Ancestry Academy  > Education  >  Common Mistakes

 

In this insightful webinar, Crista Cowan, corporate genealogist at Ancestry, addresses five common mistakes made by genealogists throughout their family history research journey. Crista shares personal stories from her early experiences in genealogy, discussing the importance of source citations to avoid "Franken people" – individuals in your family tree who amalgamate multiple identities due to unsourced information. She emphasizes the significance of starting anew when acknowledging past mistakes, which she humorously terms the transition to becoming a "real genealogist." Furthermore, Crista cautions against over-reliance on family lore and encourages the verification of stories passed down through generations, highlighting myths commonly associated with genealogy research.

 

Crista offers practical advice on preventing family history errors such as maintaining the integrity of women's maiden names, recognizing name variations due to historical non-standard spelling practices, and ensuring all records are collected for each individual to substantiate your findings. Additionally, she introduces Ancestry's tools like MyTreeTags, which facilitate organization and tracking within one's tree and help to distinguish verified information from ongoing research. Towards the end of the session, Crista stresses the role of DNA as an essential record in verifying familial links and navigating genealogy's complex puzzles. This webinar is an invaluable resource for anyone eager to progress in their genealogy endeavors by learning from past missteps and embracing technological tools offered on platforms like Ancestry.

 

Chapters:

- Introduction and Personal Genealogy Journey

- Importance of Source Citations

- Addressing Common Mistakes: Franken People

- Avoiding Overreliance on Family Lore

- Name Variations and Maiden Name Integrity

- Realistic Approach to Family Lore and Myths

- Significance of Collecting All Records

- Practical Tools for Organizing Family History

- DNA as a Vital Record for Verification

 

Start your family history journey today with Ancestry and enjoy climbing your family tree!