The National Institute for Genealogical Studies

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies - LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION

Virtual Meetings for End of September 2021

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies has a few virtual meetings scheduled for the end of September. Hope you will join us for a session, if applicable to your studies and/or research. Details are outlined below.

You can enhance your learning experience by joining a virtual meeting regarding your studies and asking questions. Even if you don’t have questions, you are welcome to just listen, lurk and learn! We don’t mind in the least.

Remember, these Virtual Meetings are NOT mandatory. They are a fun and interactive way to ask questions about the courses and/or research at a relevant session.

***IMPORTANT*** New Adobe Connect information and instructions are available on our website. If you are experiencing any issues when attending a virtual meeting, please obtain the INSTRUCTIONS document in PDF format near the top right of our Virtual Learning Room page on our website.

Go to www.genealogicalstudies.com
In top menu bar, select Information.
In the dropdown menu, select Virtual Learning Room.
Click on Instructions near the top right (you may have to scroll over to the right).

The PDF document has Adobe Connect information, Troubleshooting steps, and Adobe Connect Technical Support contacts.  
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***CHECK SCHEDULED TIME IN YOUR TIME ZONE***
Go to www.genealogicalstudies.com
In top menu bar, select Information.
In the dropdown menu, select Virtual Learning Room.
Click the virtual meeting name in list (a new window will open).
Click on Check Time to see the time in your local time zone. 
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United Kingdom (English, Welsh, Irish, and Scottish) Records courses with Brenda Wheeler     
Sunday, September 26th at 7 PM Eastern             
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/english/                 

Analysis & Skills Mentoring Program-Part 3 – ARTICLE REVIEW with Brenda Wheeler   
This Virtual Meeting is more appropriate for students who are registered in this course. Please follow the directions found in your course material, and read the article “Identification through Signatures: Using Complex Direct Evidence to Sort Colwills of Cornwall” by Ronald A. Hill (NGSQ Vol. 87, No. 3, September, 1999). 
Monday, September 27th at 7 PM Eastern             
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/asarticle3/   
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TO JOIN A VIRTUAL MEETING, simply click on the URL, or enter the URL provided in your browser. Alternatively, you can download the Adobe Connect Desktop App (see instructions above) to attend the virtual meetings. When joining a session, a USERNAME or PASSWORD is NOT REQUIRED. Please type in your first name & surname initial, along with your geographical location; then click Enter as a Guest.    
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LISTEN ON THE GO
Want to listen to the virtual meeting, but will not be at your computer? No problem! You can download the FREE Adobe Connect Mobile App from the Apple App Store (for iPod/iPhone/iPad), or from the Google Play Store (for Android).   
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See the calendar of future Virtual Meetings sessions at www.genealogicalstudies.com; in the top menu, choose INFORMATION, and then VIRTUAL LEARNING ROOM in the drop-down menu.             

If you have any questions regarding the Virtual Meetings and/or the schedule, please send an email to degroot@genealogicalstudies.com.                       

Sue de Groot, PLCGS                 
National Institute for Genealogical Studies  
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To SUBSCRIBE to email updates for The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, send email to admin@genealogicalstudies.com.               

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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here. 
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. 
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com 
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Reading and Understanding Articles for Genetic Genealogy

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies is pleased to announce the launch of our newest online course. 

DNA: Reading & Understanding Articles for Genetic Genealogy  

Course Description: Pursing genetic genealogy requires genealogists to keep abreast of the latest discoveries and tools in the field of DNA. DNA is an everchanging field with new tools and discoveries being made rapidly. While taking courses and attending lectures are a must for genetic genealogists, it is just a part of what is necessary to continue your education. In addition, the reading of information presented online, in popular magazines and in peer-reviewed journals, should be a part of your education plan. This course will present ways to better understand what you read about genetic genealogy and provide examples of various writings on the subject.

OUR NEWEST ADVANCED DNA COURSE

This advanced course demonstrates how to analyze DNA articles with ways to better understand what you read about genetic genealogy. Educational & Scientific Based DNA Articles are absolutely imperative as part of your continuing DNA educational plan. However, this course will examine how to study these articles versus merely passively reading them, and includes Tips to Reading for Retention to fully understand the information being presented. 

Types of articles for you to study include: Blogs, Genealogy Articles, Scientific Articles, Articles from both Popular and Professional Genealogy Magazines, Peer-Reviewed Journals, Register Style DNA Articles, and more. Course material will suggest where you can find such articles, as well as provide supplemental Readings. 

DNA Resources 

Students will learn to create a General Analysis Guide, along with their own DNA Lexicon and Genetic Genealogy Glossary. Working with the DNA Article Analysis Worksheet will reenforce the material covered. There are also suggestions for creating a DNA Reading Group to collaboratively study new genetic genealogy concepts.

This course is scheduled to begin on the first Monday of every month. It is sure to be one of those skill-building courses with multiple applications, and definitely a course to be added to your DNA Research Tool Box. Register today!

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BASIC DNA COURSES
DNA: Introduction to Genetic Genealogy 
DNA: Autosomal DNA – Testing for Everyone 
DNA: Tracing Maternal & Paternal Lines 

ADVANCED DNA COURSES
DNA: Special Circumstances-Adoptees & Unknown Parentage 
DNA: Methodology and Analysis
DNA: Reading & Understanding Articles for Genetic Genealogy 

DNA PACKAGES 
The National Institute for Genealogical Studies’ Research Packages offer bundles of similarly themed courses at a discount. Our current DNA Research Packages include courses relevant to understanding DNA and how it can be used in genealogical research. 
DNA: Understanding Testing and Research Strategies (4 course package) 
DNA and Relevant Topics (8 course package) 

MORE DNA RELATED COURSES
Forensic Genealogy 
Genealogy Ethical Guidelines & Standards 
Genetics & Medical Family History
Organizing a One-Name Study 
Organizing a One-Place Study 
Research: U.S. Records Using Ancestry including DNA Strategies
Research: U.S. 20th Century Records, Including Adoption Record
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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here. 
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. 
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com 
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION  

Transcription Tuesday: Census Names

Whether you are just beginning your family history journey, you are a professional genealogist, or somewhere in between, learning the importance of Transcribing every document we discover in our research will greatly influence your success. Census records are one of those documents not to be skimmed through too quickly.  

One of the first things we look for in a census record is the names. We want to find that family group listing everyone in the household. Sometimes this is easy. We search in our favourite database and there they are – just where we expected them to be. But what if they aren’t? 

Maybe the census was taken before the birth of some of the children we expected to see. Some family members who were on the previous census are absent because they have died. Sadly, some children were born and died in the years between the last census and the next. Perhaps an older child has left the family home to seek employment opportunities, or they were married and have started their own family, either nearby in the same community or elsewhere. 

A common reason for those elusive missing entries is not knowing how to find them. The biggest tip is to search for the most unique name in the family. Pricilla is going to be easier to find than Mary or Ann. Once found, check to see if her family members match your list of her siblings and parents. However, with unique names comes some creative spelling variations, so watch for those and try searching for a phonetic spelling.

A more challenging reason is that they were indexed incorrectly, due to the indexer being unable to decipher the correct name. Sometimes the handwriting is difficult to read, or the digital image is blurred, or too dark or too light. That’s when Transcriptions are truly useful. Looking at the original Image helps us to correctly interpret what was written.

Here is a recent example on Ancestry where the indexer’s interpretation of the name was completely incorrect. This name was entered into the 1921 Census of Canada database as “Farah Lestage” for the Head of Household. This meant that his wife was listed as Lucinda Lestage. They were an older couple, so all of their children had already left home. This made them difficult to find. Luckily, they resided in a small community with only 12 pages. Because it was known to be the correct location, they were discovered by reviewing each household until found on page 4.

The first clue was that “Farah” was listed as male, but if the indexer was unfamiliar with male names common to a location, you can see how the interpretation looks reasonable. However, this is Jacob and not Farah. Searching for Jacob Seaboyer never found his entry. Once it was confirmed that this was indeed my “Jacob Seaboyer,” a correction was submitted to update the record. 

Click the “Add or update information” link. A pop-up will allow you to enter the alternate information and the reason for your request for changes. Once reviewed, the record will then display the alternate name below, so other researchers can also find it. Tip: the person who submitted the correction may also be researching your family, so always note who had submitted additional information. (Note: the user name for this example has been blocked for privacy.)

Citation: 1921 Census of Canada, Province: Nova Scotia; District: 61 – Lunenburg; Enumeration Sub-District: 41 – Blandford par Chester Municipality; Page: 4; Family:39; Line:13; Head of Household: Jacob Seaboyer; wife: Lucinda. Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013. [accessed : 19 Sep 2021] 

By looking at the original image of the document, the name was deciphered correctly and then, it could be transcribed accurately with the proper surname. Learning to recognize problem letters is a key element in building your Transcription Skills. We will explore this aspect in next week’s Transcription Tuesday.

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Remember: Transcribing takes practice and patience. Check back next week for more skill-building tips.

Previous Transcription Tuesday blog posts:
Transcription Definition
Transcription Tuesday Index
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These three core courses demonstrate Transcription principles. They are offered monthly, beginning on the first Monday of every month: Register today!
Methodology-Part 2: Organizing and Skill-Building (Basic Level)
Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting (Basic Level)
Palaeography: Reading & Understanding Historical Documents (Advanced)

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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here. 
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. 
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com 
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Transcription Tuesday: Transcription Definition

As part of the online skill-building education at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, new students, as well as professional genealogists, learn the importance of Transcribing every document they discover in their family research. Although it may take extra effort to make a transcription, the benefits will soon be apparent. How often have you left a document written in an older script for a few days, and when you returned to your research, you found that you needed to decipher the handwriting again?

The first step is to make a copy of the original document and put it away. This is especially true for those of fragile materials. By using this copy to make a transcription, the text of a document can be worked on, while avoiding the wear and tear of the original document. Never write on an original; copies of documents can be marked with notes, highlighters, and notations for further examination and research, preserving the original document. First, let’s look at a definition.

What is a Transcription?
A transcription is a true, word-for-word rendering of a document with the original punctuation and spelling (i.e., an exact copy of the original, line by line, sentence by sentence, word by word, and letter by letter). All notes and marks on any page are copied as faithfully as possible in the presented formatting. It includes all spellings, capitalizations and punctuations as it was written. No corrections are made to spelling or capitalization. It includes the whole record—front and back, with all its headings, insertions, endorsements, notations, etc.

By transcribing everything on a document, we don’t miss those important clues. We can have a tendency to skim over long blocks of text, or those oh-so-familiar boilerplate sections. By doing so, you could miss that slightly different instruction, or that note tucked in the middle of the text. 

Transcribing forces us to record every single word (and symbol!) and explore why it was included, or used in that fashion. Transcriptions take obscure handwriting and reveal the contents in “plain English,” making it much easier to read and to tease out the finer details needing to be clarified. It can be a challenge, don’t give up!

Sometimes, handwriting really does need letter-by-letter deciphering. Many letters can look the same; some letters may even be illegible. Some letters just need time. If they have you stuck, walk away and come back with fresh eyes – an hour later, or the next day. It is amazing how you can see it so clearly the next time. When having difficulty with a particular word, count how many letters there are. Use blanks (like in hangman) and try to figure out the word that could fit in the context of that sentence. Sometimes, it is like solving a coded message.

Don’t change any spelling, even when it varies on the same page. There was no “A” for correct spelling – they often wrote phonetically. Try speaking it out loud (and with a strong accent!). Don’t expand abbreviations, especially for names. Edd could be Edward or Edmund. Keep the original capitalizations (or lack of), and keep the punctuation exactly the same. Often personal letters are written as one long sentence!

These are just a few tips to start. You can develop your Transcription Skills – it just takes practice and patience. See the list of our core Transcription courses below.
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Check back next week for more skill-building tips.
Previous Transcription Tuesday blog post:
Transcription Tuesday
Transcription Tuesday Index
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These three core courses demonstrate Transcription principles. They are offered monthly, beginning on the first Monday of every month: Register today!
Methodology-Part 2: Organizing and Skill-Building (Basic Level)
Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting (Basic Level)
Palaeography: Reading & Understanding Historical Documents (Advanced)
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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Transcription Tuesday INDEX

As researchers, there are many skills we need to employ in order to achieve success in our research projects. One of the foundational research skills to develop at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies is Transcribing. All family history researchers, no matter what their level of expertise, should strive to acquire this core skill.

Our Transcription Tuesday Series shares guidelines and practical suggestions to help our readers to develop the necessary skills for making effective transcriptions.

The following is an INDEX of the blog posts: (BOOKMARK this page):
Transcription Tuesday – 7 September 2021
Transcription Definition – 14 September 2021
Census Names – 21 September 2021

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These three core courses demonstrate Transcription principles. They are offered monthly, beginning on the first Monday of every month:
Methodology-Part 2: Organizing and Skill-Building (Basic Level)
Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting (Basic Level)
Palaeography: Reading & Understanding Historical Documents (Advanced)
Additional Courses which are useful for Transcriptions (Check Course Calendar):
Eastern European: Languages & Alphabets
German: Reading the Records 
Italian: Language and Location
Research: Danish Ancestors
Research: U.S. Colonial New England Ancestors
Scottish: Special Aspects of Scottish Research
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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Virtual Meetings September 2021

Have any questions about your National Institute courses or research? Attend an applicable virtual meeting for answers. Virtual Meetings provide a way to communicate with an instructor and your fellow students. They are NOT mandatory, but a fun and interactive way to connect.

Below are the scheduled sessions for the month of September 2021.

TO JOIN A VIRTUAL MEETING, see the Adobe Connect instructions available on our website (www.genealogicalstudies.com; in the top menu > Information > Virtual Learning Room). Please obtain the INSTRUCTIONS document in PDF format near the top right of our Virtual Learning Room page. You may need to scroll to the right to see INSTRUCTIONS. The file also includes Troubleshooting information.
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***CHECK SCHEDULED TIME IN YOUR TIME ZONE***
Go to www.genealogicalstudies.com
In top menu bar, select Information.
In the dropdown menu, select Virtual Learning Room.
Click the virtual meeting name in list (a new window will open).
Click on Check Time to see the time in your local time zone.
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Canadian Records courses with Cheryl Levy
Thursday, September 16th at 7:30 PM Eastern 
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/canadian/

American Records courses with Gena Philibert-Ortega
Friday, September 17th at 11 AM Eastern 
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/american/

Analysis & Skills Mentoring Program – GENERAL DISCUSSION with Gena Philibert-Ortega
This Virtual Meeting is more appropriate for students registered in these courses. The instructor will be available to provide guidance and answer questions regarding any aspect of the courses.
Friday, September 17th at 1 PM Eastern 
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/asgeneral/

DNA courses with Shannon Combs-Bennett
This is for students interested in using DNA testing results in conjunction with their genealogy research.
Sunday, September 19th at 4 PM Eastern 
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/dna/

Internet Tools with Gena Philibert-Ortega
Sunday, September 19th at 7:30 PM Eastern
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/internettools/

Methodology courses with Gena Philibert-Ortega
Sunday, September 19th at 8:30 PM Eastern
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/methodology/

STUDENT LOUNGE is open!
Pop into the Student Lounge for a genealogy coffee break with your fellow students.
Tuesday, September 21st at 3 PM Eastern       
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/lounge/

Analysis & Skills Mentoring Program-Part 1 – ARTICLE REVIEW with Gena Philibert-Ortega
This Virtual Meeting is more appropriate for students registered in this course. Please read the article “Heritage Books and Family Lore: A Jackson Test in Missouri and Idaho” by Connie Lenzen (NGSQ Vol. 86, No. 1, March, 1998). Follow the directions found in your course material.
Tuesday, September 21st at 6 PM Eastern 
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/asarticle1/

United Kingdom (English, Irish, and Scottish) Records courses with Brenda Wheeler
Sunday, September 26th at 7 PM Eastern       
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/english/

Analysis & Skills Mentoring Program-Part 3 – ARTICLE REVIEW with Brenda Wheeler
This Virtual Meeting is more appropriate for students registered in this course. Please follow the directions found in your course material and read the article “Identification through Signatures: Using Complex Direct Evidence to Sort Colwills of Cornwall” by Ronald A. Hill (NGSQ Vol. 87, No. 3, September, 1999).
Monday, September 27th at 7 PM Eastern 
LOCATION: https://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/asarticle3/
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Calendar of Virtual Meetings is at www.genealogicalstudies.com; top menu > INFORMATION > VIRTUAL LEARNING ROOM.

Send questions regarding Virtual Meetings or the schedule to degroot@genealogicalstudies.com.

Sue de Groot, PLCGS
National Institute for Genealogical Studies
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To subscribe to email updates for The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, send email to admin@genealogicalstudies.com.
—————————————————-
Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Celebrating Student Success

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies encourages family historians and researchers to expand their skills, not only for research, but in many areas. Our online courses cover a vast array of topics related to documenting our family history.

We strive to assist our students in the development of new skills, while providing the knowledge and practical application for the material covered in their selected studies. We love to celebrate the achievements of our students and share their successes.

Today, we want to share a testimonial from our student, Carol Walsh, in her own words as she shared her achievement with her fellow students:

I would like to share with you a great thing that comes from these courses. After attending the Roots Tech conference earlier this year, one of the presenters talked about writing stories to share genealogical events with our younger family members. Having completed a segment of work on my Grandfather, I did just that…started to write a book around this event. I am so excited to share that this book has been published. Thank you for all the lessons learned through my experience in this program.

This project all started from a couple of photographs, studying the elements in the photographs, investigative research, and bits of retained knowledge from family stories – put this all together. Not only does this book retain the story, but provides some insight into teamwork, dreams, boats, and dreams coming true. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the training we received through this program.

For Carol, a Dream turned into reality. It began as an Idea that became a Goal. It was then crafted into a Plan. She worked out the Process needed to accomplish her Objective – telling her grandfather’s story. She did her Research, sought out the required Knowledge, and developed the necessary Skills. She took Action, and Worked towards her goal, not giving up along the way. She overcame the Obstacles, and she achieved SUCCESS. This is the practical application of what she learned from her genealogical education. Congratulations Carol Walsh on the publication of your first book – We are proud of you!
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Jolly Boats on the River
By Carol Walsh – book published on 3 Sep 2021

Description from Amazon:
As Grandad and Lizzy are on an outing to the harbour park in Collingwood, Lizzy spots small boats on the water and pretends she is rowing along with them. She grabs her Grandad’s attention to what she is doing. He sees the boats and recalls his story about being on a rowing team in Scotland when he was a young boy. Read along to learn about jolly boats, castles, and champions.

You can find Carol’s book Jolly Boats on the River on Amazon.com; Amazon.ca; and Amazon.co.uk.

For more information about courses at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies related to writing your family history stories, check out our blog post: Writing Our Family Stories.
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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Writing Our Family Stories

Our Family History is filled with names, dates, places, and the discoveries of our families’ involvement in historical events. Most importantly, it is filled with STORIES! Stories that need to be recorded and preserved, and then shared, not only with our own family members, but also with others who may have similar connections, or just want to learn the history of their communities. Many of our stories involve the social history of our ancestors. They tell of countless everyday lives and the activities that they participated in, as they interacted within their neighbourhoods and family relationships.

We uncover mysteries and heroism, courage and perseverance, tragedies and triumphs, love and loss – stories stranger than fiction, and stories we have never heard before, because they were never passed down. These stories are the real reason we continue researching – to find the why, and the where, and the how of our ancestors’ lives. We must find…. the rest of the story! We become the caretakers of those stories, and we have a responsibility to ensure they are preserved. They are our Heritage.

At The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, it is our goal to provide genealogical-related educational materials to assist family historians and researchers to expand their skills, not only for research, but in many areas. Methodology is foundational; and knowing where to locate essential documents is absolutely vital. However, our online courses cover a vast array of other topics related to documenting our family history.

One of those areas is Writing. It is so important to not only document our findings, but we must write them out as well. Otherwise, they may be lost again to the next generation. Our family stories must be thoroughly researched, verified, drafted into sharable narratives, and then written into a final project. This can be in the form of simple ancestor profiles, detailed research reports, family history books, or a variety of other formats. The choices will be as varied as the families they represent.

Family History Projects take on new life through the creative insights of their authors. Their only limitation is the necessary skills needed to take their idea and transform it into their vision for the final product. This is where The National Institute’s courses assist them in developing these skills to achieve their goals. Listed below are some of our courses dealing with the gathering those stories and the genealogical writing skills involved to preserve them.

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The National Institute for Genealogical Studies offers 230+ online courses on a wide variety of topics, providing genealogical education for those interested in beginning to research their family history, as well as professional genealogists.

These featured courses are related to this blog post:
Demystifying Culture & Folklore
Discover Your Family History
Genealogy and Copyright Guidelines
Life of Our Ancestors
Personal Historian: Telling the Stories
Research: Social History
Skill-Building: Nuts & Bolts of Reporting Research
Writing for Genealogy: Articles, Blogs, Research Reports and so much more
Writing the Genealogist’s Memoir
Writing Your Family History Book

A new rotation of courses begins on the first Monday of every month. Check our Course Calendar to discover which courses are scheduled to begin next month. To find out when a specific course begins, check under the Register tab for that course.
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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Keeping in Touch

Do you have a question about your courses or your research? Communication is so important in genealogy in order to keep abreast of constantly evolving information. The same is true within The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. As a student of The National Institute, there are various ways you can communicate with us and your fellow students (see below).

We want all of our students to enjoy their learning experience. Please do not worry or fret over your courses by yourself. We are here to help you!

**** NOTE: Our social media accounts are NOT monitored regularly. If you need an answer quickly, please call us on the phone. We can be reached at 1-800-580-0165, ext. #1 (North America) or 1-416-861-0165. Please leave a message. If no one answers, we will call you back.

#1 By email to The National Institute
**** NOTE: When contacting us, please INCLUDE your FIRST & LAST NAME, and the full COURSE TITLE (including the COUNTRY, if it is a records course). It is also helpful if you include the module number and section that title you are referring to. ****

  1. i) admin@genealogicalstudies.com–  for general questions;
    ii) alert@genealogicalstudies.com– to advise us of broken links in your course materials and assignments — Please GIVE SPECIFIC DETAILS; i.e., provide the COURSE NAME, MODULE NUMBER, WEBSITE NAME, and URL.
    iii) exam@genealogicalstudies.com – questions pertaining to your course exam.

    #2 By email to a fellow student
    When you view a fellow student’s public assignment SUBMISSION/ANSWER, and you would like to contact them about something in their posting, simply click on the envelope icon to the right of the student’s name. A new window will open where you can type your message. For privacy reasons, you will not see the recipient’s email address. They have the option to reply or not.

    #3 Attend a Virtual Meeting
    VIRTUAL MEETINGS ARE THE BEST PLACE TO COMMUNICATE with an instructor and fellow students. Anyone can participate! You do not have to be registered in the course to attend. When attending virtual meetings, please bring questions applicable to the topic being discussed.

Watch for our emails outlining upcoming virtual meetings dates and times. Or visit our website for the full schedule.

#4 Follow The National Institute’s Blog
Scroll down. On the right-hand side of this page, you will see Subscribe to Blog via Email. In the text box, enter your email address and click on the Subscribe button. Once subscribed, you will receive an email each time we post an article. Each blog article includes a link to write a comment or share via social media. Look for these options at the end of each blog post.

#5 Follow us on Twitter
Once signed into your Twitter account, search for us on Twitter by our Twitter name @GeneaStudies. On our Twitter page, click on the Follow button to subscribe to our tweets. Not a member of Twitter? No problem, just go to Twitter and join. Membership is free.

#6 Follow The National Institute on Facebook
To follow us on Facebook you must be a member. To join, go to Facebook and sign up. Find us on Facebook and click on the Like button on the top right of our page.

#7 Follow us on Pinterest
To follow us on Pinterest, you must be a member. To join, go to Pinterest and sign up. Find us on Pinterest here. Click on the Follow button to view our various boards.

#8 Join a GenealogyWise group to communicate with your fellow students
Go to GenealogyWise and Sign Up. There are groups set up for each of The National Institute’s country streams; i.e., American, Australian, Canadian, Eastern European, English, German, Irish, Italian, and Scottish, as well as Methodology, DNA, Librarianship, Alumni, and First Timer FAQs.

#9 Follow GenealogyWise on Facebook
To follow us on Facebook, you must be a member. To join, go to Facebook and sign up. Find GenealogyWise on Facebook and click on the Like button on the top right of our page.

#10 Follow GenealogyWise on Twitter
Once signed into your Twitter account, search for GenealogyWise on Twitter by our Twitter name @GenealogyWise. On our Twitter page, click on the Follow button to subscribe to our tweets. Not a member of Twitter? No problem, just go to Twitter and join. Membership is free.

#11 Consultation with an instructor ($)
If you want to have a one-on-one consultation with an instructor, this can be arranged. Please email to request an appointment. When emailing, please provide some information as to what course, and some background details you would like to discuss so we can recommend a consultation with an appropriate instructor. The consultation with an instructor is available for a modest fee.

#12 Join your fellow students in the STUDENT LOUNGE Virtual Meeting
We have made a Virtual Meeting room available to our students once a month. Pop into the “Student Lounge” for a genealogy coffee break and talk family history with your fellow students. The time is yours to chat, ask questions, or just listen.

Watch for our emails outlining upcoming virtual meetings dates and times. Or visit our website for the full schedule.

Good luck with your studies and research!

Sincerely,
Sue de Groot, PLCGS
National Institute for Genealogical Studies
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The National Institute for Genealogical Studies – leaders in genealogy education since 1997. For more information on the over 230 courses that we offer to our students, visit our website.

To Subscribe to our email list and receive updates, send us an email.
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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION

Transcription Tuesday

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies offers 230+ online courses on a wide variety of topics, providing genealogical education for those interested in beginning to research their family history, as well as professional genealogists.

One of the foundational research skills to develop is Transcribing. For this reason, we have created a compulsory Basic Level course to equip all of our certificate students with this vital ability. However, all family history researchers, no matter what their level of expertise, should strive to acquire this core skill.

Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting
This course teaches students the transcribing, abstracting and extracting skills to enhance their genealogy research. Practicing these skills form a large part of the course work, with examples and exercises to assist the development of these skills.

We have also created an Advanced Level course to cover the broader topic of Palaeography, where the primary goal involves transcribing the unfamiliar writing in old documents into easily readable transcriptions to use in our research.

Palaeography: Reading & Understanding Historical Documents
Topics to explore include: Writing Materials, Handwriting Scripts, Roman Numerals, Currency, The Calendar, The Religious Calendar, The Church, The Manor & Social Life, Weights and Measures, Origin of Family Names, and an Introduction to Latin Terminology.

The course material includes a detailed workbook, designed to reinforce the material covered, with exercises to practise new transcription skills and gain experience with reading and interpreting a variety of types of documents.
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As researchers, we have found that there are many skills we need to employ in order to achieve success in our future research projects. Transcription Tuesday will share guidelines and practical suggestions to help our readers to develop the skills for making effective transcriptions, abstracts, and extractions.
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The courses Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting and Palaeography: Reading & Understanding Historical Documents are offered monthly, beginning on the first Monday of every month. Register today!
—————————————————-
Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

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