Sunday, January 12, 1 pm Pacific
Speaker: Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist
No Vitals? No Problem! – Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence
Description: When there’s no birth, marriage or death record, what’s a genealogist to do? Immigrant families left behind more than their old lives and homes: they sometimes left behind most or all of the direct evidence as to their families and relationships. Yet careful application of the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to all of the records the family left throughout the years can often provide the clues to reconstruct families even if no direct document exists. Using these indirect bits and pieces lets us build a family through circumstantial evidence, answering the question: Who in the world was Paul Knop?
About Judy Russell
The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree who writes and lectures on topics ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. On the faculty of numerous genealogy institutes, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer.
Non-members pay $5.00 Zoom link will be sent the week of the event. Members automatically receive a Zoom link.
Sunday, February 2, 1 pm Pacific
Speaker: Paul Woodbury, Genetic Genealogist
Endogamy in Context: Pioneers, Latecomer, Coverage and More
Description: While endogamy can certainly complicate autosomal DNA analysis in any population where it is a consideration, there is still hope for making genealogical discoveries. In this presentation, Paul Woodbury will present case studies highlighting the strategies he has found most effective for solving research questions in endogamous populations through his decade of professional genetic genealogy research experience. Some of these strategies include:
- Effective targeted testing of living relatives and prioritization of DNA matches who are descendants of genetic pioneers or latecomers.
- Consideration of coverage and total amounts of shared DNA between groups of relatives
- Prioritization of genetic cousins based on their relationships to each other. Regardless of whether your ancestral populations were severely or only slightly endogamous, these strategies are sure to assist in breaking down your brick walls.
About Paul Woodbury
Paul Woodbury, AG, Med., is a Senior Researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. He graduated from Brigham Young University where he studied Genetics and Family History. He also holds a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology. In addition to genetic genealogy, he loves research in France (for which he has received accreditation through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists). He regularly presents on genetic genealogy and French research topics in webinars, institutes, and conferences.
Non-members pay $5.00 Zoom link will be sent the week of the event. Members automatically receive a Zoom link.
Sunday, February 23, 1 pm Pacific
Speaker: Sunny Morton, Professional Genealogist
Comparing the U.S. Newspaper Giants: What Jewish Content Do They Have?
Description: Over a billion digitized newspaper pages are now searchable at online historical newspaper archives such as Chronicling America, Fulton History, GenealogyBank, Storied.com (formerly NewspaperArchive) and Newspapers.com. But which should you use? Is it worth subscribing to one of the premium sites?
Learn how they stack up for total amount of digitized content (including Jewish newspapers); geographic coverage; unique features and tools; and subscription options.
Learn how Goldie May can help you find newspaper collections across many websites. My tips, encouragement, and comparative analyses will help you more confidently choose and use newspaper websites.
About Sunny Morton
Sunny Jane Morton is a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine and the Content Director at YourDNAGuide.com. She is past Editor of Ohio Genealogy News. She has twice received awards from the National Genealogical Society, most recently for her book How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, co-authored with Harold Henderson, CG.
Her other book, Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy, is now in its 2nd edition. She coordinated a course for the GRIP Genealogy Institute in 2024, and in 2025 will be an instructor for GRIP and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG).
Non-members pay $5.00 Zoom link will be sent the week of the event. Members automatically receive a Zoom link.
