Help for the Absolute Genealogy Beginner

The paragraph introduces Aaron Schertz, the marketing manager at Ritz Tech, who is excited to present James L Tanner. Aaron shares his personal connection to James as his third cousin, discovered through the Ritz Tech app. James is introduced as an accomplished individual with a diverse background, including a bachelor's degree in Spanish, a master's in linguistics, and a law degree. He has a rich history in genealogical research, having worked as an intelligence analyst, a trial attorney, and a blogger. James's extensive experience in genealogy includes a decade at the Mesa FS family search library and his current role at the BYU Library Family History Center. He is also involved in various committees and presents at expos and conferences globally.

This paragraph delves into the definition and significance of genealogy. James explains that genealogy is the study of family history and relationships, using historical records, oral interviews, and genetic analysis. He emphasizes the importance of understanding that genealogy is about one's family and their influence on one's life. James also shares his personal motivation for pursuing genealogy, which is the challenge it presents. He highlights the importance of starting with what one knows and systematically exploring what one does not, using DNA tests and online family trees as tools to connect with relatives and learn more about one's heritage.

The focus of this paragraph is on the importance of talking to relatives as a starting point in genealogical research. James encourages viewers to take advantage of speaking with family members while they can, as regret over missed opportunities is common in genealogy. He suggests using family search websites to identify and connect with relatives. James also discusses the process of starting genealogical research, emphasizing the need to know one's relatives and the order in which to approach research and communication. He mentions the role of familysearch.org and its features in helping to identify and contact relatives.

In this paragraph, James stresses the importance of learning how to conduct genealogical research properly. He shares his early experiences in genealogy and the realization that there were conferences and communities of people interested in the field. James talks about the vast resources available on the internet that can help accelerate the learning process in genealogy. He also discusses the importance of understanding the concept of genealogy being source-supported and based on historical records. James encourages viewers to learn how to find and use records to build their family tree accurately.

James discusses the process of researching records in various countries and the availability of resources to learn about global genealogical research. He mentions the Family History Guide and its connection to familysearch.org as a comprehensive learning tool. James explains that the guide offers a structured and sequenced approach to learning genealogy, complete with resources such as videos, articles, and links. He emphasizes that these resources are free and can significantly aid in understanding how to conduct genealogical research effectively.

This paragraph centers on the concept of using historical records and the importance of location in genealogical research. James explains that historical records are created at or near the time of an event in an ancestor's life, often by witnesses or officials. He stresses the importance of knowing the location of these events to find the relevant records. James also discusses the challenges of reading old handwriting and different languages in historical records. He provides an example of church records and the importance of understanding the context in which they were created. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of preserving and sharing the records one finds to aid in the collective understanding of family history.

In the final paragraph, James addresses a question about researching information on old properties such as houses or barns. He advises that the records are typically found at the county level and suggests checking online as many counties have digitized their deed records. James also mentions that while it might be difficult to find the exact construction date of very old buildings, various methods can be employed to discover this information, including legal descriptions or historical journals. He concludes the session by encouraging viewers to continue asking questions and to register for future events where he will be presenting.