Over the many years I have been researching, there have been several times where I’ve been advised against researching in valuable collections. A librarian, historian, or archivist might tell you that a certain set of files, index cards, or an electronic database or image doesn’t have anything to do with genealogy. Some have even said it would be a waste of time to check the record or index. A recent experience demonstrates how much we might miss if we heed that kind of advice.
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24-7 Family History Circle » Tips from the Pros: You Can’t Believe Everything You Hear, from Paula Stuart-Warren, CG
Monday, December 1st, 2008Passing It On: Family is defined by more than relatives
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008Family history isn’t limited to blood relatives or those who have entered our family tree through marriage, adoption or non-traditional means.
Our families are broader than that. They extend to those we touch, or those who touch us, often in ways not so easily recognized by those just beyond our inner circles.
This realization struck me with gale-like force this week at the public visitation for my mother Elsie, who died last week. Mom crammed a lot of living into her 86 years, 66 of them married to my dad. Together they built their own home, successfully raised three rambunctious boys, managed to enjoy a couple of decades as “snowbirds” and literally made sweet music right up to the end.
Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter: (+) The Importance of the Family Group Sheet by George G. Morgan
Monday, September 8th, 2008I have been reading Dick Eastman’s Newsletter for as long as I’ve been researching my family.
This is the best time in history to be conducting genealogical research. Genealogy has accelerated at breakneck speed since we began using computers in the 1980s or before. The introduction of the Personal Ancestral File (PAF) genealogy database software and all the subsequent programs for the PC and Macintosh has provided us with computerization of our research. It’s simply a matter of acquiring a piece of evidence and then entering the data and source citation.
The Internet brought the establishment of websites, such as RootsWeb.com, Ancestry.com, and FamilySearch.com, that allowed the upload of GEDCOM files. This allowed us to share information with other researchers and encouraged contact and collaboration with others. Message boards and e-mail mailing lists extended our research range and provided even more places to acquire information, albeit secondary or derivative evidence.
Truth or Goof: Where’s the Proof? by Mary Penner
Monday, September 8th, 2008If you don’t receive this newsletter you should sign up…Follow the link to read the whole article (and the rest of this issue)
What is a fact? Google the definition of “fact” and you’ll get a variety of answers. Most definitions hinge on the concept of truth; so, a common definition would be that a fact is something that can be proven to be true. Then how do you define “truth?” Well, one definition asserts that truth is a fact that has been verified. We’re back where we started.
Abraham Lincoln addressed the dilemma of truth by positing this question: “How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four — calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.” That’s the “aha” moment for genealogists; simply saying your ancestor was born on such and such a date in such and such a place doesn’t make it so. Unless you can travel back in time and witness your ancestor’s birth, you’ll never know the absolute truth about that happy event. Even eyewitnesses to events can mangle the facts; just ask any police detective investigating a crime.
24-7 Family History Circle » Truth or Goof: Where’s the Proof? by Mary Penner.
