Data management is not just an organizing system. Data management is a critical analytical tool. Research standards tell us that conclusions must be supported by “proof.” Standards insist that “proof” is more than “a document”—rather, it’s a conclusion based on a body of evidence created by reasonably exhaustive research. Meeting this standard creates a paradox: The more data we gather, the more confused we get!—unless we maintain that body of evidence in a way that enables us to digest it, analyze it, and correlate it with everything else we’ve found. This session presents a framework for projects of all types and sizes, building on sound research practices that carry us smoothly from problem analysis to problem resolution.

This engaging webinar presents a countdown of the top ten breakthroughs in AI-assisted genealogy from 2024. We’ll highlight the most impressive and impactful instances where AI technology has significantly advanced genealogical research. From uncovering long-lost ancestral connections to solving complex genealogy puzzles, each item in our top ten list will showcase a unique success story. These examples not only celebrate the remarkable achievements of the past year but also offer insights and inspiration for applying AI in your own genealogical endeavors. Join us for a journey through 2024’s most notable AI milestones in genealogy.

Research reports are not just for professionals, but are a great tool for anyone who wants to answer their research questions. Write a research report to yourself to organize your thoughts, analyze the evidence, document your findings, and solve your puzzles. Using an example from the Netherlands, this presentation demonstrates how you can organize a research report to spot more clues in records, discover and resolve discrepancies, and build reliable conclusions.

From town planning to native relations, “Las Leyes de Las Indias” (Laws of the Indies) governed Spanish colonies of North America and beyond, and created unique records for research for anyone with ancestral ties to Spanish America.

Learn how research overcame the misleading records, surname changes, and frequent moves that concealed the identity of a woman whose beauty mesmerized seven men. This talk is based on the winning article of the 2017 National Genealogical Society’s Family History Writing Contest.

Record Matches on MyHeritage can save you lots of work. Not only do they automatically find historical records for people in your family tree, they can also serve as a kind of roadmap for your research. Lisa Alzo will show you how to use your Record Matches to get organized and approach your research in a systematic way.

Take the opportunity to ask professional genealogist and publisher, Craig R. Scott, CG, FUGA a question. See if his genealogical and historical knowledge about the United States can help you solve that brick wall problem you can’t seem to get your hands around.

If you’ve used Google Translate, DeepL, or Bing Translator, you’ve probably used machine translation. But do you know how it works and when it’s most helpful in your genealogy research? This brief TechZone will introduce the concept of machine translation, show some examples of how it works, and suggest when it should and should not be used in genealogy research.

Topographic maps and soil maps should help us identify a community, including neighbors, ferries, mills, cemeteries, historic houses, and many other landmarks. By using a combination of resources, the picture of this community will be more visible and more clearly understood.