“Turning Matches Into Proof: Finding Bonnie Guynn’s Father Through DNA” — Born in 1910 and orphaned by 1918, Bonnie Bell Guynn’s origins were shrouded in mystery. Follow along as Certified Genealogist® Kristina Gow Clever uses documentary research, DNA analysis, and genealogical standards to trace Bonnie’s paternal line and reveal the identity of her biological father. Through engaging visuals and practical methodology, Kristina demonstrates how to organize matches, use tools like WATO, the Shared cM Project, and DNAGedcom, and integrate DNA results with traditional research to transform unresolved family stories into proven ancestry. Whether you’re new to DNA analysis or refining your skills, this presentation offers a clear, standards-based approach to solving complex genealogical puzzles.
“What’s in a Name? Finding Your Norwegian Ancestors” — Researching Norwegian ancestors can be challenging, but it becomes easier when you know where to look and how to think beyond the obvious. This presentation shares practical strategies and real-life case studies to help you make progress in your own research. Through these examples, you’ll discover how to extend your research beyond your direct ancestor to uncover hidden connections, how applying the Genealogy Standards broke through a 35+ year brick wall, and how a simple tool like Google Translate shed light on the Americanization of a Norwegian surname. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to tackle a long-standing puzzle, this session will give you fresh ideas and techniques to move your research forward. This presentation is sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists through Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Register here:
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/whats-in-a-name-finding-your-norwegian-ancestors.
“Beyond the Patent: Hidden Genealogical Treasures in Cash Land Entry Files” — Federal land patents are familiar to many researchers, but the underlying Cash Land Entry files are frequently overlooked. This session examines the genealogical value of these records housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and demonstrates why they deserve a place in every research plan. The presentation will explore records found within these files, including commuted homestead applications, affidavits from relatives and neighbors, naturalization papers, citizenship evidence, proofs of residence and cultivation, and correspondence with federal land offices. The session will emphasize how these records can provide evidence of family relationships, migration patterns, citizenship status, and community networks that may not appear elsewhere. Participants will leave with practical strategies for locating, requesting, analyzing, and correlating information from Cash Land Entry files to advance their research.
“When Direct Evidence Is Wrong: Identifying Arthur Egeland’s Mother” — A birth record appears to provide a straightforward answer—until it conflicts with every other piece of evidence. This session follows Arthur Egeland, a Chicago child born in 1881 whose birth registration identified his mother as Anne Hansen. Research into his family, however, revealed a different story. Using birth, baptismal, death, cemetery, census, city directory, and Norwegian records, this presentation demonstrates how conflicting direct and indirect evidence can be analyzed and reconciled. Attendees will see how records for Arthur’s siblings exposed inconsistencies in names, birth dates, and maternal surnames; how Norwegian naming traditions helped explain the reuse of a deceased child’s name; and how correlating evidence across multiple record types identified Annie Rognaldsen as Arthur’s true mother. The session emphasizes evidence evaluation, correlation, and conflict resolution within the framework of the Genealogical Proof Standard. Participants will learn practical techniques for addressing contradictory information and building sound, defensible conclusions when no single record provides the answer.
“North Dakota to Norway: Reconstructing Matthew Reynolds’ Norwegian Identity” — How do you identify the parents and birthplace of an immigrant when no record provides the answer? This session demonstrates a step-by-step approach to solving that problem through the case of Matthew Reynolds, a Norwegian immigrant who died in North Dakota in 1899. Using church registers, land patents, tax rolls, immigration records, and Norwegian parish records, attendees will see how evidence from multiple sources was correlated across time and geography. Special emphasis will be placed on FAN club research, reconstructing immigrant neighborhoods and communities, tracking migration patterns, and connecting individuals despite changing names. The presentation illustrates how indirect evidence can be combined into a documented conclusion that identifies an immigrant’s origins and family.