When the self-isolation around the COVID-19 crisis started, I jotted down some things I might do to occupy my time. I was inspired at RootsTech to volunteer to index once again for Family Search (I hadn’t done it since the 2017 Worldwide Indexing Event) so I added indexing to my list. This past week, I gave it a try.
Family Search makes it so easy to volunteer to index. I logged in, selected Indexing from the top menu bar, then Find a Project. I focused on the United States (there are plenty of opportunities in other countries as well), then selected “US, Michigan–Naturalization Records, 1837-1933.” I did a thorough reading of the instructions and indexed a batch. I only did it for a short while that day, but I plan to go back to it this weekend.
If you’re getting a little tired of your own research, this might be a nice change of pace. As someone who has benefited from the volunteer indexing efforts of others, it feels nice to contribute. And here’s a bonus: Indexing might make you a better researcher!
I’ve never done this, but I think I might try! Thanks for the idea!
That’s great, Melissa! I bet you’ll enjoy it. It feels great to give back.
I agree. This is a great way to feel productive and add some positives to this social isolation. It is my hope that when the isolation is over, we will have more robust genealogies, both because we were able to do more research, and because we were able to help progress our genealogies as a whole through indexing, sharing our genealogy, etc.
That’s a wonderful attitude, Shasta! Thanks for your comment.
Thank you for indexing and especially the Michigan Naturalization records. That’s the project I am indexing also. I do 3-4 records every night and have credit for almost 2000 records. It is my way to pay it forward for all the records I have found on FamilySearch.org for my ancestors. And it’s very interesting to see where the immigrants came from over the years, from Europe to Middle East.
2000 records! That’s amazing and inspirational, Lynn! Thanks for commenting.