{"id":80564,"date":"2025-04-23T11:59:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T16:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.familytreedna.com\/?p=80564"},"modified":"2026-03-13T15:42:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T20:42:30","slug":"group-project-administrators-25th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.familytreedna.com\/es\/group-project-administrators-25th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Voices from the Beginning: Early Group Project Administrators Reflect on 25 Years of FamilyTreeDNA"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”170890″]By: Courtney Eberhard<\/p>\n

To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we asked two of our earliest Group Project Administrators to share their stories.<\/h2>\n

As FamilyTreeDNA celebrates 25 years of innovation and discovery, we\u2019re reflecting on the people who helped lay the foundation of our community: our Group Project Administrators.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80567″ caption=”yes” media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”455285″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”212528″]These dedicated volunteers have played a vital role in advancing the field of genetic genealogy. They have built surname projects, guided research, and connected families across generations and continents. In honor of this milestone, several of our earliest Group Administrators, who have been with us since the beginning, shared their reflections, stories, and insights. Their passion and perseverance continue to shape our legacy and inspire the next generation of family historians.<\/p>\n

The Early Days of Genetic Genealogy at FamilyTreeDNA<\/h2>\n

Every journey has a beginning. For our earliest Group Project Administrators, that moment came when genetic genealogy was still in its infancy and so was FamilyTreeDNA.<\/p>\n

In 2000, Roberta Estes made a call she wasn\u2019t sure would lead anywhere. She had heard about a company selling Y-DNA tests and left a message out of curiosity. That evening, she received a call back, not from a sales rep, but from Bennett Greenspan, President of FamilyTreeDNA. They talked for over an hour. By the end of the conversation, Roberta had agreed to start the Estes DNA Group Project<\/a> and ordered five kits for her male cousins. That one call launched a journey that would span decades.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80568″ caption=”yes” media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”198539″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”111030″]For Jim Bartlett, his path started in 2002 as part of a grassroots effort to trace the Bartlett surname. He organized teams online and built trees to see how researchers were connected. DNA testing provided the missing link. \u201cWe wound up with 23 very distinct and different groups,\u201d Jim recalls. \u201cThey aligned almost exactly with our Teams.\u201d That alignment validated their research and sparked new directions they never could\u2019ve pursued without genetic evidence.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80569″ caption=”yes” media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”172575″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”198290″]Both Group Administrators credit those early days with something special: accessibility. Roberta recalls that Bennett himself would answer Group Administrator questions. Jim agrees: \u201cIt was unexpectedly GREAT. I could email or call and get an almost immediate response from Bennett or Max. We were learning from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breakthroughs, Discoveries, and the Stories That Stay With Us<\/h2>\n

In the world of genealogy, every match tells a story. Over the years, our Group Administrators have helped thousands uncover theirs.<\/p>\n

One of Jim\u2019s most rewarding discoveries came when two seemingly separate lines in the Bartlett Group Project<\/a>, one with Mayflower roots<\/a> and another from colonial Virginia<\/a>, turned out to be related. \u201cBurned counties had kept us from finding their pre-1776 ancestors,\u201d Jim explains, \u201cbut Y-DNA at every level showed the two lines were connected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not all surprises were straightforward. In one case, four women tested men from four brother lines born around 1800. Three matched. One didn\u2019t. Jim dug into the records and into a family story. Nine months before one of the brothers was born, the neighbor\u2019s wife had become bedridden. A kind gesture of delivering food turned into a new chapter in their family history. The misattributed parentage was confirmed through DNA, and rather than cause tension, the women embraced the truth and remained friends and BARTLETT researchers to this day.<\/p>\n

Roberta\u2019s most emotional moments often involve adoptees. In one case, she helped a man unsure of his biological father identify potential candidates. Months later, he reached out to one of them and received a call in return. \u201cI\u2019m not your father,\u201d the man said, \u201cbut I am your uncle.\u201d The cousin had waited too long to reach out\u2014his father had passed\u2014but the uncle invited him to the family reunion, where he was welcomed with open arms. \u201cTheir relationship has continued for many years,\u201d Roberta shared. \u201cAnd now he\u2019s one of our most active project members.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Y-25 to Big Y: How DNA Tools Have Transformed Over Time<\/h2>\n

From paper charts to cutting-edge tools, a lot has changed since the early 2000s. Our Group Administrators have had a front-row seat to it all.<\/p>\n

Jim started with Y-25 and Y-37 tests paired with strong traditional genealogy. But today, Big Y testing<\/a> has taken the Bartlett Group Project further, helping narrow connections back to Plymouth, Massachusetts. \u201cIt\u2019s opened up levels of resolution we didn\u2019t have before,\u201d Jim says. He hopes to see FamilyTreeDNA implement automated segment triangulation and clustering to make these tools even more accessible.<\/p>\n

Roberta highlights a turning point for all three types of DNA. \u201cBig Y-700 and Y-DNA Discover\u2122<\/a> have shifted the focus from being related thousands of years ago to relationships within a genealogical timeframe,\u201d she says. She also notes the power of mitochondrial DNA and mtDNA Discover<\/a> for uncovering female ancestors whose surnames are often lost. \u201cWhen this industry first launched, autosomal DNA<\/a> wasn\u2019t even on the horizon. Now tools like Family Matching and triangulation are changing everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advice from the Pioneers: What Today\u2019s Group Administrators Can Learn<\/h2>\n

With decades of experience between them, these Group Administrators have some sage advice for those just beginning their journey.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80570″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”244634″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”108847″]\u201cIt\u2019s not hard. It takes thought, empathy, and logic,\u201d says Jim. \u201cYou\u2019ll learn a lot about the surname and become the expert, helping others find their way.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80571″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”118845″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”131392″]\u201cDivide the job,\u201d Roberta advises. \u201cOne person can focus on grouping, another on genealogy and communication. Many hands make light work.\u201d<\/p>\n

What keeps them going? For Jim, it\u2019s the unfinished puzzle. \u201cI want to solve both parts, the chromosome map and the ancestral connection.\u201d He\u2019s mapped over 370 triangulated groups so far. For Roberta, it\u2019s about honoring those who came before. \u201cDNA reaches beyond what records can. Resurrecting their history is how we assure they\u2019re never forgotten.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80572″ caption=”yes” media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”152061″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”872270″]<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for FamilyTreeDNA and Genetic Genealogy?<\/h2>\n

As we celebrate the past 25 years, we also look to the future with curiosity, gratitude, and optimism.<\/p>\n

Jim hopes FamilyTreeDNA will implement new tools to automate clustering and triangulation. These features, he says, would make the process easier for all users and help walk ancestral lines back generation by generation.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”80573″ caption=”yes” media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”100″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”430835″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”228168″]Roberta is excited about the refinement of the mitochondrial tree and its implications for uncovering unknown ancestors. \u201cI\u2019m hopeful that new features will help identify shared genetic ancestors in match lists,\u201d she says. \u201cThat can help identify our unknown ancestors too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have You Been Inspired to Take Part?<\/h2>\n

Our Group Project Administrators have played an essential role in shaping FamilyTreeDNA\u2019s history. Their passion, discoveries, and dedication continue to fuel our shared mission of exploring family, identity, and connection through DNA.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re passionate about helping others discover their roots and making an impact through DNA, you can become a part of that legacy too.[\/vc_column_text][vc_button border_animation=”btn-ripple-out” hover_fx=”outlined” border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fhelp.familytreedna.com%2Fhc%2Fen-us%2Farticles%2F4503216209807|target:_blank” button_color_type=”uncode-solid” button_color_solid=”#fa4616″ uncode_shortcode_id=”172084″]APPLY TO BE A GROUP PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR[\/vc_button][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image media=”78378″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”one-one” shape=”img-circle” uncode_shortcode_id=”144668″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”206766″]<\/p>\n

About the Group Project Administrators<\/h2>\n

Roberta Estes<\/h3>\n

Roberta Estes, author of the book, DNA for Native American Genealogy, The Complete Guide to FamilyTreeDNA, and the popular genetic genealogy blog DNAeXplained<\/a> is also a scientist, National Geographic Genographic affiliate researcher, Million Mito team member, and founding pioneer in the genetic genealogy field.<\/p>\n

An avid 40-year genealogist, Roberta has written over 1600 articles at DNAeXplained about genetic genealogy as well as how to combine traditional genealogy with DNA to solve those stubborn ancestor puzzles. Roberta took her first DNA test in 1999 and hasn\u2019t stopped.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image media=”80574″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”one-one” alignment=”center” shape=”img-circle” uncode_shortcode_id=”143963″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”163057″]<\/p>\n

Jim Bartlett<\/h3>\n

Jim has been an active, researching, genealogist for over 50 years. He took his first DNA test in 2002 to launch the Bartlett Surname Group Project<\/a>. He has been using autosomal DNA (atDNA) since 2010 \u2013 testing at all five major companies. He has validated over 10,000 DNA Matches who descend from most of his ancestry. He built a Chromosome Map of his DNA segments, linking almost all of them to his Ancestors. He is an avid proponent of segment Triangulation, Clustering and other powerful new DNA tools; and enjoys teaching them to other genealogists. He writes a DNA blog, segmentology.org<\/a>, focused on explaining and using atDNA.<\/p>\n

He wrote Chapter 1: Lessons Learned from Triangulating a Genome in \u201cAdvanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies\u201d<\/a> edited by Debbie Wayne Parker. He contributed to \u201cSo Far; Genetic Genealogy; the first 25 years 1999-2024″<\/a>, by Diahan Southard. Disclaimer: Although a volunteer at several companies, he does not represent, or receive compensation from, any company.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row user_id=”14″ avatar=”gravatar” custom_avatar=”” avatar_position=”left” avatar_size=”250″ avatar_style=”img-circle” avatar_border=”” avatar_skin=”light” avatar_back_color=”” author_name_linked=”yes” heading_semantic=”h3″ text_font=”” text_size=”h3″ text_weight=”” text_transform=”” text_height=”” text_space=”” text_italic=”” text_color=”” separator=”” separator_double=”” author_bio=”yes” sub_lead=”” sub_reduced=”” social=”” display_button=”yes” button_content=”Read More From Courtney” button_link=”” button_color=”” size=”” radius=”” hover_fx=”full-colored” outline=”” text_skin=”” icon_position=”left” css_animation=”” animation_speed=”” animation_delay=”” uncode_shortcode_id=”795516″ avatar_back_color_gradient=”” text_color_gradient=”” link=”” button_color_type=”uncode-solid” button_color_solid=”#ff6900″ button_color_gradient=”” icon=””][vc_column width=”1\/1″][uncode_author_profile user_id=”14″ avatar_size=”250″ heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″ social=”” display_button=”yes” button_content=”Read More From Courtney” hover_fx=”full-colored” uncode_shortcode_id=”565125″ button_color_type=”uncode-solid” button_color_solid=”#ff6900″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two of FamilyTreeDNA\u2019s earliest Group Project Administrators reflect on 25 years of discovery, innovation, and connection through genetic genealogy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":80576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1205],"tags":[1215,1231],"yoast_head":"\nEarly Group Project Administrators Reflect on 25 Years of FamilyTreeDNA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Celebrate 25 years of FamilyTreeDNA with stories from two early Group Project Administrators and how their work helped shape the field of genetic genealogy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.familytreedna.com\/group-project-administrators-25th-anniversary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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