Published September 9, 2019
| 1 Comment | Leave A ReplyEarly this year, I took the opportunity to give a rundown on the institutes in the genealogy world in “Roots & Branches.”
I didn’t reveal one of my motivations for doing that: This was the first year I was attending one of those institutes.
Last month, I attended the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, held on the campus of LaRoche University north of the city.
My course for the weeklong institute was Blaine Bettinger’s “Practical Genetic Genealogy,” kind of a boot camp for me to get up to speed on the processes, vendors and tools related to the fast-growing facets of DNA and family history.
The course itself, which Bettinger coordinated and presented (along with guest lectures from three others), was exactly what I was seeking: A good comparison of the leading testing companies such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe, Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage and LivingDNA.
As far as the atmosphere, GRIP coordinators Elissa Scalise Powell and Deborah Lichtner Deal have their act together.
From the registration that began early in the year, to check-in on the first day, to orientation, snacks and a million other details—they have created a wonderful program.
Obviously others think so, because GRIP will offer 20 courses over three different weeks in 2020 at LaRoche. Four of the courses will center on DNA. For more information, the GRIP website it www.GRIPitt.org.
GRIP is one of an expanding number of education options for genealogists:
- The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed, formerly known as the National Institute on Genealogical Research) will be held July 13-17, 2020. As the name implies, its focus is federal records and the National Archives.
- Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at the University of Georgia in Athens will be held July 26-31, 2020.
- The Utah Genealogical Association sponsors the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and will held Jan. 12-17, 2020, with an offering of 15 weeklong tracks.
- There’s also a relatively new Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research, which sponsors webinar-style courses throughout the year.
While talking about genealogy education, several other programs should be noted. Brigham Young University has a major in family history that results in a four-year liberal arts degree; there is also an online program available through BYU’s Idaho campus.
Boston University offers online program and the Canada-based National Institute for Genealogical Studies offers a large number of certificate programs. The National Genealogical Society and the Family Tree University that is a product of the owners of Family Tree Magazine also offer a bunch of study-at-home online courses.
And the final kicker when I came home from GRIP? My AncestryDNA test results had arrived and I was ready to start cracking!
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For Sale
The Best of "Roots & Branches", Fifth Edition published July 2017, edited by Terri J. Bridgwater.
It contains a selection of columns from Beidler’s award-winning newspaper column (currently published in the Altoona Mirror), which is the only syndicated newspaper column on genealogy in Pennsylvania.
The book can be ordered online, or purchased directly from Jim when he speaks at a conference.
Rick
5 years ago
Well, now you’ve done it! You’ll be up late every night for months! Bleary-eyed and late with your columns! Maybe THAT’S why we haven’t seen any here at the Blog for past 4 weeks!