Brick Wall Ancestors Need a Search Party

The speaker begins by expressing their intent to learn more about their great-great-grandmother, Jane Hansen, born in 1887. They recount their overwhelming experience with genealogical research, touching on various records such as census and passenger logs. The speaker then introduces the 'Search Party Method,' a strategy comprising five steps: Spotlight, Clues, Sift, Map, and Dig. Spotlight involves formulating a clear research goal focusing on a person, their time, and place. The method is aimed at providing a structured approach to genealogical research, ensuring that one does not miss any potential leads or records.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a specific 'Spotlight' question to guide the research, such as finding the mother of a person named Olivia. They also stress the need to gather all available clues about the person of interest, which could be birth certificates, census records, or even family anecdotes. The process involves organizing these clues, possibly in a notebook or spreadsheet, for easy access during research. The speaker also illustrates the importance of estimating time and place when exact details are unknown.

The speaker moves on to the 'Sift' step, which involves meticulously examining the gathered clues to extract every detail that could be relevant to the research question. They highlight the importance of transcribing documents to ensure that nothing is overlooked. The clues are then organized into a timeline to identify gaps in the person's life history that may lead to new avenues of research. The speaker also discusses the value of different types of clues based on their source and the context in which they were created.

In the 'Map' step, the speaker discusses creating a plan to find more clues by identifying what records exist and where they can be found. They demonstrate how to use a timeline to recognize gaps in the historical records and suggest types of records that might fill these gaps, such as land records, city directories, and newspapers. The speaker also recommends using the FamilySearch Wiki to discover what records are available for a particular location and time period.

The 'Dig' step is about searching for the identified records, both online and offline. The speaker warns against the common pitfall of getting lost in the research process, or 'going down rabbit holes,' and emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the goal. They also mention the use of wildcard searching to account for variations in names and the importance of learning how to search effectively on different genealogical websites.

The speaker suggests that DNA testing can be a powerful tool in genealogical research, especially when traditional records are insufficient or inconclusive. They discuss the process of target testing, where specific individuals are asked to take a DNA test to confirm or refute a hypothesis about familial relationships. The speaker also provides guidance on how to approach someone with a request to take a DNA test and the importance of providing both inspiration and information to encourage participation.

The speaker highlights the value of engaging with the genealogical community, such as local historical societies and librarians, to access records that may not be available online. They also emphasize the importance of formulating clear and specific research questions, or 'Spotlight' questions, to guide the research process effectively. The speaker encourages attendees to ask questions and offers resources, such as a worksheet, to help apply the Search Party Method to their own research.