Splash Biography



RUSSELL AULT, Yale Junior, amateur genealogist




Major: MB&B

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: 2014

Picture of Russell Ault

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I'm a junior at Yale majoring in molecular biochemistry and biophysics. While I love learning how the world and particularly life works on the physical level, I am more interested in loving and helping people. I plan to study medicine after I graduate from Yale. The most important part of my life is my faith and devotion to God and my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the past two years I have developed an intense interest in tracing my family lines to learn about those who went before me, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, great-aunts, great-great-uncles, the second wife of the father of the wife of the son of my great-great-great grandfather, basically anyone and everyone. Using simple tools available on the internet, I have learned about hundreds of my ancestors and their descendants in the past year, relying on several hundred documents to ascertain some of the key details of their lives. I wish to communicate my enthusiasm and love to those in my class, that they might experience the happiness I've enjoyed doing this immensely important work.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

H949: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Splash Spring 14 (Mar. 29, 2014)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here.


H1042: The Book of Mormon in Splash Spring 14 (Mar. 29, 2014)
For various reasons, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are also known as Mormons, has recently received much public attention. This class will focus on the Book of Mormon, one of the key religious texts of this religion. The historical context leading to its publication will be summarized, and the book's contents will be explained briefly through artistic works of the events it describes and related key quotations. A question-and-answer session will follow. This class is open to students of all religious beliefs and backgrounds, including those who have none. It will be assumed that participants have no prior knowledge of this religion. It is our hope that those who take this class will leave edified and informed about the religious diversity of our nation.


S857: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Sprout Spring 14 (Feb. 15 - Mar. 01, 2014)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here.


S858: The Book of Mormon in Sprout Spring 14 (Feb. 15 - Mar. 01, 2014)
For various reasons, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are also known as Mormons, has recently received much public attention. This class will focus on the Book of Mormon, one of the key religious texts of this religion. The historical context leading to its publication will be summarized, and the book's contents will be explained briefly through artistic works of the events it describes and related key quotations. A question-and-answer session will follow. This class is open to students of all religious beliefs and backgrounds, including those who have none. It will be assumed that participants have no prior knowledge of this religion. It is our hope that those who take this class will leave edified and informed about the religious diversity of our nation.


X628: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Splash Fall 13 (Nov. 09, 2013)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here.


H645: The Book of Mormon in Splash Fall 13 (Nov. 09, 2013)
For various reasons, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are also known as Mormons, has recently received much public attention. This class will focus on the Book of Mormon, one of the key religious texts of this religion. The historical context leading to its publication will be summarized, and the book's contents will be explained briefly through artistic works of the events it describes and related key quotations. A question-and-answer session will follow. This class is open to students of all religious beliefs and backgrounds, including those who have none. It will be assumed that participants have no prior knowledge of this religion. It is our hope that those who take this class will leave edified and informed about the religious diversity of our nation.


C473: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Splash Summer 13 (Jul. 06 - 27, 2013)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here. [Seminar]


D526: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Splash Summer 13 (Jul. 06 - 27, 2013)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here. [Seminar]


X271: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Splash Spring 13 (Apr. 06, 2013)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here.


X155: Uncovering Your Past and the History of Humanity in Splash Fall 12 (Oct. 20, 2012)
In this class students will be introduced to the growing sensation and wondrous labor of love that is genealogy and family history. Accessible internet tools for beginning basic genealogical research will be presented and discussed. Interesting case studies will show how simple detective skills permit everyone and anyone to mine the current mountain of public documents to uncover the mysteries of who we are, where we came from and why we are here.