Because enslaved people were treated as a species of property, the fates of these ancestors were determined in probate proceedings incident to the settlement of the estates of enslavers. This lecture will focus on the analysis of probate records to identify enslaved ancestors.
This presentation is based on “Parents for Isaac Garrett of Laurens County, South Carolina: DNA Corroborates Oral Tradition,” which won the National Genealogical Society Quarterly’s 2021 Award for Excellence. NGSQ, 108(June 2020):85-112. The lecture will focus on the decision points involved in planning DNA tests and integrating the results into the proof argument set forth in the article.
This lecture is based on an award-winning published case study that illustrates how the standards for achieving genealogical proof can be satisfied, even in the face of the research challenges presented by formerly enslaved Americans. A follow-up lecture on December 13, 2022 will focus on DNA evidence used to corroborate the results of this research in traditional documentary evidence.
This lecture is based on a case study that was the lead article in the June 2020 edition of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. The speaker will provide information needed to make sound decisions on when DNA tests can or should be used in genealogical research, and how to meet the DNA-specific genealogy standards for accuracy and completeness. The lecture will include an overview of available direct-to-consumer tests, a discussion of the elements of a targeted testing plan, and information about analyzing DNA test results.
Planning Research: The development of a sound research plan is the first step in the thorough research required by the Genealogy Proof Standard. Strengthen Your Analysis: Fundamentals of Transcribing and Abstracting The ability to craft transcriptions and abstracts is an essential skill that is needed to accurately interpret handwritten records. Meeting Standards for Narrative Genealogies, Lineages, and Pedigrees: An understanding of generally accepted formatting options is helpful in presenting information about family relationships and successive generations. An NGSQ Case Study: DNA Corroborates Oral Tradition: The case study that won the NGSQ 2020 Award for Excellence illustrated the information needed to make sound decisions on when DNA tests can or should be used in genealogical research, and how to meet DNA-specific Genealogy Standards.
This course is designed to be a skillbuilding experience that will take researchers to the next level by focusing on both methodologies and strategies for meeting the Genealogical Proof Standard when researching families that survived slavery. In-class exercises and a focus on case studies will arm students with the conceptual tools needed to overcome the challenges of researching during the antebellum period.
LaBrenda will present the following lectures: Importance of Transcribing Documents: Effective use of documents in research requires a knowledge of what it says, and transcription is a basic skill that will improve your view. Historical and Legal Background: Seeing the forest through the trees requires an understanding of what has happened, where it has happened, and why. A South Carolina Case Study, Identifying Parents of an Enslaved Ancestor: Follow this study to learn how one researcher sought to examine the evidence and choose appropriate directions to find the answer. Utility of DNA Evidence: Learn how to effectively use DNA Evidence in your research questions.
