The following is a press release written by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:

Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen J. Shogan announced the appointment of Jay Trainer as Chief Operating Officer of the National Archives today, effective December 1, 2024.

Trainer has over three decades of experience at the National Archives, having most recently served as Acting Chief Operating Officer since December 2023.

"Jay's extensive experience and knowledge make him the ideal candidate to lead our operations as we navigate the opportunities and challenges of the digital age," said Shogan. "He is a strong leader who is committed to our mission of preserving, protecting, and sharing the nation's records with the American public, and I am confident that he will help us build a bright future."

Trainer has held a variety of positions at the National Archives, including Executive for Agency Services, and has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2013. He joined the agency in 1988 as a student trainee and has held management analyst, financial analyst, and leadership positions.

Trainer holds a B.A. in history from the University of Dayton and an M.A. in American history from George Mason University. 

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov.

Genetic genealogy is a technology that not only continues to grow in Colorado, but across the country. 

Investigative Genetic Genealogist Michele Kennedy, who owns the company Solved by DNA based out of Castle Rock, said since 2018, dozens of cases in Colorado have been solved with investigative genetic genealogy. And more law enforcement agencies are using it to solve crimes. 

In fact, a Colorado family finally got the closure they needed after this technology was used to help identify the alleged killer of Nancy Anderson more than 50 years after her murder.

"She would be your best friend today," said Nancy’s brother, Mike Anderson. “Nancy was the third girl, but the fourth child.”

Nancy was part of a family of 10 kids from Bay City, Michigan. Most of the family moved to Arvada, Colorado in June of 1971 to get a fresh start after their dad died, but Nancy didn’t stay in Colorado long.

“She was a little unrestful and wanted to do something adventurous,” Nancy’s sister Betty Burk said.

Her siblings said she moved to Honolulu in October of that year but came back to Arvada to visit for Christmas — a visit Betty said she will never forget.

“She acted a little strange,” Betty said. “She thought something was going to happen to her. I think Nancy was afraid of something or someone.”

Turns out, that premonition was true. 

On Jan. 7, 1972, Nancy’s roommate found her dead in their Honolulu apartment. Someone had stabbed her to death. City and County of Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Bell prosecuted the case.

“There were 63 separate and distinct injuries at least,” Bell said. 

He said investigators found three towels at the scene. A blood-stained towel near Nancy’s body had the DNA profile of an unknown man, so they kept the towels for evidence.

“By the end of 1972, their investigative leads had run dry and there was nothing further for them to investigate,” Bell said.

Fast forward a few decades, and Bell said investigators were able to test the evidence and run a DNA profile through some state and offender databases. It is technology only available now that Honolulu had developed an accredited DNA laboratory. However, initially, there were no hits. That’s where Chief Genetic Genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs CeCe Moore came in. 

Nancy’s family had reached out to her.

“When I work a case, I’m not in touch with the family, so right off the bat this made the case very special to me,” Moore said.

Bell said Honolulu police asked Moore to get involved in 2019. She came up with a new approach, analyzing the ancestry of that DNA profile.

“There was actually two places the DNA was going back to in Italy. Southern Italy, more central, then Sicily and then other trees were going back to Romania,” Moore said. “I just decided to try something new and go through the Honolulu city directory from the time Nancy was murdered and look for people who had Italian last names or Romanian last names.”

That’s how she came across the name Tudor Chirila, realizing he could be the person responsible for Nancy’s murder. 

Investigators tested the DNA of Chirila, who was living in Reno, Nevada at the time, and were able to compare his profile to the DNA found on that bloody towel years earlier. 

It matched.

“The Honolulu prosecutor’s office secured an indictment against Mr. Chirila in late September of 2022 and sought to extradite him to Honolulu,” Bell stated.

There is more to this story at: https://tinyurl.com/m2mc36py.

The following article was first published at: https://www.londondaily.news/for-rewarding-work-think-probate-research/

There are many ways to carve out a career in the legal sector, but one of the most rewarding is in probate research. Probate Researchers combine knowledge of the process involved when a deceased person leaves assets to be distributed (such as bank accounts, real estate, and financial investments) and research, predominantly the practise of genealogy but also with a heavy side of investigation, sleuthing and occasional potluck.

Paralegals

Probate Researchers are all technically paralegals, due to the legal nature of their job, but while there are no specific qualifications or experience required to work in this field, success in this profession hinges on an individual’s tenacity, curiosity, professionalism and passion. While certain degrees in areas such as law, history, or genealogy can be advantageous, Finders International—the largest probate research firm in the UK—has always stressed the value of hands-on training.

This emphasis on growth and practical knowledge mirrors the approach taken by paralegals in the legal field, which is why Finders International counts numerous NALP (National Association of Licensed Paralegals) members among its ranks, overseeing thousands of cases each year and facilitating the distribution of millions in unclaimed funds to rightful heirs. Finders International’s dedication to maintaining high standards in an unregulated industry is underscored by the NALP Code of Conduct and Ethics, as well as their own Code of Conduct and the one set forth by the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers (IAPPR).

Team effort

At Finders International, our research teams (Private Client, Public Sector, Public Domain) engage in regular discussions with clients, focusing on estates where beneficiaries are missing and unaware of their potential windfall. These beneficiaries could potentially inherit anything from a specific item of value (such as “my finest crockery” or £200) to substantial sums ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds.

Solving a probate case requires a collaborative effort. Once the probate researcher receives the initial correspondence, a series of actions are initiated, including providing a quote, conducting thorough family research, reaching out to potential heirs, and utilising our extensive network of genealogists, private investigators, and forensic probate experts, both within the UK and internationally. Sometimes the case is closed quite quickly, but others can take years – I recently settled a case which took a decade due to various uncommon factors.

Authentication

One of the major challenges we encounter is convincing hesitant members of the public that we are a reputable company and that yes, you can receive something without any upfront cost. In contrast to the typical inheritance scams, there are numerous ways to verify the legitimacy of an individual offering you inheritance, potentially from an unfamiliar deceased person. These verification methods may include: confirming the physical existence of the office, researching key staff members online, contacting the office via phone, cross-referencing company details with Companies House, VAT number, validating membership with a public body/association, and even seeking independent confirmation from a trusted lawyer (a complimentary service we provide to potential heirs).

I admit, it’s slightly easier for us since we’ve appeared on the BBC Heir Hunters TV show for five years. The show, featuring leading companies in the industry, reached over 1.2 million viewers and helped raise awareness about probate research and highlighted the millions of pounds in unclaimed money that could benefit rightful family members instead of The Crown.

Rewarding work

Speaking to bereaved family members is never easy, and never something to be taken lightly, however it is astounding to see just how many people are more than happy to open up about their family history, the dynamics within it and the collective or personal story which we all have woven into our DNA. Of course, working in the world of inheritance doesn’t come without its scandals, salacious stories, and heartbreak but that too is part of the human condition and is something we try to take in our stride alongside the family reunions, the satisfaction of tracing family in time to pay their respects at a funeral, and the cheeky comments about finally being able to retire, or buy that yacht.

Curiosity is a key attribute we seek when recruiting new team members. It motivates individuals to go the extra mile, whether it’s making additional calls, conducting thorough research, or asking crucial questions that could crack open the case. When combined with traits like tenacity, empathy, lateral thinking, and strong communication skills, it creates a promising candidate for a career in probate research. Pursuing paralegal training through NALP can further enhance these qualities and provide the necessary technical skills to kickstart your career.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Gregory is from Finders International and is a member of NALP, the National Association of Licensed Paralegals. For more information see: www.findersinternational.co.uk and https://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk

I was asked to write an "introduction to genealogy" for another web site. I thought it might be appropriate to also post it here. While most people reading this newsletter already know the information presented here, I will invite you to print it or send it via e-mail to anyone who expresses an interest in genealogy or asks why you have such an interest. Also please feel free to reprint this article in newsletters, newspaper articles or anyplace else that you feel might be appropriate. (This is a basic form of an ancestry chart and appears to be in the public domain).

Do you have a curiosity about your family tree? Many people do. Some may have their interest piqued because of an heirloom, an old picture, or perhaps an unresolved family mystery. The reasons people get hooked on genealogy are many and varied, but each person's search is unique. After all, the search for your ancestors really is a search for yourself.

If you think that family history research requires hours of rummaging through libraries, trekking through cemeteries, and writing letters to government bureaus, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Finding your family tree is simpler than what many people imagine. To be sure, you may encounter some intriguing obstacles. However, most of them can be overcome.

As with so many hobbies today, using a computer can simplify some of the tasks of searching and recording. However, a computer is not necessary. Americans have been recording their ancestry for two centuries or more without digital tools, and you can do the same. All you need is a starting point and a direction, and maybe a few tips.

In the beginning ... there's you!

Starting a family tree search is very simple: begin with what you know about yourself, and then work backwards, one generation at a time. Linking back from yourself through the generations helps to ensure that the people you research actually belong in your family tree and don't simply have the same name as one of your ancestors. The unfortunate souls who try to skip a generation may well find themselves perched in the wrong family tree.

Write down the information that you already know. A basic pedigree chart will help. You can find these at genealogy societies and at most libraries, as well as on a number of Web sites. You can find such charts at https://www.archives.gov/files/research/genealogy/charts-forms/ancestral-chart.pdf and at many other web sites. (Charts may be in color or black-and-white.)

Place yourself in the first position on the chart, and fill in the vital information: your name, the date and place of your birth, as well as the date and place of any marriages you have had. Next, move back one generation, and fill in the same information for both of your parents: name, date and place of birth, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death, if deceased. 

Continue working back even further, to grandparents and great-grandparents, if possible. Very few beginning genealogists can fill in the basic facts on even three generations, let alone four. Simply fill in what you already know, and leave the remaining facts as blank spaces. You can fill them in later as you uncover clues.

Once you exhaust your own memory, a family fact-finding expedition is a great way to gather more information. Pick the brains of your family members, especially older family members. Take along a notebook, and write down the events they remember. Ask around for photos, letters, newspaper clippings, and so on. The memorabilia you find will surprise and delight you.

So far, you've relied on people's recollections to add to your history. We all know, however, that memories are not always exact. Next, you will need to confirm the date and place of birth, date and place of marriage, name of spouse, date and place of death, names of parents and children, for as many individuals as possible. You will be surprised how easy it is to find birth certificates and marriage records, especially in the United States. Our country has a long tradition of recording and preserving these vital records.

Now you are ready to set an achievable target from the myriad facts you have accumulated. Pick an ancestor, perhaps one with a few blanks on the chart. Next, choose a question you would like to answer, such as the town where he or she was born. Then decide where you will start hunting.

A birth certificate is an obvious objective. However, you may also need to look in a wide range of places to find out more about that person's life. When the location of birth is not easily found, you can look for other records that will help identify the person's origins. Some of the places you can look are census records, military records and pensions, land records, schooling, occupation, electoral rolls, sporting clubs, newspaper reports - in fact, the list of places where you may find clues is almost endless.

Generally speaking, it's easier to search through indexes and compiled records that are available on the internet at the beginning of your family tree discovery tour. Even if you don't own a computer, many libraries today provide computers with internet access for just such purposes. One of the greatest resources available is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, usually referred to as the Mormons. This church has microfilmed millions of records from all over the world, and indexes to these microfilms are available on their Web site, www.familysearch.org. The Mormons gather records from all faiths and all ethnic groups and make these records available to everyone, regardless of religious orientation. Best of all, you can reserve and view the microfilms at a local Mormon Family History Center near where you live. The films ship straight from Salt Lake City to your local Center, where volunteers can help you with the microfilm readers. While there, you will not be given any religious materials or lectures (unless you ask). 

Wherever you turn up information about your ancestors, always check the "facts" that you find. Many times you will obtain a piece of information that later turns out to be inaccurate. Never believe anything until you can verify it! You need to treat all verbal information -- as well as most of the genealogy information on the internet -- as "clues to what might be true." Then, armed with this newly-found information, seek out an original record of the event that corroborates what you found earlier.

Once your tree starts bearing fruit, you will probably find that a computer can be a tremendous help in keeping track of all your people, events, and dates. Today's computers and software are priced to fit most any budget, and they can save weeks and even months of work. If you decide to use a computer, it's a good idea to choose a genealogy program sooner rather than later -- even if you have collected only a few family details. These programs help to organize information about individual ancestors, as well as their relationships to others in the family tree. These programs will make it much easier for you to visualize the connections between people through their capability to automatically generate charts and even point out potential discrepancies.

A search for your family tree can be one of the most fascinating and rewarding pursuits of your life. Who knows what you will find? Nobility? Heroes? Or horse thieves? Most of us can find all three in our ancestry. Who is lurking in your family tree?

This isn't a pedigree chart drawn to strict genealogical standards, but it is amusing. This is a "must have" for any genealogist who is also a Star Wars fan.

You can see the Star Wars Family Tree at http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/video/stills/star-wars/sw3-famtree.l.jpg.

An arrest has been made in a 50-year-old Wisconsin murder case thanks to genealogy researchers at a college in New Jersey.

Jon K. Miller, 84, of Owatonna, Minnesota, was arrested on Thursday and charged in the killing of the 25-year-old hitchhiker, which happened on February 15, 1974, the Dunn County Sheriffs Office of Wisconsin said. 

Research conducted by the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Rampo College of New Jersey in Mahwah helped investigators identify Miller. This is the first time that work by the college’s genetic genealogy team has led to an arrest. 

The victim, Mary K. Schlais, was hitchhiking from her home in Minneapolis to an art show in Chicago. Her body was found near the intersection of 408th Avenue and 990th Street in Spring Brook, Wisconsin, officials said.

Before last week, no suspects had been identified. 

A stocking cap was found near her body and hairs from the cap were preserved for evidence, . Years later, those hairs were used to develop a DNA profile, which researchers at the college then used to track the suspect down through potential relatives using forensic genealogy, according to the network. 

Miller is in custody in Minnesota and is awaiting extradition to Dunn County, Wisconsin.

Aintree Racecourse to host a new event on 3rd May 2025

TheFamilyHistoryShow.com is thrilled to announce the expansion of its popular genealogy event series to Liverpool. The new show will take place at the iconic Aintree Racecourse on 3rd May 2025, providing family history enthusiasts in the North West with a unique opportunity to explore their roots.

This addition to the show calendar complements the well-established events in London and the Midlands, further cementing The Family History Show's position as the UK's leading genealogy event organiser.

Key highlights of the Liverpool show will include:

• Expert speakers covering a wide range of genealogy topics

• Exhibitors showcasing the latest in family history research tools and services

• One-on-one consultations with experienced genealogists

• Networking opportunities for both novice and experienced researchers

"We're excited to bring The Family History Show to Liverpool," said Paul Bayley of TheFamilyHistoryShow.com. "The North West has a rich history and a passionate community of family researchers. This new event will provide them with fantastic access to talks, experts, and networking opportunities."

The Liverpool show joins The Family History Shows 2025 lineup of events:

• Online - 8th February 2025

• Midlands - 15th March 2025

• Liverpool - 3rd May 2025

• London - 4th October 2025

Early bird tickets for the Liverpool show are available now from TheFamilyHistoryShow.com/Liverpool.

Exhibitor spaces are limited and expected to sell quickly, so make sure you take advantage of the early bird prices for exhibitors and book your space here: TheFamilyHistoryShow.com.

For more information about The Family History Show or to book tickets, please visit TheFamilyHistoryShow.com or contact Paul at bookings@TheFamilyHistoryShow.com.

About The Family History Show
The Family History Show is the UK's leading genealogy event organiser, dedicated to helping people discover their family history. With shows in London, the Midlands, and now Liverpool, we bring together experts, exhibitors, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, resources, and passion for genealogy.

The following announcement was written by the Board for Certification of Genealogists:

FREE BCG-SPONSORED WEBINAR

“Dear Me: Writing Research Reports to Yourself”
by Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG, QG
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 2:00 p.m. (EST)

Research reports are not just for professionals, but are a great tool for anyone who wants to answer their research questions. Write a research report to yourself to organize your thoughts, analyze the evidence, document your findings, and solve your puzzles. Using an example from the Netherlands, this presentation demonstrates how you can organize a research report to spot more clues in records, discover and resolve discrepancies, and build reliable conclusions.

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG, QG is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer from the Netherlands who specializes in researching Dutch ancestors. Her Dutch Genealogy website has helped thousands of people find their ancestors. Yvette does research for clients with ancestors from the Netherlands or its former colonies, including New Netherland. She has a master’s degree in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee in Scotland and holds the Certified Genealogist® and Qualified Genealogist TM credentials. Her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly won excellence awards. Yvette lectures about research in the Netherlands, methodology, technology, and related topics.

BCG’s next free monthly webinar in conjunction with Legacy Family Tree Webinars is “Dear Me: Writing Research Reports to Yourself” by Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG, QG. This webinar airs Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST.  

When you register before November 19 with our partner Legacy Family Tree Webinars (http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=9017) you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Anyone with schedule conflicts may access the webinar at no charge for one week after the broadcast on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website.

“BCG promotes continuing education as essential for competent family history research,” said President David Ouimette, CG, CGL. “We appreciate this opportunity to provide webinars focused on standards that help genealogists and family historians build their knowledge and skills and hone their craft.”

Following the free period for this webinar, BCG receives a small commission if you view this or any BCG webinar by clicking our affiliate link: http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=2619.

To see the full list of BCG-sponsored webinars for 2024, visit the BCG blog SpringBoard at https://bcgcertification.org/bcg-2024-free-webinars.  For additional resources for genealogical education, please visit the BCG Learning Center (https://bcgcertification.org/learning).

The words Certified Genealogist and its acronym, CG, are a registered certification mark, and the designations Certified Genealogical Lecturer and its acronym, CGL, are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.

Ah, the good old days: Super-8 movies, playing music on an audio tape, TV channels with a single digit, rotary dial televisions with no remote control ("Hey Junior, will you change it to channel 5?"), 8-track cartridges, or vinyl records. How about Betamax tapes?

I was a bit surprised when I recently talked with my daughter and mentioned I would call her. I made a rotary motion with my forefinger, as if I was dialing an old-fashioned rotary dial phone. You know: the kind of phones we all had before touchtone phones became available. My daughter had no idea what I was doing.

Boy, did I feel old!

You can find a list of 100 such things that your children or grandchildren will never know about your life. I found this to be an interesting article. Strangely, it was nostalgic. You can find it athttps://tombranan.typepad.com/files/100thingkidswontknow.pdf.

Remember the "good old days" of booting your computer from a floppy disk? Or when Spam was just a meat product?

MyHeritage DNA  is now on sale for a great price at https://www.myheritage.com/dna/. What could be a more meaningful gift than the opportunity to discover more about who you are and where you belong? With the most international user base and the most comprehensive set of advanced genetic genealogy tools, MyHeritage DNA is the best DNA test for exploring global roots. It reveals your origins across 2,114 geographic regions and finds new relatives from across the globe — all with a simple swab of the cheek.