Articles by Angela Breidenbach

Angela Breidenbach, PLCGS, is the Executive Director at the International Institute of Genealogical Studies. She's a multi-published author, speaker, and presenter. Find out more about her books at https://AngelaBreidenbach.com

The Most Interesting Course I’ve Taken :  Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing and Various Projects

The Most Interesting Course I’ve Taken :  Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing and Various Projects

  By Sandy Fackler, PLCGS. Student.   I knew little about the aspects of photography when I registered for Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing and Various Projects in December. Now, I want to recommend this course to anyone who has a collection of old or recent photographs because I believe you’ll learn at least 3 things to help you whether it is how to digitize your photos, how to identify people through facial characteristics, or how to identify when or where a photo was taken. While I’ve scanned photos before, I hate to admit I was unaware I could scan at different dots per inch (dpi) or that my scanner would do so. Now I plan to re-scan many of my old photos to see if I can improve the images. This course also provides tips on organizing photos on a computer so I will do that as I scan.   I’ve purchased a cabinet card and cartes de visite of my ancestors through eBay. The cabinet card and many of the CDVs are of a circus sideshow performer. I learned about backdrops and that they were individually hand-painted by local artists. Can I find other CDVs with the same background and learn where my CDVs were taken? If so, this might lead to identifying the name of the circus he performed with. I also have a group photo of men and women possibly taken in the 1890s-1920s. No one is identified. Using information in this course I can…

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New Eastern European Records Certificate

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies Announces a New Eastern European Records Certificate Features Courses Written by Lisa Alzo, MFA   For Immediate Release 27 February 2018 The National Institute for Genealogical Studies is proud to announce a new addition to our Certificate Programs. The Eastern European Records Certificate features courses in researching various records and repositories in Eastern Europe. Course author and genealogy professional, Lisa Alzo, MFA says of researching Eastern European ancestors, “A vast number of immigrants came to the United States and Canada from various areas in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Unfortunately, in the past, those with Eastern European roots have been reticent to begin research on their immigrant ancestors due to perceived barriers of language, geography, and difficulty with accessing and understanding the records. With the popularity of DNA testing, more people are discovering they have Eastern European ancestry and have a desire to know more. As more records become accessible with each passing year, it has never been easier to consolidate known facts with newly discovered information.” Courses in this new certificate program include: Eastern European: Locating Places in Eastern Europe Eastern European: Understanding Migration Patterns Eastern European: The Languages and Alphabets Eastern European: Chronological Considerations: The Austro-Hungarian Empire Eastern European: Civil Registration Records Eastern European: Church Records Eastern European: Other Records (Tax, Military, Land, Census) Eastern European: Record Repositories Eastern European: Onsite Research in the Ancestral Homeland Eastern European: Problem Solving Other courses offered include research, records,…

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New Course: Genealogy Ethical Guidelines & Standards

We have just released a new course that is applicable to all genealogists, Genealogy Ethical Guidelines & Standards. Whether you are a hobby genealogist, society member, serious researcher, or a professional genealogist, ethics affect your work. Adherence to ethical standards as they apply to your research and your interactions with others should be of concern to all researchers. Genealogists are faced with diverse ethical decisions in their research including black sheep ancestors, adoption, non-paternal events, and revealing family secrets. This course begins by looking at what is ethics in genealogy, the history of genealogical ethics and then continues by exploring ethical considerations when sharing your genealogy online and in print, DNA testing, and while visiting libraries and archives. Ethical standards for professionals are also  explored including interacting with clients and the public. Register for this course by visiting our website.

Happy Holidays! Our Gift to You!

We have a gift for you. For one day only (24 hours) you can save:  25% off 1 course package (maximum savings $862.50) with  code: p2017xx at checkout. Or 50% off 1 course (maximum savings $80.00) with code: c2017xx at checkout. Problems registering for a course or a course package? We’re here to help!  Give us a call at   1-800-580-0165 ext 1 or email us at admin@genealogicalstudies.com (Any voice mail or email received from midnight to midnight will qualify for the discount.) Please note: Once you register and pay for the course, it will show up in the future course area of your student briefcase immediately after the payment is processed. The same is true for the course package. If they do not show up, please call or email us right away. If finances are a little tight, call Louise at the number above and ask her about The National Institute payment plan. The Institute does not charge interest, nor service fees, and you can spread the payments over several months. Remember! This offer is for 24 hours only. Happy Holidays!