Helen Smith
Professional Genealogist
Helen V. Smith DipFamHist., PLCGS (Queensland) www.dragongenealogy.com
Helen is a speaker, researcher, author with a strong interest in medical and social history. She is a DNA specialist with experience in autosomal, YDNA and mtDNA and is convenor of the Genealogical Society of Queensland’s DNA SIG.
She has been researching family history since 1986 in Australia, England, Ireland and Wales with forays into other areas of the world chasing after mobile family members.
She has spoken in every state and territory in Australia, and internationally in New Zealand, Canada, USA, England and aboard 13 Unlock the Past cruises. She is the author of Death Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms, Google the Genealogists Friend, many articles for family history journals and contributing author to Brisbane Diseased. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and Genealogical Speakers Guild.
She is researching the surname Quested anywhere, anytime and has registered the name with the Guild of One-Name Studies.
She is also a Molecular Epidemiologist specialising in Public Health Microbiology and has a strong interest in infectious diseases and Public Health through the ages with a Graduate Diploma in Public Health, Bachelor Applied Science: Medical Laboratory Science and Associate Diploma in Clinical Laboratory Techniques.
Contact details: HVSresearch@DragonGenealogy.com
Publications
- Unlock the Past guide books
- Unlock the Past handy guides
connect with Helen
Helen’s talks – Brisbane
Beginner
Getting the most from your Ancestry results – Ancestry has the largest autosomal DNA database and many Australians have tested there but are you using all Ancestry’s DNA tools to aid you in your research?
Beginner
Getting the most from your FTDNA results – FTDNA provides FamilyFinder, YDNA and Mitochondrial DNA tests. FTDNA provides a number of tools for analysis to aid you in your research.
Beginner
Getting the most from your MyHeritage results – MyHeritage provides a number of tools for analysis to aid you in your autosomal DNA research.
Helen’s talks – Sydney
Intermediate
Developing a DNA research plan – Unless you have won the lottery you need to spend your money wisely when buying DNA tests. What is the purpose for testing? What genealogical problem to solve? Who is available to test? What test/s is most suitable for the problem?
Beginner
How DNA can be used to solve genealogical puzzles – DNA is the newest tool to be added to the genealogical research toolbox. Used in conjunction with genealogical records it can help solve (and sometime expose) issues in the research. Some case studies will highlight the use of DNA in genealogical research.
Intermediate
One name studies and DNA – One Name Studies (ONS)have been using YDNA to enhance their genealogical research for a number of years. Their work has enhanced knowledge of the Y Haplogroup and downstream SNPs and ONS have also started using the Big Y test. The take-up has meant the finding of new SNPs to test and the test evolving for Y-500 to Y700 . YDNA is not just for ONS you can also use YDNA to solve your male line genealogical problems.