Seminar with Judy Russell: the Legal Genealogist

The Law, GPS Evidence, and DNA Ethics

Saturday, November 2, 2019,  9 am - 3 pm. Doors open at 8 am.

Menlo Park LDS Church - 1105 Valparaiso, Menlo Park

REGISTRATION 

 PLEASE REGISTER EARLY, THIS EVENT MAY SELL OUT. 

Join us for a day of gaining insight about genealogy, more than you may have thought.

Judy Russell is a genealogist with a law degree and is one of the best thinkers and lecturers in the field. Her talks are delivered with good humor, perception, and thoughtful connections. She will address law in our ancestors' time, conducting solid research, and ethics surrounding today's DNA testing.

Topics:

• Finding the Law
• The Law and Reasonably Exhaustive (Re)Search
• DNA and the Golden Rule: The Law and Ethics of Genetic Genealogy
• No Vitals? No Problem! Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence

             Schedule             

•  8:00 – 9:00       REGISTRATION & Time to Browse our Silent Auction Items & Book Sales
•  9:00 – 9:15      INTRODUCTIONS
•  9:15 – 10:15    LECTURE ONE - Finding the Law - Time and time again, we’re told as genealogists that we need to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need?
• 10:15- 10:45 BREAK
• 10:45 – 11:45   LECTURE TWO The Law and Reasonable Exhaustive (Re)Search They’re the building blocks of any genealogy: wills, deeds, vital records. Once we've gathered records from all areas where our ancestors lived, we tick off that GPS—what once was called the “reasonably exhaustive search.” We have, we believed, examined “a wide range of high-quality sources” and therefore minimized “the probability that undiscovered evidence will overturn a too-hasty conclusion.” Or have we?
•  11:45 – 12:45   LUNCH   Time to check out the Silent Auction Items, Book Sales and the Family History Center
•  12:45 – 1:45   LECTURE THREE  DNA and the Golden Rule: The Law and Ethics of Genetic Genealogy Whose permission is needed to test a child or an adult unable to consent? Who owns our DNA? What can we disclose about a cousin who has tested? The rules of the road for the ethical challenges facing genealogists interested in using DNA evidence as part of their family history research. Learn how applying the Golden Rule can guide us through many if not most of the situations in which we as genetic genealogists find ourselves.
•  1:45 – 2:00  BREAK
•  2:00 – 3:00   LECTURE FOUR No Vitals? No Problem! – Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence - A Family for Isabella When there’s no birth, marriage or death record, what’s a genealogist to do? Learn how to use circumstantial evidence to build a family. This case study involves tracing a woman married before the 1850 census.

 The Legal Genealogist, Judy G. Russell CG®, CGL℠, writes and lectures on topics ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. On the faculty of numerous genealogy institutes, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer. Her award-winning blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com/

Barry's Bits and Upcoming Events

San Francisco Examiner

                       Upcoming Events                          

______________________________________

Sat, Aug 24, 2019 10:30 am–12:00 pm, Free

SMCGS Work Day: Indexing

Cañada College Library Computer Lab, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd, San Mateo.

Coordinator: Cath Madden Trindle, SMCGS Publications Chair

SMCGS members and other interested individuals are invited to join us as we begin an index to the early San Mateo County Board of Supervisor Minutes. These contain references to early settlers. No experience is necessary. If you can read and write your skill will be of use. Digital images will be available on lab computers.

______________________________________________________________________

Sat, Sep 28, 2019 10:30 am–12:00 pm, Free

What You Don’t Know About Ancestry.com

Grace Lutheran Church, 2825 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, entrance in back.

 Crista Cowan, The Barefoot Genealogist, Ancestry.com

Many of us are not aware of everything there is to know about Ancestry.com. Come along and learn as Crista shares her deep and wide knowledge of Ancestry.com to open up new avenues of

research for all of us. Crista Cowan has been employed by Ancestry.com since 2004; her involvement in family history,

however, reaches back to childhood. A professional genealogist, Crista has spent thousands of hours discovering, documenting and telling family stories.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Sat, Oct 19, 2019 – Researching Ancestors in Historical Events: A Salem Witch Trials Case Study

10:30 am–12:00 pm, Free. Grace Lutheran Church, 2825 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, entrance in back.

Presenter: Melinda Kashuba

If your ancestor participated in or lived near the area of a major historical event, this talk will help you discover how to draw upon narratives penned by historians and other researchers to fill in your ancestor’s story. A case study on the Salem Witch Trials will highlight techniques that you can use for events in which your ancestor was involved.

Melinda Kashuba holds a PhD in geography from UCLA and is a popular lecturer on many topics including American research and maps. 

______________________________________________________________________

Sat, Nov 2, 2019 – FALL SEMINAR 

The Law, GPS Evidence, and DNA Ethics

9 am–3 pm. Members $50, Non-members $60. After Oct 25 & Walk-ins, add $10. LDS Hall, 1105 Valparaiso, Menlo Park

Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist

Join us for a day of gaining insight about genealogy, more than you may have thought. Judy Russell is a genealogist with a law degree and one of the best thinkers and lecturers in the field. Her talks are delivered with good humor, perception, and thoughtful connections. She will address law in our ancestors’ time, conducting solid research, and ethics surrounding today’s DNA testing.

REGISTRATION OPENS THURSDAY, AUGUST 15. Please register early, this event may sell out.

Everyone is welcome at SMCGS events. www.smcgs.org

Barry's Bits and Upcoming Events

                       Upcoming Events                         

Sat, Jul 27, 2019 10:30 am–12:00 pm, Free. 
Round Table Discussions
Grace Lutheran Church, 2825 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, entrance in back.

The SMCGS Round Table meeting is for attendees to share on research or projects they have done on the three topics. Sharing and questions are encouraged! Attendees can “hop” from table to table to participate in more than one Round Table. 

• Family History Examples: Share a project that you have done, e.g. a family tree, an album, a blog.
• DNA Testing: Share about tests you have taken, unexpected results, connections with relatives, etc.
• Brick Walls: Share about a brick wall you have, or that you broke through. 

______________________________________________________________________

Sat, Aug 24, 2019 10:30 am–12:00 pm, Free
SMCGS Work Day: Indexing
Cañada College Library Computer Lab, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd, San Mateo.
Coordinator: Cath Madden Trindle, SMCGS Publications Chair

SMCGS members and other interested individuals are invited to join us as we begin an index to the early San Mateo County Board of Supervisor Minutes. These contain references to early settlers. No experience is necessary. If you can read and write your skill will be of use. Digital images will be available on lab computers.

______________________________________________________________________

Sat, Sep 28, 2019 10:30 am–12:00 pm, Free
What You Don’t Know About Ancestry.com
Grace Lutheran Church, 2825 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, entrance in back.
 Crista Cowan, The Barefoot Genealogist, Ancestry.com

Many of us are not aware of everything there is to know about Ancestry.com. Come along and learn as Crista shares her deep and wide knowledge of Ancestry.com to open up new avenues of

research for all of us. Crista Cowan has been employed by Ancestry.com since 2004; her involvement in family history,

however, reaches back to childhood. A professional genealogist, Crista has spent thousands of hours discovering, documenting and telling family stories.

______________________________________________________________________

Sat, Nov 2, 2019 – FALL SEMINAR 
The Law, GPS Evidence, and DNA Ethics
9 am–3 pm. Members $50, Non-members $60. After Oct 25 & Walk-ins, add $10. LDS Hall, 1105 Valparaiso, Menlo Park
Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist

Join us for a day of gaining insight about genealogy, more than you may have thought. Judy Russell is a genealogist with a law degree and one of the best thinkers and lecturers in the field. Her talks are delivered with good humor, perception, and thoughtful connections. She will address law in our ancestors’ time, conducting solid research, and ethics surrounding today’s DNA testing.

REGISTRATION OPENS THURSDAY, AUGUST 15. Please register early, this event may sell out.
Everyone is welcome at SMCGS events. www.smcgs.org

Upcoming SMCGS Events

Spring Seminar 2018:   Forensic Genealogy plus California Research:  Missions to Present  Info and Registration click here. Early Bird registration deadline in two  weeks on April 27. See below for more seminar details. ______________________________________________________________ April Meeting: English Probate and Death Duty Records Speaker: Christine Bell Green, PLCGS Date: Saturday, April 21, 10:30 am - 12 noon 10:00 am Cookies & coffee 10:30 am - 12 noon  Announcements Sharing Stories: June Baxter will read My Roommate Location: Grace Lutheran Church, 2825 Alameda de las Pulgas, SM Entrance in back. English probate records, when available, can  be instrumental in providing primary information  about family relationships. They frequently  provide direct evidence that links adult children with their parents and/or siblings. Wills of  childless or single people are especially worth  collecting as they typically name several family  members (including nephews and nieces).   During the 19th century an additional set of  records, death duty records, which complement  probate records is extant. Death duty records are  available for both testate and intestate probate  cases. Record types and methodology will be  discussed.  Christine Bell Green has a professional learning certificate in Genealogical Studies  from the University of Toronto. She is a ProGen graduate and an alumnus of the  Salt Lake Institute, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, and the  Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh where she studied a variety of  advanced level courses. She is a past president and current seminar chair of  SMCGS and a professional researcher who teaches Genealogy in Palo Alto and  Mountain View/Los Altos Adult Schools. In her spare time she travels to visit  her living relatives. This event is free and all are welcome. ______________________________________________________________ More information on SMCGS classes and events  can be found on our website here. ______________________________________________________________ Spring Seminar 2018: Forensic Genealogy  plus  California Research: Missions to Present with  Sheila Benedict Registration is open! Saturday  ~    May 5, 2018  ~  9 am - 3 pm Early Bird Registration until Friday, April 27: $45 Members - $50 Non-members - $10 Lunch After April 27 & Walk-ins $55 Professional genealogist Sheila Benedict brings to life her in-depth forensic, historic, and family genealogical experience through examples and case studies from courthouses to California missions.  Sheila is the recipient of the National Genealogical Society Award of Merit and is the author of the NGS publication, "Research in California." Seminar talks (detail below):     - Forensic Genealogy: What it is and is not; Case Studies     - California Research: Past and Present      - California Historic Missions and their Records For more information and registration, click here. Also at the seminar: Book Sale A good selection of gently used genealogical books. If you have some books you no longer use, please consider donating them to the book sale and bringing to the February and March meetings. Silent Auction -  Some great donations from the following companies: From Ancestry.com             2 semi-annual World Explorer individual memberships to Ancestry             1 annual Fold3.com subscription             1 annual Newspapers.com Basic subscription             1 AncestryDNA kit From MyHeritage.com:               1 year subscription to My Heritage or 1 My Heritage DNA kit From FindMyPast.com:  12 month Ultimate British and Irish subscription (top level!) From GenealogyBank:                1 year subscription to GenealogyBank             1 year subscription to GenealogyBank Book: "Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave" by William L. Andrews (Editor), Regina E. Mason (Editor) Home-baked Cookies - SMCGS bakers will be mixing up their usual hard-to-resist homemade cookies and bars. To download the seminar flyer, click here.  For more information and registration, click here. We look forward to seeing you for what is going to be a fascinating seminar. Warm regards, Christine Green Seminar Chair seminars@smcgs.org www.smcgs.org Seminar topic descriptions: Introduction to Forensic genealogy: What it is and what it is not What is Forensic Genealogy? This definition is that it is genealogical research done in cases where there is legal implications, such as probates and estates, guardianships, capital mitigations, immigration and citizenships, land issues, and much more. Kinship determination through due diligent research, including DNA, courthouses and their records, and many of records that family historians used regularly, will be discussed in a totally different way.   Case Studies in Forensic Genealogical Research Discussion will include the education, training, and work experience required to work on forensic cases. Standards and ethics, genealogical proof standard. Further information about forensic genealogy will be discussed using source examples, such as DNA, courthouses, vital records, and case examples, such as adoptions, probates, trademark law, and dual citizenship. Using source materials familiar to genealogists, included will be examples of affidavits, legal briefs, and contracts.   California Research: Past and Present California is a melting pot of ethnicities, religions, lifestyles, and economics. The history includes thousands of years inhabited by native people, explorers, gold miners, religious expeditions, Spanish and Mexican rule, land grants, taxation, migration patterns, and statehood. The history and records available from the past to the present will show these diversities and offer genealogists, in and out of the state, with insight into what is available in the repositories, usual and unusual, public and private, along with the records that can be found. Highlighted events include explorations, gold rush, earthquakes, land grant system, and much more.   California Historic Missions and Their Records The historic California Missions and Presidios can be seen as a timeline of history and an invaluable part of California and national history. The records they maintained in the past, and still do, hold vital information for historians, genealogists, Catholic and non-Catholic researchers, and others. Land grants are just one layer of California history that will be explored, along with case examples of the records held, where they are located, and the important benefits to all researchers, in and out of California.