How Do I Begin To Document and File Family History? An Introduction

How Do I Begin To Document and File Family History?  An Introduction

If this is an introduction, then it is quite comprehensive.  It is a site rich in thought content.  No pretty pictures, no design candy, but chock full of theory, principle, and links.

Take some time to read (yes, I said R-E-A-D) and digest the information.  Perhaps, you could write your own thesis, using what you have learned in your genealogy experience as a basis for a discussion and sharing.

And do not get overwhelmed.  This is a lifelong pursuit you have begun.  You will move from one step to the next, progressing in your knowledge and skill, growing progressively, up the ladder of realization and accomplishment.

Flickr Search: family reunions | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Flickr Search: family reunions | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Yahoo account?  Take a look at the search box--it can be your key to the power of photography.  I chose as my search phrase, "Family Reunion"; it was wonderful to look through these smiling faces, loving families, and who knows, if you search your family names, you might find  your own family reunion photo!

MAP OF THE WEEK: Native American Nations | This Land Press

MAP OF THE WEEK: Native American Nations | This Land Press

I love this map stuff and this link showed up on my twitter page!  I'm not surprised.  After all, I follow genealogists, I follow genealogy organizations, and I search for genealogy everything.  What have you got in your twitter "box", lately?

Person Details for Lucinda Harper in household of David Harper, “United States Census, 1850″ — FamilySearch.org | GenQuestDiary

Person Details for Lucinda Harper in household of David Harper, “United States Census, 1850″ — FamilySearch.org | GenQuestDiary

The chore of the genealogist/Family Historian is to find a document, read the document, evaluate the document, and pull out information that seems to agree with other information gathered previously.  Or, perhaps this is the first historical document on which you will see your family.  In that case, you will want to investigate other sources such as other census info, death and marriage information, land records, etc.  You won't really know the value of the first piece of evidence until you have compared it with other pieces.

The reason that a census page cannot be primary source in and of itself:

• We don't know who was home the day that the enumerator came round.  It may have been an older child or an old aunt who was visiting.  Even if mom or dad was there, they may have been illiterate--as many people were back in the day--literacy took a back seat to survival!  I know that "illiteracy" doesn't equal stupidity, but if you are illiterate you may not have paid quite as much attention to exact dates, exact spellings, etc.  Comments, anyone?  Agree?  Disagree?
• The enumerator was a human being and made very human errors.  He may have had terrible penmanship or the best possible handwriting.  He may have been hot, tired, and hungry and in a hurry.  He may have been hard of hearing?  The list of maybe's is a long one.
• Family members may have become separated, married off, or deceased, so don't expect it to show the perfect record on the census.  Families were very much on the move in rural American and their lives weren't static models.

A Lot of Nonsense | Florida State University Special Collections and Archives

A Lot of Nonsense | Florida State University Special Collections and Archives

Are you in touch (via twitter, facebook, etc) with your university's digital collection?  Search at Twitter and/or Facebook for "state name" + university library + digital collection.

Genealogy's Star: Why must you prove your genealogical case?

Genealogy's Star: Why must you prove your genealogical case?

 Genealogists have only quite recently recognized the need for a systematic methodology for establishing genealogical facts. Until the early to mid-1900s, ideas concerning the need for sources and a proof standard did not exist. The current standards owe their origin to genealogists such as Donald Lines Jacobus, who began to establish a more scientific method of research based on primary source documentation.

My reaction to the article:  Bravo!  The world has become, with every passing year, a complexity of statements, opinions, articulations, and data.  Fabrication and fictionalization pose as truth in supposed publications of infallible reputation.

But, don't take it personally.  Wanting to be accurate and prove the truth of a matter, whether it's your own genealogy or from a database online has a great deal to do with our soaring admiration for our history. 

A familial affection for our ancestors as we uncover the forensics of who they were, where they were, and why they were is the product of our love for things as they are, not things as we would like them to be or as others think they are.  Most of my ancestors were farmers, but it was never that simple.  They moved, relocated, and commuted to work, in search of a job, in search of a life that would be better for them and their families. 

Maybe I pontificate too much.  All I'm really trying to say is that searching for humanity is a search for dignity and something worth memorializing.  Though I doubt that I will ever have the whole story of my ancestors, every fragment makes them more real to me, more dear to me.  Why would I not want to document them?  It's a step toward knowing who they were and a big step toward knowing who I am.

FamilySearch Adds More Than 5.4 Million Images to Collections from England, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and the United States | FamilySearch.org

FamilySearch Adds More Than 5.4 Million Images to Collections from England, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and the United States | FamilySearch.org

This is some great news, friends!  I strongly encourage each of you to look at the FamilySearch Indexing project...without this vital ingredient,  these images and others like these will not be searchable and easily  accessed.

You can become an indexer and  spend a few minutes each week volunteering your energies to a project that will forever afterward make the records available online, to all and FOR FREE.  It is so easy to do a little that will mean a lot.  I even know of children who are helping to index!

Especially needed are folks with foreign language skills.  Oh, and the service pool includes many, many folks who come from all backgrounds and ethnicities, from various cultures and religions.  Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you can read and work a computer, you can join the ranks!

The Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County meets Saturday, May 10, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the [Valparaiso] Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. 

Bruce Rova, past president of the West Florida Genealogical Society, (Pensacola), will be the featured speaker.  Watch a YouTube video interview with Bruce Rova  that showcases the West Florida Society.

The topic upon which Bruce will focus on Saturday will be "Who's That Lady?".

This program will address a problem that genealogical researchers often encounter: identifying maiden surnames, parents, and other information for women in family trees when we only know a married surname.

Mr. Rova will discuss strategies and resources that can help in this process and will share practical examples of a myriad of means he has used successfully in his research: reviewing how to find direct sources and, especially, gathering and using clues from indirect sources to reveal new information and resolve such problems.

The meetings of the GSOC are open to the public and there is no charge for the regular monthly meetings.  So if you're interested in genealogy or family history, please join us.

Interest in genealogy on the rise

Interest in genealogy on the rise

The article link above correctly points to how the development of technology has changed the face of genealogy in this century.  

Genealogy Quips (Genealogy Humor)

Genealogy Quips

Genealogy's Star: The State of the States: Digitization Projects by State

Genealogy's Star: The State of the States: Digitization Projects by State

I'm always excited to hear of digitization projects, especially if it is happening in a state in which I have research interests.  So, whether it's newspapers or vital event records, I'm always happy to hear of it.  Check the article out and do an Internet search to see if your "location of interest" is in the news!

History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography : Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920 : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography : Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920 : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

It's just amazing that you can search this archive from the recliner or your desk at home!  You can search and download materials and it costs nothing.  NOTHING.

Information is power.  Power at your fingertips with this web site.  In 21st
Century, genealogy is family history and all about drawing from the well of knowledge so that you can see how it was, "back then".

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF OKALOOSA COUNTY

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF OKALOOSA COUNTY 

supports and shouts out to Saturday in the Park.  What is that?!  Preserve Heritage!  Show Heritage!  Come visit with us in the Vale of Paradise (Valparaiso).  Saturday, 26 April, 2014. 

In an article from the Deseret News published Wednesday, April 2, 2014, this morning, there is a confirmation that while progress is being made whereby members of the LDS church will obtain free access to certain certain databases later the is year, it is reiterated that

"Free access to two of the commercial family history websites is already available to the general public at more than 4,700 FamilySearch-owned family history centers and libraries worldwide. Ancestry and FindMyPast currently offer free access to all patrons at the centers. MyHeritage will begin granting free access later this year...".

This article came to my attention when I was getting my morning dose of Dick Eastman and his online genealogical newsletter. 

While we all dream of being able to do everything genealogy-wise from the recliner in the living room, occasionally, much good can result in getting up and out the door and going down to the local Family History Center.  

I enjoy, very much, the opportunities I have to do just that, probably because the opportunities are few and far between.  I enjoy being able to use "for-profit" databases (like Fold3 and FindMyPast), for free.  I am inspired to see others at the Family History Center who are dedicated to finding their ancestors.  I am enlightened by the staff members and their combined pool of genealogy "how-to".  The staff is eager to help and the resources at FamilySearch.org are growing every day.

As in any "breaking news", take the time to read the article, ...all of it.  

Finding Family History Through Social Networks - NYTimes.com

Finding Family History Through Social Networks - NYTimes.com

Look for information on the Internet about:

Social Networking [for genealogy].  

Social Networking for Genealogists - Family Social Networks & Online Family Trees

Social Networking for Genealogists - Family Social Networks & Online Family Trees

I appreciate this article and wonder how up-to-date it is.  Nevertheless, I am a little overwhelmed in preparing for my presentation coming up on Saturday, April 12th, at the Genealogical Society and any web site that mentions Social Networking is going into my "arsenal"---wish I could think of a better word---I'm certainly not planning an attack!

Originally, I was thinking that "Social Networking for Genealogy" had more to do with Facebook, Twitter, and Piinterest; now I realize that there are many web sites that have been created for the purpose of genealogy networking, specifically.

Actually, we've had "social" networking for genealogy since the days of Bulletin Boards and "soc genealogy".  Okay, I'm totally still getting my ducks in a row, (is this a hunting reference?), and whittling down the material to 45 minutes will be a challenge!  What do you get out of social networking for genealogy?  Have you located collaborators, family members. or distant cousins?  Let me hear your stories. 

Genealogy How-To Resources

Where do I turn for Genealogy “How-To's”?

Part I

You can approach genealogy in one of several ways:

• Just Jump In!
• Start by asking your older relatives for information.
• Look under the bed for shoeboxes of photos or in attics for dusty old trunks.
• Record in a notebook or on a word processor what you find.
• Visit your local library and talk to the librarian.
• Ask A Friend
• Ask a friend if they know anything about genealogy, or...do they know someone who is into genealogy.
• Find out if there is a local Family History Center at the local LDS church. (Phone book or look online)
• Local genealogy societies often advertise their meetings in the newspaper.
• Go Online. The information highway is full of information!
• Wikipedia.com
• Google.com
• About.com
• Various other websites will lead you by the hand...there is information at the FamilySearch.org/wiki. There is help at Ancestry.com, Genealogy.com and so forth and so on.

Here are some of my favorite web sites to go, no only for genealogy news, but for genealogy guidance.

• I love genealogy “blogs”. Real people talking about stuff they know. Although even large corporations have blogs, now, you can still get educational and technical instruction at a blog. Remember the “two heads is better than one” axiom? I frequently get inspiration from a blog on new ideas to try with my research. New tools are often introduced, new resources, and new technology are discussed, as well.
• Genealogical Societies, educational institutions, newspapers online---there is literally no end to what you can find, online, to help you get started or help you break down those brick walls.

Be sure and read past blogs of mine for more information and Part 2 of this discussion will reference specific online websites.

The Ancestry Insider: RootsMapper: Another FamilySearch Family Tree Extension

The Ancestry Insider: RootsMapper: Another FamilySearch Family Tree Extension

Rootsmapper is a free web site that can connect to your Family Tree at Familysearch; it shows on a map where your ancestors were from--all this, of course, according to what you've put in the program already.  Found out about this from "The Ancestry Insider" (see link above).

Here a screenshot of my first four generations:

Fox News - Breaking News Updates | Latest News Headlines | Photos & News Videos

Fox News - Breaking News Updates | Latest News Headlines | Photos & News Videos

No, I haven't gone nuts.  Showering you with a gift about "breaking news updates" and a link for "Latest News Headlines" isn't my idea of a great genealogy find.

However, genealogy and family history are in the news all the time; have you noticed that newspapers carry stories relative to the topic at hand?  And if I subscribed to all the newsletters about genealogy, and read them thoughtfully, I wouldn't have time to teach a class.

So, I am going to tell you that, (guess what?!!), there are entities on the Internet, perhaps even the NSA (National Snoops Association), who are interested in what you're interested in.  Actually, I think that governmental agencies will have to take a back seat to business, mercantile, and shopping corporations, who are driven by their need/desire to know what you're interested in.  They want your money and they are very clever about finding ways to entice you to spend it. 

This being said, should we all drop out of the system, the connected generation, the mighty and wondrous super highway of information?  Should we encrypt our e-mails, quit clicking, and go to bed? 

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
― Marie Curie

Make yourself knowledgeable about the facts of Internet Security, trust your own instincts, and know that you are not a fool for trying to locate your ancestry on the World Wide Web.  I've spoken about Dick Eastman and his online genealogy newsletter.  He is wise and learned, not just about family history, but also about technology.  Read his newsletters.  When you have an opportunity to get hold of a computer magazine at the doctor's office (Wired is an excellent example), choose to read it instead of other more familiar magazines and become more savvy about computers, web sites, and security.  

Follow bloggers in the genealogy community who also know something about how to search safely without worrying about  "Big Brother"; you don't have to spend a lot of time worrying about this or even becoming educated.  It's something we need to be aware of and be moderately cautious about, but take a lesson from those who mine the Internet for nefarious reasons: Teach yourself or gain knowledge from others on how to mine the Internet for Family History.  That will be one of the things we want to discuss on Friday at the last class at the Center for LIfelong Learning--for this session--and for the class I teach, Beyond Basic Genealogy.