Embracing Evernote

February 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A couple of days ago I wrote that I was ready to give Evernote a try in organizing my genealogy notes. The truth of the matter is that it’s been a crazy busy week in my business and I haven’t had a chance to do any family history research and give Evernote a test drive.

On Wednesday, I did a web search to try to get my head around how Evernote could help me with my family history research. I quickly was overwhelmed when I didn’t find exactly what I needed. So I stopped looking.

But then, while I was at the gym, I listened to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast comparing Evernote to Microsoft’s OneNote. That led me to her Premium Video all about Evernote. And that was all I needed to really feel comfortable with giving Evernote a trial run.

I am so excited by the notion that, using Evernote, I can quickly keep and organize my notes, documents, newspaper articles as I come to them during the course of my research. I have a feeling that my consumption of printer paper and toner is about to go down.

I’ve known about Evernote for years and had friends show me how they use it. But I never felt like I had the problem it was solving.  But now I can see how it really might simplify my genealogy life. And I look forward to telling you that I’m right. (I promise to tell you if I’m wrong, too!)

Filed Under: Challenges, General, Organizing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Exploring Evernote for genealogy

February 13, 2013 By 4 Comments

Evernote logoI blogged awhile back that I wanted to start using research logs for my genealogy research. I have to admit, it’s been a bit of a failure. I found the Excel spreadsheet format I used constricting and then I didn’t remember to log my research. But I’m convinced it’s important and I want to refocus my efforts. This morning, I did a little Google searching to try to find suggestions for formats for research logs that might be more useful for me.

As part of that searching, I stumbled upon an article entitled Evernote: The Total Recall Research Log in the Winter 2011 issue of Forum, the Magazine of Federated Genealogical Societies. It’s all about on using Evernote, the cloud-based note management technology, to create and  maintain research logs.

I’m intrigued. I’ve used Evernote sporadically for a few years but have been wanting to learn more about it. As I’ve heard genealogy buffs extol its virtues for help with family history research, I’ve been meaning to explore it more. Today, I think I’ve finally activated that aspiration.

I downloaded the latest version of Evernote for the Mac. I updated the app on my iPhone. I entered my first note. I’ve read articles on the web. And if I feel I need a little extra help, I’ll download the Family Tree University on-demand video class, Using Evernote.

I think my interest in using research logs will dovetail nicely with my interest in using Evernote more for genealogy research. When I look at the Total Recall Research Log of Genealogical Research, which shows detailed research log entries in Evernote, I’m really drawn in.

Do you use Evernote to help you in your family history research? If so, how?

Filed Under: Challenges, General Tagged With: , , , ,