Family History Library Free Webinars for March 2016

The Family History Library Announces Free Webinars for March 2016

These webinars can be viewed online through FamilySearch.org (see directions below). All times listed are Mountain time.

Mar 2 --  10:00 A.M. Spanish Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 5 -- 1:00 P.M. Improve Your Search Results in FamilySearch Hispanic Records

Mar 8 -- 1:00 P.M. Mid-19^th Century England Case Study and Brainstorming Session

Mar 9 -- 10:00 A.M. Portuguese Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 9 -- 1:00 P.M. Learning to Read German Handwriting (2 hours)

Mar 10 -- 10:00 A.M. Cousin Research

Mar 15 -- 2:00 P.M. America to Norway: A Case Study Finding Your Ancestors’ Place of Birth

Mar 16 -- 10:00 A.M. Italian Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 17 -- 11:00 A.M. Where Is That? Finding and Understanding Places in Ireland

Mar 17 -- 1:00 P.M. Ireland Census and Census Substitutes

Mar 18 – 11:00 A.M. Ireland Catholic Church Records

Mar 18 -- 1:00 P.M. Irish Protestant Records

Mar 19 -- 1:00 P.M. Más allá de los registros indexados

Mar 23 -- 10:00 A.M. French Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 24 -- 1:00 P.M. British Virtual Specialist Q&A Session

Mar 24 -- 6:00 P.M. Understanding United States Land Records

Mar 30 -- 10:00 A.M. Dutch Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 31 -- 2:00 P.M. Using Swedish Household Exams and Parish Registers, Part 1

Mar 31 -- 3:00 P.M. Using Swedish Household Exams and Parish Registers, Part 2

Webinars can be accessed by going to FamilySearch.org; click on Search; select Wiki. Type Webinars and choose the top entry. Click on 1.1 Monthly Class Schedule, then the name of the month; scroll to find the desired class.

Corpus Juris: Advanced Legal Concepts for Genealogy

This is part of my ongoing series featuring guest authors writing reviews of the courses offered at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I am excited to to have these friends share their perspective on the institute and the education they received. 

My Experience With SLIG's Corpus Juris Course
By Debra Hoffman

As genealogists researching and compiling the history of our families, we need to understand the time and place in which they lived. A crucial part of that understanding is learning about the laws that were in effect and their impact on our ancestors.

One of the best ways of receiving a comprehensive education on legal records is to take Judy Russell’s courses at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is the coordinator for a two-part curriculum. The first part, The Family History Law Library, will be offered in 2017. You can access more information here. In 2016, I attended the second part, Corpus Juris: Advanced Legal Concepts for Genealogy.

Besides Judy being a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker, the course contained substantial information to assist genealogical researchers in their encounters with legal records. To briefly summarize, the topics included: an overview of the legal system, research tools and strategies, statutes, session laws, probate records, court records, debt records, criminal records published materials, canon law, and civil law. As you can see from the topics, it was a jam-packed week!

One of my favorite parts of the course was the visit to the University of Utah Law Library. R. Lee Warthen, JD, MLS treated us to a personal tour of each floor of the library pointing out all the relevant resources that were available. It was a special treat to see the collection of old law books that were available to researchers. We also had the opportunity to do hands-on work at the library and a chance to put our new knowledge to the test as we worked through the exercises. I located a 1799 case that referenced a family with land in both Maryland and Virginia. The digest provided insight into the particulars of the case and it was amazing how many genealogical details could be gleaned from the summary. It is exciting to think about how much information might be available in the court records!

R. Lee Warthen, JD, MLS, leading the tour of the University of Utah Law Library

I also enjoyed the hands-on exercises that Judy incorporated into the course. From the ones at the law library to the documents that were reviewed during the lectures, it was beneficial to see actual documents that illustrated the concepts and provided for critical thinking and analysis. Best of all with the Family History Library right down the street; I was even able to put my new knowledge to work when conducting personal research.

One evening at the FHL, I was reading circuit court minutes for Hawkins County, Tennessee. I came across a writ of Scire Facias. Luckily, that was one of the topics that Judy had covered that day. It was satisfying to be able to apply my newfound knowledge! For those unfamiliar with that term, it is a “judicial writ, founded upon some matter of record, such as a judgment or recognizance and requiring the person against whom it is brought to show case why the party bringing it should not have advantage of such record, or why the record should not be annulled and vacated.”[1]

As a genealogical researcher, the benefit of taking this two-part series will be realized in the increased knowledge you will gain and the ability to apply that knowledge to understand and appropriately analyze legal documents in the future.

Specializing in Maryland and German research, Debra A. Hoffman is a professional genealogist and the owner of Hoffman Genealogical Services. She has a certificate in Family History from Brigham Young University and, since 2009 she has completed courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. Debra is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and serves on the boards of several genealogical societies. She belongs to the William Winchester Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as many other state and local genealogical societies.

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[1] Henry Campbell Black, Black’s Law Dictionary: Definitions of the Terms and Phrases of American and English Jurisprudence, Ancient and Modern with Guide to Pronunciation, 4th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1951), term “Scire Facias.”

Early U.S. Church Records - SLIG Course Review

This is part of my ongoing series featuring guest authors writing reviews of the courses offered at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I am excited to to have these friends share their perspective on the institute and the education they received. This one is written by Valerie Elkins.

SLIG Course: Early U.S. Church Records Review

By Valerie Elkins

Class Coordinator: Rev. David McDonald, _CG

Instructors: Michael Locopo, Lisa Arnold, Warren Bittner, _CG

This course was new to SLIG, and much anticipated. The Reverend Dr. McDonald covered the history of numerous religions found in early America, some basic beliefs of the faith and what records were available and where they could be located. Especially helpful was knowing the changes in the different faiths, migration and map locations through periods of time.

As Doctor of Divinity, David McDonald is an excellent and very qualified course coordinator. His presentations were through, thoughtful and well planned. His humor and wit are a plus.

Michael Locopo was very well versed in the Mennonite religion and also gave a class on the religious newspapers and periodicals available. Michael is not only a knowledgeable instructor, a seasoned presenter, but he was very generous in his offers to assist the students.

Lisa Arnold has a great love and understanding of the Quaker faith and that was respectfully communicated in her presentation. I enjoyed her and appreciated her presentation.

Warren Bittner offered a class on the many records available for those searching for records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All the instructors provided excellent handouts and syllabus material.

Church records are an invaluable resource and may provide the records and information that cannot be found elsewhere. I recommend this course who wants to be a better researcher in Early American records. Very well done and I personally gained some insight into my own family history.

I would have liked to have more information on where records were located and lesson information on the religion’s founding and history, while interesting, I really wanted to delve into l more location of records, especially more lesser known sources.

Religions Dr. McDonald covered were:

·      Catholicism

·      Episcopalian/Anglican

·      Presbyterians

·      Puritans/Pilgrims

·      Lutherans

·      Huguenots

·      Dutch Reformed

·      Jewish

·      Christian/Disciple of Christ

·      Methodist

·      Baptists

Michael Locopo covered Mennonite as well as Religious newspapers and periodicals.

Lisa Arnold taught about the Quakers, while Warren Bittner covered The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints.

The course did provide a great general understanding of Early US Churches, which is what I was hoping for. I would recommend this course for others, especially those with early US ancestors.

  Valerie Elkins is a professional researcher, specializing in Japanese ancestry, and is a frequent presenter and speaker at national and regional conferences. CEO and founder of Advantage Genealogy, she blogs about all things related to family history at FamilyCherished.com. Valerie serves on the Association of Professional Genealogists' Board of Directors and has worked at the Family History Library as an International Research Consultant.

Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 2

This is part of my ongoing series on studying the Genealogical Proof Standard. There are links to the other posts in the series at the bottom of this article. 

If you missed Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 1 you may want to review it, as it covers informal study options including books, articles, forums and websites. This article covers formal study options including courses, webinars and study groups. These vary in cost and format, such as online or in-person. Programs you can complete from home and free resources are included. 

Formal Study Options:

1 - My very favorite options for learning about analyzing evidence are the advanced methodology courses at genealogical institutes. These courses go in-depth giving examples and case studies for analyzing and correlating evidence from various types of records. They are excellent for opening your mind to analysis alternatives you may not have thought of, or even read about in other cases studies. They features excellent instructors who teach by example. Here are three course options:

            Advanced Genealogical Methods

Coordinator:  Thomas W Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

            Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy held January 22-27, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Course description: “Students in Advanced Genealogical Methods will learn how to use and assemble evidence to rediscover ancestral origins, identities, and relationships that have been forgotten in the passage of time. The course will address advanced use of evidence from a variety of genealogical records and research in populations for which the usual records are in short supply (including female, enslaved, and impoverished ancestors). Students also will learn how to develop written proof summaries to show their conclusions’ accuracy and create a credible record of their findings for present and future generations of family historians.”

Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis

Coordinator: Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG, CGL

Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research held June 12-17, 2016 in Birmingham, Alabama

Course description: “Building on the basics taught in Genealogy Techniques and Technology and  Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies, the course Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis is designed to develop and foster advanced skills by concentrating on problem-solving techniques. Its focus is on the proper application of the Genealogical Proof Standard to a wide variety of record types to solve complex research problems. Where beginning genealogy students need to learn what records exist to accurately identify their families, and intermediate genealogy students need to learn where records may be found, particularly those not readily available online, advanced genealogy students need to learn how to use records in ways that may be neither intuitive nor obvious to bridge the gaps left by time and record loss.”

Advanced Research Methods

Coordinator:  Thomas W Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh held July 17-22, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA

Course description: “Participants will develop advanced genealogical research, analysis, correlation and compilation skills. Hands-on activities, using original records, will enhance this learning. Examples are drawn from American states and colonies and European countries. Before the course begins participants will complete two pre-course reading assignments. Four homework assignments, providing opportunities for advanced skill development, are optional.”

2 - If you prefer not to travel you may be interested in a course you can complete in the comfort of your home. The “Genealogical Evidence and Proof” course by F. Warren Bittner, CG is available for download from the Virtual Institute for Genealogical Research. Warren is an excellent presenter. This course includes the following four presentations:

            “Complex Evidence: What it is, How it works, Why it matters” 

            “Proof Arguments: How and Why”

            “Exhaustive Research, Evidence Analysis, and Genealogical Proof”

            “The Web of Evidence: Proof and Disproof”

3 - Another course you can take from home is the Boston University’s Online Genealogical Research Certificate Program. This course is expensive, lasts for 15 weeks, and is taught by excellent instructors. The module on “Evidence Evaluation and Documentation” was written by Thomas W. Jones. The course includes the following modules:

•          Foundations of Genealogical Research
•          Problem-Solving Techniques and Technology
•          Evidence Evaluation and Documentation
•          Forensic Genealogical Research
•          Professional Genealogy

4 - An inexpensive option is to watch the live or recorded webinars sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. These webinars are free when presented live, and past webinars can be rented and viewed for the low price of $2.99. Here are some you may be interested in:

            “The Importance of Context in Record Analysis”

            Presented by Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS

            LIVE: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 / Recording will be posted online at the link above

Description: Source citations provide context for the information we gather. Was the death date from a tombstone, a newspaper obituary, a county history, a Bible record, or a death certificate? The best citations tell us that the tombstone was contemporary with the death, the Bible record was entered in the same hand and the same ink, the county history was written a hundred and fifty years later, and the death certificate was signed by an attending physician. The details provide background context that helps us evaluate the validity of the information and suggests other avenues for research. But this information only scratches the surface. A full evaluation of any record’s context requires that we explore the complete content of the document. We want to know the reason for the document’s existence; the social, legal, and geographical context behind its creation; and what ancillary documents were produced both before and after its creation.

            “Complex Evidence What it is, How it Works, Why it Matters” 

            presented by F. Warren Bittner, CG

            Description: The genealogist’s goal is to establish identity and prove relationships.    

            Complex evidence is often the ONLY way to do this. Follow a case study of clues from      

            multiple sources to solve a problem.

5 - A free option that provides an opportunity to study and discuss the concepts and practice of evidence evaluation with other genealogists, are online study groups. There are two different groups that are relevant to this topic.

            GenProof Study Group– Small groups that study the concepts in Mastering             Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones.  Individuals in these groups study the book chapter by chapter, complete the exercises in the book, and meet online to discuss the concepts with each other and a mentor.

            NGSQ Study Group -- The NGSQ Study Group is an online study group that meets monthly to study scholarly articles from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. The purpose is to examine the evidence and methodology used in the case study and discuss it with other genealogists. There are several different groups that meet at various times to accommodate participants’ schedules.

6 – The Learning Center at FamilySearch.org has a presentation by Thomas W. Jones entitled “Using Correlation to Reveal Facts that No Record States.” You can download the course materials and view the 45-minute presentation here.

7 -  The absolute best teacher may be experience. Once you have studied evidence analysis techniques start practicing them! Pull out a piece of your research and analyze all of the evidence you have collected using the Evidence Analysis Map inside the front cover of Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2015). Analyze each piece of evidence, and then correlate it with the evidence you have from different sources. If this is difficult, go back and reread the resources in Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 1.

Comments welcome:

If you have suggestions for other methods for studying evidence analysis, please share them in the comments.

Note:

These are just ideas for you to add to your individual education plan as you choose. They are NOT meant to be a checklist where you have to read/study/participate in every option. 

Other posts in this series:
Educational Preparation for BCG Certification  
Studying the Genealogical Proof Standard

Conducting Reasonably Exhaustive Research

Studying the Art of Citation

Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 1

The Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum: Upping Your Game

This is part of my ongoing series featuring guest authors writing reviews of the courses offered at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I am excited to to have these friends share their perspective on the institute and the education they received. 

The Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum: Upping Your Game

By Karen J. Matheson

The blood seemed to be pounding in my head, my heart was racing. I surreptitiously wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, hoping no one would notice. Was I completely out of my depth? Or had I nailed it??

I felt such a combination of excitement and nervousness on the first day of the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum at the 2103 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. So, why did I choose it? And why did I choose the Practicum again in 2016? Because the Practicum offers an experience unlike any other offered at a genealogical institute.

I had spent many years sitting in genealogical lectures and day-long seminars presented by today’s preeminent genealogists. I had previously attended week-long sessions at SLIG and IGHR, including advanced courses. I was looking for something more, something different, and the Practicum’s course description caught my eye:

“This hands-on course is an opportunity for advanced genealogists to put their research skills into practice. Participants work on five complex genealogical research problems—a new one each day. Each case requires careful evidence evaluation and/or additional research to solve. The objective is to give each student experience in conducting research on complex problems, analyzing and correlating evidence, and reaching conclusions.”[1]

This was a way to “up my game!”

The Practicum experience is endless—different cases are prepared by different presenters each year. The course is not just information gathering! Each case requires determining which documents are important, analyzing the information gleaned, resolving any conflicts, and reaching a sound conclusion—usually from indirect evidence. Participants are asked to write a summary each day and turn it in before class begins that afternoon.

Class time consists of about 1.5 hours of discussion with the other participants and the professional who presented the case. This is perhaps the best part—the opportunity to have an in-depth discussion with other like-minded genealogists. We explored the various approaches class members took to solve the problems. We discussed what worked, what didn’t work, what constituted key pieces of information, etc. (I learned that researching in an urban area requires a completely different approach than researching in the rural South!)

A case presented in 2013 by William D. Litchman, PhD required participants to identify a man for whom we were given only a name, a marriage license, and a few newspaper articles. We were tasked with finding the correct man and learning where he came from, where he went, and who his family were. The answer to this problem was reached by focusing on the man’s identity—the types of activities he engaged in and his apparent educational background.

In January 2016, Paul K. Graham, CG, AG gave us all the documents necessary to prove who the father of an individual was. The question was not difficult to answer; however, we were tasked with analyzing and correlating the information and writing a proof summary of the indirect evidence that provided the answer.

I have learned that applying a variety of techniques can help—sometimes a case seemed to require a timeline, another case lead me to create a database of family members and extended family. Some cases were made clearer by the creation of comparison charts.

The Practicum taught me time management—with only 22 hours to solve a case and write a conclusion, you have to plan out your time! I learned that it is best to follow the instructions! I learned that it is best to stay focused on the research path that will most likely lead to the answer and not get lead astray by interesting tid-bits (the curse of the researcher)! Most of all, I learned that even if I didn’t quite get the answer, there is always another day and another opportunity to hone my skills.

So, if you are tired of sitting in classes and you’re ready for a challenge, the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum offers a great way to “up your game.”

Karen Matheson has been doing genealogical research for more than 20 years and works as a professional genealogist. A native of Utah, Karen formerly lived in Texas and currently lives in Morgan Hill, California. Karen has served on the boards of many different genealogical societies and volunteered in a Family History Center for five years. Karen enjoys researching, mentoring, teaching, and sharing her enthusiasm for genealogy and family history with others!

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[1] Angela Packer McGhie, “Is the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum Course Right for You?” Adventures in Genealogy Education, (http://genealogyeducation.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-advanced-evidence-analysis-practicum.html : accessed February 2, 2016), Saturday, June 1, 2013.

Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 1

This is part of my ongoing series on Educational Preparation for BCG Certification. It is not limited to those interested in certification, but provides ideas for any interested genealogist. There are links to the other posts in the series at the bottom of this article.

Note: One of the recommendations in part 2 of this article (which will be posted next Monday), is time sensitive so will be included here. Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16^th, there is a free webinar hosted by the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

            “The Importance of Context in Record Analysis”

            Presented by Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS

            LIVE: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 – register here

Description: Source citations provide context for the information we gather. Was the death date from a tombstone, a newspaper obituary, a county history, a Bible record, or a death certificate? The best citations tell us that the tombstone was contemporary with the death, the Bible record was entered in the same hand and the same ink, the county history was written a hundred and fifty years later, and the death certificate was signed by an attending physician. The details provide background context that helps us evaluate the validity of the information and suggests other avenues for research. But this information only scratches the surface. A full evaluation of any record’s context requires that we explore the complete content of the document. We want to know the reason for the document’s existence; the social, legal, and geographical context behind its creation; and what ancillary documents were produced both before and after its creation.

Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 1

This week our focus is on understanding and applying the second element of the Genealogical Proof Standard, “tests—through processes of analysis and correlation—of all sources, information items, and evidence.” This topic is broader than others we have discussed in this series. I will highlight some of the options I have found for studying evidence analysis and correlation, and I hope others will share their suggestions in the comments.

Informal Study Options:

1 - Read chapter 1 on the “Fundamentals of Evidence Analysis” in Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2015).

This chapter is one of the best explanations of evidence analysis available in genealogy. It covers basic issues and then explains the evidence analysis process map (the third edition of the book published in 2015 contains the most recent version of the map).

In this chapter Elizabeth Shown Mills states:

            “As history researchers we do not speculate. We test. We critically observe and carefully record. Then we weigh the accumulated evidence, analyzing the individual parts as well as the whole.” (Evidence Explained, page 15)

She continues on to list the important considerations in conducting analysis of genealogical records and the evidence they contain, including the classes of evidence, the quality of the evidence, and points to consider in your analysis.

2 – Second, study chapter 5 of Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones (Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013).

In this chapter Thomas W. Jones states:

            “Proof, of course, requires us to determine which sources, information items, and evidence items are probably correct and which are not. Consequently, we must test our sources, information and evidence.” (Mastering Genealogical Proof, page 53)

Dr. Jones points out that “we analyze one source at a time,” and provides tests for analyzing the source and the information. Once we have analyzed each source we compare them to see what evidence agrees, and where we may have conflicts. This chapter contains examples of analysis and correlation in the figures and tables provided, and then exercises for you to practice these skills.

3 - Review chapter 4 on “Standards for Researching” in Genealogy Standards: 50^th Anniversary Edition by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (Nashville: Ancestry, 2014). This chapter contains standards #35 through #47 for analyzing evidence, and particularly #35 on source analysis and #36 on information analysis. These are the standards by which BCG portfolio applications will be judged.

4 – Study chapter 17 on “Evidence Analysis” by Donn Devine in Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers and Librarians edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2001).  This chapter was written before the new 3 x 3 Evidence Process Map was produced (see the 2015 edition of Evidence Explained), but the principles in the chapter are sound. The questions about factors that point to the reliability, or unreliability, of evidence on page 337 are useful tools.

5 – You may also like to read Elements of Genealogical Analysis by Robert Charles Anderson (Boston: NEHGS, 2014). This book presents a step-by-step process for solving genealogical problems using source analysis, record analysis and linkage analysis. Anderson uses different terminology than the Board for Certification and Mastering Genealogical Proof, so don’t get confused, but his analysis techniques are sound.

6 -- As recommended in the post on citations, the EvidenceExplained.com website is an excellent resource. You will want to return often to read new posts in the forums, as well as new QuickLessons and blog posts. Here are a few of the ones most relevant to evidence analysis:

Evidence Explained Forums – a place for you to ask questions on evidence analysis issues as well as record usage and interpretation. You may want to read the archives.

Evidence Explained QuickLessons -  these are brief lessons on a variety of source, analysis and citation topics. Here are a few that are relevant to studying evidence analysis:

QuickLesson 1: Analysis & Citation

QuickLesson 2: Sources vs. Information vs. Evidence vs. Proof

QuickLesson 5: Analyzing Records

QuickLesson 8: What Constitutes Proof?

QuickLesson 10: Original Records, Image Copies, and Derivatives

QuickLesson 13: Classes of Evidence—Direct, Indirect & Negative

QuickLesson 16: Speculation, Hypothesis, Interpretation & Proof

QuickLesson 17: The Evidence Analysis Process Map

      QuickTips – the blog at EvidenceExplained.com. Start with these posts:

            A Record Here ... A Record There ... Wow! A Match!

            How To Solve a Research Problem

            Analyzing Census Records: Context Matters!

            Analyzing Records to Find Our Answers

            Finding the 'Core Truth' in a Tradition

            Analyzing Compiled Material "On the Fly"

            Understanding What We Find

            The Disciplined Researcher's 20-Question Guide

7 – Study the article “Working with Historical Evidence: Genealogical Principles and Standards” by Elizabeth Shown Mills from Evidence: A Special Issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 87 (September 1999): 165-184. It is available as a PDF file on Elizabeth’s website at http://historicpathways.com/download/workwthhistevidence.pdf

8 - Read the articles "The Importance of Genealogical Analysis and Correlation" (April 2015) and "The Great Mix-Up: Sources, Information, Evidence and Proof" (March 2015) by Melissa A. Johnson, CG in the NGS Monthly. Members of the National Genealogical Society can access the NGS Monthly at http://ngsmonthly.ngsgenealogy.org/

9 – Read the skillbuilding articles on the website of the Board for Certification of Genealogists that relate to evidence:

            Stefani Evans, "Data Analysis," OnBoard 18 (May 2012): 13-14.

            Stefani Evans, "Evidence Correlation," OnBoard 18 (September 2012): 21-23.

            Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Analyzing Wills for Useful Clues," OnBoard 1 (May 1995): 16.

            Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Analyzing Deeds for Useful Clues," OnBoard 1 (January 1995): 8.

10 – Read case studies in genealogy journals to learn how others used methodologies for solving genealogical problems. The most-often recommended publications are the following:

National Genealogical Society Quarterly

New England Historical and Genealogical Register

New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Record

The American Genealogist

Part 2 of "Studying Evidence Analysis" with the formal study activities will be posted on Monday, February 22, 2016.

Note:

These are just ideas for you to add to your individual education plan as you choose. They are NOT meant to be a checklist where you have to read/study/participate in every option. 

Other posts in this series:
Educational Preparation for BCG Certification  
Studying the Genealogical Proof Standard

Conducting Reasonably Exhaustive Research

Studying the Art of Citation

Review of Advanced Research Tools: Land Records

This is part of my ongoing series featuring guest authors who have agreed to review one of the courses offered at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I am excited to to have these friends share their perspective on the institute and the education they received. This one is written by Melanie Frick.

Advanced Research Tools: Land Records
By Melanie Frick

When working to solve brick walls in my own family tree, I have often come to find that if my ancestors left behind nothing else, they made a point to leave records of their land. Therefore, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to immerse myself in "Advanced Research Tools: Land Records" at the 2016 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Coordinated by instructors Richard Sayre and Pamela Boyer Sayre, with additional instruction provided by Judy G. Russell and Angela Packer McGhie, this five-day course was a stellar educational experience.

As a long-time lover of land records interested in delving deeper, I was particularly interested in learning more about state land states as well as the fine points of military bounty land warrants and homestead applications. With sessions ranging from the Federal Land Division and State Land States to Private Land Claims, Land Entry Papers, Land Ownership Maps, Deed Platting, and, yes, Homesteads and Military Bounty Lands, not to mention several others, this course more than delivered. A look at "the law of the land" with Judy G. Russell provided an excellent overview of the different land records and legal terminology we would encounter throughout the week, and I came away with new inspiration for my own research as well as a wealth of information about available resources both online and off.

One of the most unexpectedly rewarding sessions for me was an introduction to tract books by Angela Packer McGhie. Within a tract book can be found information about each section of land in the public domain, including the names of those who either purchased or claimed land, the dates of their transactions, and even, often the case for homesteads, information about claims that were canceled before patent. As a (hopeful) eventual BCG candidate, I am drawn to lesser-known resources such as these that offer a more complete look at an ancestor's life, and using the information gleaned from this session, within a matter of minutes I was able to locate a digitized tract book listing an ancestor's relinquished homestead. A later session with Richard Sayre answered my questions about obtaining this file, and in his discussion of homesteads, he drove home the point, "Reasonably exhaustive research in the public land states would include an examination of canceled claims."

What was also especially helpful to me was hands-on experience with DeedMapper in a computer lab session at the Family History Library. If you've ever wondered how to make sense of a state-land description involving rocks and trees as landmarks and measurements in poles, the deed platting capabilities of this software could be of great value. The opportunity to become acquainted with other mapping resources, including HistoryGeo, one of my personal favorites, was eye opening, as was exploring the capabilities of Google Earth and the ability to place historic maps onto a modern landscape in order to identify the precise location of an ancestor's land. The Sayres made an effort to ensure that their instruction in the lab was easy to follow.

Although individual homework was not assigned in "Advanced Research Tools: Land Records," group project assignments were made on Monday with short presentations following on Friday. In the interim, groups of about six could coordinate the division of labor as they saw fit and meet as frequently or infrequently as they liked in order to solve the assigned land-related research question. This was an effective way to piece together knowledge gained from different sessions throughout the week in order to thoroughly explore a variety of complex problems.

"Land genealogy is equally as important as people genealogy," said Pamela Boyer Sayre in her final session of the week, and after exploring the wide range of land records available and the diverse information contained within them, I wholeheartedly agree. In addition to the overall high-quality educational experience, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy offers numerous social and networking opportunities as well as the chance to spend time researching at the nearby Family History Library. It is an excellent choice for those who would like to immerse themselves in the study of a particular topic at a genealogical institute, and I look forward to attending again.

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Melanie Frick, MLS, holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and has attended the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is the editor of the APG eNews, volunteers as a proofreader of the NGS Magazine, and serves on the board of the NextGen Genealogy Network. She also writes at Homestead Genealogical Research. An Iowa native with deep roots in the Midwest, Melanie lives in Southern California.