Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

Some changes to Organize Your Family History

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Over the weekend, I made some upgrades to this website. Before now, it was a blog only. But I added a few pages, which you can find in the navigation bar at the top of the page. I think that turns it from a blog into a website!

Here’s a summary of what’s new and different:

  • Rather than seeing four full blog posts showing on each page, you’ll now find excerpts from six blog posts will be on each page. Just click the title of any post to see the whole post.
  • I changed up my bio in the sidebar and added a photo, so you can put a face with Organize Your Family History.
  • You can now search blog posts by category, as well as tag.
  • Speaking of searching, the search function has been moved from the bottom of the page to the top.
  • You can get a better sense of what Organize Your Family History is about, via the new About page.
  • I’m now offering some genealogy-related organizing services, which are described in the new Services section.
  • I included a link in the navigation bar to Peace of Mind Organizing, the organizing business I started in 2005.
  • You can now easily download free printables that were previously buried within blog posts. I intend to create and add more free downloads (and perhaps even some paid downloadable products).
  • I added a Contact form. (Feel free to drop me a note!)

In the coming months, I intend to amp up my attention to this site and I hope you’ll find the new content both interesting helpful. If you have any specific topics you’d like to see me cover, please let me know either via the comments or the contact form!

Just registered for RootsTech!

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rootstechlogoI am very excited to be attending my first large-scale genealogy conference. Yesterday, I registered for RootsTech 2014, which will be held in Salt Lake City, February 6 to 8. Looking into the conference had been on my to-do list for awhile. When I finally went to the website, I was surprised and delighted to see that the early-bird conference registration fee for a four-day, full-access pass was only $159. That includes more than 200 classes. Talk about a deal. I didn’t hesitate for a moment.

In case you’re not familiar with it, RootsTech (in the words of its website) is, “A global family history event where people of all ages learn to discover and share their family stories and connections through technology. At RootsTech, there is something for you, regardless of your experience in family history or your skill in technology.”

I love the focus on technology. I love the notion of mingling with fellow genealogy enthusiasts and talking with the vendors. And I’m delighted by the idea of the educational sessions. I saw a couple of the talks that were streamed over over the internet last year and was inspired and impressed. I told myself I wanted to attend next year. And now I am.

Have you registered for RootsTech? If you’ll be attending, please let me know. I’d love to meet you!

Genealogy Roadshow premieres Monday!

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roadshowlogoI’m so excited! Genealogy Roadshow (which I mentioned in a blog post back in June) is set to premiere on PBS on Monday at 9 pm eastern/8 pm central.

From what I can tell, the concept is that the show is “Antiques Roadshow” meets “Who Do You Think You Are?” On the show, advertisers help average people explore unverified genealogical claims (stories passed down through the generations). I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a good time to me! According to the show’s website, “Genealogy Roadshow will unearth family and community secrets, reveal notable relatives and discover unexpected stories that connect the past to the present.”

I’m not able to watch live, since I’m out of town, but thanks to the miracle of the PBS Roku channel, I’ll be able to watch it on demand when I get home. Or, I’m sure, I can watch it on my computer at PBS’ website.

I can’t wait! Will you be tuning in?

Preserving photos and documents

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BeaAdamscroppedMy father was recently sent a packet of aging newspaper clippings and some photographs by a cousin. She was cleaning out her mother’s home after a downsizing (her mother is my grandfather’s sister) and thought my father would enjoy the clippings and photos about his parents, Dave and Bea Adams. There were also a couple of clippings about my father, Gene Adams.

They were delightful to look at and read. My grandfather had published a small-town weekly newspaper (The Franklin County Graphic) and several of the clippings were humorous essays by him, about my grandmother. Real treasures. There were also photographs, probably taken by my grandfather who was also the newspaper’s photographer, of my grandmother all dolled up. I knew her as very casual dresser, so they were really fun to see. I’ve included one with this post–I don’t know why there’s a veil attached to her hat.

Anyway, I wanted to treat these treasures properly. The newspaper clippings are yellowing and getting fragile. They were mushed together with the photos in an envelope. Fortunately, I have a few resources that I’d purchased to help me make sure these items get the proper treatment. They include:

Thanks for these resources, I’ve done the following with my treasures:

  • I’ve put the newspaper clippings into an archival folder, separated from the photos, and will have them photocopied onto archival paper. (They’re too big for my scanner.) They’re safe in an archival box.
  • I’ve put the photographs into a labeled archival envelope in an archival box.

This is making me want to get my hands on more documents and photos. My mother has a box of them in her closet that I think I’ll bring home with me next time I visit.