Genealogy 101: Uncover your Family History
Dana Jones
Episode #40: February 6th, 2025
in THIS EPISODE
Want to understand more about your family and where you came from?
I’m getting the scoop on the best way to do it with genealogist Dana Jones.Dana reflects on how working with her grandfather to follow the breadcrumbs of their family history fueled a life-long interest in genealogy. After 25 years working in communications, Dana pivoted to pursue her passion as a career and help others investigate their family legacies. Entering the field as a professional when she did enabled her to leverage both the traditional family-tree perspective and emerging science in DNA and heredity.
With a keen interest in true crime and a love of puzzles, Dana plunges into the labyrinths of her clients’ lives, searching for clues about the origins of their families. From mistaken identities, murders, and dramatic secrets, Dana’s work as a genealogist could be mistaken for a juicy chapter in a novel, uncovering facts that are stranger than fiction.
She also highlights the less salacious but profound emotional and historical ramifications of genealogy—revealing how understanding generational trauma, preserving family legacies, and documenting oral and written histories shape identity and belonging.
Dana takes us inside the process and methods of genealogical research. She gives practical tips for leveraging DNA-testing, and how to maximize the resources available through Ancestry.com, 23andMe, and other services to get accurate information.
Whether you're interested in learning about your ancestors, verifying family stories, building records for future generations, or are just curious about genealogy, this episode will get you fired up to explore your family history.
TESS'S TAKEAWAYS
Preserving written and oral history enriches our understanding of ourselves.
Genealogy can reveal surprising family stories and secrets.
Legacy and identity are deeply intertwined in genealogy.
Genealogy is specialized and supported by a network of professionals.
Detailed preparation is key for effective genealogical research.
The process of genealogy requires patience and attention to detail.
Online platforms offer a wealth of resources as starting points for family research.
When sharing DNA information, it’s essential to under your privacy options and rights.
ABOUT DANA
As the only child of only children and mother to an only child, genealogist Dana Jones is passionate about helping others explore their family history and relationships.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she had a 25-year career in marketing, consumer insights, and brand management at Disney, where her attention to detail prepared her for further work in research.
An avid puzzle solver and reader of true crime, Dana spent considerable time, over 18 years, working with her grandfather in hunting down their family history. Leaving her job, she turned that passion into a career, studied genealogical research at Boston University, and joined the Association of Professional Genealogists.
As a member of lineage organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dana is committed to preserving written and oral history.