Explore Uncharted Paths in Tracing Brick Wall Ancestors Through DNA Network Graphs

Diana Elder, AG, AGL
Jan 17, 2024
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Content

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Welcome
2m 53s
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Speaker's Introduction
1m 31s
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Introduction
6m 43s
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Components of a Network Graph
1m 45s
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Tools for Creating Network Graphs
9m 44s
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Gephi
12m 15s
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DNA Research Process
7m 23s
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Case Study
15m 19s
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Evaluate DNA Matches
19m 27s
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Announcements / prizes
3m 41s
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Questions / answers
8m 55s

About this webinar

When documentary research has been exhausted, DNA can be employed to suggest new avenues for research. Network graphs create clusters of DNA matches to research and find new possibilities for ancestral origins.

 

** Update: recent DNA-related events relating to privacy have changed the way DNAGedcom interfaces with DNA-related websites. Before using DNAGedcom, please check its status as it relates to connecting to these websites on their Facebook group.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Diana Elder AG, is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States and serves as a Commissioner for The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana authored R
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  1. CZ
    catherine zahn
    10 months ago

    This was great! Thank you! Only one question…did you think about trying for Cynthia’s mtDNA? That may be give you a clue to her mother.

    Reply
    1 Reply
    • DE
      Diana Elder
      10 months ago

      Catherine,
      Thanks for the question. Yes, I’ve considered seeking a descendant for Cynthia’s mtDNA. She certainly had enough descendants that I should be able to find one. Since mtDNA is largely unchanged for hundreds of years, to be useful, I’d need a good candidate for a mother and siblings that I could also target test. I’m not quite there yet!

  2. RK
    Robert Kelly Dazet
    10 months ago

    Thank you for the very interesting webinar, Diana! My brick walls are pre-1770, and beyond my 3rd great grandparents on my maternal grandfather’s side (German). So a bit more complicated than your case study. I’ve already created at least 4 mystery groups of DNA matches on Ancestry DNA, determine common surnames in those groups from family trees, but of course have no clue how they are related to the known ancestors on my matheral grandfather side The surnames of two of the 3rd great grandmothers are not known. I will give this a try. I already have a spreadsheet form the Auto Clusters app for Ancestry from 2021 before Ancestry blocked the app from downloading DNA match lists. I wonder if I can use this. Any way I’m going to give this a try, though I’m not really sure if it will be helpful in my case. Seems like ultimately I’m going to need records and documents which so far do not seem to exist.

    Reply
    1 Reply
    • DE
      Diana Elder
      10 months ago

      Good luck, Robert. Hopefully, the network graph will point out some connections that you hadn’t found before that could give you clues. It’s certainly worth a try. Perhaps it will lead to additional documentary research you can do.

  3. CS
    Cristal Simmons
    11 months ago

    I have been a member for several years and have watched many presentations. I believe this has been the most informative, practical, and helpful presentation I have seen. Thank you so much for this well-organized, simple yet complicated and awesome presentation. This year’s subscription has already earned its keep. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    1 Reply
    • SH
      Sarah Hollingsworth
      11 months ago

      This was a truly outstanding webinar presented by a consummate teacher who somehow managed to break down a complex subject into manageable parts and then organize and present it in a logical, comprehensible progression. As a result, my knowledge base was expanded, leaving me both inspired and eager to apply this new knowledge to my own brick walls. I genuinely appreciate all of the talent, experience, thought, and labor that must have been required to make this happen.

  4. JM
    Joy Metcalf
    11 months ago

    Where did you say to go for your daughter’s tutorial? I looked in the syllabus but didn’t find it.

    Reply
    1 Reply
  5. LF
    Lorraine Fortier
    11 months ago

    Extremely worthwhile; well organized – clear, progression sensible; obviously Diana knows her topic; developed an excitement about working with my DNA data.

    Reply
  6. KB
    Kim Bell
    11 months ago

    Very organized and informative

    Reply
  7. CH
    Cathleen Hargreaves
    11 months ago

    This was fabulous! The detailed process for constructing a DNA network graph was great and Ms. Elder’s delivery was superb. I highly recommend for someone who is trying to break down a brick wall.

    Reply
  8. HS
    Herb Swain
    11 months ago

    Very well organized presentation. High quality visuals. Very good speaker. Very good documentation.

    Reply