Green Valley Genealogical Society Workshop and Seminar
Featuring Dr. Tom Jones — February 17-18, 2012.
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, works full time as a
genealogical researcher, writer, editor, and educator. Dr. Jones has co-edited the
National Genealogical Society Quarterly since 2001. He serves the Board for
Certification of Genealogists as trustee and is a past president. He is the 2011 recipient
of the Association of Professional Genealogists' Professional Achievement Award, 2004
recipient of its Grahame T. Smallwood Jr. Award of Merit, and 1997 and 2002 winner of
the National Genealogical Society Award for Excellence for articles in the NGS
Quarterly. He has been certified since 1994.
A professor emeritus at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., he is a genealogical
educator who speaks and writes frequently on genealogical evidence, proof, and
problem solving with broad application across geographic areas, time periods, and
levels of expertise. Dr. Jones is known for meaty lectures benefiting genealogists of all
experience levels. He coordinates and teaches courses at Samford University’s
Institute on Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of
Genealogy, and teaches in Boston University’s Genealogical Certificate Program. His
research has encompassed records of every state east of the Mississippi, as well as
Iowa, Missouri, Texas, England, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Wales. He
specializes, however, in Georgia and Virginia and is most interested in solving “brickwall”
genealogical problems.
WORKSHOP – FEB. 17, 9 AM - 12 Noon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, 17699 S Camino de las Quintas, Sahuarita. Exit I-19 on Duval Mine Road; go
west to La Canada turn right; go north 8.5 miles to W Camino Antigua; turn right; go
east to stop sign. LSD Church is to the right across Camino de las Quintas. The
workshop is for experienced genealogists only. Enrollment is limited to 30 attendees to
allow interaction with the presenter.
Workshop Topics (75 minutes each):
Correlating Sources, Information and Evidence to Solve Genealogical Problems.
Analysis and interpretation principles applicable to any kind of genealogical source;
working with evidence from many sources; seeing patterns, parallels, and conflicts in
evidence; working with records in a series (including censuses, tax rolls, rent rolls, city
directories, communion lists, guardian and estate accounts); timelines, matrices, and
other ways of graphically arranging evidence; explaining how records correlate and
using correlation to build a convincing case.
Resolving Conflicting Evidence. Recognizing agreements and disagreements in
records; distinguishing significant evidence conflicts from the trivial; strategies for
reporting a conclusion when records disagree; evidence-based, rational, nonsubstantiation,
and other approaches to resolving conflicting evidence.
SEMINAR – Feb. 18, 9 AM – 4 PM at the Desert Hill Green Valley Recreation Center
Auditorium. 2980 S Camino del Sol, Green Valley. Exit I-19 on Continental; go west
on Continental to traffic circle; around to Camino del Sol; and south 3 miles just past the
Valley Presbyterian Church. Desert Hills R.C is on the south side of the parking area,
and the auditorium is the first door on your right.
Seminar Topics (60 minutes each):
Five Ways to Prove Who Your Ancestor Was (Some Reliable and Others Not Reliable).
Case studies will illustrate five ways – some reliable and others not – that genealogists
“prove” an ancestor's identity using information provided by others; using a single
source; following a chain of evidence; correlating evidence from multiple sources; and
weighing conflicting evidence. Attendees will learn how to use the Genealogical Proof
Standard (GPS) to identify their ancestors accurately.
Finding “Unfindable” Ancestors. The failure of common research practices to identify
ancestors does not mean they are “unfindable”. This session will describe and
demonstrate nine approaches to locating difficult-to-trace ancestors.
How to Avoid Being Duped by the Internet. The Internet brings increasingly bountiful
amounts of information to genealogists’ desktops – some valid, some erroneous, and
much of unknown accuracy. Attendees will learn practical strategies for discriminating
between correct and misleading information. They also will learn how online
genealogical information – even if its accuracy is unknown – can lead to valid
conclusions about ancestors.
Solving the Mystery of the Disappearing Ancestor. Genealogists may be frustrated by
not finding ancestors in the records and places where they logically expect them to be.
This presentation will explain seven reasons why such ancestors seem to have
disappeared, provide examples of each from actual case studies, and suggest
strategies to help attendees find their elusive ancestors.
Registration can be found at
Green Valley Workshop and Seminar information
Registration is now open for the Green Valley Genealogical Society annual seminar and workshop. Both are featuring D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS.
