We’re halfway through March and it’s time to report in. If you’re participating in the 30 x 30 challenge, how’s it going?
I have to admit I’ve had trouble carving out time for genealogy research (or even genealogy writing) this month, though I’m fairly confident that if I didn’t have a challenge going I wouldn’t be doing anything. As I posted last week, I’ve enjoyed turning my attention to my husband’s family in the time I’m able to research. And I’m proud of myself for keeping up my informal research log each session. With any luck, I’ll do more research in the latter half of the month. I’ll be attending the Mid-Continent Public Library’s Spring Seminar next weekend in Independence, Missouri, so that will give me some quality time with my research.
How about you? Please let us know in the comments how it’s going!
I so need to join into 30×30 right now! I am recuperating from a cross country move in January interrupted by 6 days in the hospital part way.
Now, as I am feeling better and begin unpacking books, files, etc., I am discovering the helper relatives moved some files from containers into other boxes – no sense of continuity! It will take me a long time to get reorganized. While I appreciate the well meaning help, I am frustrated, but 30×30 should get me back on track!
That’s such a bummer, Doris! But it is the kind of project that small, daily action will help with. Good luck!
I’ve watched three Roots Tech videos and will watch a few more today. I was also able to post the narrative on my paternal great-great grandparents. I’m not able to attend that seminar next weekend but would love to learn more about processing ephemera. I have SEVERAL boxes of that stuff and need help with it! Do you know if the presentation or any notes will be posted anywhere? I’m a member of the mymcpl. Have fun and enjoy!
I don’t know whether the presentation or handouts will be posted anywhere; I can ask. You might reach out to mcpl, since you’re a member. That should be a very interesting talk! Congrats on the progress you’ve made this month, Zenda!
This challenge has been a great incentive to work on (and hopefully complete) a genealogy
course. I also spent a day with a professional genealogist in our state archives delving into hard to access records — now to process them during the remainder of the month. Thanks so much, Janine.
That’s fantastic, Gwen! Sounds like a really wonderful month so far–I’m really glad the challenge was helpful.
I’ve told my lineage research and Revolutionary War Patriot ancestors to be patient. I’m a weekday companion to my two-year-old grandson until his parents secure a new daycare facility. Kowen and I have fun exploring his world. I’m also teaching him American Sign Language.
Your ancestors will be there when you have time for them, but your grandson will only be two for a short time. Enjoy! How cool that you’re teaching him ASL!!
Well, visiting my daughter last week in California, and friends this weekend in Delaware,I am not going to be a true 30×30 family historian this month. Such is life! Onward and upward!
Spending time with (living) family members is very important! I hope you’re having a great time.
I’ve been doing pretty well with processing the vast amount of media I have. Some days I have managed to process more than the 8 items I had planned on and all in all I have definitely made a big dent in the total amount.
That’s fantastic, Cheryl!
For 3rd month in a row doing great on the 30 x 30 challenge mostly cleaning up my tree and adding sources for what I already have.
That’s terrific. I love hearing these reports!
I’ve had a hard time with my own plan for the month, but the 15th jolted me into gear. So I moved the hour of the day when I work on my challenge to a time when it is less likely to conflict with seeing friends. I also changed my session goal to processing one couple rather than working 30 minutes, since it takes about 10 minutes just to refamilarize myself with them. It doesn’t make sense to drop that context-in-my-head when the 30-minute timer goes off, when I might need only another 5 or 10 minutes to finish the task.
My heart was lifted yesterday when I came across a carefully organized will abstract that I made years ago. Organizing pays dividends. Let’s keep it up.
Very smart to shift your work time and your goal, Marian! And I bet your current self was very grateful to your past self for the diligent work! Bravo.
Janine, you are doing great! I like your idea of researching your husband’s side.
I did a bit of that too. My husband took a DNA test at Christmas. He got the results in February. I spent time working through the DNA matches and was able to confirm my mother-in-law’s genelaogical paper trail. It was rather cool to see it play out. All of her hard work for the last 27 years or so paid off.
My 30 by 30 thus far as been eclectic. I’m watching webinars, working on a lead to hopefully identify the maiden name of a 4th great-grandmother and working on an ongoing DNA project.
Something I noticed in the last few months is that I don’t allow myself to slow down enough and let my mind to process all the details like I use to do before the dawn of the internet. I find that when I have the subscriptions, I want to make the most of the money spent. I’m hoping this will free my mind to explore new possibilities of writing more about my ancestors. This is something I’ve wanted to do but never felt like I had the time to do.
Mary, how wonderful that your mother-in-law’s genealogy work was confirmed by DNA! It sounds to me like you’ve had a terrific month. I love your goal of writing more about your ancestors. The process of doing that will not only cement your knowledge of your ancestors (and see what holes you need to fill in) but it’s such a wonderful way to share your research.
I have been going through newspapers on My Heritage. And I am finally finding the dates and newspapers for most of the articles that I have inherited. Even found some missing obits. Keep up the challenge’s because they keep us motivated.
That’s terrific, Trish. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment when I can date undated newspaper clippings! Glad you’re having such a great month.