When you discover a lengthy file for an ancestor, how do you deal with the many pages it may contain and the information it holds? Do you transcribe it? Create an abstract? What if you can’t read some of the handwriting? Four tips can get you started in working with original documents. Transcription or Abstract – What’s the Difference? You may have heard the terms abstract or transcription in regards to genealogy and wondered about...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about organizing and keeping track of the names you find on records that don’t fit into your family tree. The friends, associates, and neighbors of your ancestors are important to know and research, but where do you record your findings? Can you add them to your family tree software? We discuss this question and more. Tune in to hear how you can organize your ancestor’s FAN club...
Can we tell the story of our great-grandmothers when few records naming them exist? What sources can we use to weave a narrative that will draw us closer to them as well as honor their contributions? My great, great-grandmother, Eliza Ann Isenhour died in Indian Territory at the age of 48. According to family stories, she was full-blooded Cherokee. I wanted to know more about this woman whose DNA I carry. Researching her story revealed...
The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is a subject index to family and local history literature published in periodicals. Originally created in 1986 by the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, it is the second largest family history library in the United States, in print and fiche formats. PERSI now includes more than 11,000 genealogical, historical, and patriotic periodicals, including magazines, newsletters, journals created by societies from around the...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the FAN club. When you research your ancestors, do you pay attention to their neighbors on the census? The bondsmen, godparents, witnesses, doctors, and people with the same occupation? These all make up the friends, associates, and neighbors of your ancestors. Researching the FAN club is a strategy Diana and I have used often in our own research and research for clients. Join us as we...
Are you ready for some in-depth learning this summer? Three big genealogical educational opportunities have opened up to you by going virtual. If you’ve always wanted to attend an institute or a national genealogy conference, here is your chance. With no travel or hotel costs and the comfort of watching from home, this is an excellent opportunity for all genealogists of any level of experience. National Genealogical Society (NGS) Conference NGS was scheduled for May...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about pensions given to soldiers of various U.S. conflicts. Our guest, Michael Strauss, AG, discusses each war, the kind of pension records that are available to veterans and survivors, and where to find them. Join us as we talk with Michael about this substantial federal record group. Links Prologue Magazine – National Archives Publication Genealogy Research Network – website of Michael Strauss, includes his lectures, speaking schedule,...
Genealogy Standard #28 states, “Genealogists attach citations to images and printouts.”[1] This is to ensure that a record will never be without its citation, but what is the best way to do this? I have tried a few different approaches with varying degrees of success, but then I tried Canva, a free online publishing tool that makes it possible to “design anything and publish anywhere.” I had been using Canva for several years to create...
Do you have a specific way to deal with the genealogy documents that you scan or download from a website? Have you set up digital file folders for your documents? How do you attach a citation to a document so it doesn’t become separated from it’s source? These are all questions we grapple with until we decide on a protocol that works for us. There is no one size fits all, when it comes to...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about a research project Nicole did for a client in the 19th century in England and New York. We discuss each step of the research like a pro process and how it helped find a solution. Join us as we discuss the known information, creating a research plan, finding candidates, and eliminating them until only one remained. Links RLP eCourse coupon code: RLP89RT2020 (expires April 30, 2020)...
