Feeling a little bogged down with your genealogy research? Need a fun project for the summer that just might have the added bonus of helping break down a brick wall? Try creating a timeline for your family. I had finished writing the report for my first generation of my accreditation project, but I lacked any mention of church records. Those are important for researching in the south, but my family moved around so much in Indian Territory/Oklahoma, that I didn't know where to start. To find church records, I needed to know my family's religion and an idea of locations where...
Have you considered becoming an Accredited Genealogist (AG)? Ever wondered about the process or what you can do to start preparing? In January 2016 I wrote about setting a goal to become an AG and it's time for an update on my progress. Accreditation is through The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Their website details information about the accreditation process. Here are some highlights: -Credentials are awarded on a regional basis which allows the applicant to demonstrate their depth of knowledge of the key records, history, geography, and language of the region of interest in measurable ways. -Each applicant is required to...
I'm excited to announce that Nicole and I have been invited as official bloggers to Brigham Young University's Conference on Family History & Genealogy held July 26th -29th. Whether you're looking for a way to boost your family history knowledge, get inspired to tackle your next project, or just need to kick start your efforts, you'll find what you need at this conference. Held on the beautiful BYU campus in Provo, Utah, this conference combines fabulous classes with access to the BYU Family History Library. Plan to come a day early or stay a day extra to take advantage of...
Are you a visual learner? When you're sorting out your family history research do you often resort to drawing little diagrams on paper to help you make sense of what have and don't have? When faced with a difficult research problem, I have often done the drawing thing, only to have to erase, redraw, and waste a lot of time in the process. I recently decided to try mind mapping a research project just to see how it would work for me. How did it work? Keep reading and I'll fill you in. My mind mapping journey began with Peg...
Have you ever wondered why you are asked to type a reason statement every time you change information or add a source to the FamilySearch (FS) Family Tree? Are you a genealogist frustrated with the collaborative aspect of FS Family Tree because others can change your information? If yes, read on. I teach a beginner's class during Sunday School in my LDS ward with people from all parts of the genealogy world: teens and adults just beginning to use FS Family Tree, hobbyists who have done genealogy for years but are just learning to use FS Family Tree, and those of us leaning towards becoming...
Have you hit the proverbial brick wall in your family history research? Are you at a loss for taking the next step? What you might need is to invest in a local family history book written about your ancestor’s town, county, or general area. I wrote about the importance of understanding localities in my post “Location, Location, Location: Putting Your Ancestors in their Place.” Today's post is about learning even more about that place where your ancestors lived. I was at a loss about how to research records in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory that would become part of Oklahoma...
Are you a bit intimidated by probate research? Have you located a will but neglected to find the "rest of the story?" With probate records being digitized by Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, chances are you have some exciting discoveries to be made. Did you know that the Probate Estate packet of your ancestor can be a real page turner? Or should I say, “next image” turner. I made a huge find recently when I searched for my ancestor, Thomas B. Royston in Ancestry.com’s new collection: “Alabama, Wills and Probate Records.” Over fifty images were just waiting for me to peruse. Since the packet is...
Do you need to reignite your genealogy spark? No time or money for a genealogy conference? Maybe what you need is to try out a free webinar and see how easy it is to build your knowledge one hour at a time, from the comfort of your home. I had been hearing about webinars for years, but just hadn’t jumped on the bandwagon . . .until last month. I got an email about joining the Legacy Family Tree Webinars, clicked the link, and learned that if I registered for the webinar, I could watch it live for free. If I...
Have you ever been sucked into the whirlpool of internet record searches and an hour or two surfaced wondering where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished? It is so easy to get distracted by all the goodies that are available online: census records, birth certificates, cemetery records, and so much more. How can you put some order into your research? Try formulating an objective and watch your efforts come into focus. I recently started my Accreditation Study group with ICAPGen and my latest assignment was to craft an objective for my Four- generation Project. I readily admit that until lately I...
How well do you know the women in your recent family’s history? Have you wondered how they weathered the changes of the 20th century? Do you know of their contributions to community? As part of Women’s History Month, I went in search of my 20th century ancestor to determine her involvement in public service. My reward was discovering facets of my grandmother’s life that just needed to be contextualized to give them meaning. Researching 20th century ancestors is rewarding. Unlike the previous centuries where we’re thrilled to find a handful of documents, our 20th century ancestors have a plethora of...
