Generations Cafe

A look at major DNA announcements at RootsTech 2019, plus an announcement about a new way to learn genealogy.

Including:

• AncestryDNA's ThruLines
• Ancestry's MyTreeTags
• MyHeritage's "The Theory of Family Relativity"
• MyHeritage's AutoClusters

Also an announcement about my new Generations Cafe Circle membership, a new way to learn how to do genealogy. It isn't just video classes -- it's also access to me, other experts, and your fellow students. Get your questions answered.

You can find the show notes with screenshots and links at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/22.

A research framework is a way of approaching your genealogy research so that you cover the basics and you don't miss something obvious. A good framework also sparks ideas for further research and more discoveries.

In this episode, Amy shares 3 ways of creating a framework (by different aspects of the ancestor's life; by record type; and by repository). The cool thing is that these frameworks can work together!

Amy goes more in-depth into the types of places you should explore, no matter where your research takes you... and why you should look at websites for certain organizations even if you don't plan on visiting there in person.

You can find the show notes with all of the sites mentioned in this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/21

Before you mail off that DNA kit or ask someone to take a test for you, you have to consider the ethics involved. In this episode, Judy Russell shares some important things to consider:

• What is "informed consent"?
• What to do when you get a "surprising" result
• How you need to treat the person at the other end of the match

Judy also shares resources for standards in ethical genetic genealogy testing.

You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/20

Rather than muse about whether millennials care about family history or not, Amy sat down and talked with someone in that generation: her daughter, Rachel.

Rachel shared her observations on what it takes to get millennials to care about those keepsakes that we keep trying to give away.

You might just be surprised at her answer as to whether or not millennials care about family history.

If you're part of a genealogy society and you've wondered why "the younger generation" isn't joining, Rachel has some sound advice. (Actually, it's good advice for attracting new members of any age.)

You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/19

Your ancestors' finances is an often-overlooked aspect of genealogy research. However, it is a great way to understand more about them beyond the names and dates.

In this episode, Amy shares 3 sources that often have financial information. She also shows why you shouldn't assume "it was a lot of money back in the day."

Amy also shows how to convert money from your ancestors' time into today's dollars so you can compare it more accurately. You'll also learn how you can compile information to see how you ancestor stacked up financially against his neighbors.

You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/18

Identity in genealogy is more than having a name. It's understanding and identifying other aspects of a person's life.

Recognizing these additional pieces of information can make your research more accurate and give you a better understanding of your ancestor.

In this episode, Amy reviews why identity is more than a name, how it plays out in our research, and gives a real-world example on how it all fits together.

You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/17.

If you've ever thought about starting your own genealogy blog, but didn't know where to start, this is the episode for you.

Amy discusses the benefits of blogging, including how it can help your genealogy research.

A little bit of planning goes a long way toward having a successful genealogy blog. Amy will walk you through the steps including:

- defining your "why"

- finding your blog's focus

- choosing a name and URL

- planning your first posts (and what you should do if you're struggling for ideas)

Amy also shares tips from other experienced genealogy bloggers.

The show notes can be found at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/16

Organizing your genealogy can feel overwhelming. Professional organizer Janine Adams offers practical solutions for taming those piles of paper and digital files.

Janine contends that there is no single "right" way to organize your genealogy. What is right for me might not be right for you. It depends on how you approach your research and what you are able to maintain.

In this episode, we also talk about a stress-free way to transition your paper documents to digital and the role backups play in your organization system.

Don't let perfection get in the way of progress!

You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/15

Better genealogy research often comes from better research habits. In this episode, Amy shares five habits to develop to improve your genealogy research.

The show notes for this episode can be found at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/14

Black newspapers are indispensable for African-American genealogy. They also provide context for the area where your ancestor lived, regardless of their race.

In this interview, Tim Pinnick, author of Finding and Using African American Newspapers, explained how the community columns were used to market these newspapers and what a boon they are for our research.

Tim also explained how you can benefit from African American newspapers even if your family lived in a town that didn't have its own black newspaper.

In the show notes, you'll also find links to various newspaper listings.

You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/13