Articles by Gena Philibert-Ortega

My Favorite Course: Research: American World War II Ancestors

My Favorite Course: Research: American World War II Ancestors

It’s difficult for me to choose just one course as my favorite. I have a unique position among those who will write about their favorite courses on this blog. I was a student of The National Institute for Genealogical Studies before I started my work here. Currently, I read through the courses as they are turned in by the instructors. This allows me to see the latest courses and resources before they are added to the website. Because I am so familiar with the 200+ courses The National Institute offers, how can I choose just one? So I decided to write this post about a course that students may not be as familiar with. Research: American World War II Ancestors- Part 1 and Part 2. These courses, authored by World War II researcher and author  Jennifer Holik, provide students with a look at all facets of researching World War II and its effect on Americans, on the battlefield and the home front. The description for these two courses are: There are many records that were created during World War I that are similar in World War II. Learn what led to the start of World War II, how the U.S. became involved and the military records available. They did not all burn in the 1973 fire! This course will move from military records for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines to civilian jobs including the USO, Merchant Marines and others. You will learn how to research the service of your…

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My Favorite Course: Career Development – Choosing a Niche

By John Boeren, Student The first thing I did when I decided to become a professional genealogist, was to register for a membership of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Quickly, I found out that (ongoing) education and certification are extremely important to the (international) professional genealogy business. It worried me at first: would I be able to get some kind of degree in genealogy? In the Netherlands professional genealogy is still a rare phenomenon. Genealogy is very popular, but most people consider it a nice hobby and nothing more. The consequence of this line of thought is that we have lots of courses for beginners, but we lack education for Dutch professional genealogists. After a while I started to see the challenge. I was convinced that I wanted to take courses to improve both my research and business skills. So I searched the Internet for information on genealogical studies. I found a couple in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. After reading all the available information and reviews on these courses, I was still doubting between two. In the end I chose for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Why? Mainly, because I was very excited about the Professional Development Certificate, a rather new program that “will benefit those who wish to pursue a career in genealogy, create a genealogy business or to augment their income potential by adding niche areas to their business plan.” After a good conversation with Louise St. Denis I registered for this…

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New Course Announced: Research African American Ancestors

Researching African American  genealogy can be difficult but it is not impossible. The new National Institute for Genealogical Studies course Research: African American Ancestors focuses on three aspects of genealogical research and how these relate specifically to researching African Americans: research skill, knowledge of records, and understanding of historical context. The course is organized into reverse chronological eras, beginning with the twentieth century and moving through the late nineteenth century and Reconstruction, the Civil War era, and the antebellum (pre-Civil War) period. In each lesson, case studies and assignments demonstrate and test the skills being developed. Research: African American Ancestors written by genealogist and author Michael Hait, CG  begins on Monday, July 7th. Use coupon code Take25AA for 25% off. Hurry! Offer ends July 14th.

New Course: American World War II Ancestors – Part 1

Often in genealogical research we concentrate on researching those who lived in much earlier times. However, documenting the lives of our more recent ancestors is equally important. 2014 marks the 70th Anniversary of World War II’s D-Day. In honor of this anniversary, The National Institute for Genealogical Studies is proud to announce the latest course by author and World War II researcher Jennifer Holik, Research: American World War II Ancestors – Part 1 . Part 1 of this course begins with what led to the start of World War II, how the U.S. became involved and the military records available. Contrary to popular belief, they did not all burn in the 1973 fire! This course will move from military records for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines to civilian jobs including the USO, Merchant Marines and others. You will learn how to research the service of your military ancestors through numerous sources. Through this research you can then write the story of your ancestor’s life. Continue your journey into World War II military records in The National Institute for Genealogical Studies course,  Research: American World War II Ancestors – Part 2 course coming soon. In Research: American World War II Ancestors – Part 1, author Jennifer Holik takes family historians from research to the actual telling of their ancestor’s story. She shares, “researching the lives and writing the stories of my World War II ancestors has become a passion the last two years. Personally, most of my World War II ancestors…

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Scottish Virtual Meeting Today

Are you working on your Scottish genealogy? Join Sheena for a Virtual Meeting. Come and ask questions about our Scottish courses and your research. Thursday, May 15th at 6:00 PM EDT Sheena Tait will be hosting the Scottish Virtual Meeting. Time zones: Thursday, May 15th – 6:00 PM Eastern; 5:00 PM Central; 3:00 PM Pacific;11:00 PM in London, England; Friday, May 16th – 8:00 AM in Sydney, Australia MEETING LOCATION: http://genealogicalstudies.adobeconnect.com/scottish/ (NOTE: No user name or password required. Please type in your first and last name; then click “Enter as a Guest”.)