Methods and Best Practices Webinars

Before You Click: Developing an Online Research Plan 

Eager to make your online research more effective? Examine ways to sort, organize, and prepare for your time spent online – including preparing to research at commercial websites, genealogical society databases, and other online collections. Watch the webinar.

Strengthen Your Analysis: Transcribing and Abstracting 

Genealogical proof requires the conduct of reasonably exhaustive research, preferably using original records. The emphasis on original sources means that the interpretation of handwritten records is an essential skill for genealogists. Using a variety of pre-twentieth century American documents, this lecture provides useful tips on the creation of a transcription—the first step in analyzing a handwritten document—and an abstract. Watch the webinar.

Proving Parentage Through Indirect Evidence: The Importance of Sibling Records 

Judith Herbert shows us that understanding source context, and nuances of the records they contain, is critical to accurate interpretation of the information they provide. An early 19th century Connecticut, New York and Vermont example demonstrates how your research can succeed, even when no direct parent/child relationship evidence can be found. Viewers will learn the value in using multiple (and frequently ignored) sources to solve questions of parentage. Watch the webinar.

Hugh Dugan of Ireland, Pennsylvania, and New York: Historical Context Helps Link Generations 

See how a variety of contextual sources enhances family narratives, whether your own or someone else’s. The July 2020 Hugh Dugan article in The Record provides an excellent example, and author Pam Anderson shows you how she did it. Watch the webinar.

Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy

This session discusses what ethics and morality mean, and what these have to do with genealogy. ‘I’m just compiling our family tree, what can go wrong?’ Ethical dilemmas in genealogy came to the forefront since law enforcement utilised information from GEDMatch to apprehend a suspected serial killer. Watch the webinar.

Writing for The Record

Writing about your genealogical conclusions is an important step in the research process. Submitting your draft to a peer-reviewed journal, such as The Record, has many benefits. This talk will address why you might choose to write for The Record, and will give you insights about the selection, review, editing, and publication processes. Watch the webinar