Genealogy and DNA at Grand Marais Public Library coming Wednesday
Aug 20, 2018 10:29AM ● By EditorMedia Release from the Grand Marais Public Library - August 20, 2018
LIBRARY PROGRAM GENEAOLOGY & DNA
LIBRARY PROGRAM GENEAOLOGY & DNA
The Grand Marais Public Library has scheduled a presentation titled “What can DNA add to
your Family History?” on Wednesday, September 5, at 6:00 PM. The speaker is to be Jay
Fonkert, co-managing editor of Minnesota Genealogist, and a leading Minnesota genealogy
expert.
Inexpensive DNA tests open new windows in family history research. Researchers can learn
about their geo-ethnic heritage, find new relatives, or verify relationships established through
traditional research. This informal class will include an overview of who to test, how to choose
the right kind of DNA test, and how make sense of the test results. The presenter will compare
tests from four companies: Ancestry DNA, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage, and 23 and Me.
After a short presentation on genetic genealogy basics, there will be time for questions, answers, and discussion. This class is best suited to family history enthusiasts who are thinking about taking a DNA test or those who have taken tests, but need help interpreting their test results.
Besides his work for Minnesota Genealogist, J. H. ("Jay") Fonkert specializes in 19th-century
Midwest, English, and Scandinavian research. He has lectured a local, regional, and national
conferences in more than a dozen states and has published more than 70 research and teaching articles in major genealogy journals, including the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. He has studied at genealogical research institutes in Utah, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., including three advanced genetic genealogy courses. Jay is a director and past-president of the Minnesota Genealogical Society.