. Cemetery markers, death notices, probate, guardianship and military records to name a few.
Put the problem away for a while a come back to it. In my own research fresh eyes looking at the problem allows me to look for new ways to resolve the problem.
Remember all the answers are not always on the Internet. Majority of records are still offline. Make a phone call write a letter. These methods still work and are often the only way to find new information.
Make sure to document what you have found and sources that you did not find the information. Many times records that don't make sense now will make more sense as we find more information.
More on this topic later. As always I look forward to your thoughts and ideas.
The first step in resolving your brickwall is to determine what you are actually looking for with your ancestor. Make sure you are specific on what you are attempting to learn. Broad goals although helpful do not normally help in resolving brick walls. Evaluate what you have already found and where you have looked to resolve this problem. Don't assume you have looked at everything. Don't think you are the expert. When we do this it closes are thoughts to new sources. One example of this is Family Search that adds almost five million new sources a week.
Check to see what information is available to help you with your problem. Read on the subject on the Internet. Create a library of books that will help you in these situations. Attend local meetings and share with those in the group what you are dealing with. Watch videos or participate in online seminars. The chances for further learning are endless. It is also constantly changing. Don't assume you have looked everywhere. Educating yourself to new sources and methods is critical to your genealogy success.
Make a list of sources or records that you can consult to resolve your problem. Make sure you are able to find sources that help you. You won't find a vital record other than marriage in Michigan prior to 1850, because they just weren't kept. You are going to have to look in other sources. Cemetery markers, death notices, probate, guardianship and military records to name a few.
Put the problem away for a while a come back to it. In my own research fresh eyes looking at the problem allows me to look for new ways to resolve the problem.
Remember all the answers are not always on the Internet. Majority of records are still offline. Make a phone call write a letter. These methods still work and are often the only way to find new information.
Make sure to document what you have found and sources that you did not find the information. Many times records that don't make sense now will make more sense as we find more information.
More on this topic later. As always I look forward to your thoughts and ideas.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
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