Beginning Genealogy Using Accredited Methods

For now Sundays are my day of rest but I just want to record my thoughts about the Chicago Genealogical Society's meeting yesterday afternoon.  Marsha Peterson-Maass presented a 60-minute crash course called Beginning Genealogy Using Accredited Methods.

I met Marsha Peterson-Maass and found her to be warm and lovely.  I spoke with her a bit about starting my own genealogy business and immediately she gave me a suggestions for a direction I might take. Apparently, several would-be clients that she has encountered recently have been interested in DNA testing.

Hmmm, I thought, I could use this information.  I've been wondering where to start and DNA is as good a place as any.  So... my first goal is to put together a presentation on DNA testing for genealogy, and run with that.  Wish me luck.

Simultaneously, I plan to contact not only genealogical societies in Illinois, but I'm interested in contacting the activity directors of chicagoland senior centers.  Maybe they could use a speaker. I added a link from famberry.com to my Google+ page that says "If you don't tell your story another story will be told about you."  I wonder if seniors realize that!  I'm planning on helping them tell their story.

Back to Marsha.  She teaches a beginning Genealogy Course at the Newberry Library in Chicago and her 60 minute presentation made me want to go to the whole course!  I've been doing this for years and years, and still learned something from Marsha.  She started her presentation with a personal family story that was absolutely riveting.  She included research photos and the outcome of a WWII airman whose body was lost in the Philippines.  You've got to hear that story!

The bulk of the presentation was on using accredited methods in genealogical research and Marsha went through a case study of one individual step-by-step to prove or disprove individuality.  Her explanations were spot-on and when she was done you really understood that just because you found something, doesn't mean you're done, or that you've even found the right person.  It was a great presentation and I so enjoyed meeting her.

Should you be reading this and live in the Chicago area, please consider taking Marsha Peterson-Maass' course Fundamentals of Genealogy: Basics for Everyone. Information can be found on the Newberry Library's website at http://www.newberry.org/03082014-fundamentals-genealogy-basics-everyone
The next offering of this course starts on March 8th.

You can reach Marsha Peterson-Maass through her blog at http://fundamentalsofgenealogy.blogspot.com
or her Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Marsha-Peterson-Maass-Fundamentals-Of-Genealogy/433261850098058