The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, in partnership with University of Toronto, has offered an online course in genealogy for some time now.

Two years ago any news of a family society conducting a DNA study to prove descendency from a common ancestor was an unheard-of project. A year ago it was rare. However, if you have been reading this newsletter for a few months, you know that such projects are now becoming quite common.

The following is from Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet (Library of Congress) at http://thomas.loc.gov/. It outlines a proposed act to designate other historically and genealogically important sites in the United States.

Researchers at Brigham Young University are building a very interesting new database of molecular genealogy information. As the project leaders explain:

Molecular Genealogy links individuals together in "family trees" based on the unique identification of genetic markers.

Kyle J. Betit, a genetics and DNA expert, as well as a serious genealogist, needs your help obtaining information about how genealogy has been used in various fields.

Take a look at some cultural enclaves, where groups of immigrants from the same country clustered together and, in the process, perpetuated cultural components of their native lands.

This week I had a chance to read a brand-new book called One-Place Genealogy. The term "one-place genealogy" refers to the efforts of any person or organization that specializes in collecting all available information for one particular place, such as a town or a county.

In two columns several weeks ago, I discussed the ins and outs of using laptops for genealogical research on the road. This week I want to discuss using your laptop when traveling internationally (specifically from the United States to another country).

On September 3, 1752, the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar in England and its American colonies, by an act of Parliament. (September 3 became September 14.) The calendar change can pose problems for genealogists who don't take it into account.

One of the most interesting ways to learn successful genealogical research methods and to discover information about different record types is by analyzing case studies. In "Along Those Lines . . ." this week, I want to discuss the components of a case study, and some of the benefits we can gain from them.