The Leeds Method Around the Web

contributed by Jen Sansbury

DNA expert Blaine T. Bettinger promoted the Leeds Method on his Facebook group, Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques, which has more than 48,000 followers.

“This took me about 10 minutes from start to finish (not including screenshot time!). Now if I didn’t know anything about the test taker’s tree, I would mine the clusters for patterns in the family trees (names, locations, etc.) … EVERY testing company should give us the ability to cluster our matches as we see fit, so we don’t have to use this method, but until that time this is another option for clustering.”

Your DNA Guide

Well-known genetic genealogist Diahan Southard, a contributor to Genealogy Gems, Family Tree Magazine and Genealogy Today, has devoted a page on her website to the Leeds Method. She encourages her readers to use the Leeds Method to group their matches to help identify common ancestors.

“We here at Your DNA Guide love new ideas, especially ones that have to do with color! We are excited about Dana Leeds’ big colorful idea to organize matches.”

DNAeXplained — Genetic Genealogy

Popular DNA blogger Roberta Estes wrote a two-part series about the Leeds Method.

Part 1: The Leeds Method

“…this method generates groupings that can be considered good hints without any other information at all. Needless to say, this is great for adoptees and those searching for a parent.”

“One of the best aspects is that it’s very easy to do and very visual. Translation – no math. No subtraction.”

Part 2: DNAP ainter: Painting Leeds Method Matches

“… the Leeds method generates hints for genealogists by grouping people according to common matches. We must further evaluate those matches by doing traditional genealogy and by looking for segments that triangulate. The Leeds method in conjunction with the actual match results at vendors, combined with DNAPainter helps us do just that.”

Heartland Genealogy: DNA Clustering

Genealogist Marcia Crawford Philbrick was among many who tried the Leeds Method after reading about it on Facebook.

“Intrigued by both the simplicity of the method and the easily visualized results, I decided to try it with my 1st thru 3rd cousin matches. .. The technique did work to separate out my great-grandparents on my dad’s side of the family. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as I add 4th cousins!”

Genealogists also are spreading the word about the Leeds Method through a variety of public forums.

Threads on discussion boards, such as WikiTree: Organizing Your DNA Matches

“I think it also works well for someone who has a very, very large family and you want to see who belongs to who in an easy way. … Dana’s work is pretty incredible! I think visualizing matches like this would be helpful in understanding where everyone goes. Other people may have great organization techniques, but, I think this is pretty useful!” – Chris Ferraiolo

Comments on blogs, such as My Descendant’s Ancestors: I’m Hooked on DNA Painter. You Should Be, Too.

“I’m so addicted to this tool [DNA Painter], too. I’m now trying to figure out how to maximize it with visual phasing. I’m also looking forward to trying it on some client cases where the Leeds Method has helped me decide which matches to ignore (i.e. where I’m only interested in certain branches and therefore don’t want to spend my time painting matching segments that won’t help with the specific goal).” – Jennifer Dondero

Bloggers writing about the PROCESS and/or RESULTS of using the method, but not writing ABOUT the method:

Hartley DNA & Genealogy: Sorting Hartley DNA from Snell DNA with the Leeds Color Method and Another Butler DNA Connection

Black Raven Genealogy: Colour Clustering by Dara of County Dublin, Ireland, who used her four “2nd” and “3rd” cousin matches as well as 4th cousins: 1 “extremely high” (at 66 cM), 4 “very high” (between 47 cM and 51 cM), and 17 “high” confidence (between 30 cM and 43 cM) matches. Her cousins sorted into 9 columns because of a fewer close cousins, but she found some individuals to target who might be part of her “missing” O’Neill line – her dad’s maternal line. Dara said this was “a fun method, as well as being effective.”

Brief mentions with links back to Dana’s website:

DNAsleuth (Ann Raymont, CG)

“Have you discovered the Leeds method for using color coding to hypothesize how you’re related to your closest matches? Check out Dana Leeds’ blog post here. She uses Excel; just for the 50 or fewer highest matches perhaps, but it’s efficient to download them with DNA match manager to build your starting template.”

Ferndale Genies: DNA Explosion Part 2

“CeCe mentioned that Dana Leeds recently took CeCe’s week-long class. Then Dana developed a method of “color clustering” genetic networks. Some are calling this the Leeds Method. At the time of our workshop CeCe hadn’t had time to look at it but expects to like it. It is well-explained in three posts athttp://danaleeds.com/. It uses color on a spreadsheet to identify genetic networks. There are also some posts at her blog http://theenthusiasticgenealogist.blogspot.com/.”