Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

The rejuvenating effect of switching my research focus

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I’ve been researching my family pretty seriously for more than a dozen years. My progress has been slow and careful and the excitement of beginning that research is a dim memory. If I’m being honest, I’ve been less motivated about my genealogy research over the last year or so; that’s because of other pressures in my life but also because the research may have become a little stale.

This month I decided to research my husband’s family, for the first time. It started over an idle question about what year they were married, since I’m privileged to wear my mother-in-law’s engagement ring.  I did a quick search and came up with two wedding dates. It turns out both dates were right–they were married secretly out of state at the age 17 (they lied and said they were 21!) and then again a year later in an official ceremony, something that is part of family lore. Just finding those dates was a thrill and it was so fun to share what I’d learned with my husband, Barry.

So I’m off to the races with a new family. I’m sure I’ll get back to my familiar ancestors before too long, but in the interim it’s fun to relive the thrill of discovery with something new. If you’re getting bored with your research, you might try picking a new branch of your family or researching the family of a spouses or friend!

 

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Quick Tip #40: Always look for the document image

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Here’s the next in my occasional series of bite-size Quick Tips. Click on the Quick Tips tag for my other Quick Tips. Because I tend to write longer posts, I wanted to provide a quick-to-read (and quick-to-write) post every now and then on a small topic that pops into my head. This one is important for new genealogists to understand.

Always look for the document image

When we’re searching online, it can be exciting to find a record that verifies information or gives you new information. But here’s something to keep in mind: If that record is an index, have you more work to do. You want to try to find the original document that was indexed, if at all possible. That document will probably give you more information than was provided in the index. And by looking at the original document, you’re increasing the chance that the information is accurate. Indexes are great to find, but the original documents are even better.

Photo by Sam Dan Truong on Unsplash

New 30 x 30 challenge

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Tomorrow is the first of the month and I’m ready to start another 30 x 30 challenge. I was a little hesitant because I failed so miserably in my January 30 x 30 challenge. But I realized that’s not a good reason not to try again.

I want to be kind to myself and not put too much pressure on my time in March, so I’ve tinkered with what I’m committing to this time. I’d like to average 30 minutes a day over the next 30 days (starting tomorrow), doing genealogy research, genealogy organizing, genealogy learning (i.e. RootsTech sessions, webinars, and the Mid-Continent Public Library Spring Seminar, which I’m planning to attend) and genealogy writing. I’m working on a new Orderly Roots Guide and I have been having trouble prioritizing it. So I’ll allow that work time to count toward my 30 x 30. That’s what feels good to me this month.

How about you? Would you like to join me in doing 30 minutes of genealogy-related activities for 30 days in a row in March? If so, how will you modify the challenge to fit your needs? Please let me know in the comments if you’re in. I’ll be posting a mid-month check-in as well as a wrap up post.

Here’s to a great month!

Creating a virtual RootsTech playlist

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It’s that time of year again! The RootsTech conference will be held March 2 to 4, 2023. This year, they’re offering the conference both in-person and virtually. I made the decision not to attend in person, but I did register for the virtual conference and spent a little bit of time this morning putting some sessions onto my playlist. (It’s not too late to register for either option!)

I’m easily overwhelmed by choices and I found the choices of sessions to watch over the last two virtual conferences a little overwhelming. In case you’re the same way, I thought I’d share how I went about creating a playlist for me to watch next week or beyond. (I’m assuming, though I don’t know for sure, that the main stage sessions will be recorded for future watching.)

  1. First, I registered for the conference. (I did that back in January.)
  2. Then I logged into the Rootstech website by clicking on Sign In in the top menu bar.
  3. I clicked RootsTech 2023 in the top menu bar, then Calendar (in the Virtual section). I went through both the Main Stage and Sessions listings, clicking the Add to Playlist button for those sessions I didn’t want to miss.
  4. Then I clicked On Demand in the top menu bar, then Browse the Library. I was pleased to see 2023 sessions listed, though I won’t be able to watch them until the conference starts. I added to my playlist the sessions that caught my fancy.
  5. I didn’t want to have to browse all the offerings, so I clicked on Search the Full Library. Then I put the Filters to work for me. I selected English and 2023 (that narrowed it to 228 classes) and then I used the Search function. I searched for Organizing and got a very manageable 13 results. I selected some of those to add to my playlist.

In less than ten minutes, I added 22 sessions to my playlist. And I noticed that my playlists from 2021 and 2022 are still available!

There are so many learning opportunities at RootsTech. I’m sad not to be attending in person but I am very grateful that RootsTech makes it so easy (and inexpensive–it’s free!) to participate from home.