Over on the Genealogy Research Loggers Facebook group, member Laura Aanenson posted her 2017 research plan and the brilliant method she uses to select the ancestor to research each session. I thought it was a such a great idea I asked her permission to write about it here.
She uses Family Tree Maker software that has a calendar function. Each day the calendar shows her the names of the ancestors who were born, died or married that day. Each session, she focuses on the ancestors that are listed that day, filling in blanks, answering questions and carefully logging her research, including her observations and further areas for investigation.
Laura wrote, “I find if I concentrate on just one branch of my tree, the others get neglected and I miss opportunities to connect with prospective cousins. My calendar-based log helps me turn nearly every leaf in my tree several times a year and move everyone at least one step forward.”
I find myself really excited by the idea, despite the fact that my 2017 research plan has me focusing me on a single line all year (and so far this year, I’ve just been working on one couple). I’m enjoying the focus, so I’m going to stick with it. But what I love about Laura’s method is the unpredictability of which ancestor will be researched each session. I think that makes everything more fun and exciting!
I imagine many family tree software programs have the calendar function. I checked Reunion, the software I use, and there is a calendar function I could use for this purpose, though it’s a little clunkier than what Laura is describing.
Feel free to join us at Genealogy Research Loggers if you’d like to learn other great ideas like these!
I think Laura Aanenson’s research plan is brilliant. I checked my genealogy software (AncestralQuest) and it can do a large variety of calendars.
Excellent, Cathy! Let us know if you try it!
What a fun twist! I love that idea.
I agree! I was just delighted when I heard about it.
Ive gone through my copy of Reunion but although it has something called ‘calendar’ it doesnt give the info in the same way as Laura gets it from her program. What did you find?
It’s definitely clunkier. If you click on Calendar in the sidebar section on the left, a dated list will show up on the right sidebar. Click on the gear at the bottom of that sidebar and you can select the event (like birth) and then select a specific day or month (or all months).
it does sound rather a faff but I will give this a go, thanks Janine
Don’t know the expression “rather a faff” but I love it! And I get it from context. Let me know if you get it to work out for you!
Try using reminders instead of calendar. I have mine set to come up in the sidebar as soon as I open Reunion. I use it as a guide to visit Find A Grave and leave flowers and check for any updates to the memorial. When I am in the mood to take a break from the research I am doing (I am concentrating on my Italian line for at least early this year) I do a quick google search to see what comes up. I don’t let it sidetrack me, but if I see something interesting, I either clip it in Evernote and add it to my ToDos or just enter the data into Reunion and save it.
Just last week I googled a 3rd cousin I’ve not met. I only knew his birthdate and parents and sibs. But the search came up with an obituary for his wife, who died in the past year. I know have a marriage date and place, a current (as of Jan 2016) place of residence, the company he retired from, and the names of his children and grandchild. Not bad for a 10 min google search!
I returned to my Italian line the next day, but it was a nice little ‘vacation’ from translating Italian marriage and birth records!
Wow, Kim, thank you so much!! My mind is officially blown. I had never even noticed the Reminders function in Reunion, which will bring to the sidebar your choice of births, deaths, marriages or all three that happened today or within a specified number of days in the next two weeks. I love that you can set it to display on startup. Thanks for taking the time to share it!
Janine,
I want to let you know that your wonderful blog post is listed in today’s Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2017/01/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-january-20.html
Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much, Jana!
I enjoyed reading about this, since I am doing a similar project with my blog this year. I am only doing ancestor’s birthdays and with a small database that is a little less than 90 for the year, but I’m finding it really helpful to look at each of these ancestors individually. Since I’ve researched for over thirty years, some of them hadn’t been looked at for a long time. If you look at my post on January 2nd about my genealogy goals, you will see an image of the birthday calendar I’m using.
That’s great, Joanne! I checked out your January 2nd blog post (http://joannesgenealogyresearch.blogspot.com/2017/01/genealogy-goals-for-2017.html) and I have to say that I’m very impressed that you blog every day! Good on you!
That is a fun idea! Thanks for sharing. It does give a way to be more deliberate instead of jumping from here to there. And it is great to think about our ancestors on their special day.
I hadn’t thought about the aspect that we’re thinking of our ancestors on their special day. I love that!
Thank you for your lovely post Janine, although you’re much too kind!
Like Joanne, I’ve been climbing my family tree for 30+ years. To keep my research interesting, I need to shake things up now and then. 🙂
An unexpected benefit of my 2017 plan has been the exploration of new collections on Ancestry and elsewhere. Every day presents an opportunity to learn something, not just about my ancestors, but also about the new resources available.
I’m really enjoying the variety / focus of this year’s approach. It’s neat to see others are having fun with it too!
I so appreciate your sharing your fabulous strategy, Laura!
Hi Janine, This is a year later, but I just found this blog entry, and had to go create my own calendar! I knew the feature was there (I use Legacy) but never thought about how to use it – love this for deciding who to work on! Love all your blogs, thank you for all the great information.
Oh good! It wasn’t my idea but I think it’s a wonderful one. Enjoy and thanks for your comment, Deb!
I have a “On This Day” feature on my two blogs and although I don’t write that often, it is helpful when I feel I should do a post. My RootsMagic gives me an anniversary list with just births and marriages. Checking out future dates gives me time to do some additional research! I did one of these posts yesterday. https://mytrailsintothepast.blogspot.com/2018/04/on-this-day-anniversary-of-william-j.html I also blog at https://mam-massouthernfamily.blogspot.com/
I have a paper diary where I write in all my births, marriages and deaths in for all members of my main tree, I have them in e colours, one for each record type (bmd). It keeps me focused on who was celebrating what on which dates.