Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

Help me decide…

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I’ve been thinking that my next Orderly Roots Guide would be The Imperfect Genealogist, based on the talk of the same name I’ve given at RootsTech and various genealogy societies. I’m the co-host of the podcast Getting to Good Enough, all about letting go of perfectionism so you can do more of what you love, so it’s a topic that’s near and dear to my heart. But the other day I started having doubts about whether it’s something people would be interested in buying. So I figured I’d ask my blog readers.

I’m thinking that the guide would cover the following:

  • Why perfectionism can be a problem for genealogists
  • Areas of your research that can benefit from a “good enough” approach
  • Areas where good enough isn’t actually good enough
  • Some ideas for letting go of perfectionism

Like my three other shorter guides, this downloadable pdf would probably be about 10 to 12 pages and sell for $8.99.

Please let me know in the comments if you think that The Imperfect Genealogist is a good topic for a guide. And, please, if you have other ideas for guides you’d like to see, let me know in the comments! I appreciate any input you have.

P.S. If you’re going to the Spring Seminar at the Midwest Genealogy Conference in Independence, Missouri, on Saturday, let’s meet up!

March 30 x 30 challenge mid-month check-in

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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!

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

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When you first join the list, I’ll send you a few emails to help you organize your family history. After that you’ll hear from me at the end of every month when I send an email with links to that month’s posts. And every now and then, I’ll let you know when I have something special to promote.