BCG’s newsletter OnBoard is published three times a year. It is distributed free to preliminary applicants, associates, and retired associates, and is available by subscription to others. Articles include news, skillbuilding, and access to unique source types.

The following select and non-inclusive columns are protected by copyright. Individuals may download and print copies for their personal study, and educators may provide copies to their students as long as BCG, OnBoard, and the appropriate author are credited as the source of the material. Republication elsewhere is not permitted.

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Onboard contents through January 2024

The Truth About Pedigree Evaluation

Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG and the BCG DNA Committee

OnBoard  28 (September 2022): 17–18.

Portfolios in a Time of Limited Access
Scott Wilds, CG

OnBoard  26 (May 2020): 2, 9-11.

Avoiding Common Portfolio Pitfalls
Laurel T. Baty, CG

OnBoard  24 (May 2018): 9–10, 15.

Finding the Truth in the Undocumented Story
Gail Jackson Miller, CG

OnBoard  23 (September 2017): 21–22.

Genealogy Standards Prevent Bias and Presentism
Darcie Hind Posz, CG

OnBoard  23 (May 2017): 13–15.

A Look at BCG’s Evaluation System
Alison Hare, CG

OnBoard  23 (May 2017): 9–10, 15.

Genealogy Ethics and the Call for Diversity
LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG

OnBoard  23 (January 2017): 5–7.

The Role of Background Context in Document Analysis
Melinda Daffin Henningfield, CG

OnBoard  23 (January 2017): 1–2.

Standards and Forensic Genealogy
Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG

OnBoard  22 (September 2016): 17–18, 23.

Reporting Research in Progress
Michael Grant Hait Jr., CG

OnBoard  22 (May 2016): 13-14.

Planning Effective Research
Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG

OnBoard  21 (September 2015): 17-18, 23.

Anatomy of a Failure: What I Learned from My First Portfolio
Harold Henderson, CG

OnBoard  21 (May 2015): 13.

The Ethics of DNA Testing
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

OnBoard  21 (January 2015): 1-2, 7.

DNA and the Reasonably Exhaustive Search
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

OnBoard  20 (January 2014): 1–2, 7.

Evidence Correlation
Stefani Evans, CG

OnBoard  18 (September 2012): 21–23.

Data Analysis
Stefani Evans, CG

OnBoard  18 (May 2012): 13–14.

Perils of Source Snobbery
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  18 (May 2012): 9–10, 15.

A Primer on the Use of BCG Trademarks

Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG

OnBoard  17 (May 2011): 9–10.

Focused Versus Diffuse Research
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  17 (September 2011): 17–18.

Effective Writing and Editing
Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, FUGA

OnBoard  16 (September 2010): 21–22.

The Genealogical Proof Standard: How Simple Can It Be?
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  16 (September 2010): 17–18, 20.

It’s Not That Hard to Write Proof Arguments
Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS

OnBoard  15 (September 2009): 20–23.

Proof Arguments
Laura A. Murphy DeGrazia, CG, FGBS

OnBoard  15 (January 2009): 1–3.

Overlooked Resources: Business, Organizational, and Institutional Records
Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL

OnBoard  13 (September 2007): 22–23.

Passport Applications: A Rich Genealogical Resource
Patricia O’Brien Shawker, CG, FMGS

OnBoard  13 (May 2007): 13, 15.

Tax Lists: A Goldmine of Information
Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS

OnBoard  12 (September 2006): 17–18.

Before Death Certificates: Furniture Dealers and Cabinetmakers as Death Sources
Charles S. Mason, Jr., CG

OnBoard  12 (May 2006): 14–15.

Structural Elements of a Good Genealogy
Barbara J. Mathews, CG

OnBoard  12 (January 2006): 1–2.

Background Information: An Overlooked Research Tool
Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, FNGS

OnBoard  11 (September 2005): 17–18.

Evaluating Web Resources
Sandra MacLean Clunies, CG

OnBoard  10 (May 2004): 12–13.

Date Calculations
Amy Larner Giroux, Ph.D., CG, CGL

OnBoard  9 (May 2003): 12–13.

Note: for a more technical treatment, see Barbara Levergood, “Calculating and Using Dates and Date Ranges,” NGSQ 102 (March 2014): 51–75.

Using the Compilations of Others
Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL

OnBoard  7 (September 2001): 20–21.

Converting Records into Reliable Copies
Helen F.M. Leary, CG, CGL

OnBoard  5 (May 1999): 20.

Polishing Our Everyday Writing
Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, FNGS

OnBoard  4 (September 1998): 24.

Good Genealogical Writing
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  4 (May 1998): 16.

Censuses—Often-Overlooked Basics
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  4 (January 1998): 8.

Evidence Revisited—DNA, POE, and GPS
Helen F.M. Leary, CG, CGL

OnBoard  4 (January 1998): 1–2, 5.

Note: some dated terminology, but an important explanation why genealogists no longer use a “preponderance of the evidence” standard.

Analyzing and Reviewing Published Sources
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  3 (May 1997): 16.

Producing Quality Research Notes
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  3 (January 1997): 8.

Transcribing Source Materials
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  2 (January 1996): 8.

Citing Your Sources
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  1 (September 1995): 24.

Analyzing Wills for Useful Clues
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  1 (May 1995): 16.

Analyzing Deeds for Useful Clues
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA

OnBoard  1 (January 1995): 8.