Did You Know??

In the genealogy world we need to communicate with each other to keep abreast of the constantly evolving research methods and resources. 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. Here are just a few: #1. By email to the National Institute When contacting us please provide your first and last name and the course title, including the country the course applies to. i) admin@genealogicalstudies.com – for general questions; ii) alert@genealogicalstudies.com – to advise us of broken links in your course materials and assignments–please be specific as to where problem is; iii) exam@genealogicalstudies.com – questions pertaining to your course exam. #2. 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. Watch for our emails outlining upcoming virtual meetings dates and times. Or visit our website at www.genealogicalstudies.com, click on Information in the top menu bar, and then Virtual Learning Room for the full schedule. #3. Follow this  Blog On the right hand side of the blog  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…

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New Course: Organizing a One-Place Study

The newest addition to our Professional Development Certificate is here! Organizing a One-Place Study begins December 7th. One-place studies are the study of the people in a community within the context of the place they live. Unlike a local history, which focuses on the past as described by residents, a one-place (or community) study uses a statistical approach and resources often used by family historians. Because a one-place study brings family and local history together, various analysis methods can be used to reconstruct the community and gain an insight into the lives of the people who have walked the streets, ploughed the fields, worked and worshipped in a place. This course will suggest ways in which this could be done. This course will examine the sources of information available to researchers, how to access them (on- and off-line) and the fascinating details which can be uncovered. Read more about Organizing a One-Place Study on our website.

Starting US Immigration and Naturalization Records

By Shannon Combs-Bennett, Student If you live in the United States it is a good chance that you or your family came here from somewhere else. People from all over the world have immigrated to the United States in its 239 year existence making us truly a nation of immigrants. However, for genealogists, learning about those brave souls who traveled here, many times under desperate circumstances, can be the bane of our existence. Why, oh why, couldn’t they just once put down the town they came from! The course I am taking now  is United States: Immigration and Naturalization Records, which hopefully will help me locate my elusive immigrant ancestry along the way. Or at least I can hope, right? Looking through the syllabus there appears to be a lot of great information covered. A weakness for me is immigration after 1870. The reason? Well, that is when the last of my and my husband’s ancestors came to the US. Due to that fact I have not invested a lot of time in learning about 20th and 21st century immigration and naturalization.  It will take all I have to pay extra attention in those instances but the knowledge will help me I am sure. While the course seems to be centered on those of European descent I am hopefull that the section which covers the US laws will still be of interest to others. I mean, everyone who wants to immigrate goes through the same process no matter if they…

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New Course- Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing & Various Projects

Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing and Various Projects is the newest course offered by The National Institute. A picture is worth a thousand words, so photographs are an integral part of telling a story. This course is designed to help students use and identify photographs to document their family history. Students are encouraged to apply the methods in this course to make the best use of their own family photos and/or those of their genealogy clients. Assignments  focus on practical applications. Students learn ways to obtain family photographs, archive them physically and digitally, determine the photographic processes used, date the photographs, and identify people and other details in the images. Although this course is part of the Professional Development Certificate program, it is suitable for students participating in the Personal Historian program or those with a general interest in family photographs. This 10 week course begins December 7th. To learn more and to register, see our website.  

Congratulations to Sue de Groot!

Congratulations to Susanna de Groot, PLCGS for 10 years with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies! Sue is familiar to almost all students as the person who replies to questions regarding courses and assignments. Sue also does the crucial behind the scenes work  before courses are available online to students. Louise St Denis says “Sue has been an invaluable asset to both our students at the National Institute and to me personally. She has been my right arm. I can rely on Sue’s attention to detail and fantastic follow-up system. Congratulations Sue on your 10th year anniversary with the team at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.” Aside from working at The National Institute, Sue is the owner of Windmill Genealogy Services, a professional genealogist, and lecturer specializing in Ontario and Netherlands research. Susanna is a graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies and has received her Professional Learning Certificate in Canadian Records. She is the instructor for Research: Dutch Ancestors in the Netherlands, as well as the Administrative Coordinator at the National Institute. Susanna has written a number of genealogical articles and is the co-author of the book Finding Your Dutch Ancestors, published by Heritage Productions. She is a Member-at-Large on the board of the Toronto Branch-Ontario Genealogical Society and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists-Ontario Chapter  and the National Genealogical Society. So if you find yourself talking to Sue, wish her a happy 10th anniversary! You can email congratulations at degroot [at] genealogicalstudies.com .