Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques

Introduction<br/>When the Going Gets Tough…<br/>…the Tough Get Going<br/>The Brick Wall Metaphor (and Why It Matters)<br/>Eight Ideas for Getting Past the Brick Wall<br/>What You’ll Need Before You Set Out<br/>Chapter 1. Examine the Brick Wall in Detail<br/>Reexamine in Detail the Evidence You Have Already Discovered<br/>Focus on Details You May Have Missed or Overlooked the First Time<br/>Census<br/>Birth Certificate/Index<br/>Marriage License/Index<br/>Death Certificate/Index<br/>Obituary<br/>Tombstone/Cemetery<br/>Photograph<br/>Now That You Have More Details…<br/>Organize What You Have in a Genealogy Database Program<br/>Names<br/>Dates<br/>Places<br/>Create an Ancestor Timeline<br/>Gather All of the Evidence You Have Collected<br/>Organize Everything Sequentially<br/>Reread Everything<br/>Compile a Timeline<br/>Incorporate Historical Newspaper Research<br/>Example 1<br/>Example 2<br/>Example 3<br/>Summary<br/>Sources Used in This Chapter<br/>Chapter 2. Use Brute Force<br/>Indexes<br/>Transcriptions<br/>Extracts<br/>Abstracts<br/>OCR in Detail<br/>Sources of Secondary Information<br/>Family Histories, Online Family Trees, and Personal Web Pages<br/>Application Forms to Societies and Other Organizations<br/>The “Reasonably Exhaustive Search”<br/>Example 1<br/>Example 2<br/>Example 3<br/>Summary<br/>Sources Used in This Chapter<br/>Chapter 3. Go Around the Wall<br/>The Broader Technique (and What to Call It)<br/>Spouses<br/>Parents and Children<br/>Other Relatives<br/>Beyond the “F”<br/>Another Important Use of the FAN Club Technique<br/>Other Names<br/>Example 1<br/>Example 2<br/>Example 3<br/>Example 4<br/>Summary<br/>Sources Used in This Chapter<br/>Chapter 4. Talk to a Friend<br/>Why Share a Brick Wall Problem?<br/>With Whom Should You Share the Problem?<br/>How to Share a Brick Wall Problem<br/>Example 1<br/>Example 2<br/>Example 3<br/>Summary<br/>Chapter 5. Use Crowdsourcing<br/>Genealogy Societies<br/>Online Forums—An Overview<br/>Electronic Mailing Lists<br/>Electronic Message Boards<br/>Facebook Groups, Google+ Communities, and GenealogyWise<br/>Finding the Most Relevant Online Forum<br/>The Etiquette of Online Forums<br/>Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts<br/>Blogs<br/>Wikis<br/>Podcasts<br/>Example 1<br/>Example 2<br/>Example 3<br/>Example 4<br/>Summary<br/>Chapter 6. Apply Technological Solutions<br/>DNA Testing: A Very Brief History<br/>Types of DNA Testing<br/>mtDNA Testing<br/>Y-DNA Testing<br/>Autosomal DNA Testing<br/>Deep Ancestry<br/>Mutations<br/>Mitochondrial Eve<br/>Y-chromosomal Adam<br/>Haplogroups and SNPs<br/>Ethnic Mixtures<br/>Companies That Perform DNA Testing<br/>Specialized Genealogical Software<br/>GenSmarts<br/>Clooz<br/>Evidentia<br/>Summary<br/>Chapter 7. Hire a Demolition Expert<br/>What Can a Professional Researcher Do for Me?<br/>Professional Genealogist<br/>Accredited Genealogist<br/>Certified Genealogist<br/>Other Organizations Representing Professional Genealogists<br/>Geographic Specialization<br/>Specialty Areas<br/>Contracting with a Professional Researcher<br/>If and When Things Go Wrong<br/>Summary<br/>Chapter 8. Rest Up and Attack the Brick Wall Another Time<br/>Learn<br/>Books<br/>Articles<br/>Blogs<br/>Wikis<br/>Recorded Audio and Video Programs<br/>Live Webinars<br/>Face-to-Face Presentations<br/>Practice<br/>Monitor<br/>Summary<br/>Chapter 9. Put the Techniques to Work<br/>Review the Evidence<br/>Develop a Research Strategy<br/>Determine the Questions You Want to Answer<br/>Identify All Potential Resources<br/>Obtain Exact Copies of the Original Records<br/>Analyze Evidence and Develop Hypotheses<br/>Keep a Research Log<br/>A Paper Research Log<br/>Use a Spreadsheet<br/>A Blog as Research Log<br/>Use Your Genealogy Database Program<br/>Software Utility Programs<br/>The Case of Mary Ann Reilly Smith<br/>Some Final Remarks<br/>Index