52 Weeks: #1 John Bruein


52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks This is the initial post of a series of fifty-two encouraged by Amy Johnson Crow’s inspirational program of 52 ancestors in 52 weeks. I know… I’m late to the party. Everyone else is working on week 46. Hey, better late than never. I’ve been focusing…

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Living DNA – ethnicity testing


    I’ve been raised on Rabbie Burns poetry, bagpipes, kilts, Hogmanay, Irn-Bru and Celtic superstitions. Never leave by a door you didn’t come in by. Ye canna sit at a corner of a table. Bouquets are never made up of red and white flowers. This last one has caused…

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Relationship Estimates


Every story has a beginning and every journey has a first step. But right before that there is a pivotal moment. Breath is exhaled and destinies defined. That moment of breath is part of my story. It is also part of my journey into knowing from whence I came. It…

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McGuire Method – innovative organization.

mcguire chart

Simplified Visualization of DNA Data Just about a year ago at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Records (IGHR) Blaine Bettinger had a student in class who had developed a simple visualization chart to keep herself organized.  This student was Lauren McGuire. The chart is ingenious within its own simplicity…

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Genetic Genealogy Convert – True Confession


Genetic Genealogy Holdout I am a pretty good time keeper.  In fact, I pride myself on being timely. I would even say I am usually ahead of schedule. However, when it comes to genetic genealogy, I confess I am fashionably late to the party. In 2002 I tested my father…

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