Ideas – GenealogyAtHeart.com

Are you ever done with your family history?

If you’ve been following my blog you’re aware that I’ve written about many topics related to saving your family’s history -like Where do I begin? How do I get organized? Which software programs should I use? How can I keep the costs down on this hobby? I’m stuck, now what? I got my DNA results and I don’t understand them?. Go ahead and use the Search button for specifics.

But you’ve also become aware of the need to stay updated on technology, everything from how to get around software program glitches, hints on how to use Microsoft Word and Excel, and getting the most out of Artificial Intelligence.

The past month I’ve been blogging extensively on how you can get that family genealogy book you have on your to-do list completed and available inexpensively.

You might think you’re done with genealogy when you are holding that book in your hands.

Think again.

Genealogy is NEVER done. There will always be new additions to a family through marriages and birth, and losses, too, through divorce and death.

Genealogy is like the people it records – ever changing.

So, what should you do when you are done writing those books?

Here’s some things I still have to tackle:

While researching for my books, although I’ve digitized everything, I realized that some of my paper documentation (vital records) was not in the order that I’d like it to be (alpha), so I plan on going back and fixing those items.
Some items weren’t in their very own acid free sheet protector. I had combined letters facing forwards and backwards but now I know better and will separate them out.
Records are unfortunately disappearing at a quicker rate than ever before. Remember rootsweb and genweb? Gone but not forgotten. I’m finding many federal government records disappearing, too. (and don’t get me started on the current idiots in charge who have removed the Constitution from the white house website. Disgusting!). The IRS used to have old tax records from the late 1700s online but they have been removed. Makes you wonder why. NARA once had some naturalization records available and those are also gone. Luckily, I had saved what those records looked like so for me, it wasn’t a loss, however, the source citation had to be altered since they aren’t available online any longer. This has all made me a bit paranoid, especially since Indiana recently hid on page 10 of an unrelated bill to not allow access to birth certificates for 99 years after a person dies. Here’s my biggest recommendation and of all the things on your to-do list, I highly suggest you order anything you want while it’s still available AND if it’s online, save it to your own files so you’ll have it when it’s gone. By own files I mean a thumb drive, standalone hard drive and/or Cloud. More info on how to do this coming soon!
My digitized files that I keep in the Cloud need to be cleaned as I discovered I have lots of duplicates and in some cases, the file name needs to be updated. That’s a nice winter project.
You will always have brick walls but now that you’ve written out your family history you’ve identified exactly what you still need to confirm identity or proof relationship. This will be my project for the rest of my life. Use FamilySearch.org’s AI lab, research the siblings more thoroughly, go boots-on-the-ground. When you find what you’re seeking you can always update your book and make it “Revised.” I’ve begun with my husband’s second great half uncle – John Calvin DeWolf who was found dead in the woods in LaGrange, Cook, Illinois on 28 April 1912. How do I know this with no obituary, death certificate, or newspaper story? From the family Bible. Since the death certificate isn’t available online I finally got around to writing for it. No newspapers from the area are left and I’m hoping I can find a coroner’s report to uncover this mystery.
Deal with the photos, sigh. I love photos and I have a zillion, all digitized, but there are many unidentified people. With AI, I’m going to try to figure out who they are.
Go through my books and put stickees on the inside cover of where I want them to go when I’m done using them. Hint: It won’t be to Goodwill. I have some unique ones, like the Barbados census, that should go to an archive that focuses on the Caribbean but doesn’t have the book.
Make sure you’ve recorded who gets what of your research, as well. If you have thoroughly documented it in your books your family is not likely to want it so think again what to do with it. I’ve pitched everything but vital records, letters, and original documents, like awards and baptismal certificates so my kids won’t have much to keep. They’ll have access to my Cloud so they’ll have everything that I did pitch in case they ever get interested.
Keep your records updated. Make sure you record those new births, marriage dates, graduations, etc.
Pat yourself on the back as you’ve accomplished more than anyone else in your family to record your ancestors. When I get to this point, I’m taking a nap.

So, do you now have the answer to my title question?

Alternative Spring Break Genealogy Ideas

Like the rest of the world, my Spring Break plans have come undone. Flexibility is a great trait for genealogists so I’m looking at this bump in the road as a way to help me grow. Seriously! Stick with me and I’ll give you some ideas.

First, I’d like to apologize for my last blog being posted late. I didn’t realize until Wednesday it hadn’t been published. Typically, I write on Saturday mornings and post immediately. The week prior, I thought I would be working on Saturday so I wrote two blogs with the intent of publishing the second before I left for work the next weekend. Except, my weekend gig was cancelled. I decided Saturday to alter my routine. After the crazy week of trying to wrap up client requests in the event that my local archives closed (and they have) and making plans to relocate my educational job to home (which also came to be), along with trying to prepare our home for shelter in place, I decided to take Saturday to spend outdoors all day. Our yard looks fantastic! On Sunday, fired up by all we had accomplished the day before, I got the brilliant idea to clean the garage which consumed most of the day. Then Monday, what should have been the start of my spring break, I spent posting to groups on my school district’s platform to reach out to parents and students. That took up most of Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday, I was in a routine for our new normal and was ready to pick back up with genealogy.

My advice if, like me, you’re stuck at home – DO NOT SIT ALL DAY IN FRONT OF YOUR COMPUTER! You will get lulled into a stupor, miss clues and follow a path down a rabbit hole that won’t help you find what you’re seeking. Instead, this is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on your practice and do the things that you’ve been meaning to do but put off. Here’s some ideas:

1. Clean your work area. You might uncover a note to self of a document you wanted to investigate, an email you wanted to send or copies of research you meant to review but didn’t get around to it. I found some great ideas for future blog posts which leads me to recommending…

2. Start your own blog. It’s easy, it’s fun to connect to others who are as passionate as you are and it can be free. I post in two places – Google’s Blogger and on my own website (which I do pay to maintain). Not sure what to write about? Whatever you’re interested in is fine. You’d be surprised at how many far-flung family members will find you if you post about a surname, especially an uncommon one. The thought of surnames leads me to realize…

3. We aren’t the only generation that’s experienced working from home. I bet, like me, you have a sizeable number of ancestors who were farmers. They lived on the place they worked. My husband’s side had a number of mariners who lived on their boats and retailers who lived above their stores. I’ve also had tavernkeepers who lived on site. Travel, back in the day, was often difficult which explains why deeds weren’t presented in a timely manner, obits weren’t noticed in the nearest city’s newspaper and children learned at home. If you’re getting claustrophobic, take your electronic device outside, Google a location, select “more” from the ribbon and click “Books.” Now pick an old book from your selected location and read about what life was like when your ancestor was homebound. Highlight or take notes on anything that gives you an idea for further research. Some ideas are the name of the church denomination that was there in 1809, the old cemetery that isn’t listed on Find-A-Grave or Billion Graves, or where the courthouse was located. You can email the local genealogy society for more information on where those records may be housed and then take that info and turn it into a…

4. Research Question. This is a wonderful opportunity to up your genealogy practices and truly write down what you want answered. Every genealogy software program has somewhere you can record your question, be it notes or comments. I sometimes even use stickees to keep me on track. Post it right on your screen to stay focused. Research shows that we need to give our brains a break from intense focusing so…

5. Get up and move for a bit. Walk around your house and put labels on the bottom of family heirlooms. Sure, you know who owned what but that doesn’t mean your descendants will remember. Stand and sort that pile of papers you meant to file or reorganize your files entirely. I like sorting by surname and then alphabetically by first name but whatever works for you is fine. Now stand and scan the info, saving to your external hard drive, cloud or other device. Wow, you just got some exercise, rested your brain and accomplished a task you’ve been putting off for awhile. Good for you! Part 2 with more ideas coming soon.

Mother’s Day Ideas

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I thought of some unique ideas that don’t take a lot of time that mom would really value. Lucky you, since you’re into genealogy, you’ve got the information to share.

This idea I got from my church – they requested a brief (meaning less than 500 words) bio of a special mom. Note the word special; that mom doesn’t have to be by blood. I really liked that concept. So remember those special moms on Mother’s Day, too! Not sure who that could be? Think family friend, neighbor, teacher, or perhaps, an older sister. that you looked to for guidance. If they’re no longer living, create a Find-A-Grave memorial page or donate to a cause they were passionate about.

Now back to the brief bio idea…this only takes a few minutes to write, print and frame. Add a picture and get some input from siblings or grandchildren. A personalized gift was always valued by my mom and I wish I had thought of this while she was still living.

Last month, Ancestry.com advertised a Mother’s Day promotion and even though it’s too late to enter, the method, a video, is another wonderful way to honor mom. I think it would be awesome to highlight several moms in a line this way. Adding music of the time period, documents with signatures and your voice over as a connection across the ages could be powerful. Geez, you could even make copies on a thumb drive to use for stocking stuffers at Christmas.

A spin off of the Ancestry.com idea made me think of a mom in my past that had overcome adversity. Your tree is most likely full of hard working women who have made a positive impact. Pick one as your heroine and simply write that individuals name on a stickee to be placed near your computer. If you have her picture, put it on your phone for another visible reminder of strength. We can all use a little motherly love during a stressful workday! It’s a neat gift to give yourself.