The 2nd Annual Genealogy Research Institute (GRI), held at National Headquarters May 1st – 3rd, not only featured genealogists of national renown, but included two of our very own genealogists in the Registrar General’s Department!
Their presentations included two topics of particular interest to those who assist prospective members with their Applications, along with those members who are busy preparing their own and others’ Supplementals.
Cindy Nicewarner, Supplementals Team Leader, offered a presentation on Service Studies. A common occurrence when searching for Revolutionary War Service for a Patriot ancestor, is the routine discovery of multiple individuals with the same name. Which one performed the service? The structure and methodology of a Service Study using actual examples from the Genealogical Research System (GRS), were discussed. Session two included the review of a practice case, which was given to participants in Session one.
Forrest Crosley, Assistant Director, Supplementals, spoke about the importance of researching land records, which are a valuable historical and genealogical resource often overlooked by researchers. They may document family relationships, children not specified in a will or estate settlement, migrations, names of spouses and might be the only documented source for a marriage.
We were also pleased to welcome two former Registrar General staff members:
A session on DNA and the DAR was designed as a follow on to the DNA presentation, “Using DNA Evidence to Support Traditional Documentation,” by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson. The speaker, DAR member and retired staff genealogist, Marilyn Gabriel Mills, discussed the history of the NSDAR DNA group project at Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), procedures for using DNA with DAR Applications and Supplementals as well as examples of success stories using both Y-DNA and autosomal DNA (atDNA).
A former member of the Corrections Team and current National Vice Chair, Lineage Support, Karen Janczy, delivered a two-part presentation on Writing an Analysis. For DAR purposes, whenever more than one document is needed to prove parentage, an Analysis is needed. The first part focused on the do’s and don’ts of writing an Analysis; the second part demonstrated the process, with participants receiving a copy of the final result.
Several DAR members also spoke about always-relevant topics:
Women are often more difficult to research compared to men. The search for maiden names often leads to frustration and disappointment. The presentation by DAR Genealogy Commission National Vice Chair, Kari Kjontvedt Weis, “Uncovering Hidden Histories,” discussed eight sources and research strategies to uncover information about female ancestors, thus bringing their stories out of obscurity.
Marcy Carter-Lovick, Texas State Regent and National Chair, Genealogy Research Institute, highlighted both traditional and non-traditional records to discover Migration Patterns, to trace families back in time. Using examples, she illustrated methods to successfully trace a family as they journey across time and space.
Last but certainly not least, Jeannine Angle Dobbins, Vice President General, National Chair, DAR Genealogy Commission and Director of this year’s very successful Institute, discussed how a deed is recorded; how to decipher deed indexes and record books; and how to read property descriptions, both metes and bounds and township and range, along with discovering online resources.
President General Pamela Rouse Wright is extremely proud of the expertise and proficiency of both the staff and DAR members. She appreciates their passion for sharing their knowledge and experience to benefit members and the Society. Much gratitude is extended to these presenters for bringing the sparkle to this year’s Genealogy Research Institute!
Stay tuned for information about next year’s annual event! And don't forget, the afternoon lecture videos are available for purchase! Learn more here!
Today's DAR
