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Advanced Genealogical Methods
Have you ever struggled to prove that two John Smiths in different records are the same person? Do you find yourself drowning in conflicting evidence from multiple sources without knowing how to resolve the contradictions? What if you could transform from someone who simply collects names and dates into a skilled genealogist who builds rock-solid proof arguments that will stand the test of time?
A Revolutionary Approach to Family History
Welcome to “Advanced Genealogical Methods” – a foundational course for all genealogists designed to teach you how to assemble and use evidence to rediscover ancestral origins, identities, and relationships that have been forgotten over the passage of time.
This comprehensive course addresses advanced use of evidence derived from a variety of genealogical sources and explores research techniques for populations where the usual records are in short supply. You’ll learn to think about the research process conceptually and methodologically, moving beyond simple data collection to sophisticated analysis and proof development.
What Makes This Course Unique
Rather than continuing to build shaky family trees based on assumptions, you’ll master systematic approaches to genealogical proof through three essential areas:
- Evidence Analysis and Methodology: Learn to mine sources for information and transform it into evidence, correlate findings from numerous sources, and resolve conflicts between evidence items
- Advanced Research Strategies: Master techniques for overcoming record loss, tracing complex migrations, researching female ancestors, and utilizing manuscript collections, government documents, and DNA evidence
- Proof Development and Documentation: Create written proof summaries, develop credible conclusions, and produce genealogical writing that meets professional standards for present and future generations
Was your ancestor documented in records scattered across multiple jurisdictions after a courthouse fire destroyed the obvious sources? Through case studies and proven methodologies, you’ll learn to identify individuals through indirect and negative evidence, understand legal frameworks that governed our ancestors’ lives, and document extended family networks and community clusters.
You’ll become a detective of genealogical evidence, learning to ask the right research questions, write effective research plans, and bring together all available sources to build compelling proof arguments that resolve even the most challenging genealogical problems.
Meet Your Course Coordinator
Paul K. Graham, CG®, AG®, is a research manager at AncestryProGenealogists specializing in unknown parentage and complex brick-wall research. He has led research for nine episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? and won the National Genealogical Society Award for Excellence for his publications on courthouse disasters and evidence analysis.
Meet Your Expert Instructors
Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG®, CGL®, specializes in federal records at the National Archives, military records, and colonial research. She served as Executive Director of the Board for Certification of Genealogists from 2018–2024 and is co-author of the NGS Research in the States series book on Maryland.
Nicole Gilkison LaRue, CG®, AG®, is a federal government genealogist specializing in paleography, women’s research, and identity resolution challenges. She has published articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and focuses on overcoming “brick-wall” obstacles in complex genealogical problems.
Paul Woodbury, MEd, AG®, is a Research Team Manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists with a master’s degree in instructional design and educational technology. He has solved hundreds of genetic genealogy cases and specializes in advanced DNA methods and genetic networks analysis.
- Joshua Taylor serves as President of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society and holds an MLS (Archival Management) and an MA (History). He has been a featured genealogist on Who Do You Think You Are? and host of PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow, specializing in migration research and archival methodology.
Karen Stanbary, LCSW, AM, CG®, CGG®, is a BCG Trustee and chair of the DNA Committee who holds both Certified Genealogist and Certified Genetic Genealogist credentials. She received the NGSQ Award for Excellence twice (2016 and 2023) for complex case studies integrating DNA and documentary evidence.
Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG®, CGL®, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, is professor emeritus at Gallaudet University and a former BCG trustee and past president. He co-edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly for 15 years (2003–18) and specializes in genealogical writing and proof methodology.
Judy G. Russell, CG®, CGL℠, FUGA, The Legal Genealogist®, holds a law degree from Rutgers and worked as a federal prosecutor for over 20 years. She received the 2017 National Genealogical Society Quarterly Award of Excellence and specializes in the intersection of law and genealogy for complex legal problems.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Students will learn how to document their research and develop written proof summaries to reach accurate conclusions and create a credible record of their findings. This isn’t just another genealogy course—it’s your pathway to mastering the fundamental skills that separate professional genealogists from casual family historians.