We have added our 2025 schedule for the NGSQ, Mastering Genealogical Proof, and Mastering Genealogical Documentation study groups.

We still have some seats remaining in some of the NGSQ sessions. The registration will open soon for the MGP session starting in February.

We also have a new study group coming soon… more details as the group is finalized, so stay tuned for that!

A few thoughts on the NGSQ study groups

I will be heading into my sixth year running these groups. I have learned so much just by being the discussion moderator, but also, I am a student along with everyone else. We all read an article that none of us have (likely) read before. A few things I’ve learned by being a student:

• I learn about how other people think. Others’ approaches to similar problems of my own give me new insights on how to tackle those problems. What sources are they consulting? How much research are they doing to solve their problem?
• I learn how other people present evidence. Studying the charts and tables alone gives me ideas on how to visually present the evidence I have found in a way to enhance my narrative.
• I learn how other people cite their sources. Of course, each journal has an in-house citation style, but beyond that, I learn about which sources authors use and how they cite them, specifically, what is important to include in that citation.
• I learn how other people resolve conflicting evidence. When you come across sources that are not in agreement, how do you write about that? How to you explain the conflict or present evidence that shows why one side of the conflict is the most likely or “right” side? Reading how others do that helps me learn how to do that for myself.
• I learn how other people write about certain topics or methodologies. When I read articles that are about disambiguating men of the same name, for example, or how authors write about DNA evidence, I learn about how I can write about similar situations in my own work.

Basically, you learn how to “do” the Genealogical Proof Standard by studying NGSQ articles.

1. Reasonably Exhaustive Research
2. Analysis and Correlation of Evidence
3. Full Source Citations
4. Resolution of Conflicts
5. Written Conclusion

We hope you will join us for the learning that doesn’t end, is varied, and new each month!

Full details about our NGSQ study groups can be found here.