The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

Where to Test? Genetic Genealogy Testing Options

abril 18, 2022 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

Paul Woodbury is a DNA team lead and professional researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped to solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. In this article, a reprint from an issue of NGS Magazine, Paul discusses four major DNA testing companies’ tools and their benefits. The article is published here with permission.Four major DNA testing companies offer genetic genealogy testing—23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage— and there are several smaller testing companies. Each company has unique benefits, advantages, and insights to offer the serious genealogist.This article reviews (in alphabetical order) each of the major companies and some of the features they offer as of late 2020. For more detailed and continually updated comparisons of testing companies, read the International Society of Genetic Genealogy’s “Autosomal DNA Testing Comparison Chart.”*23andMe23andMe provides a $99 autosomal DNA test dedicated to ancestry analysis and a health + …

Ask a Genealogist: What Makes a Great Family Tree Researcher?

abril 14, 2022 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 4 Comments

We spoke with one of our researchers, Kim Gilboy, to learn more about what makes a great family tree researcher. We learned that skills like analysis, teamwork, and persistence are all very important, but a love for family tree research is at the heart of every professional genealogist.Q: Would you tell us about yourself?A: Genealogy research is something I absolutely love. I lived in the San Francisco Bay area and had family and friends in Utah. I'd come to Utah, spend a couple of days skiing, and then spend the rest of the week at the Family History Library. I've been at this for about 40 years.I have an MBA and a doctoral degree in educational policy. And I was in university administration and then became interested in public school administration. A lot of the training I had was in research and writing, and I was able to hone those skills. I had an opportunity to do some volunteer work for a family search organization and realized I really wanted to do …

Advances in Technology for Genealogy Research

Technological Advances in Genealogy

abril 4, 2022 by Gretchen - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Gretchen Jorgensen is a Research Teams Manager and specializes in genetic genealogy and DNA analysis. In this article, she discusses the impact of technology on genealogy with a particular focus on photographs, access to records, and DNA.Technological advances impact many facets of modern life, and genealogy is no exception. What has been considered traditional genealogy is changing dramatically, and technological advances are helping family history work become easier and more accessible.PhotographsPhotographs provide fond memories of ancestors no longer with us or of relatives not living nearby. They can also bring to life those ancestors we did not have the opportunity to meet personally. Unfortunately, old photos can decay over time if they weren't printed on high-quality paper or stored correctly. Digital images are not a replacement for original prints, but they can provide a backup and enable easy sharing.In February 2020, MyHeritage released …

Ask a Genealogist: Interesting Facts about Finnish Genealogy Research

março 29, 2022 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 6 Comments

Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Stacy Siirilä Johnson is a second-generation Finnish American and a native of Michigan. She is accredited for research in France, has bachelor’s degrees in history and French, and specializes in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany. We asked Stacy about her experiences in Finnish research to learn more about the nuances of researching ancestors from Finland. Q: What got you interested in genealogy and your areas of research? A: Everyone has a story to tell. My mother died when I was 15 years old, and ever since then, I have been interested in the past. History is fascinating to me, plus I just really loved learning about people's lives. I started out learning French and went to France when I was in high school. From there, a love for languages and other countries was sparked. I then wanted to learn about my paternal grandparents, who came to the United States from Finland. I also went to Finland and fell in love with the language, its …