I have ancestors who saved everything. The Turning of Generations blog was initially created to share what I've learned while sorting through and organizing the contents of the family home. I particularly enjoy piecing stories together, starting with what was discovered at home (the exciting part), coming up with questions about the heirloom or document (usually the fun and easy part), and then researching other records to find the answers (the challenging but very rewarding part).
I have been seriously researching since the early 1990s. Early on I discovered that continuing education is critical in this field. One of the most impactful classes was Boston University's Genealogical Research Certificate Program, where I earned their certificate in the fall of 2014 (OL 16). I subsequently joined the teaching team in the summer of 2015 and am now in my ninth year on the team. I love helping students learn to be excellent genealogists!
The Board for Certification of Genealogists approved my portfolio in 2023 and granted me the Certified Genealogist(R) credential.
Genealogical Institutes are an excellent way to improve your skills in a specific topic. I have attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) annually since 2012. Since education is so important to me, I joined the SLIG committee in 2022.
In the summer of 2014, I enrolled in the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh where I was a student in the first-ever week-long course on using DNA in genealogy. Since then, I have taken numerous DNA courses. It’s a rapidly changing and essential tool in our field.
In May 2013 I graduated from the ProGen program. I highly recommend it for anyone wishing to improve the quality of their work, whether it be for themselves or to earn a living.
From 2013-2016, I was the Administrator for the Gen Proof Study Group program. It’s a group studying the book Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FNGS, FUGA. When it comes to genealogy, education never ends.
Other family history activities I enjoy include examining old family photos and accepting the challenge of finding out who the person in the unlabeled picture is. I also love researching my ancestors' old homes and properties, and when the opportunity arises, going to the location to see where they lived and get a feel for what their lives might have been like.
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Most of all, I love the stories that result from putting all of the pieces together and being able to share them so they are not lost forever.
Disclosures
The Turning of Generations is my personal blog. Any product or service that I write about or mention is one that I have paid for with my hard-earned money unless I say otherwise (see below). All opinions expressed are my own.
If I ever receive compensation or am given "freebies," it will be disclosed right here or in the related blog post.
Now that is out of the way, let's get on with what we came here for!
