Today I attended a very stimulating and informative genealogy presentation by Susi Pentico (a known genealogist and teacher);
The presentation was comprehensive about the past known genealogy methods, the inclusion of the Internet and it's effect on genealogy research and some of the new opportunities but also possible downfalls with future genealogy studies.

A lot of data was covered as an overview to a very broad subject. But as in most great presentations, there was something for everyone from beginner historian to very contemporary and informed professional genealogist. Anytime I can learn or glean one great idea from a presentation I feel blessed by the presentation: So I am in a

genealogy happy dance

as I feel motivated and enriched by the presentation when I found three key points I want to include in my genealogy studies.

In summary the three key points I picked up were:

1--- the "Cold Calling" idea. I must admit I never would have thought that would be a good way to find family. The idea of getting a city directory and just cold calling people with same surnames was just a new concept for me. Yet I can see if I have a city location and strong indication that this person could possibly be related ---maybe I will try it.

2--- the loss of libraries, historic books, and court records as so many cities, states are down sizing. The state library of Michigan was mentioned. The decision to close a state library seemed almost impossible to imagine. Someone also mentioned Pennsylvania public libraries are in jeopardy. Pennsylvania is an original colony and holds many founders records. There seems a need to make people aware and move people to act before court records, libraries, and historical documentation are loss.

3--- the third idea that Susie presented that motivated me to possibly rethink and put more focus on --- is the need to add the reason for death, health issues, and family genetic make ups-----enough illnesses can be genetically traced, that to have family health history could be very valuable to the future generations. Family health history is a valuable tool used by the medical to quickly and accurately diagnosis serious illnesses.

I follow Susi's blog as she continues her genealogy journey. To learn more about Susi and find times and places you can attend her presentations or classes I am enclosing her blog spot addy:
Susi's Chatty Performances on Genealogy
http://susischattyperformances.blogspot.com you can learn more about Susi and her passion for genealogy at her blog site.

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy Week 3 Assess Yourself

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Week 3 - Assess Yourself!

I am very fortunate to have many letters and family stories written by previous ancestors. I have always been so grateful for these glimpses in the peoples lives. Also I was a letter writer at a young age. My grandparents encouraged me to write by writing me in return each time I posted them a letter.

I was always aware of trying to record my life, my work, my family, my spiritual growth, my children, my grandchildren etc. When my kids were young and they would get sad, mad or just plain bored. I would encourage them to write. I saved many of their writings. I have binders full of my writings.

When Tony and I attended marriage encounters I saved all those notebooks. I went through a crisis in 2001 and it was very difficult for me. I could not speak the words, I could not legibly hand write my grief. But I did email and received email. I saved all those emails. I always thought if I could get past the experience that those emails would demonstrate and help others through the grieving process.

Every time I started a new job, moved, or had some profound changing experience I would always start a new chapter.

I also have unfinished novels in my papers. Stories that developed over the years.

Work publications, awards, education certificates and samples of my work are also among those papers. Photos of rooms of my house that I would decorate are included. and of course mountains of photos ----

So I continue to record my life. It is interesting to review my past and my growth.

I save all correspondences of my grandchildren. They are precious. I also encourage my grandchildren to write to me by returning each post with a letter. This habit of writing to my grandparents continued throughout their entire lives. There is something very healing and loving having a letter writing relationship with grandparents. I have several friends that I email regularly. But we often hand write to each other-- because although email is quicker and easier. There is just something special about receiving a snail mail in your mailbox from someone you love.

Of course if you look for documentation, and try to piece my life together you could come up with a series of records and deeds, but I dare say you will not see me.

Reading letters from my ancestors about their everyday lives and believes and relationships speaks far more to me than all the land deeds, birth certificates, Bible records ever could.

Sunshine Gal is Awarded Happy 101 Award in Blogger Community

Happy 101 Award which has been making the rounds among the genealogy bloggers this week.

I want to say thanks to Suzi Pentico of Suzischattyperformance@blogspot.com for giving me this award - I really appreciate it! One of the duties one accepts when also accepting the award is to list 10 (only 10??!!??) things that make me happy.

1-Knowing an Awesome God.
2-Having the perfect* husband. (* he might not be perfect to everyone but he is perfect for me.)

3-The memories of my family, friends, and a simpler time.

4-The understanding and encouragement I receive to work in genealogy.
5-Sipping a hot cup of tea in a bubblebath.

6-Grandkids
7- Nature: The beach, The mountains, Sleeping outside,

8-Animals: Cats, Dogs, Bird watching, Observing animals and fish, and most reptiles.

9-Being creative; playing guitar or piano, singing a song, sketching a portrait, painting a landscape

10-Girlfriends rather they are my daughter, my granddaughter, my aunt, my daughter in law, classmates, co-workers, fellow genealogists. Communicating with and doing girly things with women.

I also have the privilage to pass the award on to other bloggers - and here are my choices:

1. Santa Fe's African American Graveyard Rabbit http://africanancestryinsantafecemeteries.com/

2. My Big Fat Cajun/Irish/ Scottish/English/German/ French/Southern Family Blog

http://mybigfatfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

3. Nutfield Genealogy

http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/

4.Gerry's Genealogy Blog

http://gerrysgenealogy.blogspot.com/

5. A Twig in my Tree

http://twiginmytree.blogspot.com/

6.Like Sand Through An Hourglass

http://gcchat.blogspot.com/

7. Granite in My Blood
http://granite-in-my-blood.blogspot.com/

8. In My Life
http://anaharcockermom.blogspot.com

9. DeadFred
http://www.deadfred.com/blog/

10.GeneaDiva's History, Genealogy and "Stuff"
http://geneadiva.blogspot.com/

DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog: Pre-1500 lineages: serious genealogists usually won't buy 'em

DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog: Pre-1500 lineages: serious genealogists usually won't buy 'em


Pre1500 lineage, I concur with Dear Myrtle in general, but like all good laws and rules there are exceptions to the rules/ Dear Myrtle seemed to limit her exceptions to http://www.progenealogists.com/greatbritain/medievalgenealogy.htm and Chinese lineage.

I dare say Korea for one, the French, the Spanish the Jews, the Persians and Russia have "kingdom" documents to "prove" the lines. As Dear Myrtle stated land was a big issue-----but there were (in one of my family's case) careful records kept because the French (although changeing their name and hiding) always thought they would be able to return to France and reclaim their land and most importantly their positions. Ergo some families have extensive records ----- baby baptismals, were often specially secretly coded as to indicate the witnessing of the babies lineage. The coding was secret as to identify but protect the child from kidnappers or those wanting the family to be found. French would change their last names and sign babies baptismal with new Anglo-Saxon names. But very careful records were always kept that verified the child's royal lineage.

Royality would keep their own records and lineage papers. And the document referenced in these cases refers back to King so and so books page and number and the lineage. In one of my families case (Dearman) this is the ancient books of Chateauvieux.

I liken this to what is happening now: All over the world regarding leadership in Iran----the Shah has passed away and his family exiled for decades---but the Iranians (some prefer to call themselves, Persians) are keeping very close documentation and following families very closely. In the event the Shah's son is ever returned to Iran.

This was indicitive of the ruling of England during the War of the Roses----- proving lineage. but was practiced long before this in older civilizations.

This has been a truth known in my family dating back to my mother's great grandmother. It beckons back to many other culture practices that have been exposed in Westren media as barbaric and unnecessary. But that is an entire different bit of history not necessary to explore now. LOL

2010 goals

I published and believed I was not going to make any 2010 goals for genealogy. I planned to : "Just free follow my ancestors, enjoying the journey along the way". Because to publish prioritize and develope my todo list was becoming cumbersome. It is an idea I have pushing around in my head for about three months now. And for some reason---maybe the 10-16 hour days I have been working on my research more and more people (living and not), data, reading, maps, citations, resources, databases came tumbling down into my world!!

My "todo" list is filled with brick walls, lost documentation, and depending on others for data!! Needless to say genealogy had stopped being fun for a while. That is why I said no to my "can't find list" and adopted this method that some genealogist write about as in : being led by the ancestors.........

uggggg! using thinking like "free following of ancestors" and because I have inherited a wealth of information not previously shared before ------- Ancestors are coming out of the woodwork asking for my help. I feel like Whoopi Goldberg in "GHOST".

I need to group and delegate some of this stuff out. So my 2010 goal must be for me is to set up my "network team", review my people resources, define my location/interest parameters, clearly define projects, and better manage my history-----And accomplish that --that I can ------and stop chasing my own tail for data not-yet-ready-to be-discovered-by-me.

So out comes the old Microsoft Project Planner and instead of trying to "DO" my genealogy ---- I am going to try to "Manage" my research and study. I will let you know how it goes --- and how this approach is going to help me.........

Organization Organization Organization

I use colored acid free sheets for each lineage to print family group sheets, pedigrees, stories, resource sheets, and research study sheets. If I do not have the correct color sometimes I use white paper with colored ink. It works.






Color Acid Free Paper in anti acid protector sheets treated with a humid resistant spray are placed in color coordinated binders. Yes, that is a closet shelf.

Notes, Index Cards, Sheets (if I do not have the correct color immediately available)----are identified with a color corner----highlighter, marker pen, crayola, whatever is handy and matches and placed in color coordinated temporary folders.
__________________________________________________________________

As "Location Location Location" becomes a mantra to business owners and real estate agents; "Organization Organization Organization" is the battle cry for genealogist. Ergo the title of this blog Genealogy is Ruthless without Me. My career in Quality Management helped prepare me for this challenge of organizing genealogy data.

NOTE TO READER----(skip to Section B -- this is just an exhaustive explanation of how I came up with the idea)

-_

As a Quality Manager, I found a clever way to expedite my job. I used colored folders and color paper. Here was my methodology. Most certifications were based on Product/Process Improvement so we encouraged "Do it better".

The process included several steps;

1. Identify a problem or as we in Quality control like to call it "Opportunity for Improvement".

2. Prepare a suggestion for improvement. "Corrective Action" CARs.

3. Update all documents, training, trail period for the suggested improvement. "Engineering Change Order." ECOs

4. Update the approved documents. "Updated drawings, instructions etc. " SPECS

Each step along the way required engineering evaluation of feasibility, impact studies, vendor changes, inventory issues, customer interchangeability issues, and multiple other considerations. Ergo many engineers, department managers, and specialist needed to "sign off" on the Improvement.

It was my job to process all these changes: needless to say getting sign off --- was ridiculous! Documentation Release and Control was Ruthless!!! without me. lol

I am very visual and linear in my thinking process. So I adopted a color code process------ CARs were orange---- printed on orange paper traveling in orange folders, ECO were on yellow paper traveling in Yellow folders, Specs were green Document Change Orders traveling (you guessed it) in green folders. Kind of like orange (danger), yellow (a fix), green (GO). So as I passed Engineer or Manager's desk ---I could easily identify if my document had left their desk without bothering them.

___________________________________________________________________

Section B: Using this same kind of thinking I developed a method to organize my genealogy work.

Here I will outline the problems I was having to organize my work:

1. Although I would set out to focus on one line of my ancestors---- I often was side tracked with another lineage. Example: I approach my computer ready to review my Chapin lineage and notice I have an email regarding my Carter lineage. I start to enter data in my Carter lineage and notice a surname that is in another lineage. OK --- by this time I have folders, notes, books, family group sheets all over the place.

2. I come across a surname I recognize but can not remember to which lineage it belongs. Lacy--- now I try to remember, who had a wife surname Lacy---- I go to my name list, do not recognize her husbands name to a lineage, work down the lineage until I find the link. Doing this several times a day and I am thinking there must be a better way. Doing this several times in the same week and I am beating myself up for not having a better memory than demonstrated.

3. Now I need to do something else besides genealogy or the mess I have made has caused me to be exhausted just to look at it!!! So I must clean up---- I need to either each piece of paper to decide which folder it belongs, or pile it all together and deal with it later,

So I color code.

Surname Hayley is RED. The list is the list of surnames associated with just one ggg grandfather only; ggg grandmother has her own list!

I stopped beating myself up when I realized exactly how many names I was really trying to manage in my head. Just going back to my Sweet 16, I am averaging 32 names per name. That is 520 names and I go further back than this when the names get fuzzy!

And all this color coding is followed through with my migration trails also.

Clean up and putting away is so easy for me now----- but better is the going back to where I was a lot easier. Using the color coordinated paper; I can journal the date/ activities for each lineage --- and not have it all on one page. I do not have to read through days of notes to figure out what I had researched.

This method may not work for everyone--- but for me right now----I love it.

Now computer files are totally different --- and another blog.........