The Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to find tax records. We discuss our go-to places to search, starting with the FamilySearch Wiki. Diana shares how she found the Maryland tax records transcribed and indexed at the Maryland Archives website through a link in the Wiki. We also discuss using the FamilySearch catalog to tap into all the digitized microfilm available online at FamilyS...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about U.S. tax records and the various types you might encounter. Each state decided how to tax their citizens a little differently. Colonial Virginia had tithables and quitrents. Later, these were replaced with poll taxes. Most tax records fall into three categories, which we discuss - poll, real property, and personal property. Nicole shares how poll tax...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about using tax records to solve genealogy research questions. This is the first of a three part series about tax records. Our examples are from U.S. research, but most countries tax their citizens, and the same general principles apply to researching there as well. In this part of the series, we tell you about three steps for extracting information from t...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with Hazel Scullin, who solved an unknown parentage case in her family using DNA. Hazel is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University with a BA in Family History. She walks us through the steps she used to come to a conclusion about the father of her grandmother, Jeanie. Jeanie was born in Salt Lake City in 1943, and her biological mother w...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about the locality guide step of the Research Like a Pro process, and how you can use DNA information in this part of the process. Even if you don't like to travel, your DNA has been places! There are myriad places where our countless ancestors lived over the course of time.  Many of these ancestors passed their DNA on to us. We each have a multitude of DN...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about determining which of the many people of the same name and same place is your subject. How do you make sense of a complicated situation such as two individuals with very similar identities? It takes thorough research of all family members, analyzing the data, and then understanding the locality. Diana tells about the Edward Sullivan project, and how s...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to incorporate DNA information into the timeline and analysis part of a research project. The timeline and analysis portion of the Research Like a Pro process is at the beginning. It helps you determine your starting point, because you look at all the sources you already have. After you test your DNA, you have an additional source that will help...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with Certified Genealogist® Kimball Carter. We discuss Kimballs' fourth great grandmother, Anne Carter, and the challenging research he undertook to determine her identity and relationships. Anne died in 1789 in Westmoreland County, Virginia and appears in numerous family trees and authored works as the wife of Thomas Carter. Her maiden name w...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about the most efficient way to write reports. We discuss the pros and cons of writing as you research and writing at the end of your research. We discuss the process of analyzing the source and information in the records you find in your research notes and report, and when to correlate the information that you find. Listen in to find out what conclusion w...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to use timelines to help you get started with your research project. As you gather all the sources about your objective that you already have and put them in a timeline, you'll notice holes, make connections, have ideas for your research plan, and may even discover that you already have the answer. We talk about different ways to make timelines a...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to focus your DNA research with an objective. If you feel overwhelmed by all the matches and all the test results you have, perhaps focusing on one research question could help. Maybe you want to confirm a relationship or focus on a brick wall ancestor. We discuss how to create an objective with genetic genealogist Robin Wirthlin. Links What Do Y...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to prepare for a visit to a library or archive. These repositories hold valuable records for genealogists - but many of us have not visited one before. Today we'll talk with Melissa Barker, the Archive Lady, about how to make the most of your visit to any library or archive. Links A Genealogist in the Archives Blog http://agenealogistinthearchive...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about finding records in archives. Maybe you have already exhausted all the online records and are ready to find those additional records that haven't been digitized yet. In repositories like courthouses and archives, you may be able to find unique and relatively unknown records. Join us as we talk with Melissa Barker, the Archive Lady, about how to find r...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about organizing your DNA matches by creating diagrams. Charting your DNA matches in a pedigree showing most recent common ancestor can help you visualize your DNA results like never before. We'll talk about two online charting options, charting using Ancestry.com's trees, and also an offline method. There are many more. Join us as we talk with Robin Wirth...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about United States Homestead Records. Do you have anyone in your family who took advantage of the Homestead Law of 1862? It is estimated that 2 million individuals applied for up to 320 acres of free land and your ancestor might be among them. We talk about two applicants for 320 acres in New Mexico about 1906 and 1911 and the details we learned about the...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about what you should do with your autosomal DNA results. If you have a huge match list and no idea what to do with it, this episode is for you. We'll go over four steps to help you get started with contacting cousins, noting your relationship, and preparing to use your DNA as evidence for future research projects. Links Understanding and Using Your DNA Re...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about is all about the different types of DNA tests. Robin Wirthlin, our genetic genealogist, tells about the basics of DNA testing, which tests might help answer certain questions, and how to know which company to test with.  Links Which DNA Test Should I Take? blog post by Robin at Family Locket DNA-Recommended Testing Strategy blog post by Robin at Fami...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how land grants and patents that were received from the federal government. Diana tells about the process for our ancestors who applied for a land patent in federal land states and the papers that were created in the process. She ordered the Land Entry Case File from the National Archives for Thomas B. Royston and tells all about each paper contained...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about United States land records, specifically deeds. We talk about how to use the deed index and how important it is to learn how the index is organized. Whether it's a direct, indirect, russell, or other index, you will want to know how to find your relative's name in it. We also talk about our ancestor, Edward Raymond Kelsey, and how we found a deed for...

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss several reasons to research land. A land record may reveal the following: a family relationship, clues to past or present residence, associates, evidence of migration, and more. We also explain the differences between "state land states" and "federal land states" in the United States system of land distribution. We look at the metes and bounds syst...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with Susan Modzelewski, a graduate of our Research Like a Pro study group. Susan is a member of the Pima County Genealogy Society, where she met Nicole. She has been doing family history for over 20 years. She said that at the beginning, "genealogy was fun, quick and easy. I thought researching my family was going to be a breeze. Then the rese...

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about Scandinavian Research. We talk to Jenny Hansen, AG, who has been an accredited genealogy professional for 20 years. She tells us tips for researching relatives in the Scandinavian countries. We ask her all of our questions and learn more about researching our ancestors from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Her wealth of knowledge and experience is eviden...

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss why you might want to go back to research that you did in the past and check it again. There are three specific reasons why we suggest doing this, which we talk about in this episode. Hint hint - you'll discover more things as more records become available and online! Links 3 Reasons to Revisit Your Research - blog post by Diana How to Research Lik...

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss the last element of research planning - making a prioritized list. During this part of research planning, you choose what to search first. Many people wonder how to know which record is the best to search first. We answer that question in today's podcast. Links Research Like a Pro eCourse - on sale beginning May 8! $99. Sale ends May 22. How to Res...

In our podcast episode today, Diana and I discuss how to create a genealogy reference center in Evernote. Do you have stacks of handouts from genealogy conferences and classes? What are you doing with that blog post or online article you know you'll need in the future? Can you quickly find reference information that you saved from a lecture? Knowing how to access these items can help you become mo...