BCG Skillbuilding at NGS 2026
Kelley Conner Lear, CG®, on "Positively Negative: Using a Super-Trio to Meet the Genealogical Proof Standard"
Please welcome guest blogger: Nicki Peak Birch, CG®
In this engaging presentation, Kelley Conner Lear, CG, explained to the audience how we can find meaning in nothing. Her goal, she said, was to give us an appreciation for the positives of the negative!
Kelley clearly distinguished between negative findings, negative searches, and negative evidence, explaining not only how they differ but also how and why each plays an important role in the research process. Although these concepts are frequently confused, she demonstrated that they arise under different circumstances and contribute to genealogical conclusions in different ways. Her explanations were concise, practical, and easy to follow.
Of course, Kelley included a case study with a research question. She identified the findings, explained the type of evidence they represented, and discussed their significance, demonstrating the importance of context and correlation. She clearly showed how negative evidence can strengthen a genealogical argument when used appropriately. Her accompanying syllabus also provided a useful list of further readings and webinars.
This presentation is highly recommended for genealogists confused by the difference between negative findings, searches, and evidence, as well as for anyone interested in strengthening their evidence analysis and research methodology.
Nicki Peak Birch, CG®, has been a certified genealogist since 2007.