(All quotes are cited from pages linked from the AncestryDNA Regions and Journeys FAQ page) AncestryDNA recently made an update to its algorithm for determining ethnicity estimates. According to its website, AncestryDNA “calculates your ancestral regions by comparing your DNA to a reference panel made up of DNA samples from more than 185,000 people representingContinueContinue reading “How to Navigate the 2025 AncestryDNA Update”
Tag Archives: family history
Exploring the History of Veterans Day and How It Can Inspire Your Genealogy Journey
I want to share with you what I learned about Veterans Day, including its history, how it is different than Memorial Day, and how reflecting on our veterans’ experiences may inspire your genealogy research process.
Digging for Roots: Who Was Marcus Garvey, and Why Was He Pardoned?
Former President of the United States of America Joe Biden pardoned Marcus Garvey, Jr. before vacating the White House on January 20, 2025. Who was Marcus Garvey, and why did he need to be pardoned?
7 Items on My Genealogy To Do List for 2025
Roadtrip! There is only so much you can do online, and it’s really time for me to get my hands dirty, up close and personally, in the courthouses, cemeteries, and churches again. I would like to visit Austin, Texas; Homer, Louisiana; multiple parishes in southwest Louisiana; and Kanawha County, West Virginia. I would also like toContinueContinue reading “7 Items on My Genealogy To Do List for 2025”
Tips for Tackling Adoption Research
As long as I have been doing genealogy, I never really delved deeply into adoption research. I have had good reason to do it – I have adopted siblings, and a few of my DNA matches have been adopted or otherwise disconnected from their biological parents. Yet, I have been reluctant to go beyond the basics. It isContinueContinue reading “Tips for Tackling Adoption Research”
Genealogy by City Directories Explained
Many of you know that when you use certain online databases, you are given hints about other records that feature your ancestor or research subject. I’m embarrassed to say that I generally ignored the city directory hints in favor of, say, census or military records. Now, using a city’s directory as a resource seems like a noContinueContinue reading “Genealogy by City Directories Explained”
A Reflection on the God of DNA
Seemingly simple, infinitesimally small, but grand and powerful…It is a miniature material used in the construction of a human being, much like a ladder is used in the construction of certain building project, except it is curved and twisted with a name that few people can pronounce or spell – deoxyribonucleic acid. Its two sideContinueContinue reading “A Reflection on the God of DNA”
Book Review…The Acadian Diaspora: An Eighteenth-Century History by Christopher Dodson
Many authors have attempted to explain the history of the Acadians, but I didn’t become interested in learning about it until a few years ago. I tried to tackle one book, but the writing style and presentation of the information made it difficult for me to get immersed in it. Then, in 2019 I beganContinueContinue reading “Book Review…The Acadian Diaspora: An Eighteenth-Century History by Christopher Dodson”
Processing Unexpected Genealogy Research Findings
Referencing an article I wrote describing the emotional impact of non-paternity events (NPEs), one reader commented that learning unsavory information during the process of genealogy research “can become a huge burden to carry alone or create family turmoil if revealed”. The decision of what to do – i.e., “share it, bury it, ignore it” – isContinueContinue reading “Processing Unexpected Genealogy Research Findings”
Atomic Habits and Goals: Becoming a Certified Genealogist in 2024
I finished reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits earlier this month. I had heard about this book for years but was late to jump on the train. I’m glad I finally did, though, because it is helping me to change my life. The big takeaways that I noted were: 1) I should focus more on shaping identity than on goal-setting;ContinueContinue reading “Atomic Habits and Goals: Becoming a Certified Genealogist in 2024”
The Genealogy Griot 