Advanced Methodology

This course examines the specific needs of the potential or current researcher-for-hire, touching on a variety of topics including: experience and education; a review of research standards; peer-body certification or accreditation; business planning and office organization; the kinds of services to offer; setting fees; and promotion and marketing ideas to heighten your profile. We also take an in-depth look at client management, from the first contact through to professional report writing. A number of genealogy-related options are described for additional income-earning. With a business in place and with knowledge of acceptable standards, the professional genealogist assumes ethical responsibilities to self, clients, colleagues and the public at large. The professional needs a solid knowledge of ethical practice in case difficult personal or moral issues arise. We outline these standards in Module 6 and suggest that you keep them nearby for review from time to time.

Professional standards and many of these professional practices are equally applicable to the serious family historian who wishes to construct proof arguments, write articles or compile a worthy family history. It would be prudent to remember that the five previous Methodology courses all contain valuable information and materials in terms of research standards, planning and procedures. They address evaluation of sources, analysis of information, synthesis of evidence, citations, the usage of charts and much more, which are not repeated here.

A number of topics linked to palaeography are covered to ensure participants have sufficient background to tackle unfamiliar documents that span the past five hundred years. The primary goal involves transcribing the unfamiliar writing in old documents to the modern-day hand. A secondary objective is to provide the student with a feeling of success and achievement when new skills are learned. As Britain had a major influence on the cosmopolitan development of North America, examples will be taken from British and Canadian resources. Canadian resources will focus on The Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, which are British in origin, and are now held at the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives in Winnipeg. These materials reflect the profound influence of British language, culture and economics on the development of North America. There are many issues related to transcribing old documents that necessitate an introduction to the following topics:

• Writing Materials
  
• Palaeography
  
• Roman Numerals
  
• Currency
  
• The Calendar
  
• The Religious Calendar
  
• Weights and Measures
  
• Origin of Family Names
  
• Social Structure in Britain
  
• Occupations
  
• Introduction to Latin Terminology
  
• Bibliography
  

Examples will be given in this text of the information booklet, but in order to achieve success and practise the new skills it is necessary to follow the prepared activities in the workbook. Answers will be found at the back of the workbook under each section heading. To gain experience with reading and interpreting documents, the workbook has been designed to reinforce topics discussed in the main text. As the student progresses through a new section continual practise is available using Review Exercises in the Workbook. Mastery develops with review and reinforcement.

Weekly activities may appear lighter at the beginning of the course. As the student gains experience more tasks will be added, as review is not anticipated to be quite as time consuming as developing new skills.

As genealogists, we must be very careful how we use information or documents we find during our research. The use of certain documents or the publication of information may be restricted in some way. There are many laws―federal, provincial, state and local―that affect the manner in which we can use the information of interest to genealogists. This course covers the area of law which has the most direct impact on genealogical research, copyright law. This law affects the way that you can use copies of others work, and ways that you can protect your own work.

This course is based on the laws of the United States. For those students in other countries, although some of the information will not be applicable in your country, we feel that the concepts of copyright in most countries are the same or very similar, but naturally the time requirements may slightly differ. Therefore, please check the copyright laws in your own country to see the limitations that may be imposed upon you.

This course (formerly titled Genetics and Genealogy) is designed to introduce the genealogist to a different way of seeing family tree research — as a source of genetic information. It can be fun to track that characteristic chin through the family, or even lifesaving to document ancestors and cousins with diabetes or cancer. The course will cover a bit on traits (i.e. genes), pedigree drawing and describing relationships, recognizing simple hereditary patterns and the reason they occur, basic rules for ethically assembling a medical pedigree, and common sources used to uncover physical traits. Upon completing the course, the student should be able to gather and evaluate basic genealogical sources, have some knowledge of what traits are and how they are inherited, and draw a simple medical pedigree to show a physician.

Note: This course gives the student some basic exposure to the subject. It is not sufficient for in-depth interpretation of pedigrees or for the professional researcher who wishes to offer genetics as an area of their professional genealogical specialties.

This course is based on the assumption that you are knowledgeable in the basic methods of genealogical research but have no background in biological science. It is recommended that those considering this course feel comfortable with all materials covered in our Methodology Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 courses. There is much information to be compressed into a short period, and basic research methodology will not be included. To get the most out of this course, do not spend time trying to memorize disease names and their descriptions unless it is for your own interest. You will not be tested on this information. It is more important to understand the concepts that are covered.

The Analysis and Skills Mentoring Program-Part 3 is designed to prepare you for the challenges and high standards required of a professional genealogist. The term “professional” includes the serious-minded genealogist who wants to achieve a professional standard of excellence in the quality of their family’s genealogy as well as those in the profession. This course is a continuation of problem-solving skills discussed in Part 2. All those interested in fine-tuning their abilities will benefit from this in depth study. Constructing a proof argument and participating in a group discussion of a scholarly article are integral to the program. The reading materials covered in the previous courses, Parts 1 & 2, will be referenced as well as some new information.

During this course, you’ll schedule two appointments at appropriate intervals for the purpose of discussing specific assignments. Any questions or concerns you have can be reviewed at that time with your consulting instructor.

This is a 26-week course with 48 expected contact hours. You have up to six months from the start date to complete and submit the assignments and the two private consultations. Make every effort to plan your time wisely to complete the course’s required reading, assignments, Virtual Meetings, and consultations with an instructor once you’ve scheduled your course start date. The Course Study Plan will help you stay on track to complete the course in the allotted time. Avoid procrastination!