Right Place, Right Time, Right Person: Intersections of DNA and Document Evidence

DNA Painter is a popular website for genealogists who want to explore their autosomal DNA test results. Join site creator Jonny Perl for this update on new features for tree visualizations and chromosome mapping, as well as other recent releases and tools.

The MyHeritage DNA test offers the most detailed ethnicity report on the market, pinpointing your origins across thousands of genetic and geographic regions. Learn how to explore, analyze, and interpret your results to gain insights about where you come from.

Traditional documentation clearly identified Fayette's father without conflict. However, the DNA results of Fayette's descendants told a different story. Learn how DNA evidence combined with a trail of clues and the application of the Genealogical Proof Standard revealed a secret from the summer of 1913.

We know the DNA testing industry is changing all of the time, but how much have YDNA and mtDNA changed? Let's cover what is tried and true and what is new with these two "other" kinds of DNA tests.

In this presentation Michelle will outline her most important DNA tips with a list of her top ten things you should do if you want to make progress with DNA testing for family history as well as her top ten things you should avoid. These tips will help you be successful on your DNA journey and steer clear of common mistakes and pitfalls.

Clusters can be created using Shared Matches, the Leeds Method, and automated tools such as AutoCluster or the Collins’ Leeds Method. Each cluster represents a group of people who are tied together because of close family relationships based on DNA. Finding an appropriate cluster can help you solve your research question even in cases of misattributed parentage or changed names. This presentation will show you how to work with clusters to answer your research questions.

Despite his best efforts, Geoff Rasmussen's long standing brick wall hasn't come down yet. John Williams, born in New York City between 1840-1854, was the son of John Williams. Family tradition says that "he was orphaned at the age of 10 and shifted around until he was 16". Geoff thinks it's time to add a little genetic genealogy to his plan. On hand to help him develop this DNA plan is DNA expert Diahan Southard. Join us and learn techniques that you can apply to your own family tree.

If you have already worked out that ‘Mc’ and ‘Mac’ surnames are the most complicated British surnames, you must listen to this webinar. And if you haven’t already worked this out, you must absolutely listen to this webinar. ‘Mc’ surnames are double the trouble because they can suffer distortions at the beginning, middle and end of the ‘Mc’ prefix as well as at the beginning, middle and end of the rest of the surname, the root word. Sound glides are a particular problem, in which the ‘k’ sound at the end of the ‘Mc’ prefix distorts the first letter of the root word (e.g. McCue/McKew/McHugh, McLachlan/McGloughlan). Transcription errors can also produce a non-‘Mc’ surname (e.g. Mackever/Markever) which can prove a trap for the unwary. This seminar will help you keep you sane when you encounter the complexities of these mad Scottish-origin surnames.

Montana has 56 counties, and there’s a plethora of sources available across this 4th largest state. You’ll get a quick tour of Montana genealogy treasures online. Also, a tour of Montana sites and their specific genealogy databases available from archives and local history societies, along with a site-specific guide telling of the latest archives, museums, libraries and historical/genealogical societies open to aid in your search for ancestors, and ghost towns and mining camps, too! We’ll experience historical Montana maps available online, learn how to plan a specific trip to maximize the archives and local historical sites where other records (taxes, poll taxes, road taxes, poor taxes, boulevard districts, real estate additions, types of directories available per area, etc.), and note the specific genealogy and history societies/museums available to provide local helps. You’ll have access to a 30+ page (online) of the resources and references noted in the presentation.