Genealogy, Forensics and the Digital Age

Enlarge From Forensic Genealogy

This photo of Paul DiMaggo's bar at 761 Baronne St. in New Orleans was taken circa 1910. How do we know? See picture below.

From Forensic Genealogy

This photo of Paul DiMaggo's bar at 761 Baronne St. in New Orleans was taken circa 1910. How do we know? See picture below.

Enlarge From Forensic Genealogy

Objects used to date the photo include the bottles behind bar, ads on the wall for Harvard Rye and the Budweiser Girl (from 1909), the cash register (from a 1909 catalog) and a Ford roadster (from 1911) in the street.

From Forensic Genealogy

Objects used to date the photo include the bottles behind bar, ads on the wall for Harvard Rye and the Budweiser Girl (from 1909), the cash register (from a 1909 catalog) and a Ford roadster (from 1911) in the street.

Many in search of their family trees find themselves drowning in an endless paper trail. Genealogy used to be a matter of dusty records, family Bibles and ship manifests. And frustrated by dim memories, distant archives, faded records and unidentified photos, more than a few have put the search aside for another day.

For many, tomorrow may be here. The urge to understand family history has led people to harness the latest technology, from Internet databases to DNA testing to cutting-edge software intended to make the job easier -- and a lot more rewarding.

We look at the intersection between modern science and ancient lineages.

Guests:

Colleen Fitzpatrick, author of Forensic Genealogy

Megan Smolenyak, author of Trace Your Roots with DNA

Cynthia Winston, professor of psychology and principle investigator of the Identity and Success Research Lab at Howard University