All databases at Ancestry.com are not created equal…that was one of the main take-aways from Elizabeth Ernst’s thought-provoking presentation at the April FRGS meeting. The pedigree and accuracy of the source data for the databases in Ancestry can vary widely, making it crucial for a researcher to examine the source information when deciding whether and how much to rely on the returns for any given search. Elizabeth presented tips on how to evaluate Ancestry’s databases and shared her opinion about which databases can be relied upon and which databases should be taken with “a grain of salt.”
Elizabeth also discussed:
- why it’s important to have a tree on-line
- common complaints from people who do have trees on-line and how those complaints may or may not be valid
- how to maintain your desired level of privacy for your on-line tree, especially how to protect living people
- best ways to drill down into the databases to pinpoint the information you’re looking for
- how to make the best use of the “shaky leaf” hints
Details on presentations at FRGS meetings are emailed to all FRGS members as part of the meeting minutes.