Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

The 2020 Census is here!

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As genealogists we understand the importance and value of the census. If you’re like me, you’re excited that this year is a census year. I’ve always loved filling out the census form and see it as a privilege, as well as an obligation. I spent my first five years after college working for the Population Reference Bureau, a non-profit clearinghouse for demographic information. We used census data all the time. Then when I got into genealogy the census became even more important.

I received my census mailing this week and opened the envelope eagerly. This year, of course, I did not find a form to fill out. Instead, I found a code to enter when I went to the URL provided in the mailing. Filling out the form was quick–there were very few questions to answer. There are just two people in my household (my husband and me) and we have a straightforward relationship (opposite sex, married). I found it very interesting to read the various relationship options and was pleased at how inclusive it seemed to be.

The only challenge came in the Race section, when asked to provide origin. I actually checked my updated Ancestry DNA results so I could provide an accurate answer (“English, Irish”). But my husband wasn’t home and I wasn’t sure what to put for him. So I texted him for the answer (“Russian”). While I waited for his response, I took a look at various “Race” options and was kind tickled that I there were races I had to look up. I had never heard of Chamorro, for example: “a member of the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands (including Guam).”

If you haven’t taken the Census yet and would like a preview of the questions, check out this Questions Asked on the Form page on the Census2020 website. It provides rationale for each question, which is interesting.

My 89-year-old father doesn’t have a computer and doesn’t use the Internet. I offered to fill out the form for him on my computer (he received the mailing with the personalized code) but he’s hoping the Census Bureau will eventually send an enumerator. (Presumably after the COVID-19 crisis is over.) He’s a social guy and would welcome the human interaction!

In any case, filling out the form was a thrill for me, as it is every ten years, and it’s making me very excited for the 1950 census to be released in April 2022!

Time for a mid-month check in!

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It’s the middle of March and we’re in the middle of a 30 x 30 challenge. Now’s your chance to let us know it’s going for you!

I have to admit that it is not going well for me. At all. I’ve been very busy with organizing clients (yay!) and my spare time seems to be spent obsessing over the current COVID-19 crisis. I’m spending more time than I should, probably, reading and stressing. I think I’d be better off focusing on my ancestors, but that’s just not happening. (Today over on my organizing blog, I wrote about making the most of your time at home; I should take my own advice and do more family history research!)

I sincerely hope that it’s going better for you and that I have a better report at the end of the month–I haven’t given up! Please let us know how your challenge is going!

Hiring a professional genealogist

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Every now and then I hear from someone who is interested in hiring a professional genealogist. I’m not one (though I do offer professional genealogy-organizing services) and I usually point those inquirers to the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) to find a genealogy consultant. I definitely stand by that method.

At RootsTech, I became aware of another way to approach finding a professional genealogist: Trace.com. They’re middle men between professional genealogists and and people who need those services. (According to their FAQ page, they started as AncestorCloud, then acquired Genealogists.com and then created Trace.com)

If you have a need for a genealogist, you pay a deposit to Trace and describe your research question. The folks at Trace flesh out the question to create a project. They then contact researchers in their network of 4,000 researchers in 90 countries (who are contractors, not employees) and request proposals. They screen the proposals before sending them to you. You select one of the proposals and Trace manages the project. The company says they are “on a mission to make genealogy research accessible and affordable.” As someone who is easily overwhelmed by choices, I can see how their service would make hiring a genealogist feel easier.

At RootsTech, I had a chance to try them out. Trace was offering free 30-minute coaching sessions with their genealogists. I signed up in advance of the conference was asked to present a research question. I decided to ask for help tracing the whereabouts of my second great grandfather, George Washington Adams, between the time his second wife left him in 1919 (according to divorce papers) and his entry into the Old Soldiers Home in 1922. I have not been able to find him on the 1920 census and it’s been driving me crazy.

My genealogist, Aimee, was not able to answer the question (nor would I expect her to in 30 minutes) but she did give me some avenues for exploration that I hadn’t thought of. It was definitely time well spent. And it gave me a little taste of the service. I quizzed Aimee a bit about Trace and learned that she was very happy working with them.

If you’re interested in hiring a professional genealogist, you might look into Trace as well as consulting the APG website.

 

 

An impromptu 30 x 30 challenge (March 2020 edition)

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It’s March 1 and I’m sitting at the airport in Salt Lake City, watching the snow fall and waiting to go home to St. Louis, where it should be 65 degrees. I took out a piece of paper and started mind mapping some notes and reflections. It hit me that what I really need is a 30 x 30 challenge. February was a blur for me and while I spent time thinking about genealogy because I was putting the final touches on my RootsTech presentation (which went well!), I barely did any family history research of my own. (I did manage to squeeze in a little time at the Family History Library.)

So I’m creating a 30 x 30 challenge this month, where I commit to doing 30 minutes of research every day. Or at least I’ll strive for daily research that totals 900 minutes by the end of the month.  Does anyone want to join me?

I find making this commitment to be really motivating. I’m an Upholder, for those of you who are familiar with Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies. The 30 x 30 challenge elevates my genealogy research to the top of my priority list. Since I am not traveling again until April 1, this seems like a great month to do it.

Please let me know in the comments if you’d like to take part of the challenge. Feel free to say what you’ll be working on (though don’t feel like you have to).

RootsTech was great, by the way. This coming week, I’ll write a post-RootsTech post.