See the Genealogical Proof Standard applied to research on both sides of the Atlantic to prove the identity of an immigrant not found where she is supposed to be and whose name is anything but certain.
F. Warren Bittner, MS (History), is a genealogical researcher, educator, and author. He is a professional researcher accepting private clients and specializes in German and German Immigrant research. He is former owner of an independent research f
Thinking about DNA as a research tool, I was wondering if you had DNA testing done to see if you are a match with any of Dora’s sister’s descendants? If so, they might have additional family or genealogical documents that could add to the family research.
An excellent presentation……really showed what thinking outside the box & persistence can accomplish.
arrived late but still enjoyed it very much.
As always – Great Presenter and wealth of knowledge.
Clear and descriptive of each step.
clear research steps shown – thanks
Didn’t realise it was both Germany and America
excellent
Excellent and professional presentation. Thanks
Excellent case study demonstrating use of the GPS – thanks Warren!
Excellent delivery. Kept my interest.
excellent explanations, taking us step by step through the thought process.
Excellent lecture.
excellent presentation.
Excellent presentation. I learned more about researching in Germany.
EXCELLENT! Now I want to pursue that research trip to Germany for my German ancestors.
Excellent!!!!
Fantastic research skills! Gave me some ideas about potential types of records in Germany for doing my own research. Just need to get them imaged!
Fantastic. So clear, and unlike many presenters Warren doesn’t go too fast to keep up. It was easy to follow the complexities of the case and I learned a lot.
Fascinating! Gives me hope that I’ll be able to find my ancestor who I have been looking for in Germany for years!
Found out about the existence of German Gazeteers
Fun to listen to a detective search!
Great presentation. Gave me a lot to think about and explained a logical plan of attach. Thank you very much. time well spent.
Great research tips! Great example of commitment and thoroughly researching an ancestor.
Had to leave early; I will definitely watch the entire recording.
Handouts were very handy
He always has the best information!
I also enjoyed the German references and suggestions since my maternal side was from Germany and found those resources very helpful.
I enjoyed hi tips on exhaustive research.
I look forward to finding out more about the records I questioned. Thank you for a starting point to find out more. Also will look into the Gazeteer. I haven’t used that in a while.
I think I remember Warren talking about the Behres earlier, so was on pins and needles the whole time waiting to see if he found the mother! Also, was great having examples of why we should pay attention to which parish in Germany is which.
I was enthralled with the adventure he took us on. So many good ideas for how to pursue the dead ends! Every one of your programs is inspiring. Thank you so much for making these available, especially from my home.
It defintely demonstrated the use of exhaustive research and analysis.
It was awesome…I learned a lot to help me
It’s always great to see how a case is built step by step. This one was meaningful because I have people I want to find in Germany and sometimes get confused by similar/differing names on records too. Hopefully if I watch enough people do it right, some of the “best practices” will get embedded in my brain.
Liked the topic – German genealogy, and name discrepancies!
love the case studies, especially when the trail is so well explained
Love these BCG webinars–help me tackle the difficult conflicts in my research
metacognitive reflection
Mind Boggling. I have to do research in Germany, and this gave me some valuable guidance. Thanks to Mr. Bittner
Missed most of it but a clearly detailed outline of what is required of a certified genealogist.
Most informative
Now, that’s how to do research! Love listening to any presentation of Warren Bittner! I always get so much out of them.
One of the best webinars ever!
Really enjoy Warren Bittner seminars. I wish I had his resources!
really enjoyed the webinar today
Showing each of the steps in Warren Bittner’s difficult research was very helpful. It was also good to see how he worked through each step of the genealogical proof standard to come to his conclusion.
So much information and knowledge. This was great!
Thank you so much Warren. Love love loved your presentation. So many times some of us feel like we’re out here alone researching and the very reason I loved this presentation. I’ve been doing Hungarian resesarch for 20 years and first of all I appreciate hearing how others research on both sides of the pond, and decondly listening to you I have had similar cases of conflicting ID so you have reasured me, I’m on the right track.
The depth and breadth of the research was somewhat overwhelming and also incredible! A fascinating presentation!
The method of resolving conflicts was very helpful
There is no better German researcher and speaker than Warren Bittner.
This was a great case study! I especially liked the conflicting evidence and how he came to his conclusions.
This was a wakeup call that we all need to be researching outside the box when things are not fitting together as we think they should. Mr. Bittner does a wonderful job. So thorough.
Very clear, easy to follow presentation of how to research a problem.
Very helpful in laying out the research issue and process. Thanks.
Very helpful. Started listening in my car then jumped on computer once I got home. So glad I could get it both ways.
very imformative
Very informative
very informative
Very interesting speaker. Well organized and easy to follow.
very practical example of how to research a German immigrant
Very thorough and informative.
Warren Bitner did a great job in explaining the series of events he followed. Usually with case studies you get the answer followed by proofs. This was much better to keep us wondering if Dora Luhr would ever be found in Germany.
Warren Bittner had me fascinated from the moment he began the webinar. I learned a great deal from him tonight. I will be searching for other webinars he has presented. He’s extraordinary!
Warren is a fabulous lecturer – and a terrific representative of what it means to be a certified genealogist.
Warren is a fabulous presenter. I appreciate the way he teaches thorough research techniques within a story.
Warren is a great speaker and his personality pops out of the screen even without seeing his face. 🙂
Warren was excellent as always. Thank you so much for hosting him!
Well organized. Did not go through the material too fast so we were able to follow along easly.
Well pace, easy to follow … new light on the subject
well presented and able to follow research strategies.
What an exhaustive research trail, I am very impressed.
Wonderful information and strategy
Wonderful presentation! Very engaging and informative.
Wonderful research tips. Needed more time so questions could be answered.
French Emigrants: They Were Not All Huguenots, or Nobles, or from Alsace-Lorraine
One of the great difficulties for people researching their French immigrant ancestors’ roots is that so little is known outside of France about when and why the French left their country. This dearth of knowledge has led many family historians of the 19th century to presume Huguenot, noble émigré or Alsace-Lorraine ancestry for any ancestor with a French name. The supposition became a family legend that then became a research frustration as more recent family historians attempt to prove what was never more than a misguided supposition.
This webinar looks at the many waves of French migration, as well as the three mentioned in the title, from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The historical reasons for when, why and to where they emigrated will provide the key points to bear in mind when conducting research. The bibliography, in English and French, contains not only books and articles concerning French emigration but a list of websites to aid the researcher.
One of the great difficulties for people researching their French immigrant ancestors’ roots is that so little is known outside of France about when and why the French left their country. This dearth of knowledge has led many family historians of the 19th century to presume Huguenot, noble émigré or Alsace-Lorraine ancestry for any ancestor with a French name. The supposition became a family legend that then became a research frustration as more recent family historians attempt to prove what was never more than a misguided supposition.
This webinar looks at the many waves of French migration, as well as the three mentioned in the title, from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The historical reasons for when, why and to where they emigrated will provide the key points to bear in mind when conducting research. The bibliography, in English and French, contains not only books and articles concerning French emigration but a list of websites to aid the researcher.
Maternal Threads Unwoven: Identifying Margareta’s Mother in 18th Century Sweden
In spite of birth entries for Margareta's five siblings in Hishult, there was no record of her birth in the parish. Tax records quickly identified the father, and revealed multiple moves within a narrow span of time; however, identification of the mother remained elusive. No witnesses to births of the children provided clues; no household examinations existed. Coupling the understanding of broad context (naming patterns, inheritance laws, the calendar shift, etc.) with mtDNA and documentary evidence, the mother was identified and the lack of a records was explained.
In spite of birth entries for Margareta's five siblings in Hishult, there was no record of her birth in the parish. Tax records quickly identified the father, and revealed multiple moves within a narrow span of time; however, identification of the mother remained elusive. No witnesses to births of the children provided clues; no household examinations existed. Coupling the understanding of broad context (naming patterns, inheritance laws, the calendar shift, etc.) with mtDNA and documentary evidence, the mother was identified and the lack of a records was explained.
Metes & Bounds Land Plats Solve Genealogical Problems
This session provides a brief overview of metes and bounds land descriptions seen in deeds, mortgages, patents, grants, and other land documents. The land descriptions are an essential part of land research. This presentation discusses metes and bounds land descriptions and how the metes and bounds can solve genealogical problems.
This session provides a brief overview of metes and bounds land descriptions seen in deeds, mortgages, patents, grants, and other land documents. The land descriptions are an essential part of land research. This presentation discusses metes and bounds land descriptions and how the metes and bounds can solve genealogical problems.
How do you know when you have genealogical proof? You apply the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to your completed research. The GPS is how genealogists test conclusions–whether it is your research or other people’s research. Recognize why meeting the GPS is essential and when it is appropriate. Learn about the five interdependent components of the GPS. Understanding the GPS and being able to apply it will hone your research skills.
How do you know when you have genealogical proof? You apply the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) to your completed research. The GPS is how genealogists test conclusions–whether it is your research or other people’s research. Recognize why meeting the GPS is essential and when it is appropriate. Learn about the five interdependent components of the GPS. Understanding the GPS and being able to apply it will hone your research skills.
Finding Sophia’s Family: A Case of Fratricide and Forgotten Identity
A quarrel between brothers turns into tragedy. The murdered man’s young widow and children leave their rural home for city life, never returning. Former family connections are forgotten in time. This webinar illustrates the case of finding the birth family of a mid-nineteenth-century South Carolina widow who left her family’s homeplace. No record provides an exact birthplace or fully identifies her parents. Learn how widow Sophia’s forgotten identity was reconstructed by understanding the era’s social context, creating and testing hypotheses, and conducting whole family research.
A quarrel between brothers turns into tragedy. The murdered man’s young widow and children leave their rural home for city life, never returning. Former family connections are forgotten in time. This webinar illustrates the case of finding the birth family of a mid-nineteenth-century South Carolina widow who left her family’s homeplace. No record provides an exact birthplace or fully identifies her parents. Learn how widow Sophia’s forgotten identity was reconstructed by understanding the era’s social context, creating and testing hypotheses, and conducting whole family research.
Adherence to standards is imperative for anyone who endeavors to reach credible genealogical conclusions. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) publishes the field’s only comprehensive set of criteria (standards) for evaluating genealogical work products. Significantly, application of the standards set forth in BCG’s publication is not limited to those who aspire to obtain the Certified Genealogist® credential—they are community-wide standards used in producing family histories, client reports, blogs, and other offerings.
Adherence to standards is imperative for anyone who endeavors to reach credible genealogical conclusions. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) publishes the field’s only comprehensive set of criteria (standards) for evaluating genealogical work products. Significantly, application of the standards set forth in BCG’s publication is not limited to those who aspire to obtain the Certified Genealogist® credential—they are community-wide standards used in producing family histories, client reports, blogs, and other offerings.
DNA Analysis Methodology: Defeat the Genealogy Gremlin with Pedigree Evaluation, Mitigation, and Reasoning (a 2023 Reisinger Lecture)
Learn the tried-and-true methodology to defeat the Genealogy Gremlin and achieve accurate results using DNA for genealogy. This lecture discusses the evaluation of match pedigrees to identify potential snafus and demonstrates mitigation strategies to address the problem. Don’t let researcher confirmation bias pollute your family trees!
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Learn the tried-and-true methodology to defeat the Genealogy Gremlin and achieve accurate results using DNA for genealogy. This lecture discusses the evaluation of match pedigrees to identify potential snafus and demonstrates mitigation strategies to address the problem. Don’t let researcher confirmation bias pollute your family trees!
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Assumptions: Problem-Solving Friend or Foe? (a 2023 Reisinger Lecture)
Do you have an unsolved research problem? Have you critically examined assumptions made during the research process? Some assumptions are valid, or even fundamental, but incorrect or misguided assumptions can act as mortar for genealogical brick walls. Learn to recognize, categorize, and address various types of assumptions to form sound genealogical conclusions.
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Do you have an unsolved research problem? Have you critically examined assumptions made during the research process? Some assumptions are valid, or even fundamental, but incorrect or misguided assumptions can act as mortar for genealogical brick walls. Learn to recognize, categorize, and address various types of assumptions to form sound genealogical conclusions.
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
The Many Wives of Howard William Lowe: Working with Social History to Glean Genealogical Insights (a 2023 Reisinger Lecture)
Genealogists are expected to conduct research not just reasonably exhaustively but also broadly. Understanding the social milieu of the specific time and place within which an individual lived is an essential element of broad research. A case study focusing on an early twentieth-century blue-collar worker in western Minnesota and his several wives illustrates how social history provides insights illuminating their lives.
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Genealogists are expected to conduct research not just reasonably exhaustively but also broadly. Understanding the social milieu of the specific time and place within which an individual lived is an essential element of broad research. A case study focusing on an early twentieth-century blue-collar worker in western Minnesota and his several wives illustrates how social history provides insights illuminating their lives.
This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
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Syllabus
Thinking about DNA as a research tool, I was wondering if you had DNA testing done to see if you are a match with any of Dora’s sister’s descendants? If so, they might have additional family or genealogical documents that could add to the family research.
A true researcher!
Always learn so much from him!
An excellent presentation……really showed what thinking outside the box & persistence can accomplish.
arrived late but still enjoyed it very much.
As always – Great Presenter and wealth of knowledge.
Clear and descriptive of each step.
clear research steps shown – thanks
Didn’t realise it was both Germany and America
excellent
Excellent and professional presentation. Thanks
Excellent case study demonstrating use of the GPS – thanks Warren!
Excellent delivery. Kept my interest.
excellent explanations, taking us step by step through the thought process.
Excellent lecture.
excellent presentation.
Excellent presentation. I learned more about researching in Germany.
EXCELLENT! Now I want to pursue that research trip to Germany for my German ancestors.
Excellent!!!!
Fantastic research skills! Gave me some ideas about potential types of records in Germany for doing my own research. Just need to get them imaged!
Fantastic. So clear, and unlike many presenters Warren doesn’t go too fast to keep up. It was easy to follow the complexities of the case and I learned a lot.
Fascinating! Gives me hope that I’ll be able to find my ancestor who I have been looking for in Germany for years!
Found out about the existence of German Gazeteers
Fun to listen to a detective search!
Great presentation. Gave me a lot to think about and explained a logical plan of attach. Thank you very much. time well spent.
Great research tips! Great example of commitment and thoroughly researching an ancestor.
Had to leave early; I will definitely watch the entire recording.
Handouts were very handy
He always has the best information!
I also enjoyed the German references and suggestions since my maternal side was from Germany and found those resources very helpful.
I enjoyed hi tips on exhaustive research.
I look forward to finding out more about the records I questioned. Thank you for a starting point to find out more. Also will look into the Gazeteer. I haven’t used that in a while.
I think I remember Warren talking about the Behres earlier, so was on pins and needles the whole time waiting to see if he found the mother! Also, was great having examples of why we should pay attention to which parish in Germany is which.
I was enthralled with the adventure he took us on. So many good ideas for how to pursue the dead ends! Every one of your programs is inspiring. Thank you so much for making these available, especially from my home.
It defintely demonstrated the use of exhaustive research and analysis.
It was awesome…I learned a lot to help me
It’s always great to see how a case is built step by step. This one was meaningful because I have people I want to find in Germany and sometimes get confused by similar/differing names on records too. Hopefully if I watch enough people do it right, some of the “best practices” will get embedded in my brain.
Liked the topic – German genealogy, and name discrepancies!
love the case studies, especially when the trail is so well explained
Love these BCG webinars–help me tackle the difficult conflicts in my research
metacognitive reflection
Mind Boggling. I have to do research in Germany, and this gave me some valuable guidance. Thanks to Mr. Bittner
Missed most of it but a clearly detailed outline of what is required of a certified genealogist.
Most informative
Now, that’s how to do research! Love listening to any presentation of Warren Bittner! I always get so much out of them.
One of the best webinars ever!
Really enjoy Warren Bittner seminars. I wish I had his resources!
really enjoyed the webinar today
Showing each of the steps in Warren Bittner’s difficult research was very helpful. It was also good to see how he worked through each step of the genealogical proof standard to come to his conclusion.
So much information and knowledge. This was great!
Thank you so much Warren. Love love loved your presentation. So many times some of us feel like we’re out here alone researching and the very reason I loved this presentation. I’ve been doing Hungarian resesarch for 20 years and first of all I appreciate hearing how others research on both sides of the pond, and decondly listening to you I have had similar cases of conflicting ID so you have reasured me, I’m on the right track.
The depth and breadth of the research was somewhat overwhelming and also incredible! A fascinating presentation!
The method of resolving conflicts was very helpful
There is no better German researcher and speaker than Warren Bittner.
This was a great case study! I especially liked the conflicting evidence and how he came to his conclusions.
This was a wakeup call that we all need to be researching outside the box when things are not fitting together as we think they should. Mr. Bittner does a wonderful job. So thorough.
Very clear, easy to follow presentation of how to research a problem.
Very helpful in laying out the research issue and process. Thanks.
Very helpful. Started listening in my car then jumped on computer once I got home. So glad I could get it both ways.
very imformative
Very informative
very informative
Very interesting speaker. Well organized and easy to follow.
very practical example of how to research a German immigrant
Very thorough and informative.
Warren Bitner did a great job in explaining the series of events he followed. Usually with case studies you get the answer followed by proofs. This was much better to keep us wondering if Dora Luhr would ever be found in Germany.
Warren Bittner had me fascinated from the moment he began the webinar. I learned a great deal from him tonight. I will be searching for other webinars he has presented. He’s extraordinary!
Warren is a fabulous lecturer – and a terrific representative of what it means to be a certified genealogist.
Warren is a fabulous presenter. I appreciate the way he teaches thorough research techniques within a story.
Warren is a great speaker and his personality pops out of the screen even without seeing his face. 🙂
Warren was excellent as always. Thank you so much for hosting him!
Well organized. Did not go through the material too fast so we were able to follow along easly.
Well pace, easy to follow … new light on the subject
well presented and able to follow research strategies.
What an exhaustive research trail, I am very impressed.
Wonderful information and strategy
Wonderful presentation! Very engaging and informative.
Wonderful research tips. Needed more time so questions could be answered.