In early May, I wrote a blog post asking you how you use Facebook for genealogy. Unfortunately, a WordPress problem caused the comment Submit button to disappear and readers couldn’t answer the question. So I thought I’d try again. Please let me know how you use Facebook for your research!
Facebook has become part of my daily life and, I bet, yours. It’s almost hard to imagine how we navigated the online world without it. I use it for lots of things, but I don’t use it a whole lot to further my genealogy research. I’d like that to change.
I know that Facebook offers a lot to genealogists and I’m wondering how you all use it. I belong to a few genealogy-related Facebook groups that I find really helpful when I take the time to read them. They are:
- The Organized Genealogist
- GeneaBloggers
- Technology for Genealogy
- Genealogy! Just Ask!
- Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK USA)
- Genealogy Chit-Chat
- Missouri Genealogy Network
- St. Louis Genealogical Society
I’m also a part of one family group, which was helpful when a reunion was being organized last year. And, of course, I have the Organize Your Family History Facebook page.
Are there other genealogy-related groups or communities that you recommend? Do you use Facebook to find cousins or otherwise further your research? I’d love to hear about it!
Hi As always, love this blog, it’s the top of my list! As for Facebook groups, because I do a lot of Spanish language research, I am on Somos Primos (We Are Cousins), Early California Genealogy, Family Tree DNA and Genealogical Society of Hispanic America. All filled with great information and links.
Thank you so much, Maria, for the compliment and for sharing those resources!
Find Facebook groups for geographical areas. I found a Guysborough County (Nova Scotia) facebook group and when I posted my surnames, someone reached out to me and we figured we were 4th cousins or so (surname Hull). It turns out she is a real estate agent there and when I wanted to see if there were any descendants of my maiden name ancestor (surname Pyle), she let me know that there were and put me in touch with them. I even paid for a Y-DNA test for a 3rd cousin of my father’s which I will blog about when the results come in.
Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth! I hope your cousin’s Y-DNA test reveals lots of great stuff!
Thank you for this posting. One of the largest FB sites is Genealogists.com. Another fabulous site for simply asking questions about your research is https://www.facebook.com/groups/728560780527943. Both have tremendous followings.
Thanks, Jim! I need to join the genealogists.com FB page. And I love Genealogy, Just Ask! The other page you reference. I appreciate your contribution!
Thanks for sharing, Jim! I’ll have to check out Genealogists.com’s Facebook page. And I love Genealgy! Just ask!, the other group you mentioned.
The obvious is to connect with distant cousins. But I have also used Facebook to ask for help at various county genealogical society Facebook pages.
Thanks, Steve! I love the idea of reaching out to county genealogical society’s FB pages.
I have a personal facebook page and was considering another facebook page for my genealogy. Does anyone else do this and any suggestions?
Audrey, since you’re commenting on an older blog post, I don’t know if you’ll get much response. But you might try posting the on the Facebook counterpart of this blog. (https://www.facebook.com/OrganizeYourFamilyHistory/)