Courses

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 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.

Learning About German Compiled Sources

  By Michele Simmons Lewis,CG,  student   Ready to continue your advanced German courses with The National Institute for Genealogical Studies? German: Compiled Sources is  available and I just completed it. Any genealogy class will tell you that compiled sources aren’t as good as original records and we should not use them for anything more than a clue. Though this is usually the case, it is less so when dealing with German compiled sources. The author of this course, Kory Meyerink, BS, MLS, AG, FUGA, explains the pitfalls of compiled sources but also explains why German compiled sources are more reliable than their US counterparts. I was born in Germany and I can tell you that part of the reason this is true is that Germans are a disciplined and ordered people. It is an important part of their culture. “Ordnung muss sein!” (There must be order!). They have been keeping meticulous parish and civil records for centuries. They have officially recognized lineage book collections that began publication in the mid-1800s. They have special nobility lineage books that were first published in the mid-1700s. These books are based on records that may or may not exist today. Some of these German compiled sources will be your best evidence. Researchers in Germany, though they may not source their findings the same way as what is expected here in the US, produce lineages and biographies that are normally sound and reliable. They just can’t help themselves, it is in their DNA. What…

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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!