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juli 31, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

hire a professional genealogist

How To Hire a Professional Genealogist

hire a professional genealogist

How do you know when and how to hire a professional geneaologist? While researching your family history, you will inevitably encounter situations where the expertise of a professional genealogist becomes invaluable to achieve your desired progress. Factors such as time limitations in your personal life, the necessity for verifying information, grappling with foreign languages, or tracing ancestors with scant written records can necessitate seeking professional assistance. Whatever the underlying reason, when the moment arrives to enlist a genealogist’s services, finding a reliable expert whose work will endure through generations becomes crucial. 

When you’re trying to decide who to hire, we recommend following these steps: 

Step 1:  Get Clear on Your Genealogy Research Goals 

You can pursue many paths in your genealogy research, and when hiring a professional, you need to know what you are trying to achieve. Are you interested in extending your family line and finding as many generations back as possible? Or do you want to create family groups and find all the children connected to one family? Or you may want to go deep with one member of your family tree and learn all about their life and background.  

You may have goals to achieve dual citizenship or find a biological parent or a missing family member. The more clarity you have, the better you can communicate with the genealogist to achieve a positive outcome.  

Step 2: Find a Qualified Genealogist with Expertise in Your Research Focus and Geographic Area 

Finding a qualified genealogist can often be a challenging part of the process as it may be unclear what credentials are the most important in the genealogists you are considering.  

Credentials 

You’ll see two primary credentials in genealogy, an AG (through ICAPGen) and a CG (through the Board for Certification of Genealogists).  

Accredited Genealogist® 

An Accredited Genealogist (AG) is someone who has passed several levels of testing through ICAPGen (The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists).This testing is geographically specific, meaning that someone with an AG after their name has tested for at least one region within the United States or one region of the world. If you choose to hire an AG, you’ll want to ask about the geographic region(s) in which they were tested and ensure it covers the area you need. Receiving a genealogy accreditation also includes providing an acceptable four-generation research report (demonstrating that a person can do genealogy in earlier, harder time periods), a written and oral exam, and adherence to a code of ethics. 

Certified Genealogist® 

Becoming a Certified Genealogist involves similar requirements as the Accreditation with a slightly different focus. The CG is not geographically specific but closely examines a genealogist’s ability to interpret documents and resolve contradictory evidence. This interpretation skill is often what a genealogist is hired for, so it is an important criterion to consider.  

Additional “Credentials” 

There are a few other types of “credentials” you may want to consider when hiring a genealogist. These are additional certificates and degrees offered through university programs (two major ones are through Boston University and BYU), genealogy institutes (usually week-long courses), and years of experience. These things can also help in evaluating a genealogist’s involvement and ability. 

Step 3: Evaluate Public Reviews Shared about the Genealogist or Company

Getting a recommendation for a genealogist can be more challenging than other services as it is a service only some people utilize. Fortunately, you can use online reviews to get a view into what your experience will be like if you hire the genealogist you’re considering based on the experiences of others. 

Several great review sites are available, and you may find your prospective genealogist or genealogy company there. Some of these are Facebook, Google, and the Better Business Bureau. One quick shortcut for finding reviews on the genealogist you’re considering would be a Google search of the name or company plus “reviews.” 

Step 4: Discuss Details with the Selected Genealogist or Company 

Now that you have narrowed your search to a few genealogists or companies, it is a great time to get into the details, including requesting work samples and discussing fees.  

Work Samples 

Before agreeing to hire a genealogist, reviewing a few samples of their other research projects is helpful so you know what to expect. The standard finished work product you will receive from a professional genealogist comes in a written report format. This report adds information to your family tree and can be provided in paper or digital copy. This report is fundamental to a genealogist’s work.  

As you review the samples of their work, look for similarities with the type of research you are requiring and evaluate the readability and completeness of the work.  

Fees 

Typically, professional genealogists charge by the hour. According to the Association of Professional Genealogists, hourly rates for a genealogist can “vary from $30 to $40 per hour to well over $200 per hour, based on experience, location, project types and uses, demand, time constraints, and other factors.” 

Learn more about how much it costs to hire a genealogist.  

Step 5: Set Expectations and Hire a Professional Genealogist

Now it is time to clarify the final details. This step includes knowing what to expect for a timeline, how often you will receive updates, and when the genealogist anticipates the project’s completion.  

Before research begins is also a great time to ask any final questions and ensure you have clearly articulated your research goals. Confirming your research goals in writing is always a wise idea. Remember that what you are purchasing is a complex product; sometimes, for various reasons (record loss, privacy laws, and other restrictions), the answers are legitimately unavailable despite the genealogist’s best efforts. Rather than a guarantee of certain information, you’re getting a pledge that a genealogist will use paid time effectively and search for information in the best way possible. 

Conclusion 

As you try to predict the success you’ll have with a particular genealogist or genealogy firm, following these five steps can help you feel more confident that you’re hiring someone who will give you quality results and family history information that will be treasured for generations to come.  

Get more information about working with the professionals at Legacy Tree Genealogists by submitting a request for a free quote.  

Filed Under: Genealogy Tips & Best Practices, Getting Started Tagged With: getting started, Hire a Genealogist, Hiring, professional genealogist

juli 21, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 2 Comments

hire a genealogist process

What To Expect When You Hire a Genealogist: Team, Process, Timeline

What can you expect to happen when you hire a genealogist? What’s the research, editing, and final production process like? How do they help you reach your goals? How long will it take for them to help you fill in the gaps of your family history research? Every genealogist and professional genealogy firm works a little bit differently, but here’s what you can expect when you hire Legacy Tree Genealogists to help you with a family history research or biological family project.

hiring a professional genealogist

Why Would You Hire a Genealogist?

When you work with Legacy Tree Genealogists, you’re working with an entire team to ensure accuracy and quality. You’ll be in direct contact with your Project Manager throughout the entire process, and they will communicate your goals and needs with professional researchers who will help you fill out your family tree with confidence.

Even though there is so much documentation that has been digitized and is accessible online, there is still far more documentation that is NOT available online. We have a network of global onsite researchers to not only help us obtain physical documentation, but they are able to complete any translations required to ensure accuracy and efficiency. This saves you the cost of traveling, and years of learning a new language!

Legacy Tree Genealogists Timeline:

working with professional genealgists
After you first meet with a member of our client solutions team, you’ll be assigned a Project Manager. Based on your needs and goals, they’ll assemble the right team of researchers for you. Once all of the research is complete, it will be edited and peer-reviewed to ensure accuracy and clarity. At the end of the research project, you’ll have a professional research report with all the documentation in both printed and digital form for your entire family to access.

What To Expect When You Hire a Genealogist:

professional genealogist

To speak with one of our client solutions team members, fill out this form here or call us at 1-800-818-1476.

Filed Under: Genealogy Brick Walls, genealogy research, Getting Started Tagged With: Genealogy Firm, Genealogy Process, getting started, Professional Genealogists

juli 20, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 12 Comments

cost to hire a professional genealogist

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Genealogist?

Learn about the cost to hire a genealogist and what to expect. 

cost to hire a professional genealogist

Genealogy research has its ups and downs as you work devotedly to fill out your family tree with accuracy and confidence. It is incredibly rewarding when you are able to easily locate documents and piece together DNA results on your own. However, it can be surprisingly overwhelming and isolating when you hit a brick wall or aren’t quite sure if other family members working on your tree have validated all of their results.

Throughout your family history research journey, it’s valuable to invest in professional guidance and help. Depending on your needs and goals, working with a professional can save you months, even years, of frustration. 

TOP 4 REASONS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST

• You’ve hit a brick wall in your own personal research

• You want to verify a specific section/line of your family tree

• You don’t have the time to do the research yourself

• You don’t have enough knowledge about how to apply DNA test results to your 

research

Let’s dive into the basics about what you can expect when working with a professional genealogist. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST?

Typically, professional genealogists charge by the hour. According to the Association of Professional Genealogists, hourly rates for a genealogist can “vary from $30 to $40 per hour to well over $200 per hour, based on experience, location, project types and uses, demand, time constraints, and other factors.”

That’s a significant cost range! How do you know you’re getting a good value for your investment? Here are a few things to consider when hiring a genealogist:

1. WHAT ARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS?

  • How many years of professional experience do they have?
  • Do they specialize in a region or time period?
  • What level of training or education do they have? Degrees, accreditation, etc.?
  • Do they specialize in DNA and genetic genealogy or another area of expertise?
  • Do they teach or publish in their area of expertise?
  • Do they write clearly on their website and other communications?
  • Do they have positive client reviews and testimonials?

2. CLARIFY THEIR AVAILABILITY

Many professional genealogists are booked months in advance. Depending on your project, it could take several months to complete based on travel needs, record availability, and what documents and information you’ve already provided. Make sure to ask the genealogist if they can meet your timeline expectations. Many professionals and genealogy firms offer rush fees at a higher rate if you need it. 

3. SET EXPECTATIONS AND GET IT IN WRITING

Don’t assume anything. If you have questions or expectations, make sure it’s all been articulated and get it all in writing. Here are a few things to articulate and define:

  • Project goals, hours, timeline, and fees
  • Scope of work–not only what IS included, but what is NOT included
  • Final product
  • Copyright and publication rights
  • Communication and review expectations

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGY FIRM?

When hiring a genealogist, there are many benefits to working with a  genealogy research firm which has professional genealogists, editors, project managers, and office staff, all working together to complete your project with accuracy and efficiency. 

Factoring in the cost of working with a genealogy firm is important. Typically projects are purchased in hourly blocks and can be as low as $108 per hour for a team of experts working on your project. 

Here are a few things to consider when hiring a professional genealogy research firm. 

1. WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF EXPERTISE?

With a team of experienced professionals, your project will be studied and researched by on-site genealogists, who can access local archives and records, and by in-house genealogists, including DNA specialists,. All of this creates the ability to collaborate with experts in different fields and access records only available to in-person researchers. This team synergy gives your project the highest success in finding answers. 

2. WILL THERE BE FREQUENT COMMUNICATION?

At Legacy Tree and other professional genealogy firms, a personal project manager is assigned to your project to ensure that your research team meets your goals and objectives. Your project manager keeps you updated and communicates with your research team so the project meets deadlines and goals. 

3. HOW ACCURATE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT?

The peer review and editing process at a genealogy firm like Legacy Tree ensures that your project follows the highest standards of quality. You will be proud of your finished product and able to share it confidently with others, knowing it has been carefully reviewed by professional genealogy editors who check for not only grammatical errors, but also the accuracy of the research methodology and conclusions. 

4. CAN YOU ADD HOURS OR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH EASILY?

Genealogy is a lifelong pursuit, and one project typically does not answer all of the questions you may have about an ancestor or family line. We can pick up additional research goals and projects right where we left off to save you time and resources when continuing genealogy research after a pause. 

5. WHAT IS THE COMPANY’S REPUTATION AND LONGEVITY? 

Since it isn’t uncommon to see private genealogists come and go, it can be helpful to work with an established genealogy firm, one that you can trust will be around for years and provide a high level of service based on experience and prior service to thousands of clients. 

6. WHAT DOES IT COST TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGY FIRM?

While no genealogist can promise results, a quality and experienced genealogy firm can promise an effective use of time and resources in the search for your ancestors. Many firms provide their services in project packages with set hour amounts. 

For example, at Legacy Tree you can purchase packages from 25 hours up to 100 hours depending on your research needs, with pricing as low as $108 per hour. The client solutions team can assist you in selecting the right package size. 

7. WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE WHEN THE RESEARCH IS DONE?

Family history is designed to be shared. To best share research results, both digital and paper copies are ideal. At Legacy Tree, you receive a website with links to your research results and scans of original documents. You will also receive a high-quality binder with all the research printed and organized in an easy-to-share format. 

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH A FIRM LIKE LEGACY TREE?

To truly understand what it is like to work with Legacy Tree, click here.

To explore working with Legacy Tree, click here to request a free quote or call us at 1-800-818-1476.

Filed Under: genealogy research Tagged With: Cost to Hire a Genealogist, Genealogy Costs, Genealogy Firm, Working With a Genealogist

juli 13, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 2 Comments

Genealogy research resources

3 Online Resources to Expand Your Genealogy Research IQ

Genealogy research resources

Genealogy research can quickly become a passion to last a lifetime. Whether a hobbyist or professional, genealogy research is exciting, challenging, and even a little bit addicting. 

At Legacy Tree we believe education is important to preserve the integrity of genealogical research. Anyone interested in family history can and should educate themselves about the many aspects of genealogical research so they can accurately verify and build their family trees. 

We are privileged to work with great affiliate partners and in this blog, we are highlighting just a few of our newest affiliates who go above and beyond to educate and teach, all for free. We are honored to be the genealogy research firm recommended by these partners when clients need custom research help.

We encourage you to visit their websites and continue to learn more and expand your skills as a genealogist. 

Binge Watch To Find Genealogy Research Answers: GenealogyTV

GenealogyTV research resource

If you are the kind of person who can sit down to watch one quick thing on YouTube and suddenly, 2 hours have passed, then GenealogyTV will be a great place to study and learn more about genealogy research. Connie Knox, founder of GenealogyTV is “Here to help you go further, faster, and factually with your family research.”  GenealogyTV is primarily a YouTube channel with hundreds of videos on a variety of family history subjects and for researchers at all levels of experience.  Connie has also created the GenealogyTV website with blog posts, show notes and links to the YouTube videos with playlists by topic. 

A few things you will learn at GenealogyTV:

• How to Research Your Family Tree
• Where to Find Newspapers Online
• How to Create Great Research Notes
• Thruline Explained
• Connect Ancestors and Floaters
• And more…

Put the FUN into Fundamental Genealogy Education: Genealogy Explained

Genealogy Explained research resource

Learning the fundamentals of genealogy is critical, but it should also be fun. At Genealogy Explained, you will learn about genealogy in a way that is memorable and enjoyable. The site uses illustrations, diagrams, videos, and other visual learning techniques to help make complicated topics more digestible. Genealogy Explained is divided into different sections to help you grow in your experience: Basics, Research Techniques, Managing a Family Tree, and DNA Testing. Founder Marc McDermott has also created an extensive blog and many recommendations for online resources. Genealogy Explained is a great resource to have in your genealogy tool belt. 

A few things you will learn at Genealogy Explained:

• Best genealogy websites
• Buyers guide to family tree software – guidance to choose the best for your needs
• DNA 101 overview and testing companies
• Foundational knowledge about research methods, surnames, writing and more

Decipher Foreign Language: Germanology Unlocked

Germanology Unlocked research resources

Finding your ancestors’ records is only the first step in discovering their story. If the documents are written in a foreign language, it can be a challenge to decipher and translate. Our new affiliate, Germanology Unlocked, provides services to assist in German translation and education. Founder Katherine Schober offers translation services, but also teaches you how to do it yourself through online courses and webinars. This can be a major step forward in your research as you are able to read old letters, family documents, and vital records in your ancestors native German. 

A few things you will learn at Germanology Unlocked:

• How to Work with German Church Records
• Tips and Tricks for Deciphering the German Handwriting
• The Ins and Outs of German Genealogy Research
• German Language Tips for Genealogy
• And More!

These are just a few of the resources available online to help you learn more about family history and get started with your genealogy. You can also visit the Legacy Tree Genealogists blog where you can find hundreds of articles and resources to expand your genealogy knowledge.

If you have hit a brick wall in your research, or you want the assistance of a professional to find missing ancestors and expand your family tree, contact Legacy Tree for a free quote. 

Filed Under: Genealogy Education, genealogy research, Genealogy Tips & Best Practices Tagged With: Affiliates, genealogy resources, online genealogy resources

juni 9, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 7 Comments

Scottish heritage _ train

Your Scottish Heritage and Family Tree: What You Need To Know

Legacy Tree works with onsite professional genealogist around the world. We sat down with one of our Scottish onsite researchers to ask her a few questions about Scottish heritage and genealogy, and how to get through common challenges and assumptions about Scottish family trees. 

Scottish heritage _ train

Discovering Surprising Scottish Heritage

LT: 

We are pleased to chat today with one of our onsite researchers, Emily.  I think it’s really interesting for people to understand how you got into genealogy. What sparked your interest and what was your journey to get to where you’re at right now and doing this as a career? 

Emily:

My genealogy story started as many people do when they’re very young. I first became interested when my grandfather on my father’s side gave me a family tree dating back to about 1500, which was pretty cool. It dates back to Scotland, which was quite interesting because I’m from Northern Ireland, from Belfast. So for anyone unfamiliar with Northern Ireland, it is right beside Scotland, just across the water. It’s like half an hour to fly. So it’s not far, but I was surprised that we’re Scottish and live in Northern Ireland; what’s going on there?

When I grew up, I learned about the history of my family. I learned that my ancestors were part of something called the Ulster Plantation, which was a forced migration from Scottish and some English, mainly Northern English, and farmers who were paid to go and settle the land in Ireland take it away from Catholic owners. So it’s a very contentious issue. They were paid to do this in the 16th and 17th centuries.

So Northern Ireland was settled by a lot of Scottish and English people. Many people with Scottish surnames, like myself, find out they’re related to these plantation owners. So when I learned about that, it made more sense why we’re Scottish, even though we live in Northern Ireland.

And then another thing that got me into it that was quite special was that there was this one surname from the family tree called Liko, which was quite a cool name. And it was my grandfather’s first name. And his family had managed to carry the name for 500 years through a child from each generation.

And he passed that name on to one of his sons, who passed on to one of his sons. The fact that the name Liko started around 1500 in Scotland and it’s still today in the world through this one line was pretty remarkable. And I also have my DNA tested, as so many people do. I am 84% Scottish, which isn’t a surprise. And I had a cousin of mine, who’s really into genealogy, and he DNA tested and found that we are related to the clan McFarland way back in the 14-hundreds. This is funny because so many people I speak to say, “Oh, you know, I’m Scottish; I’m from the clans.” It doesn’t always work like that, but, in my case, it weirdly does. So I find out we are related to the McFarland clan, and then I find out that it was currently leaderless, but according to the law, only men can inherit the clan title.

Finally, the practical reason I’m into Scottish genealogy, it’s because I live in Scotland. I moved to Edinburgh when I was 18 to study at the university. And then, I did another teaching degree in Glasgow, which is very near Edinburgh. Compared to America, Scotland is tiny–everywhere is within a few hours. And now I live in the Highlands. I’ve done a triangle of Scotland, and it felt natural to live and look into Scottish genealogy.

How Difficult is Scottish Research?

LT: 

That is quite a story because so many of us, especially those from America, have lost that connection with our roots. And it’s a beautiful thing that you live in your ancestral land. For many people, that’s a journey they plan their whole life to go and do. It’s so important to connect with your roots and to be there. That’s one reason why it’s so nice to connect with researchers like yourself worldwide.

Is it difficult to do research in Scotland? Are the records in Scotland well preserved? Are you able to find them? Do you need to be there physically to visit the archives, look at these research books, or go to some old parishes? How do you usually start, and is it challenging?

Using Scottish Vital Records

Emily:

So you have two categories of records that you work within Scotland.

The vital records including birth, marriages, and deaths in Scotland were registered beginning in 1855. You legally had to register one of the three. These dates differ from England and Wales which began registration in 1837 and Ireland in 1865.  These records will often contain a mother’s maiden name, which is wonderful because sometimes you don’t get that. And they include both parents’ names on the marriage certificate, which, again, English records only have the father until a certain date.

Scotland family tree _ fishing boat

What To Know About Using Scotland’s People Website

Emily:

Those records are outstanding. And what’s also good is that you can research them from anywhere in the world because all of them are on a website called Scotland’s People, which the government owns. You do have to pay for the records and know what you’re doing to ensure you’re searching in the right place. For example, if you had an ancestor with a typical Scottish name like James Fraser, I’m not influenced by Outlander, the television program.

You might type in James Fraser and a specific year or a five or 10-year period, and you’d come up with hundreds of different ones, and you think, where am I going to start? And unless you have an idea, you will waste a bit of money. One of my clients told me that he had just flat out told his daughters their inheritance was on Scotland’s People, and he was spending it there, which I thought was quite funny. Although his daughters maybe not so much. Scotland’s People is great. You can check out all of the records there. They also have census records for every ten years starting in 1841. The census records are a great place to find and follow your ancestors through the years.

Using Onsite Parish Records To Research Scottish Ancestry

Emily:

Finally, the parish records made by the church are a great resource. These predate the vital records before 1855; the earliest ones go back to the 1550s. The earliest is 1553. And there’s a lot of volumes, something like 3,500 volumes. Many of these are online too, but like you were saying, there are some that you have to be in the country to view. So many of them are held exclusively at the records office in Edinburgh. So it is helpful in that case to utilize onsite researchers.

LT: 

Is there one dominant church that maintained all those records?

Navigating Church Records To Research Your Scottish Family Tree

Emily:

The Church of England holds the parish records in England. The Church of Scotland holds many of the parish records in Scotland. If you married in the Church of Scotland, they would’ve registered the marriage. But you also did have a Roman Catholic church there. You do get quite a few records registered by the Catholic church.

And then they also have other churches like the free church, which is the Presbyterian church. So it depends on which denomination your ancestors belonged to. The two main ones are the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church, with the Presbyterian church secondarily.

Common Barriers to Scottish Genealogy Research and How To Overcome Them

LT: 

What’s the most challenging thing about researching in Scotland for you when you’re working on a project for a client?

Emily:

Sometimes the location and the sheer size of the data to search. For example, suppose you’re looking for someone in Scotland, and they moved to one of the big cities in the late 19th century, which so many did looking for employment opportunities during the Industrial Revolution. In that case, they might just put a county, or shire, as their place of birth.  And then if they have a surname that’s a mix surname, like my surname McFarland, you think, oh no, because there will be hundreds of that surname in that county. Probably all related, but it is a bit of a maze to work through.

So my heart does sink a bit when it’s a mix surname because sometimes it’s Mc, sometimes it’s Mac, and sometimes it’s an apostrophe. Many ancestors have a mix of all surname variations. And so that can be quite hard to trace through. What I tend to do then is go back to the county of origin and work out all the families with that name and then work out where my client fits in.

Scottish heritage castle

What Does “Scotch” Really Mean?

Emily:

Another thing that I find a bit tricky is that I have many clients who are American, Canadian, or Australian with Scottish ancestry, and on the census, they list Scotch or Scotch Irish as their country of origin. But they really mean that their country of origin is Scotch. They might not have been born in Scotland. So, for example, pretend I immigrated to America in 1800, but I was born in Northern Ireland, or Ireland as it was then. I would put on the census ‘born Scotch’ or ‘born Scotch Irish’ to say my ancestors were from Scotland 40 or 50 years ago. They came to Ireland to live, and then we moved on to America. But it cuts out the middle country because then you wonder, am I looking for a birth record in Ireland or Scotland? So when people say Scotch-Irish, they actually mean Scottish. But that can also be tricky.

Were My Scottish Ancestors Part Of A Clan?

Emily:

Many clients, particularly those who aren’t from Scotland, have this very romantic idea of their ancestors being clad in a kilt playing the bagpipes, looking over the castle and loch, and having their land stolen by the English.

And then I sometimes feel a bit bad when I have to explain to them that they weren’t part of the clans because a lot of the migration from Scotland to America happened from the lowlands and the borders with England, where the clan system wasn’t really in place. There was a bit of a clan system in the central belt but not in the lowlands. And so they went for economic reasons. I feel a bit bad when I have to tell them that just because they have a surname with a clan name, for example, McDonald, doesn’t necessarily mean they belong to the clan.

Overcoming Scottish Brick Walls

LT:

Tell us about one of the difficulties that you have overcome in Scottish research.

Emily:

I was doing this one case where my client knew that he had a very Scottish surname, and he knew that his parents were Scottish. At some point, he believed an Italian line came to Scotland, and he said he knew the name of his grandparents, but we were struggling to find a record of their immigration.

They were Italian, and the person registering their immigration in Scotland had never probably heard of their Italian surname in the 1860s or 1870s and did not spell it correctly. After searching hundreds of records, it turned out that not only did they spell their surname in at least ten different ways, the records had switched their first and last names. It was a bit wild. I was able to break through this brick wall by paying for and gathering all of the records and then just sitting down for several days and puzzling through them. In the end, we did figure it out and extended his tree two generations.

Favorite Genealogy Moment

LT:

What is your favorite moment in genealogy?

Emily:

One of the best moments I had was finding a birth register listing coordinates at sea. I had never had that before and thought it was so special. I googled the coordinates, and it was off the coast of the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and this was a first.

LT: 

That’s really neat. Think of the story behind that and the experience for that mother. I like the stories behind things. I think that’s what makes genealogy so special. 

Emily:

Absolutely. I think the story behind that was that the father was a sailor and all of his children had been born in the Caribbean and Malden, places like that where sailors work.

Final Words

LT:

Is there anything else that you would like to add that you want the Legacy Tree community to know about Scottish research?

Emily:

Scottish research is challenging and rewarding. If you believe you have Scottish heritage, start with the resources I mentioned before and be open to surprises.

LT: 

And when you get stuck, reach out to Legacy Tree and you may end up with Emily doing some onsite research for you in Scotland.

If you’re curious to learn more about your Scottish heritage and family tree, we’d love to help you verify and develop what you already have! You can schedule a consultation with us to find out how we can work for you.

Filed Under: Genealogy Education, Genealogy Records and Resources, genealogy research, Genealogy Tips & Best Practices, Onsite, United Kingdom Tagged With: family tree, onsite, Scotland, Scottish

april 27, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 12 Comments

ai genealogy research

Using AI Effectively for Genealogy Research

ai genealogy research

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for genealogy research is still in its infancy but gaining momentum as each new tool is released, including ChatGPT and Google Translate. These tools do not replace the need for a professional genealogist to analyze the data but can speed up the research process by finding information more rapidly.

We asked our research team how genealogists can apply AI to their genealogy research projects. Here are some of their key learnings and cautions.

First, How AI Tools Work

The AI tools used most often by genealogists rely on NLP – Natural Language Processing. NLP enables machines to interpret, understand, apply, and generate human language. Researchers can use NLP effectively to extract data from historical documents for analysis. Documents most readily analyzed include birth and death certificates, census records, marriage licenses, and even newspapers. The NLP algorithms can extract names, dates, and locations from these records, saving a researcher valuable time.

AI tools also have machine learning algorithms that help to predict relationships. Large datasets of family history information can train the algorithm to make predictions about family relationships or to find missing information. The algorithm may then be able to fill in gaps in a family tree or predict how likely two people are related to one another based on their DNA test results.

Using ChatGPT for Genealogy Research

ChatGPT for AI genealogy research

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. When answering a query, it can create a response that appears to be human-created text. It is also able to write and provide data on a variety of subjects.

One of the challenges of using ChatGPT for genealogy research is the need for more accuracy and the requirement to fact-check. A few tests run by Legacy Tree Genealogists found that while ChatGPT can produce information, it occasionally adds a bit of fiction.

“I found when I asked ChatGPT to write me an early history of Smith County, Tennessee, with sources, that the information was mostly accurate, but the sources were made up. That’s part of the problem–it’s an LLM (large language model), meaning it guesses at the next most likely word or character rather than being an actual research AI,” said one genealogist.

Another Legacy Tree researcher said, “I used ChatGPT with a prompt ‘Tell me about my second great-grandfather Blazuius Britanik.’ It gave me a totally plausible response but was also completely incorrect. I’m curious if AI will be putting out more bad information that we’ll have to be aware of as genealogists.”

ai genealogy research chatgpt

ChatGPT can be very helpful when asked carefully-worded and specific questions, but it can also provide inaccurate answers that a researcher must check.

When we asked ChatGPT how we could use the platform for genealogy research, it responded with:

1. Ask specific questions: You can ask ChatGPT specific questions about your family history, such as “Who were my great-grandparents?” or “Where did my ancestors come from?” ChatGPT can use its vast knowledge base to provide you with answers or suggestions for further research.

2. Ask for research tips: ChatGPT can also provide you with research tips and suggestions for further research. For example, you can ask “What are some online resources for genealogy research?” or “What are some tips for tracing your family tree?”

3. Use ChatGPT to transcribe handwritten documents: If you have old handwritten documents, such as letters or journals, you can use ChatGPT to transcribe them. Simply take a photo or scan the document and upload it to ChatGPT. ChatGPT can use its optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities to transcribe the document. *This is an example of the inaccuracy of ChatGPT. At this time, ChatGPT is not able to ‘read’ handwritten documents or have photos or images uploaded, yet it gave us this information.

4. Use ChatGPT to translate documents: If you have documents in a language you cannot read, ChatGPT can help you translate them. Simply upload the document to ChatGPT and ask for a translation. *Another example of the inaccuracy of ChatGPT. At this time, ChatGPT does not allow document uploads in the traditional sense, but you can copy and paste text into ChapGPT for translation.

5. Use ChatGPT for record searches: ChatGPT can also help you search for records, such as census records or immigration records. Simply ask ChatGPT to help you find a specific record and provide any details you have about the person you are researching.

ChapGPT Takeaway:

ChatGPT is a great tool to help formulate research strategies and research historical context. However, all information must be sourced and checked for accuracy, and it is not a replacement for an experienced genealogist.

Using Google Translate for AI Genealogy Research

This AI tool is an excellent help to genealogists, especially when translating records from one language to another.

An experienced researcher at Legacy Tree has found Google Translate to speed up the work. “In my research work, I used Google Translate to take a photo of text written in another language, and I’m shocked at how good it is sometimes. Of course, we still verify, but it saves us so much time from translating documents that might not be for the right person.”

Google Translate Takeaway:

Google Translate is a good tool for starting a translation or determining if a document has information about the person or family you are researching. Verifying the translation with a professional is always necessary for accurate interpretation.

How Major Genealogy Companies Use AI

MyHeritage has also developed a suite of AI-powered genealogy research tools, such as identifying ancestors in historical photographs and automatically colorizing black and white photos. This has led to the creation of photo animation and engaged many new genealogy users through the interactive AI Time Machine.

Ancestry successfully used AI handwriting recognition software to transcribe documents like the 1950 Census records. They also use suggested records in their search, identifying whether a record looks similar to another person in a different record to help merge duplicates or find other relatives. 

FamilySearch is currently training the algorithm to index handwritten documents. Current research is focused on the 1400s at speeds unmatched by human researchers. In 2022, FamilySearch released the 1950 US Census by creating an initial index from digital census images that volunteers later checked for accuracy. 

If you’d like help with your genealogical research, you can get a free quote here!

Filed Under: Genealogy Education, genealogy research, Genealogy Tips & Best Practices, Internet Research Tagged With: AI, artificial intelligence, research

mars 10, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

RootsTech 2023 Legacy Tree Genealogists

RootsTech 2023 Recap: Uniting and Learning In Genealogy Family Research

RootsTech 2023 MyHeritage

It was surreal and wonderful to see everyone at RootsTech 2023 Genealogy Family Research in person again after a couple of years away during the pandemic. Legacy Tree Genealogists were happy to see old friends and make new ones as we all came together through our passion for genealogy research.

The theme of RootsTech 2023 was “Uniting.” Genealogy research helps us unite our families past, present, and future. Through all the ups and downs of the never ending genealogy journey, it’s reassuring to know we’re not in it alone, and there are many people and resources that can help us discover who we are and where we came from. 

Legacy Tree Genealogists at RootsTech 2023: The Expo Hall 

Legacy Tree Genealogists were eager to be back at the conference, answering questions, sharing research tips, helping kids learn to write in old English, and greeting attendees who visited our booth in the Expo Hall. We were thrilled to meet so many new people with fascinating family histories.

RootsTech 2023 Legacy Tree Genealogists

Legacy Tree Professional Genealogists: Paul Woodbury, Tani Anderson, and Ryan Rockwood

Genealogy Family Research For All

RootsTech offered hundreds of classes and learning opportunities both in-person and virtually. Over 440,000 people participated worldwide from 202 countries. Inspiring speakers in the main hall included Jordin Sparks, Sean Astin, and Me Ra Koh. Every speaker and teacher inspired us to continue working to discover and unite our families past, present, and future.

Steve Rockwood talked about connecting cousins and families worldwide, “All means all,” he repeated. Jordin Sparks wants to be remembered for generations as the song lyrics say, “she’s messy, but she’s kind.” Sean Astin recounted his time acting in The Lord of The Rings Trilogy and quoted his lines, “Those were the stories that meant something,” to get the crowd in the mood for the importance of finding and preserving family stories. And Me Ra Koh talked about the power of family, “it’s everything.”

RootsTech2023 Jessica Taylor MyHeritage

Legacy Tree Genealogists founder and CEO, Jessica Taylor, teaching attendees how to find
family members using the MyHeritage search engine

Helping Others On Their Genealogy Family Research Journey

The Legacy Tree Genealogists booth was busy as attendees came to ask our professional genealogists questions about their unique brick walls. There were people with families from all over the world–Latin America, the British Isles, Lebanon, Canada, Germany, Russia, France, Brazil, Japan, China, and many more. Our team was happily busy from one question to another. 

Throughout the conference, we hosted three LIVE Facebook Q&As that are available for you to now watch on demand:

Using DNA For Genealogy Research with Paul Woodbury

How To Create An Accurate Family Tree with Sherri Bennett

How To Hire A Genealogist with Carolyn Tolman

RootsTech 2023 LIVE Facebook Q&A

Heather Johnson interviews DNA professional genealogist
Paul Woodbury for
LIVE Facebook Q&A

Other Legacy Tree team members were able to present various genealogy topics for the virtual attendees. Kelli Bergheimer presented on common DNA Misconceptions and Getting Organized Using Technology and a Research Report. 

On Family Discovery Day, we helped kids learn how to write in old English and provided a mad libs-like puzzle, Crack The Code!, to solve using their newfound knowledge. 

RootsTech 2023 Family Discovery Day

Other Highlights From RootsTech 2023

RootsTech 2023 Legacy Books
Jessica Taylor saying hello to our friends at Legacy Books

 

RootsTech 2023 friends of Legacy Tree
Friends of Legacy Tree Genealogists

 

RootsTech 2023 Scott Fisher Jessica Taylor
Jessica Taylor with Scott Fisher of Extreme Genes Podcast

 

RootsTech 2023 Kirby Heybourne
Kirby Heybourne and Anne Marie Vivienne

 

RootsTech 2023 Storied
So fun to see the Storied neighborhood!

 

RootsTech 2023 FamilySearch
Full classes at the Family Search booth

 

RootsTech 2023 Billion Graves
So many balloons for the kids at Billion Graves!

 

RootsTech 2023 FamilySearch
Thank you, FamilySearch, for putting together yet another successful RootsTech!

If you weren’t able to visit us in person at RootsTech, and you’d like to schedule a consultation with one of our professional genealogists, you can schedule an appointment here.

Filed Under: Conferences & Education, Genealogy Education, Genealogy for Enjoyment, Legacy Tree Genealogists, Professional Genealogy Tagged With: genealogy, Professional Genealogists, RootsTech

februar 9, 2023 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 4 Comments

Legacy Tree Genealogists RootsTech 2023 Schedule

RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists Team

Check out the RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists schedule of events below, and be sure to stop by our booth (#1203) and say hello!

It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to attend RootsTech in person, and we are excited to be there and see all of you who will be attending in person and virtually. 

RootsTech is the world’s largest family history conference. With hundreds of classes to choose from and keynote speakers like Lisa Louise Cooke and David Allen Lambert, it will be a memorable conference. 

Held in Salt Lake City, Utah, the conference will run from Thursday, March 2nd – Saturday, March 4th. 

Legacy Tree Genealogists will be there in full force–exhibiting in the Expo Hall, teaching classes, and hosting Facebook Live Q&As from our booth. 

Check out the RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists schedule of events below, and be sure to stop by our booth (#1203) and say hello!

THURSDAY: MARCH 2, 2023 RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists Schedule

8:00 A.M. LIVE Facebook: Using DNA for Genetic Genealogy Research

We’re kicking off RootsTech with a fascinating conversation with our DNA expert, Paul Woodbury. Please send us your questions about DNA and Genetic Genealogy on Instagram or Facebook, or click here to send your questions in directly. Join us for this LIVE conversation on our Facebook page. 

RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists Facebook Live

RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists Paul Woodbury DNA
Right: Paul Woodbury

 

10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. DNA Research with Paul Woodbury

If you have DNA questions and know your ancestors come from these countries and regions, come by and see us at booth #1203.

  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Latin/South America
  • Scandinavia

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Asian Family Research with Ryan Rockwood

Do you have questions about researching your Asian family history? Our expert in Asian research, Ryan Rockwood, will be ready and eager to answer your questions. 

  • Methodological Differences Between Eastern and Western Genealogy
  • Japanese Genealogy Overview
  • Korean Genealogy Overview
  • Japanese Genealogy: Acquiring Your Koseki
  • Japanese Immigration Patterns

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

3:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. “MyHeritage: Finding Your Ancestors with the MyHeritage Search Engine” with Jessica Taylor.

We love collaborating with MyHeritage, and Legacy Tree founder and President, Jessica Taylor, will share great tips about finding your ancestors using the MyHeritage Search Engine. We hope to see you there!

Location: MyHeritage booth

4:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Live Stream Presentation, DNA Misconceptions, with Kelli Bergheimer. 

Find the link to watch her live stream presentation here on the RootsTech schedule–make sure to select the “Sessions” button on the top of the page. 

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. What to Expect When Working with a Professional Genealogist with Tani Anderson.

Have you ever been curious about what it would be like to have a professional helping you find your family and ancestors? What questions do you have about the process, the experience, and the cost? Tani will be at the booth to help you understand all the ins and outs of working with a professional. 

  • How to Prepare for a Successful Genealogy Project
  • What to Expect When Hiring a Genealogist
  • Hiring a Genealogist 101
  • When to Hire a Professional Genealogist

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

RootsTech Genealogy Conference Salt Lake City, Utah

FRIDAY: MARCH 3, 2023 RootsTech Legacy Tree Schedule 

10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.  Join Legacy Tree Genealogists Kelli Bergheimer for DNA 101 

  • DNA 101
  • Genealogy Research in Ohio

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

12:00 P.M – 2:00 P.M.  Hands on Application of Genetic Genealogy and Beginning Research with Sarah Stoddard 

  • Documentary Evidence to Resolve Unknowns in DNA
  • Using DNA to Solve Genealogy “Brick Walls”
  • Beginning German Research
  • Beginning English Research

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

1:30 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. Live Stream Presentation, Getting Organized Using Technology and a Research Report, with Kelli Bergheimer

You can find the link to watch Kelli’s live stream presentation here on the RootsTech schedule–make sure to select the “Sessions” button on the top of the page.

2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. “MyHeritage: Finding Your Ancestors with the MyHeritage Search Engine” with Jessica Taylor.

We love collaborating with MyHeritage, and Legacy Tree founder and President, Jessica Taylor, will share great tips about finding your ancestors using the MyHeritage Search Engine. We hope to see you there!

Location: MyHeritage booth

2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Finding ancestors in the British Empire with Kim Gilboy.

Join our expert genealogist, Kim Gilboy, to ask questions about how to find your family and ancestors from these regions.

  • British Isles
  • Canadian
  • Australian
  • Caribbean Research

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Finding Ancestors in Latin America, Mexico and the United States with Sheri Bennett.

Learn more about your ancestors from these countries and regions with expert Sheri Bennett. Bring your questions, and get one step closer to finding family in these areas. 

  • Mexico
  • Latin American
  • Southern States
  • United States Research

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

6:30 P.M. LIVE Facebook: 3 Most Important Records to Creating an Accurate Family Tree with Sheri Bennett.

Join the conversation on our Facebook page. Please send us your questions about how to create an accurate family tree on Instagram or Facebook, or click here to send your questions in directly

RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists Facebook Live

Legacy Tree Genealogists Sheri Bennett
Sheri Bennett, Legacy Tree Genealogists

 

SATURDAY: MARCH 3, 2023 RootsTech Legacy Tree Schedule 

 

RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists Facebook Live

Legacy Tree Genealogists Carolyn Tolman
Carolyn Tolman, Legacy Tree Genealogists


8:00 A.M.
Join us for our final
LIVE Facebook session: How To Hire a Genealogist with Carolyn Tolman.

Send us any questions you have about the process, how to choose the right genealogist for your project, and what to expect along the way. Please send us your questions on Instagram or Facebook, or click here to send your questions in directly

Family Discovery Day:

Crack the Code activity for kids! Bring your kids by to learn some Old English words and how to write them.

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Genealogy Research in the United States and When to Hire a Professional Genealogist with Carolyn Tolman

It’s not always as easy as you’d hope to find ancestors here in the United States. Bring your questions and Carolyn will help you create a clearer path to your goals. 

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

12:00 P.M. – 12:30 P.M. How DNA Can Help Break Down Brick Walls and Identify Bio-Parents with Carolyn Tolman

It takes a lot of courage and hope to find your bio-parents. Carolyn Tolman will be available to answer your questions about using DNA to break down brick walls. 

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

12:30 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. Nordic and French Research with Stacy Johnson

Have family from the Nordic or French regions? Bring your questions.

Location: Legacy Tree Booth #1203

1:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Meet with Expert Genealogist Shelbie Drake if you have questions about family from:

  • Germany, Austria, Hungary
  • Czech Republic
  • Slovakia

RootsTech Expo Map 2023

We hope this RootsTech Legacy Tree Genealogists schedule or events is helpful! If you can’t join us in person at RootsTech this year, you can attend RootsTech virtually for FREE. We hope to see you there! You can schedule a consultation here if you’d like to work with our expert genealogist team personally. 

Filed Under: Conferences & Education, DNA Research, Europe, Genealogy Brick Walls, Genealogy Education, Legacy Tree Genealogists Tagged With: genealogy conferences, genealogy education, RootsTech

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