Core Course Three – Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis

“This was a wonderful opportunity to get in-depth learning on a variety of advanced topics. I will be reviewing the sessions and syllabi for every session and checking out the recommended resources. It’s safe to say that any one session could likely be expanded into it’s own course.”

“Using the knowledge and skills presented in this session will make be a more efficient and observant researcher and help me to solve difficult research problems.”

“I believe I am ready to start on those portfolio projects! It’s time to put pen to paper. Use these new skills to break through brick walls and fill in the gaps.”

“I truly enjoyed my experience this week. I prefer the virtual environment. Thank you to
everyone who made this week possible and memorable!”

Core Course Three –
Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis

About the Course

  • Maximum: 30 students
  • Virtual classrooms using Zoom
  • Lectures will be recorded and available to view for one month after the end of the course
  • All courses come with a digital syllabus
  • Students will receive a digital certificate upon course completion

Course Faculty

Description

Building on the basics taught in Course 1 (Methods and Sources in Practice) and Course 2 (Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies), Course 3 is designed to develop and foster advanced skills by concentrating on problem-solving techniques. Its focus is on the proper application of the Genealogical Proof Standard (as explicated through BCG’s Genealogy Standards, 2021 second edition revised) to a wide variety of record types to solve complex research problems. Where beginning genealogy students need to learn what records exist to accurately identify their families, and intermediate genealogy students need to learn where records may be found, particularly those not readily available online, advanced genealogy students need to learn how to use records in ways that may be neither intuitive nor obvious to bridge the gaps left by time and record loss. Thus, the course has three fundamental objectives:

    • that students develop an understanding of the elements of advanced methodology;
    • that students develop a deeper understanding of the sources employed in advanced genealogical research; and,
    • that students begin to understand some of the problems involved in and research techniques designed to solve problems in complex or unique research domains.

Prerequisites, textbooks, and other student information

Course prerequisites:

Completion of IGHR Course 2, Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies; completion of the SLIG course Intermediate Foundations or Advanced Genealogical Methods, or the GRIP course Advanced Research Methods, coordinated by Thomas W. Jones; completion of the 16-lesson NGS home-study course, American Genealogy (“graded” option, only); completion of the PLCGS program (Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies) from the International Institute of Genealogical Studies, Toronto; completion of the ProGen Study Group; completion of the Genealogy Certificate program from Boston University; certification by BCG; accreditation by ICAPGen; or a research paper submitted to and approved by the course coordinator.

Course requirements:

Note that mere completion of a prior course is generally not enough to prepare for this course; students will only truly be ready if they use what they learned in hands-on settings. Homework is assigned during class including a specific project (getting “the right answer” is not required; using best efforts to find an answer is expected).

Required books:

None

Recommended books:

Board for Certification of Genealogists. Genealogy Standards. 2d ed. rev. Nashville, Tenn.: Ancestry.com, 2021.

Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogical Proof. Arlington, Virginia: The National Genealogical Society, 2013.

Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. 3rd ed. rev. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2017. (Or 3d edition, 2015, or 2d revised edition, 2012, or revised edition, 2009.)

Course Schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time)

Monday, July 27
10:30 – 11:00 Course Introduction (Russell)
11:00 – 12:15 Fundamentals of Genealogical Evidence (Russell)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Mining the Documents: Evidence Analysis (Russell)
2:00 – 3:00 Lunch
3:00 – 4:15 Citation: Understanding the Material, Knowing Where to Find It (Garrett-Nelson)
4:15 – 4:45 Break
4:45 – 6:00 When the Records Conflict (Russell)
Tuesday, July 28
10:30 – 11:00 Citation Homework Review (Garrett-Nelson)
11:00 – 12:15 Beef Up Your Analysis: Transcribing and Abstracting (Garrett-Nelson)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Finding the Record You Don’t Know Exists (Johnson)
2:00 – 3:00 Lunch
3:00 – 4:15 The Goldmine in Government Documents (Mc Donald)
4:15 – 4:45 Break
4:45 – 6:00 Panning for Gold: Accessing Government Documents Online (Mc Donald)
Wednesday, July 29
10:30 – 11:00 Transcription Homework Review (Garrett-Nelson)
11:00 – 12:15 Legal Foundations of Genealogy (Russell)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Rural Research Strategies (Rencher)
2:00 – 3:00 Lunch
3:00 – 4:15 Research Strategies: Female Ancestors (Johnson)
4:15 – 4:45 Break
4:45 – 6:00 Local Land Records: Analysis, Correlation & Interpretation (Russell)
Thursday, July 30
10:30 – 11:00 Government Documents Homework Review (Mc Donald)
11:00 – 12:15 Federal Land Records: Analysis, Correlation & Interpretation (McGhie)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Probate Records: Analysis, Correlation & Interpretation (Jones)
2:00 – 3:00 Lunch
3:00 – 4:15 Colonial Research Strategies: Overseas Records (Rencher)
4:15 – 4:45 Break
4:45 – 6:00 Urban Research Strategies (Strauss)
Friday, July 31
10:30 – 11:45 DNA Evidence: Analysis, Correlation & Interpretation (Johnson)
11:45 –12:00 Break
12:00 – 1:15 Case Study: Correlating Evidence (Russell)
1:15 – 1:30 Break
1:30 – 2:45 Where to from here? (Russell)