Where do I start?
Start with a specific question. “I want to build my tree out as far as I can” is noble, but likely a lengthy and cost-prohibitive endeavor. Genealogy is the practice of establishing kinship or identity; who is related to whom and how, and doing so with evidence that holds up under scrutiny. A specific question focuses research on a person, place, and time period answerable in a timely and cost-effective way. For example, maybe you want to know your great-grandmother’s maiden name, or where your German ancestors came from in Germany, or prove that you are related to a Revolutionary Patriot. Focus on one person or line and what you want to know about them.
Where do I start? (Part 2)
Gather what you know. Whether you plan to hire a professional or do it yourself, you start in the same place – with the names and vital information you already have, starting with the “subject” (you or someone else) and working backwards. For example: If you want to identify your great-grandparents, gather the names, birthdates, death dates, marriages, and as many siblings as you can remember for your grandparents, your parents, and yourself.
What is a “Certified” or “Accredited” Genealogist?
There is no national or regional governing body for genealogy as with some fields like medicine or law. For generations, genealogy was largely viewed as a hobby and little or no professional standards existed. That has been changing to the benefit of future researchers who want more professional standards of proof, product development, and ethical behavior. The Board for the Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Genealogists (ICAPGen) are two highly respected (U.S. based) organizations with different, but similar, processes for ensuring genealogists have an acceptable level of training, skill, and understanding of the ethical landmines inherent in genealogical research. BCG has copyrighted the term Certified Genealogist, while ICAPGen did the same to the term Accredited Genealogist. Both require an extensive portfolio of work by the genealogist that demonstrates their ability to research, analyze evidence, write, and produce high-quality work acceptable to the modern genealogy community.
Are all professional genealogists Certified or Accredited?
No! There are many reasons why a professional, well-trained genealogist may not pursue certification or accreditation. The important thing when choosing a genealogist to help you with your research is that they can demonstrate they are just that – a professional (regardless of what they call themselves). Have they done, and do they continue to do, formal training through coursework, seminars, peer-review groups or other formats to learn the skills and methodology? Do they have a history of working on family trees other than their own? Are they focused within a particular geographic region or area of specialty (like DNA)? Do they know how to research across multiple major online databases, as well as have a history of in-person, offline research at brick-and-mortar repositories? Do they understand the local laws and ethics involved with the privacy of living people? Are they a member of professional organizations like the Association of Professional Genealogists? These are all good signs that a genealogist is a professional, and you will get your money’s worth.
I took a DNA test…now what?
DNA is really just one more piece of evidence that must always be used along with traditional genealogy to validate the results. DNA results alone will not give you your family tree or tell you exactly how you are related to someone – and for most people, the terminology and results look like a bunch of gibberish until someone can sort through it all and explain it. Ethnicity results are fun and can provide some general clues, but are notoriously inaccurate, particularly with less well represented (i.e. non-Western European) populations. All that said, DNA can be extremely helpful in solving “brick walls,” providing clues on where to look next, and confirming or disproving ancestry along a certain line. If you don’t want to sort it all out yourself, find a professional to help you – or contact me!