Understanding the physical and social landscapes where our ancestors lived can be crucial to solving problems of identity, kinship, and origin. This hands-on, advanced course, for students with experience in land records and platting, offers critical skills and practical strategies for constructing community networks around elusive ancestors. We’ll explore the integration of advanced land platting techniques with modern mapping technologies and historical maps to place ancestors in a specific location, trace the development of the neighborhoods in which they lived, and uncover insights into historical relationships and migration patterns. In-class examples and exercises will also demonstrate triangulation techniques for determining approximate location from partial data and the use of reconstructed ancestral networks to identify key associates, disambiguate same-name people, and locate “missing” individuals. NOTE: This course requires previous completion of the week-long land platting course offered at either SLIG or IGHR or permission of the instructors.
Course 2: Researching Women from 1860 to 1950
Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR
There’s no doubt that researching female ancestors can be difficult. The records genealogist’s use doesn’t always include women by name. Women’s marital name changes coupled with the fact that women’s historical legal rights precluded them from activities that leave a record trail, make finding her story seem impossible.
As we consider our female ancestors, we must enhance our approach from strictly genealogical research to research that includes historical and social history sources and context. By expanding our research to include other methodologies and sources, we can learn more about our female ancestors.
In this course, we will explore women's historical experiences to understand better their lives and the records left behind. Conducting exhaustive research and writing techniques will also be discussed. This course will focus on the 1860-1950 years in the United States so we can narrow our scope and start telling the stories of our most recent female ancestors. Our focus will be recreating women’s communities, finding records, and writing her story so we can share it with family members.
Course 3: A Century of Change: The Emigrant-Immigrant-Migrant Experience in the U.S., 1825–1925
Pamela J. Vittorio, MA, PLCGS
In the century from 1825 to 1925, our ancestors experienced innovations that had a profound effect on every aspect of their lives. This course explores the emigrant-immigrant-migrant experience during the transportation, industrial, and technological revolutions. Dig into your ancestors’ socio-historical backgrounds and develop a better understanding of the push-pull that brought them to North American shores. Determine how they arranged transatlantic passage, used various transportation methods in the U.S., purchased land, built a house, found work, became a U.S. citizen and a part of their community.
In this course, we will consider the factors that affect a person’s identity, such as language(s), educational background, communication methods, occupations, forms of socialization and entertainment, religious affiliations, and social mobility. In the social history/culture sessions, we discuss family traditions and cultural mores that may or may not be woven into the threads of the American tapestry. We will examine and interpret information from our most frequently-used records (e.g., census, BMDs, immigration records) and correlate them with other less-used record types, such as advertisements, city or farm directories, diaries, journals, business ledgers and receipts, and transportation records—to enrich our ancestors’ stories and place them alongside the people with whom they interacted in their day-to-day lives.
The session lectures and discussions cycle through topics on people and identity, social history and culture, and investigation of a wide variety of record types from which we can extract and weave information into our ancestors’ stories. Every fourth session culminates in tips and techniques for writing a family narrative or case study, and receiving feedback.
Mondays, 5:00–9:00 pm MT, 10 February through 14 April 2025
Tuition
Regular Price: $595.00
UGA Member Price: $545.00
[Read More & View Course Schedule]
Level of Instruction
High Intermediate/Advanced
Prerequisites
Genealogical institute (SLIG, GRIP, IGHR, APPGen), Boston U Research Certificate, IIGS certificate.
Certificate Requirements
Attendance in 19/20 sessions required. Students may make up missed sessions by watching video but should submit homework.
Course Schedule
Times
Class Title
Instructor
February 10th
5:00–5:30 pm
Welcome and General Instructions
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The People: The Traveler Prepares: Transatlantic Voyages in the Nineteenth Century
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Records: Digging In—Early Transportation-related Records
Vittorio
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Vittorio
February 17th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Hoffman
5:30–6:45 pm
The Culture: In and Out of the City
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Stories: The Emigrant’s POV and Finding a Starting Point
Bakkala
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Bakkala
February 24th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Bakkala
5:30–6:45 pm
The People: Industry & Agriculture
Lyttle
7:15–8:30 pm
The Records: Farms, Factories, Freight & Public Works
Vittorio
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Vittorio
March 3rd
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The Culture: Social Networking & the Community
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Stories: Developing the Narrative
Bakkala
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Bakkala
March 10th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The People: People in Motion—Heading West
Lyttle
7:15–8:30 pm
The Records: Transforming and Reinventing the American Landscape
Vittorio
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Vittorio
March 17th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The Culture: Rural and Urban FAN Clubs
Lyttle
7:15–8:30 pm
The Stories: Drafting the Narrative: Integrating Many Voices
Bakkala, Vittorio
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Bakkala
March 24th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Bakkala
5:30–6:45 pm
The People: A Nation of Immigrants
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Records: Alive on Arrival: Records that Tell the Stories
Ferretti
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Vittorio
March 31st
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The Culture: Survival Skills: Life and Work
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Stories: Expanding the Narrative: Cross-Country Migrations
Bakkala, Vittorio
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Vittorio
April 7th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The People: From the Melting Pot to the Salad Bowl
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Records: Immigration & Naturalization to 1925 and the Impact of Laws on the Future of Immigration
Ferretti
8:30–9:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Vittorio
April 14th
5:00–5:30 pm
Homework Review
Vittorio
5:30–6:45 pm
The Culture: The Roaring 20s & US-World Events
Vittorio
7:15–8:30 pm
The Stories: Revising and Editing the Narrative (Final Draft)
Bakkala
8:30–9:00 pm
Course Wrap-up
Vittorio
Writing and Publication
Course 4: The Art of Writing a Research Report
Debra A. Hoffman, PLCGS
Want to effectively capture your research whether writing for yourself or a client? Writing effective research reports can be a challenge. This course will provide instruction and hands-on experience creating an efficient and effective report. A team of professional genealogists will share their expertise in technical writing, evidence analysis, incorporating visual elements, organizing material, time-saving strategies, and documentation. Examples of a variety of reporting formats covering simple to complex research problems from a variety of professional perspectives will be shared and available to review during the course. Participants will learn both by evaluating provided reports and writing a research report during the week. Students should have a laptop to work on practice exercises in class and complete writing assignments.
Course 5: Bring ‘Em Back to Life: Writing Our Ancestors’ Stories
Annette Burke Lyttle, MA, CG
The goal of this course is to help researchers understand how to tell the stories of their ancestors, to equip them with skills and techniques that will give them confidence as writers, to help them avoid pitfalls, and to help them understand how best to share their stories, depending on their goals. Writing these stories can seem like a daunting task, but with instruction and coaching, researchers can learn to be not just guardians of the family history, but tellers of those family stories. Our hands-on learning approach, along with homework on their own writing projects, will allow students to immediately practice the concepts being taught in the course. They will also end up with a completed writing project and a plan for how best to share it. The course will finish with a lecture on how to get help and support for their writing projects going forward.
Wednesdays, 3:00 –7:00 pm MT, 12 February through 23 April 2025
Tuition
Regular Price: $595.00
UGA Member Price: $545.00
[Read More & View Course Schedule]
Level of Instruction
Intermediate to Advanced
Certificate Completion Requirements
Students need to attend 16 of 20 sessions live and watch the video for any session they miss. They must turn in homework assignments.
Course Schedule
Times
Class Title
Instructor
February 12th
3:00–3:30 pm
Welcome and General Instructions
Lyttle
3:30–4:45 pm
Writing as You Research
Bakkala
5:15–6:30 pm
From Evidence to Story
Bakkala
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment: Introducing the Project
Lyttle
February 19th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Bakkala
3:30–4:45 pm
Find the Stories in the Records
Bakkala
5:15–6:30 pm
Hands-on Workshop
Bakkala
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Bakkala
February 26th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Bakkala
3:30–4:45 pm
Get Help to Fill in the Story
Philibert-Ortega
5:15–6:30 pm
Hands-on Workshop
Philibert-Ortega
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Philibert-Ortega
March 12th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Philibert-Ortega
3:30–4:45 pm
Preparing to Write
Lyttle
5:15–6:30 pm
Hands-on Workshop
Lyttle
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Lyttle
March 19th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Lyttle
3:30–4:45 pm
Techniques for Story Writing
Bakkala
5:15 am–6:30 pm
Hands-on Workshop
Bakkala
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Bakkala
March 26th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Bakkala
3:30–4:45 pm
What About Enhancements?
Lyttle
5:15–6:30 pm
Hands-on Workshop
Lyttle
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Lyttle
April 2nd
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Lyttle
3:30–4:45 pm
Documenting Sources
Lyttle
5:15–6:30 pm
Mastering Microsoft Word for Genealogical Writing
Powell
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Lyttle, Powell
April 9th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Lyttle, Powell
3:30–4:45 pm
Putting it All Together
Bakkala
5:15–6:30 pm
Editing and Sharing Your Story
Bakkala
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Bakkala
April 16th
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Bakkala
3:30–4:45 pm
Legal Considerations: Copyright
Russell
5:15–6:30 pm
Legal Considerations: Plagiarism
Russell
6:30–7:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Russell
April 23rd
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework Review
Russell
3:30 am–4:45 pm
Sharing Our Stories with the Group
Bakkala
5:15–6:30 pm
Get Support for Your Writing Going Forward
Bakkala
6:30–7:00 pm
Course Wrap-up
Bakkala
International Research & Languages
Course 6: Tracing French-Canadian Ancestors and Telling Their Stories
David S. Ouimette, CG, CGL
In this course, you will learn how to trace your French-Canadian family history back to your pioneer ancestors and their origins in France. You do not need to know French to have amazing success discovering your French-Canada ancestry. The rich historical records from the colony of New France to modern-day Quebec are the envy of the genealogical world, and the most valuable records are already digitized, indexed, and available online. You will find your ancestors' stories in Catholic parish registers, notarial acts, census population schedules, and other lesser-known records. You will envision your French-Canadian ancestors in their everyday life within the social, religious, economic, political, and cultural contexts of their time. You might even discover that you have a fur trader, Daughter of the King, or First Nations ancestor in your family tree. Come join us to accelerate the discovery of your French-Canadian heritage!
Thursdays, 10:00 am–2:00 pm MT, 13 February through 24 April 2025
Tuition
Regular Price: $595.00
UGA Member Price: $545.00
[Read More & View Course Schedule]
Level of Instruction
Intermediate
Prerequisites
No knowledge of French is required.
Certificate Requirementts
Attendance at live sessions each week is encouraged as we will assign new homework and review previous homework each week to enhance the learning experience. If you need to miss a class, you may watch the video recording and obtain the homework assignment.
Course Schedule
Times
Class Title
Instructor
February 13th
10:00–10:30 am
Welcome and General Instructions
Ouimette
10:30–11:45 am
Pioneer Ancestors and Their Stories
Pioneer ancestors, historical overview, and course outline
Ouimette
12:15–1:30 pm
Young Women Who Came to Marry Filles à Marier and Filles du Roi
Ouimette
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette
February 20th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette
10:30–11:45 am
Everyday Life in New France
Farming, trade, religion, seigneurial system, customs
Ouimette
12:15–1:30 pm
Naming Practices
Maiden names, dit names, spelling variants, etc.
Ouimette
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette
February 27th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette
10:30–11:45 am
Catholic Parish Registers (Part 1)
Baptism, marriage, and burial records
Fortier
12:15–1:30 pm
Catholic Parish Registers (Part 2)
Baptism, marriage, and burial records
Fortier
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Fortier
March 13th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Fortier
10:30–11:45 am
Notarial Records
Rich details of individuals and families recorded by notaries.
Ouimette
12:15–1:30 pm
Census Records
National, provincial, and colonial census records.
Fortier
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette, Fortier
March 20th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette, Fortier
10:30–11:45 am
Civil Registration and Cemeteries
20th-century birth, marriage, and death records.
Ouimette
12:15 am–1:30 pm
Lesser-Known Records in the Archives
Land petitions, immigration and naturalization, etc.
Ouimette
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette
March 27th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette
10:30–11:45 am
Genealogy Dictionaries and Biographies
Tanguay, Jetté, and other published compilations.
Fortier
12:15 am–1:30 pm
PRDH — Family Reconstruction Programme de recherche en démographie historique
Ouimette
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette, Fortier
April 3rd
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette, Fortier
10:30–11:45 am
Généalogie Québec and BMS2000
Databases and search techniques
Fortier
12:15–1:30 pm
Building Families, Lineages, and Stories
Genealogical Proof Standard and research techniques
Ouimette
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette, Fortier
April 10th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette, Fortier
10:30–11:45 am
Tracing U.S. Immigrants to Quebec
Immigration methodologies, name variants
Ouimette
12:15–1:30 pm
Tracing Pioneer Origins in France
Immigration methodologies, Fichier Origine
Ouimette
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette
April 17th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette
10:30–11:45 am
Military Ancestors
Carignan-Salières Regiment and other military ancestors
Ouimette
12:15–1:30 pm
Fur Trading Ancestors
Tracing voyageurs and coureurs de bois
Muhn
1:30–2:00 pm
Homework Assignment
Ouimette, Muhn
April 24th
10:00–10:30 am
Homework Review
Ouimette, Muhn
10:30 am–11:45 am
Protestant and Catholic Connections
Catholic converts, Protestant families, Eastern Townships
Ouimette
12:15–1:30 pm
First Nations Ancestors in New France
Tracing Abenaki, Algonquin, Huron, and Micmac ancestors
Muhn
1:30–2:00 pm
Course Wrap-up
Ouimette
Proficiency Development
Course 7: Becoming an Accredited Genealogist Professional: The Why, the What, the How
Lisa Stokes, AG
Earning the Accredited Genealogist credential with the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) provides opportunities to demonstrate your research proficiency in a chosen region. Benefits include strengthened research skills, confidence in performing client work, and respect in the genealogy community.
This interactive, hands-on course will cover the requirements for each ICAPGen accreditation step and give valuable information needed for successful testing. Homework assignments will provide essential skill-building activities. Peer review using ICAPGen rubrics will provide vital feedback to students. A four-hour practice project and a personalized meeting with an AG mentor, knowledgeable in the chosen region of accreditation, will cap off the course. Discover your accreditation readiness as you learn more about the testing process and receive peer and mentor feedback on your work.
Choose an accreditation region. See Testing Regions at ICAPGen.org
Complete research for one generation of the Four-Generation Project (the same generation should be used throughout the course). See Four-Generation Project Guidelines at ICAPGen.org.
Write an outline for one generation of the Four-Generation Project. The outline should include a list of sources that prove birth, parentage, marriage, and death for the main research subject of that generation.
Gain experience writing genealogical reports, narratives, or summaries.
Course Schedule
Times
Class Title
Instructor
March 27th
8:00–8:30 am
Welcome and General Instructions
Stokes
8:30–9:45 am
Overview of Accreditation, Peer Review, and the Level 1 Four-Generation Project
This session will provide an overview of the accreditation process and look in-depth at the elements of the four-generation project. Students will learn good practices for effective peer review.
Stokes
10:15–11:30 am
Research Methodology and the Four-Generation Project
Attendees will learn ways to incorporate sound research methodology into the Four-Generation Project and learn to prepare and fine-tune an outline for one generation.
Stokes
1:00–2:15 pm
Source Citations – Part 1
Source citations are the foundation of solid research. This session will highlight skills for crafting professional and consistent source citations for successful Level 1 and Level 3 projects.
Stokes
2:45–4:00 pm
Source Citations – Part 2
Students will practice writing and evaluating source citations.
Stokes
4:00–4:30 pm
Homework Assignment
Students will compile a basic source citation template. They will also fine-tune the outline of one generation from their Four-Generation Project.
Elder
April 3rd
8:00–8:30 am
Homework Review
Students will discuss their experience creating the outline and citation template.
Stokes
8:30–9:45 am
Evidence Analysis and Correlation in a Research Report
Review the various components of evidence analysis and learn how to discuss them in a Four-Generation Report.
Greenhalgh
10:15–11:30 am
Writing an Effective Research Report
Discover key elements that make reports shine. Learn what to include in a Four-Generation Project report and tips for writing up research in clear and understandable ways.
Greenhalgh
1:00–2:15 pm
Model for a Well-Written Genealogy Proof
This session will discuss organizing research findings into proof summaries or proof arguments for use in the Four-Generation Report.
Stokes
2:45–4:00 pm
Research Logs
Learn guidelines for developing excellent writing skills and learn about the key elements of a successful research log.
Childs
4:00–4:30 pm
Homework Assignment
Students will write one proof summary or proof argument for the Four-Generation Project and create a research log template.
Elder
April 10th
8:00–8:30 am
Homework Review
Students will discuss their experience writing a proof summary or argument and creating a research log template.
Stokes
8:30–9:45 am
Paleography, Extraction, Transcription, Abstraction
This session will focus on strategies for reading old handwriting and the differences between an extract, a transcript, and an abstract, including the basic guidelines for creating each for use in a research log or report.
Taylor
10:15–11:30 am
Document Interpretation & General Knowledge
Students will learn about the Level 2 exams, the types of questions asked, prepare tips, and how to practice for this portion of the testing.
Taylor
1:00–2:15 pm
Language Requirements
Learn how to prepare for the language requirements of accreditation testing.
Hansen
2:45–4:00 pm
Creating a Personal Reference Guide
This session will show examples of Research Reference Guides and give tips for creating a guide to prepare students for Level 2 testing.
Greenhalgh
4:00–4:30 pm
Homework Assignment
Students will find a record from their chosen accreditation region and then transcribe and abstract it. They will also create general knowledge study questions and make a plan for creating a Research Reference Guide.
Stokes
April 17th
8:00–8:30 am
Homework Review
Students will discuss their experience transcribing or abstracting a record and preparing for Level 2 testing.
Stokes
8:30–9:45 am
Research Planning
This session will cover the research planning skills needed for testing. Students will practice and receive feedback on this vital skill.
Hansen
10:15–11:30 am
Document Interpretation & General Knowledge Practice
Students will practice document interpretation and create general knowledge practice questions specific to their region.
Shirley
1:00–2:15 pm
The Final Project Exam
Students will learn the requirements for the four-hour Final Project and how to prepare for this portion of the Level 3 testing.
Stokes
2:45–4:00 pm
The Final Project Evaluation
Learn how to effectively evaluate a Final Project using the ICAPGen rubrics.
Stokes
4:00–4:30 pm
Homework Assignment
Students will practice Level 2 skills and take a practice Level 3 Final Project exam in their region.
Stokes, Greenhalgh, Hansen, Shirley, Taylor
April 24th
8:00–9:00 am
Homework Review
Students will discuss their Level 2 practice assignments.
Stokes
9:00–9:45 am
Final Project Discussion
This session will discuss common challenges in the final project testing and how to overcome them.
Stokes
10:15–11:30 am
Regional Resources with AG Mentors
Students will meet with an AG mentor from their chosen or similar region to receive research tips for the region and test preparations suggestions.
Stokes, AG Professionals
1:00–2:15 pm
Oral Review & Ethics, Final Wrap-up
This session will cover the oral review and ethics agreement all AGs are required to sign.
Stokes
2:45–4:00 pm
Panel Discussion: How Accreditation Opens Doors
Students will have the opportunity to ask Accredited Genealogist professionals questions about working in the professional genealogy field.
Stokes, AG Professionals
Course 8: BCG Certification: Understanding and Meeting Standards
In this hands-on course, students review and practice the Board for Certification of Genealogists’ requirements for credentialing. They study the Genealogical Proof Standard and Genealogy Standards to create and evaluate genealogical work using established rubrics.
Rubrics for Evaluating New Applications for BCG Certification provide the organizing framework for class discussions, hands-on activities, and at-home practice. In-class exercises build foundational skills in transcribing records, planning efficient research, analyzing records, correlating information, reporting on research results, and writing about evidence. Weekly homework assignments provide the opportunity for students to apply the skills to their own research. Students will be asked to identify and celebrate their small wins on their paths to submitting a successful portfolio.
We will dive deep into the skills necessary to achieve certification:
Crafting a meaningful research question
Conducting reasonably exhaustive research
Evaluating sources as containers of information
Developing and refining efficient and dynamic research plans
Mining and reporting evidence
Documenting sources
Transcribing and abstracting information
Correlating information
Writing about evidence with logic and inference
Assembling evidence and conclusions
Parentage proofs including DNA
Resolving conflicts
Reporting of findings in a formal Research Report
Writing clear proof arguments detailing evidence and reasoning to support conclusions
Accurately reconstructing families within a Narrative Lineage
Writing a detailed and documented life story including meaningful historical context
This course is not sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. The opinions expressed by the faculty are entirely their own. The BCG Application Guide and Genealogy Standards represent the authority in all matters relating to credentialing. Please refer to the Board for Certification of Genealogists website for more information.
Dates & Times
Thursdays, 8:00 am–3:30 pm MT, 13 February through 27 March 2025
Tuition
Regular Price: $595.00
UGA Member Price: $545.00
[Read More & View Course Schedule]
Level of Instruction
Advanced
Prerequisites
This is an ADVANCED methodology course targeted to individuals preparing for BCG certification. However, genealogists seeking to improve advanced skills would also benefit from the course.
NOTE: Consistent with BCG Application Guide instructions, any projects submitted by new applicants to BCG must be their own work. While this course emphasizes the skills tested by BCG, students will not work on their own portfolio projects in class.
Reading Requirements
Board for Certification of Genealogists. Genealogy Standards, 2nd ed. rev. Nashville, Tenn.: Ancestry.com, 2021.
McCampbell, Mary Bell. “Transcripts and Abstracts,” published in Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2001.
Curran, Joan Ferris, Madilyn Coen Crane, and John H. Wray. Numbering Your Genealogy: Basic Systems, Complex Families, and International Kin, revised edition. Arlington, Va.: National Genealogical Society, 2008.
Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogical Proof. Arlington, Va.: National Genealogical Society, 2013.
―――. Mastering Genealogical Documentation. Arlington, Va.: National Genealogical Society, 2017.
―――. “Proof Arguments and Case Studies.” In Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice, and Standards, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018.
―――. “Reasoning from the Evidence.” In Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice, and Standards, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018.
Mills, Elizabeth Shown. “Fundamentals of Evidence Analysis” and “Fundamentals of Citation.” In Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 3rd ed. rev., edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2017.
Peters, Nancy. “Research Reports.” In Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice, and Standards, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018.
Golden Nuggets
The class will collaborate on a “Golden Nuggets Quicksheet” of handy tips and strategies learned throughout the week.
Certificate of Completion
Students must attend all class sessions and submit all homework in order to be eligible for a certificate of completion. When attendance conflicts arise, students may watch the recorded class sessions.
Course Schedule
Times
Class Title
Instructor
February 13th
8:00–8:30 am
Course Overview
Organizing framework, Small Wins, Golden Nuggets
McGhie, Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am
The Genealogical Proof Standard and Genealogy Standards
The class will be challenged with a pop quiz about the GPS and Genealogy Standards.
McGhie, Stanbary
10:00–11:15 am
The Five Elements of the Portfolio
This lecture will discuss the BCG Application Guide focusing on the requirements of each portfolio element. The lecture will help students understand which specific skills each element tests.
McGhie, Stanbary
12:15–1:30 pm
Evaluating Sources
Using the Research Process Map, students will engage in hands-on activities to practice evaluating sources.
McGhie, Stanbary
1:45–3:00 pm
Analyzing Information
Students will practice crafting a focused research question and then analyzing information to answer that question. The class will engage in questions to assess the reliability and relevance of the information mined from the source.
McGhie, Stanbary
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework: Source and Information Analysis
Students will practice writing about source and information analysis in jargon-free, reader-friendly language.
McGhie, Stanbary
February 20th
8:00–8:30 am
Small Wins
Each week students will collect tokens representing small wins on the path to submission of a successful portfolio. This session celebrates those small wins.
McGhie, Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am
Abstracts and Transcriptions
Students will study the principles of abstracting and transcribing using Mary McCampbell Bell’s chapter, “Transcripts and Abstracts,” published in Professional Genealogy (2001). Hands-on activities tease out challenging issues.
McGhie, Stanbary
10:00–11:15 am
Documenting Sources
Hands-on activities provide practice in crafting source citations to meet Standards 1–8.
McGhie, Stanbary
12:15–1:30 pm
Conducting Reasonably Exhaustive Research
This session introduces the reasoning behind the beloved genealogy tenant— Reasonably Exhaustive Research. Hands-on exercises will encourage students to broaden the sources typically used to solve genealogical problems. Students will create a life timeline for cases from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries to help identify relevant sources.
McGhie, Stanbary
1:45–3:00 pm
Developing and Refining Efficient and Dynamic Research Plans
The class will collectively create a research plan in phases.
McGhie, Stanbary
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework: Document Work
Students apply skills to their own research, accumulating “Small Wins” tokens. Transcribe and abstract a will or a deed. Students may choose from a provided document or work on a document of their choice.
McGhie, Stanbary
February 27th
8:00–8:30 am
Small Wins
Each week students will collect tokens representing small wins on the path to submission of a successful portfolio. This session celebrates those small wins.
McGhie, Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am
Mining and Reporting Information
This session will present strategies to mine and report on information drawn from various records. Hands-on activities teach recognition of seemingly unimportant details.
McGhie, Stanbary
10:00–11:15 am
Reasonably Exhaustive Research in Action: The Research Report
How much is enough? When do I stop?
McGhie, Stanbary
12:15–1:30 pm
Correlating Evidence
Hands-on exercises present opportunities to correlate evidence from the simple to the complex.
McGhie, Stanbary
1:45–3:00 pm
Structuring the Research Report
The students will evaluate and discover strategies to meet Standard 74 in a Research Report. Various strategies and styles will be explored.
McGhie, Stanbary
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework: Research Report
Students apply skills to their own research, accumulating "Small Wins" tokens.
McGhie, Stanbary
March 13th
8:00–8:30 am
Small Wins
Each week students will collect tokens representing small wins on the path to submission of a successful portfolio. This session celebrates those small wins.
McGhie, Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am (MDT)
Writing About Proof of Parentage
Students will learn to select the best sources prove a parent-child relationship. They then will practice writing a proof summary and outlining a proof argument.
McGhie, Stanbary
10:00–11:15 am
Incorporating DNA to Prove Parentage
This session will provide examples of using genetic evidence as part of the assemblage to prove a biological parent-child relationship. The focus will be on meeting Standards 51‒56. Examples of permission forms for DNA test takers will be provided.
McGhie, Stanbary
12:15–1:30 pm
Structuring and Formatting a Narrative Lineage
This session shows an example of a narrative lineage and identifies the required elements. Hands-on activities include writing the introductory paragraph and the child list with appropriate numbering system. Students will be challenged with a quiz.
McGhie, Stanbary
1:45–3:00 pm
Reasonably Exhaustive Research in Action: Writing the Life Story
The class will collaboratively generate a list of possible sources to mine for information that places couples in unique historical, community, religious, and economic contexts. Students will then choose a set of records to practice writing a paragraph describing one part of a couple’s life story.
McGhie, Stanbary
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework: One Generation KDP with a Relationship Proof
Students apply skills to their own research, accumulating “Small Wins” tokens. Students will read two sample case studies in preparation for the next week’s activities.
McGhie, Stanbary
March 20th
8:00–8:30 am
Small Wins
Each week students will collect tokens representing small wins on the path to submission of a successful portfolio. This session celebrates those small wins.
McGhie, Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am
Meeting the GPS in Action: Case Studies
Students will study the structure of successful case studies and identify the author’s choices to meet the GPS.
McGhie, Stanbary
10:00–11:15 am
Resolving Conflicting Evidence
This session will teach how to distinguish between minor and major conflicts. Students will learn the three strategies to resolve conflicting evidence consistent with Standard 48 and practice writing that resolution.
McGhie, Stanbary
12:15–1:30 pm
Indirect Evidence and Negative Evidence
Students will practice writing genealogical syllogisms useful in a case study.
McGhie, Stanbary
1:45–3:00 pm
Writing a Proof Argument
Students will study the structure of successful case studies. Hands-on activities will teach selecting the best evidence to assemble for the answer.
McGhie, Stanbary
3:00–3:30 pm
Homework: The Case Study
Students apply skills to their own research, accumulating "Small Wins" tokens.
McGhie, Stanbary
March 27th
8:00–8:30 am
Small Wins
Each week students will collect tokens representing small wins on the path to submission of a successful portfolio. This session celebrates those small wins.
McGhie, Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am
Rubrics in Action: The Document Work
McGhie, Stanbary
10:00–11:15 am
Rubrics in Action: The Research Report
McGhie, Stanbary
12:15–1:30 pm
Rubrics in Action: The Kinship Determination Project
McGhie, Stanbary
1:45–3:00 pm
Rubrics in Action: The Case Study
McGhie, Stanbary
3:00–4:00 pm
Golden Nuggets
Students create a collaborative list of key takeaway points accumulated over the course.