Genealogy Workshop: Investigative Genetic Genealogy — A Crash Course

Program Type:

Presentation, Genealogy

Age Group:

Adult

Program Description

Details

Presented by the library’s Special Collections staff and members of the Ranger Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), these events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all levels of interest and experience. All levels will learn something new!

Investigative Genetic Genealogy: A Crash Course
with Chelsea Hanrahan

Investigative genetic genealogy is a brand new technique that is helping clear cold cases and restore names to the unidentified. Join Chelsea Hanrahan, volunteer investigative genetic genealogist with the DNA Doe Project, to hear more about this new tool, how genealogists research cases, and some real-life case examples. There will also be a discussion on the current landscape of genetic genealogy and how citizens can help with this important work.

About the Presenter
Chelsea Hanrahan is a faculty member and the Director of the H. Raymond Danforth Library at New England College. She has a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University and a BA in History from the University of NH.

In 2021, Chelsea began using her research skills and lifelong interests in genealogical research and crime in a new area, investigative genetic genealogy. She has been a volunteer investigative genetic genealogist with the DNA Doe Project since 2022 and has been able to use her skills to help solve cases of unidentified John and Jane Does for law enforcement. Seeing how the resolution of these cases often led to more questions and more connections with unsolved crimes, she began using an array of sources to help research cold cases and advocate for families of victims- focusing on those cases taking place in New England that did not receive significant media attention at the time. 

In addition to her investigative genetic genealogy work, Chelsea is a researcher for the New England based podcast "Murder, She Told," doing original primary source work on cases, and also loves speaking to various groups help educate the public on the use of genetic genealogy.