April 25th is National DNA Day in the U.S. and the sale prices on DNA testing are already beginning. Check AncestryDNA.com, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, 23andMe, and LivingDNA. In a future post, I will list some helpful books and online guidance.
To learn more about the origins of this commemoration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_Day.
A couple weeks ago, Cyndi Ingle asked me to do an educational guest post on The Genealogy Squad (TGS) Cyndi is one of the administrators of TGS and also is the Cyndi of CyndisList.com. We talked about several ideas and this morning 15 April) I posted my tips on Native American research. Now I have been privately asked by a reader for information on my qualifications regarding Native American research. I though I should share that info directly on my blog.
I have been involved in Native American research, consulting, enrollment issues, lecturing, and court testimony since about 1990. I also have several trusted subcontractors who assist in segments of this work. The following is a brief overview of my experience.
1989-present: Full-time genealogical & historical researcher, consultant, writer, and lecturer related to a wide variety of topics, clients, families, and localities across the U.S.
1990-present: Specialist in Native American research and analysis for individuals, families, law firms, and Tribes in several states.
1993-2015: Contract genealogist and consultant for a Minnesota-based Tribe.
1995-present: Extended research time at various National Archives facilities in BIA related records for several Tribes. Other research sites included county courthouses, state archives, and state historical societies in several states.
2016-2018: Served as the Enrollment Committee for a Tribe, assisted the Tribe in the reopening of the enrollment process, in establishing a new enrollment ordinance, determining the Enrollment Application process, development of an Enrollment Application Form and associated reference materials, and established the DNA testing process. Then analyzed, verified, and evaluated 450+ enrollment applications and suggested approval of 302 new members.
During April 2020 you can view a free webinar each day from Legacy Family Tree Webinars. It’s a webinar chosen by Legacy and it is available beginning at midnight Eastern Time Zone.
Their blog has the list of what is being offered each day. Be sure to download the handout for each webinar.
If you need more webinars to view each day, it’s time for a membership. Click here to take advantage of the $49.95 annual membership. This is my affiliate link and I appreciate your use of this.
The Genealogy Guys just released the video file, “Using Stereographs and Vintage Postcards” at Genealogy Guys Learn. They also have a new written course, “Dowager Law: A Case Study”. The Genealogy Guys Learn subscription is on sale for $79 (reg. $99 per year.) You’ll find details, instructions, and the Coupon Code in The Genealogy Guys Blog at http://blog.genealogyguys.com/…/genealogy-guys-learn-on-sal….
Staying at home to be safe is not a problem with the consultations I do with clients and prospective clients. I have done them by Zoom, Google Hangout, and by phone over the last few weeks. I do have openings on my calendar starting next week for more. I can assist you with using any of the methods for a consultation. Clients send me documents as email attachments, by Google Docs, or place them in Dropbox. I review the material, make notes on questions and suggestions, and then we “talk” about their U.S. and Canadian research. It may be some of those missing ancestors, finding a place of birth, material that doesn’t quite make sense, or simply needing a research plan based on what you send to me. Some that I consult with are beginners at family history research and it’s like a private lesson on what to do.
A consultation is a minimum of 2 hours. The fee is $100 total payable via Paypal or check. Those 2 hours can be split up if you wish. If you want to continue after that, more hours can be added then or even a month or two later when more questions arise.
This is not a list of all the websites that offer digitized books and periodicals for us, but is a list that will get you started from the comfort of your own home. This list of free websites is abstracted from my oft-requested presentation Your Anytime Library: Success in the Virtual Stacks. We can do a lot of U.S. historical and genealogical research from our home.
Do some searching by various terms: surname, city, county, state, occupation, laws, vital records, bibles, and other keyword terminology. I will add another post soon about some websites that lead you to both free and fee-based websites.
Subscription based genealogy databases have some free material as do many genealogical societies. Many public, college, and university libraries and special collection departments have digitized books. County and state historical societies often have digital collections. Worldcat.org is what I call a library catalog of library catalogs and it’s easy to set a parameter to search for books and other items that are available online.
There’s no reason to be bored with all the research that we can do right now from our homes as we wait for our libraries, historical societies, and archives to reopen.
MyHeritage sent this today: “we’re giving everyone FREE and unlimited access to MyHeritage In Color™ from March 23 to April 23, so that people everywhere can join in the fun of colorizing their black and white photos. Ordinarily only 10 photos can be colorized by users who do not have a Complete plan, but now, you can colorize as many photos as you’d like for free. “
Daniel Horowitz also said: “Colorizing photos is the perfect activity for anyone who is isolated at home. We invite everyone to pull out their family photo albums, colorize their photos, and start reminiscing. Over the coming month, anyone who shares their colorized photos on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with the hashtag #ColorBeatsCoronavirusBlues and tags @MyHeritage will enter a weekly draw. Each week we’ll select one lucky winner who will receive a free MyHeritage Complete subscription!
Please share the news on your social channels and with your audience so they can make the most of this opportunity and colorize their photos.
I also invite you to join me this Tuesday March 24 at 1:00 pm EST for a 30-minute session on how to work with this incredible feature. Feel free to register here and prepare your questions in advance.”
In conjunction with the Goodhue County Historical Society, Red Wing Community Education, and the Dakota County Historical Society, my presentations scheduled over the next week in Red Wing and South St Paul, Minnesota have been cancelled. We hope to reschedule in the future.
March 14, 2020 Red Wing, Minnesota
Goodhue County Historical Society and Red Wing Community Education, 1:00 p.m. I will be presenting “Research Rewards in County Courthouses and Town Hall Records ” accompanied by an extensive handout. Click on the society name to register.
March 19, 2020 South St. Paul, Minnesota
Dakota County Historical Society Lawshe Memorial Museum 7:00 p.m. I will be presenting “Researching Midwestern River People.” and it is accompanied by a handout.
March 12, 2020 Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson Area Public Library Genealogy Presentation at 10:30 a.m. I will be presenting “Farmer in the Dell . . . and in Many U.S. Records” accompanied by a handout.
March 14, 2020 Red Wing, Minnesota
Goodhue County Historical Society and Red Wing Community Education, 1:00 p.m. I will be presenting “Research Rewards in County Courthouses and Town Hall Records ” accompanied by an extensive handout. Click on the society name to register.
March 19, 2020 South St. Paul, Minnesota
Dakota County Historical Society Lawshe Memorial Museum 7:00 p.m. I will be presenting “Researching Midwestern River People.” and it is accompanied by a handout.
Directions to the Minnesota Genealogy Center are on the Minnesota Genealogical Society website under the WJH Library link.
