The February 8 meeting of The Genealogy Club of Newtown will feature a program on “Avoiding an Ancestor Identity Crisis” presented by Shelley Bishop. The meeting and program will begin at 7 and will be conducted via Zoom.

Do you have an ancestor with a common name? How can you tell if a name in a database or record is really your ancestor?

Genealogists often have to deal with the challenges of identifying ancestors despite common names, irregular spellings, inconsistent ages, similar places, unknown maiden names, missing vital records, migration of individuals or families, and boundary changes.

Knowing how to sort through these issues is crucial to building an accurate family tree.

Bishop’s program will focus on seven strategies to help solve identity problems and keep research on track.

Shelley Bishop is a professional genealogical researcher, writer, and speaker with a passion for finding and preserving the stories of ancestors. She specializes in researching Ohio and Midwestern ancestors, using a wide variety of online resources.

She is a graduate of the ProGen Study Program, and is president of the Great Lakes chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has presented programs for the National Genealogical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, and numerous local genealogy societies.

Bishop also writes articles of genealogical records, skills, and resources for many publications including Family Tree Magazine, Ohio Genealogy News, and APG Quarterly.

The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors awarded her top honors for her entries in its 2012 and 2014 Excellence in Writing competitions. She is a member of the DAR, NEHGS, Ohio Genealogical Society, and Palatines to America.

Programs of the Genealogy Club of Newtown are co-sponsored by C.H. Booth Library. All are welcome to attend. Meetings are held via Zoom. Register to receive the meeting link by sending an e-mail to genclubnewtownct.secretary@gmail.com with name, phone number and e-mail address. Registration for “Avoiding An Ancestor Identity Crisis” is requested by February 6. Those planning to attend are asked to sign in at 6:45 so that everyone can be admitted before the meeting begins promptly at 7.