An email I received from Randy Seaver----- Just in case those following my genealogy blog did not think I was a true genealogy geek!!! Yes there is a Christmas poem out.

This blog is dedicated to my family and friends to let them glimpse at this wild journey I am on. I Liken this blog to postcards from the genealogy trails ------

so along my journey searching our ancestry, I meet other journey takers and share bits and pieces -----

so my today's email inbox:

I received the following from a friend who suggested I sent it on to anybody who I thought would enjoy it.
So Please do the same.


And then I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


Randy Seaver

Chula Vista Genealogical Society

Genealogist's Christmas Eve

'Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my spouse.

The dining room table with clutter was spread
With pedigree charts and with letters which said...
"Too bad about the data for which you wrote;
Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat."

Stacks of old copies of wills and such
Were proof that my work had become too much.
Our children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

And I at my table was ready to drop
From work on my album with photos to crop.
Christmas was here, and such was my lot
That presents and goodies and toys I'd forgot.

Had I not been busy with grandparents' wills,
I'd not have forgotten to shop for such thrills,
While others bought gifts to bring Christmas cheers,
I'd spent time researching those birth dates and years.

While I was thus musing about my sad plight,
A strange noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright.
Away to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the drapes and yanked up the sash.

When what with my wondering eyes should appear,
But an overstuffed sleigh and eight small reindeer.
Up to the house top the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and 'ole Santa Claus, too.

And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs.
As I drew in my head, and bumped it on the sash,
Down the cold chimney fell Santa--KER-RASH!

"Dear" Santa had come from the roof in a wreck,
And tracked soot on the carpet, (I could wring his short neck!)
Spotting my face, good 'ole Santa could see
I had no Christmas spirit you'd have to agree.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, (I felt like a jerk).
Here was Santa, who'd brought us such gladness and joy:
When I'd been too busy for even one toy.

He spied my research on the table all spread
"A genealogist!" He cried! (My face was all red!)
"Tonight I've met many like you," Santa grinned,
As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.

I gazed with amusement--the cover it read
Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead.
"I know what it's like as a genealogy bug."
He said as he gave me a great Santa hug.

"While the elves make the sleighful of toys I now carry,
I do some research in the North Pole Library!
A special treat I am thus able to bring,
To genealogy folk who can't find a thing."

"Now off you go to your bed for a rest,
I'll clean up the house from this genealogy mess."
As I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee,
I looked back at Santa who'd brought much to me.

While settling in bed, I heard Santa's clear whistle,
To his team, which then rose like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
"Family history is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!"

Enjoy, Aunt Ruth

"Libraries offerings have evolved with the digital age to meet the changing needs of their patrons"

Books, Libraries, genealogy research is changing drastically

The books housed in the Genealogy section of the Chula Vista Civic library will be moved to another section in the same building. This move is scheduled to happen before the new year.

Change is now. The Chula Vista Civic Library and Genealogical Society has the opportunity to reevaluate the needs of the community.
The CVGS board wants to keeps the membership informed of how and why the library is changing
The “new library” thinking is to provide open comfortable space for patrons to enjoy their studies, Their on-line studies.
A statement by American Library Association

We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. ~

And free is what libraries want to provide for their communities. Over 70% of the public libraries in America provide free internet use in their facilities. To help the increasing population to on line studies many manufactures are gearing up to provide free services to public libraries.
Over 80% of those questioned provided reasons why on-line research was preferable to library research:
So the moral of the story is:
. If you have not started digitizing your genealogy –

note if you do not do it someone in the near future will need to do it.

Which supports the idea of turning your pedigree sheets in as soon as possible to be included on our website.


See below a statement released by SONY:
Sony's Perspective

At Sony, we believe there is a place for public/private partnerships. That's why we're so excited to be working closely with libraries and librarians across the country as part of our Reader Library Program. While there are several different views on the future of libraries, we believe that digital reading will be at the core of libraries, regardless of how they grow and evolve.
Sony's Reader Library Program is designed to help libraries overcome the challenges of adopting eBooks and educating their constituencies on how to borrow, read and make the most of digital reading content. eBooks, like traditional paper books, will play an important role in our civic and cultural life, but only if they are made broadly available and people understand how to access and use them. Sony's Reader Library Program includes four main components:
• A training program for library staff developed by Sony. This training includes in-person workshops, video training and additional materials available on the web, covering digital reading formats, an overview of sources for digital materials, and training on Sony's Reader digital reading devices.
• Sony's Reader digital reading devices for use by library staff.
• Educational materials to provide readers some background on digital reading devices.
• Bi-annual update sessions designed to keep libraries and their staff current with the latest developments in digital reading content, format and devices.

We believe it is extremely important to support public library systems as they expand their digital offerings and our initiative will provide these professionals with training and additional resources that will enable them to inform their patrons on how to benefit from their growing eBook collections. With this type of support, we believe they'll not only survive, but thrive in continuing to provide free access to knowledge in the digital age

end of Sony quote

Would it surprise you that there is belief that laptops will soon be obsolete?

The new technology will look more like kindles with library staff trained to assist patrons on the use of these handheld devices.
Besides the physical moving of the books there are many other changes planned for the genealogical research library team.

This is a very exciting and growing time for our society and genealogy research in general. While supporting our members with more tradition methods of research ---- the board is hoping to support new ideas that makes sense for each and every researcher.

With the widespread use of e-books, on-line help sites, and digitized records the library business is in a state of tremendous change.

Change -- the only constant in our lives.
The traditional use of the library to: “see a book”, visit a reference desk, check books out of the library is being replaced with e-books, on-line help sites, and digitized records.

Less and less magazines and newspapers will become available.

It is no longer your parents’ library; I remember just 20 years ago we heard how the catalogue files were going to start disappearing from our libraries. Expect and be informed of more changes in Books, Libraries, and Genealogy Research—you have become so familiar.



Authors, professionals in the publishing industry, book sellers, independent bookstore owners, CEOs of the big bookstore chains, libraries, genealogy researchers and readers have all been left with an abundance of questions as we go through this exciting transfer.

The Chula Vista Civic Library staff are already adapting to this “new library” thinking. The staff is keenly aware of the impact new technology is having on their community.

CEOs of the big bookstore chains:
As you have probably realized Borders, a large bookstore chain, has consistently been in the headlines since January 2010 because they cannot pay their publishers.

Professionals in the publishing industry are adapting to the fact the cost to publish a book is much too costly.

Libraries and bookstores are assessing what do with all the square footage if all go to e-readers ?

The marketing emphasis is on the e-book, no longer the physical book. It seems a major overhaul is overdue.

How do authors react to the e-book? Seth Godin, a well- known author, says his next book will only exist in e-format. Do all authors only want to read and publish books this way? We don’t think so. Authors also feel the financial pinch of the e-book. While many unknown writers may have a better chance to get published, established authors are seeing a fraction of the advances they typically received. One has to ask how does this influence the quality and respect for literature. Will authors rally to preserve printed books?

This leaves independent bookstores in particular with many more questions: Will publishers give bookstores the information and tools to help preserve the hard back read? Will publisher sales reps go to bat to preserve their stores and keep reading vital? Will marketing become more credible and more important to the independent book seller? Will the publishers recognize a need for real book selling, word of mouth in our stores and on our web presence?
Will all these changes make readership grow? As the demand of maximizing our reading time increases, will these changes add more value to our lives?

This time is very exciting for our industry.
.


Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Members and Supporters is an important public/private/profit/nonprofit organization keeping its eyes on the internet industry.
They have annual meetings of no less than 500 professionals of different walks of life. A statement regarding libraries and the internet suggested a major change is facing the public libraries of today

“Since the founding of our country, libraries have always been important to freedom. Today we are in the midst of a tremendous shift in the way Americans consume literature and other content, but one thing has not changed -- the library must continue to play a central role in providing open and free access to information and ideas.
Exactly what that role looks like is the subject of much debate and many differing perspectives. Some believe libraries will shift into learning and information centers while others insist they will maintain their role as a physical location for cataloging and loaning books -- in addition to housing sources of information technology.
While providing books was a standalone function for libraries throughout the last few centuries, their offerings have evolved with the digital age to meet the changing needs of their patrons. In fact, according to an article in the November 2009 issue of American Libraries, more than 71 percent of public libraries provide their community's only free public access to computers and the Internet. Not surprisingly then -- due to the economic hardship -- more people are using libraries. A study sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and published by the Institute of Museum and Library Services last year found that 69 percent of Americans 14 years of age or older visited a public library in 2009.
Regardless of its exact nature, technology will play an increasing role in shaping our future libraries. For centuries, the book publishing industry has worked closely with and supported libraries, and they have done so without influencing the freedom of the institution. It is now time for the technology industry to step up and play a similar role.
Here is how technologists can, and should, help support libraries:
• Offer training and support -- free of charge -- to libraries for items such as digital reading devices, tablets and other media devices. Helping technology companies as well as libraries, this will serve to educate the general public in the long run.
• Provide special access to materials - something publishers have been doing for years. While technologists can't always control pricing, we can offer special programs to help educate the public and broaden access.
• Open lines of communication, offering libraries insight into how technologists see the market evolving. This will help library administrators make informed decisions regarding the future of their institutions.

Free means Free
Digital reading has taken off over the past three years in ways that no one would have imagined a decade ago. Earlier this year, the Book Industry Study Group reported that eBook sales rose from 1.5% of all book sales in Q1 2009 to 5% in Q1 2010. This is a wonderful thing in many respects - digital reading makes it easier to publish and distribute materials than ever before. But, the race is also on to lock down the market on ebooks by locking consumers into a specific platform, and this is the equivalent of curbing access.

Another reason to attend Genealogy Conferences and Seminars .........SWAG and Prizes

okay i admit it -----I like swag and I love door prizes; There has been many seminars or conferences were I have walked away with my admission and/or travel expenses were paid for by my "loot" At the Ancestry Day in San Francisco the fee was 42 dollars---a very huge bargain in itself. I paid 5 dollars for an "expert" to translate documents from Spain.

AND: I won a door prize!! There were probably more than 45 door prizes to be won. The door prizes included a years subscription to World Ancestry, Fold 3, all things genealogy related. My prize was a gift certificate to a record course of my choice in the Certificate in Genealogy Studies Program offered by the The National Institute for Genealogical Studies in affiliation with the University of St Michael's College in the University of TORONTO ----an 89 dollar value.

Well, I will let you know which class I decide to take and how it goes. Just now I need to find some quiet time....... to focus. Silly me, I want to put all my closets in order, declutter myself before I start. I like to get everything out of a class/ seminar/ conference I can glean.

And I am a morning person!

Exciting news!---- Watch out probably more genealogy data blogs than a person can fathom.

Ancestry Day in San Francisco Blog 2 Gordon Atkinson

Gordon Atkinson presented

"Everything You Wanted to Know About FOLD3"

but I wanted to add but were afraid to ask---- luckily Gordon answered every one's question before we had to ask......

Why the name FOLD 3?

The name has to do with the traditional folding of the American flag. The correct folding of the American flag is performed in 13 folds and each of these folds has representation. The 3rd fold of the American Flag is in honor and remembrance of veterans who served in defense of their country and to maintain peace throughout the world. Fold3 is the leading U.S. military resource on the web. Fold 3 has over 78 million records on line and growing over hour.

Fold 3 is a work in process. Why we need to let our families know about this web site is this web site will not be finished in our lifetime. There are many records yet to be added to these digital images. Examples include the 1812 records are only up to the letter B and expected to be finished in 2015.

Many wars records have not been started yet. Korean war and Spanish/American war for example.

The advantages of the FOLD3 site includes quality images, Fold3 has some of the best image definition of original documents.

Another advantage of FOLD 3 is it indexed other sources not always available. For example is the records of compensation to efforts of the Civil War by either side. If a family donated bacon, a horse, etc to the war efforts on either side of the war. The family would submit a request for reimbursement. The reimbursement petition was quite lengthy and included family history to be added to the petition. This could be very helpful to family researchers.

Another very useful feature programmed into the web site is the search that allows your ancestors name to appear from many documents. All the names on a document has been recorded. If your ancestor's name appeared on another petition or court record, even a non-relative, each and every time your ancestor's name appears on a military record it will be part of a search result.

There also are some very fine interactive features to FOLD3 ---- one you can add data of your own in the text of a document and you can also add a Memorial Page to your Ancestral Veteran. There are now over 900 million memorial pages added to FOLD.

I will be updating this site to the best of my ability but also I need my next generations to know about this site. After I am gone ---data may still be added to complete "Our Story".

San Francisco Ancestry Day November 5, 2011

I am here! I am so excited. Attending Genealogical Seminars/Conferences are like my new Disneyland! This seminar is fantastic! My criteria for a fantastic seminar is different than other family researchers.

If I am going to pay the money, spend my time, and make family arrangements I want to be educated in a comfortable environment. This seminar far exceeds my expectations. Actually it feels more like a Genealogy Conference.

I attended the pre registration on Friday night. I was surprised to enter the room and meet the 200 plus attendees sipping on wine and enjoying elegant crackers and cheeses. Besides meeting up with wonderful familiar faces and receiving welcoming hugs, I met several seminar first comers. They are expecting 900-1000 seminar attendees.

The welcoming committee was stationed around the room welcoming, assisting each attendee to registration and answering questions. It was nice to see even the new comers at ease and joining in conversations.

Kathryn Doyle was assisting the Chair of the Publications and Marketing Committee, Shannon Reese. Mr. Reese actually filmed and presented a Youtube featuring the seminar. Mr. Shannon will be doing more broadcasts from the seminar. I look forward to seeing these broadcast and sharing them with my family and genealogy friends. The next best thing to being at a seminar is enjoying it second hand through an other's experience.

There are some great classes scheduled for tomorrow. My first class for Saturday Morning will be Everything You Wanted to Know about Fold3. I will post soon because I now know why the name was changed from FOOTNOTE to FOLD3. You will LOVE the answer.

So what is the difference in Scottish-Irish history and Irish-Scottish history?

Scottish/Irish Irish/Scottish identification is of huge concern to many family historians.
So what is the difference in Scottish-Irish history and Irish-Scottish history?
According to wiki encyclopedia there is a “settled meaning today” of the different (so far I have counted 15) Irish/Scottish Scottish/Irish descendent patterns.
Where would a family historian look first to find Irish/Scottish roots?
Irish Scottish roots are a huge subject! It would be difficult to attack the subject as a whole. To help family historians, the ability to narrow your search can be very helpful.
When the immigrants from Ireland and Scotland came to America --- they came in waves based on many migration patterns.
If a researcher found a brick wall with more popular known events of migration, they limit their research of lesser known migration patterns.

START WITH GENEALOGY RESEARCH BASIC #1
-----start with what you know about your family

.
Birth place in Ireland or Scotland,
Dates migrated,
Departure and arrival ports will give you clues.
Occupations,
Examples: Coal miners in Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh
Laborers on the Erie Canal - 1820’s
Surnames, and
Neighbors on the census rolls are also great clues in deciding which of the many groups of Irish /Scottish your family may have descended.
Religion and religious affiliations are again strong indicators of your ancestors’ origin.
Catholic: Irish Catholics have been migrating to the United States in steady numbers even before the American Revolution, some as domestic servants or as a result of penal deportations.
Presbyterian: look in Ulster with families reaching to the 17th century
History is absolutely fascinating. The more I learn about my families past, the more I learn about history, lifestyles, politics, and the social climate of the time.

The terms Scots and Irish, while they have a settled meaning today*, are not always readily distinguished.

Sellar & Yeatman's spoof history 1066 and All That highlighted the confusion that these words can cause when used to refer to the past:
“ The Scots (originally Irish, but by now Scotch) were at this time inhabiting Ireland, having driven the Irish (Picts) out of Scotland; while the Picts (originally Scots) were now Irish (living in brackets) and vice versa. It is essential to keep these distinctions clearly in mind (and verce visa). ”

*while they have a settled meaning today
The patterns of Irish and Scottish migration have very set patterns.

I am devising an Irish Scottish table for research

The research table would allow a researcher to enter any of the above information and the logical first places to research would be the result.
It might be interesting to apply this theory with those interested in finding family and see if the table could bring results in individual cases.

Ancestry Day - San Francisco

Ancestry Day - San Francisco



Woooohoooooo !!!!! Totally jazzed over here!!!

Monthly back ups ---

This is a blog about activities I perform to write Our Family History. Besides the wonderful trips and great finds. There are also very important mundane tasks that must be adhered to rather strictly. Besides organization, sourcing, another mundane task in genealogy is backing up our data. Backing up is especially important if you are using computers as one of the primary storage's of data.

This back up procedure was always performed the first day of the month.

BIG KAHUNA Thomas MacEntee

usually sends out reminders and has kind of declared the first day of the month as back-up day.

But because of the complexities that I have added to the process and the uncertainty that I could work uninterrupted on the first day of the month. I try to start a few days ahead preparing for my back up.

My back up usually starts with Ancestry. com --- I use Ancestry.com as a dumping ground. Because it is a dumping ground my ancestry HAYLEY tree is invitation only. Not because I do not want to share. I just do not want to share unverified, incorrect, bogus data.

******I have approximately 20 trees on ancestry---- several are pristine trees of limited data like the Needhams from 1640 Jamestown to 1850 Lake county Tenn. and the Moorings from 1640 Jamestown to 1850 Lake county Tenn. and the Hayleys from 1640 Jamestown to 1850 Tenn. Or clients" trees. These trees are usually not updated each month unless I have done work on them.

From ancestry. com I create a gedcom and upload my modified trees into myheritage.com --- saving a copy of my gedcom to my c: drive.

At this point I open and review all my updated trees on myheritage. I then run a problem report on myheritage. Depending on the issues found in the problem report, I will spend time reviewing and correcting the issues.

I usually have a page of siblings having the same name ---- Living Smith etc.

Myheritage then has a link to Family Tree maker for updating FTM. I run this link.

Once I am pleased with my all inclusive tree HAYLEY. I create another gedcom in myheritage saving the gedcom to my c drive with program name and date. I then upload the tree to Rootmagic. :-) Rootsmagic and all it's components is my go-to program for FUN with data.

In Rootsmagic: I run another problem report. Checking my criteria and parameters I verify myheritage and rootsmagic reports agree. If not I review the inconsistencies and make note. I print the problem reports and add all notes. This may sound Silly and unnecessary --- but I have been known to get caught up in life's drama and forget my "oh I need not note that, I surely will always remember that" Two years of unraveled data will tax your brain to remember.

OK my data has been reviewed on ancestry, myheritage, family tree builder, and rootsmagic. I do use Legacy or stand alone programs on occasion.

Next using rootsmagic I run a macro I have built to update my family groups. Now save rootsmagic and run the

rootsmagic on the go

program. A copy of each family group is then also saved to my c: drive. It was Shirley Becker that did an excellent presentation on organizing your computer files that demonstrated a very useful tool for archiving family groups. A copy of her presentation is available on the CVGS official web site.

Basically Shirley uses folders by Surnames and documents using man+woman name and dates ---
A photo of Shirley follows --- Shirley enjoying a holiday luncheon with fellow genealogist.



I save each and every family group to my c drive. (I have a macro written for this). Depending on the work accomplished that particular month, new family groups may appear. I immediately create c-drive files for these of these new family groups. Saving them under the correct Surname by husband and wife names and dates.

I usually do not update all my other reports and maps and etc at this time. My reasoning for not updating these files is because I wait until I actually want to use the data and then will update and save with current date when and if I use the file. Example Mom's sweet 16 my appear as momssweet16_22072010 and a new revision will be saved as momssweet16_01082011. previous revisions of all momssweet16s are saved. The revision control is the date.

So now I back up my data---- my pc automatically saves all files to my external hard drive. All c drive data (gedcom's, family group sheets, problem reports, pedigree charts, journals, excel resource logs, places and resource reports etc. are then updated onto three mobile flash drives. I retain the previous month's data and add the new month's files.

I send one flash drive out of state. One flash drive is added to my laptop carrying case. One flash drive is placed near my home desk pc.

This may seem complicated at first. This is a system that has been modified over the years. Maybe I will review this process in a year and see what I have modified since then.

I have a house full of prince and princess so while they sleep --- I need to back up quickly or my mind will be fried!! So until next blog-----Happy Back up day!!!

New Must Have for all your Genealogist Friends

New Must Have for all your Genealogist Friends---- I know that was not a fair title for this blog. But I am trying to get new followers. My Blogs include:

REED_COOK_DEARMAN– last published post on Jul 11, 2011

Genealogy is Ruthless without Me

– last published post on Jul 2, 2011 –

Ruth Truths and Ruthisms–

Hayley

– last published on Oct 22, 2010 –

5 Himan Brothers and Little Sister Mary

– last published on Aug 27, 2010 –

The Healing of America

Until this first week of July 2011, I have been away from my genealogy work for quite awhile. In July 2011, My Aunt Helen had a brickwall coming down. This break through is in most part because of the hard work of our Aunt Helen Roberta Reed---my mother's youngest sister. So with Aunt Helen's research findings, I have been busy validating and verifing her data. This is our usual genealogy study method. She and I verify and validate each other is our normal genealogical course. Then when we think we are very sure of our data. Aunt Helen will present it to TEMPLE.

During this time of verification and validation I am like a genealogy zombie. I become so involved and spend such long genealogical days in a kind of genealogical stupor. I have not spent such long genealogical days ----- not since last summer.

I have been sooooo focused on my genealogical data this last week that I burnt up two sauce pans trying to cook Tony's dinner this week.

My (Hawaiian born) husband is happy with his dinner as long as rice is served. So since I have been working so hard on genealogical work twice while attempting to make rice; I have burnt up a saucepan. I usually scrap the rice off the top and serve with a great sauce. Usually Tony will not realize my mistake immediately. I can serve dinner with little notice of the burnt pan. But the scrubbing the burnt rice off the bottom of the saucepan renders the sauce pan forever with a dark ring around the bottom inside rim of the pan. (sigh) As long as I do all the cooking and pan washing and putting away--I guess I could get away with it --- at least for a little while.

But today I realized I must purchase a rice cooker.

I have not had to use a rice cooker since my very early days of marriage. I pride myself in being able to cook a perfect pan of rice. I correctly wash the rice the exact enough times depending on the rice dish to be served. With less rinsing for a milky rinse for sticky rice desired for stuffing nokis and many rice desserts to the crisp clean water rice rinse for steamed rice dishes for beef sauces.

But alas my rice has been suffering all last week --- So I have served potatoes or crunchy undercooked rice indicating the rice cooked too hot and not covered at a lowered heat after that first initial boil.

Or split rice turning into rice mush because the rice cooked too long -----

so until I can better watch my rice and pay attention to my husband's dinner, I am going to use a rice cooker with no excuses---no regrets. The rice cooker will cook rice perfect every time* and keep it warm and ready to serve until my husband wants his evening meal. The problem will be that the Every time* is dependent on remembering to put in the correct amount of rice, water and salt substitute and turn it on!!! ******* So for every genealogist that must and wants to cook -----

The MUST HAVE gift for your genealogist is a rice cooker.

I guess the slow cooker would be a close runner up second "must-have" gift. lol

SNGF with Randy Seaver

Randy Seaver each Saturday will post a "fun" activity for geniebloggers to respond. These Saturday activities are usually "sage genie work to be done presented in a fun way." The prompt allows blogger to think they are "playing" while they are really working non-stop for 12-16 hours a day.

His "fun" usually gives us ways to:
validate and verify our databases,
Expose inaccuracy and
check facts,
learn new software or
new ways to use our software.

I do not think it is happenchance that Randy would be asking for our "bucket list" exactly half way through the year. Watch around Christmas He will have a "tool" we wish to receive, and the New Year for Genie New Year resolutions.

So half way through the year, Randy is asking us to review our goals and "things to-do" Very sneaky, Randy!!!

Are you ready for Saturday Night, and more Genealogy Fun?? I hope so!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

Knowing that a "Bucket List" is a wish list of things to do before death:

To prepare for this excercise I revisited a post I made to this same BLOGSPOT on April 13, 2010. Wow -- That particular day in April 2010 I was especially
energetic and optimistic.

My BUCKET LIST:

Visit the Deacon Chapin statue in Springfield, Mass.

Secure my data for a future genealogist in our family future.

Record and document enough data that the "stories" can stand the test of time and not be carelessly revised.

Follow this journey of our story as far as I can so the next family genealogist can be guided by my findings to find even more. I follow a legacy of family historians.


I never met all of our family historians....... but I do know and love all of them.

Genealogy GOLD pre-teen interviews grandmother

Genealogy GOLD pre-teen interview of grandmother shows the way to unearthing family tradition carelessness!


This blog is partially ghost written by a pre-teen. Her parents guard her internet-use very carefully. She is not able to post photos, address, or private details. She is on facebook but all "friends" must be approved by her parents.

Yet in the interest of genealogy, we have been granted permission to transcribe her interview of her grandmother --- therefore it is with great pride we introduce A young person's genealogy interview on Genealogy Is Ruthless Without Me.

Enjoy!

Thank you Grandmother, for helping me with this school assignment. I have some questions here that I would like to ask you.

Where did your ancestors come from?

Originally many of my ancestors came from France and Germany pre-1400
Then many of my ancestors had migrated to the United Kingdom pre-1600
But nearly all my ancestors were here on the east coast of the United States by 1776.

Do you know the origin of your family name?

No, not yet.

Tell about any ancestors that you know about --- names. dates, other important historical details-and any stories about them.

I have a lot of information on several of your ancestors. Would it be okay if I just print out the stories I have of them and we could start a binder of ancestor stories?

okay

Who is the oldest person you can remember in your family as a child?

Armenita Clementine Chapin Reed

What do you remember about them?

She was very old by the time I remember her. She had very long hair always braided and circled around her head. I remember one day seeing her with her hair down and it went past her waist. My mother loved her dearly.

Are there any family heirlooms that have been passed from one generation to another? And do you know where they are now?

Well the Family Bibles are very precious to our family. I believe Aunt Doris may have the Hayley-Dikes Bible.
Aunt Carol has the Hayley-Reed Bible.
and maybe Uncle Bert might know where the Cook-Reed Bible is stored.

This question is not on my list of questions; but......
Do all families have Family Bibles? and where do you get them?

Wow wow I just remember your parents have not received a Family Bible. It was very customary for the bride and grooms families to converse before a wedding and decide who would give the Family Bible to the couple. It was always considered an important "wedding gift". In our family; it was Aunt Josephine who usually bestowed the Family Bible on the new couple. The custom now is for a couple to go to a department store and register for their gifts but before department registries (at least in my family); the families would share information and compile a wedding gift list making sure the new couple had all that was needed to start a new home. The Family Bible was always on that list.

Thank you for your answers. Can we have more interviews at another time?

yes of course.

End of Interview

This interview merely scratched the surface of this young person's interest in her family history.

What was important about this interview was the preparation of questions. Having questions already written out for the young genealogist helps the flow of the interview.

Short but mind provoking answers are best when answering a young person's questions. The questions will then lead the young person to where they are interested in learning more.

Rather going into long stories of ancestors; a date to fill a binder full of stories might help the interview to proceed. Plus I really thought it would boost her grade on the project.

When asked about a remembered ancestor keeping it simple is best. Such as I remember being with grandpa in the garden as a child, or grandmother taking me to church. Since this young interviewer is very hair-do conscience I chose to speak about Granny's long hair.

Regarding family heirlooms; good question! It was not important to elaborate as to the fact many heirlooms had been pawned off long ago....lol etc. But it gave me an opportunity to document important information that if my interviewer decided to read in detail her genealogy in the future --- she might find a path to a primary source of information.

This question led to an inquiry that again spoke about family culture and traditions. Where do people get Family Bibles? But it also rambled my own mind on a terrible slip of neglect!!

Needless to say I have just added to my Christmas list! Now to just compile a list of next generation families with no Family Bible!!! A Family Historian's work is never done!!!

Regarding my highschool friend starting genealogy...

Thanks everyone for the comments on my recent post of working with a new genealogist. I met my friend last week end at the Santa Clara Seminar. That was a very well organized seminar. The speakers were fantastic! What was fun was the references to software. Unlike many seminar I visit, every time a software program was mentioned , the speaker would say something to the affect, "oh you are all from the silicon valley, so of course you know this program."

There was a silent auction. My friend had bid on the Roots Magic Software package, but alas was out bid. Being a Roots Magic fanatic myself, I am going to suggest that he does purchase this fantastic program!

It was fun meeting up with my high school friend. When I genealogies in Northern California I seldom travel solo. So he had an opportunity to meet my son, daughter in law and four grandchildren. (lol). My son had been working on a car before he picked me up from the conference, so my friend met my son in an old colored t-shirt!!

I will keep you posted; my friends roots are from Goshen Indiana. The Santa Clara Seminar was heavily directed to individual county, state research. Great sites were introduced at the seminar to state and county data collection. Several states/counties had government officials dedicated to helping people access their records. This was great to see. Example Shelby county, Tennessee.

So I am going to learn some information on Indiana records. working state to state I am gaining a wealth of information that I hope can be of use to help others find their American roots. The first step sometimes to getting back to their homeland roots.

An example of systematically reconstructing a families migration trail across America resulted in some very surprise findings for a society member. Recently I was working with a gentleman with the surname PRICE. With that surname the gentleman had assumed English roots. Wow only four generations back and we discovered PRICE was a derivative of a very German name! From there we were able to find his ancestors nationalization and transport papers from Germany. Therefore the state to state approach has been useful for some when researching roots.

I find helping others with genealogy has widen my knowledge and skills as a genealogist. To that end I am working on a very small but hopefully useful project at the Chula Vista Library. I am hoping to help some of our 100 plus members focus and continue on their own journeys. We have an excellent but under utilized library system. In my humble opinion.

I recently presented some data on the Kansas data collection system. I am hoping to "zero" in on other states of interest. Randy Seaver recently did a members survey of our membership. Hopefully he can help me understand some of the interest of the group.

I would like to start a kind of "Birds of a Feather" study group where we can really focus on the areas of interest and make suggestions to our society book purchaser books that will truly aid people in their research.

So how do I tie up the loose ends of this seemingly rambling blog? I am going to investigate if we have Indiana roots in our membership and gather those birds of a feather and do some in depth research in that area. Gaining working knowledge of individual states has honed my research skills in a very beneficial manner.

Focusing and deeper understanding of records benefits my capacity to truly aid my fellow society member in a deeper research. What is problematic for me on that subject is the redundant over hashing of "OLD" genealogy information. I liken it to lectures on databases using Excel 1998. There is just so much more out there!

Oh and did I happen to mention ROOTSMAGIC!!!!

Bean Counters Everywhere ----- Unite!!!!!

This was so funny I had to blog about it!!! I recently prepared a genealogy research presentation that included a section on the State of Kansas census records. I found this 1895 disclaimer, it could have been written by someone named RUTH!!! Although some could find this disclaimer very annoying-----I think it is absolutely hilarious!! No account for people's sense of humor!!!




Special Note

To quote from the 1895-96 biennial report of the State Board of Agriculture, which conducted the census:

Owing to delay by the legislature in the appropriation of funds for printing the necessary blanks for use of assessors, these could not be delivered to them until two or three weeks later than the law requires assessment and enumeration to begin, and this fact resulted in much of the detailed information being hurriedly or carelessly collected, and in some cases entirely omitted.

The assessors of Comanche, Finney, Saline and Seward counties, countenanced by their county commissioners in so doing, used the unfortunate delay as a pretext for refusing to make any enumeration whatever, and the returns from portions of Atchison, Cherokee, Gove, Lyon and Marion counties especially, and various others in some respects and to some extent, are for the same reasons so incomplete as to make their showing, not only for their respective counties but for the state as a whole, very unsatisfactory to this office ...

Email about Starting Genealogy Research

I am starting to learn --- genealogy is a lot like religion, sex, politics, dieting and raising children.

There is no "one" way. There is no "right" way, There are just ways.

Also just like the subjects discussed --- those subjects are difficult to discuss in "mixed" company without a strict forum.

I received an email, which I am sharing here in part. Based on my education and experience I am going to reply to this person interested in genealogy. I am using this format to encourage others to comment and add "words of wisdom".

My answers will be in itialized bold: Some of my answers may surprise the experts. I am open to discussion to all and any comments.


EMAIL BEGINS:

Now that I'm retired (retired??? you are the same age I am!!! retirement is not a reality -- it is just a con, to make us get up every morning and suffer through our work week) one of the projects I want to do for myself and family is to do more research on my family name. Great!!! and you are correct -- it is for you and your family. Since you are heavily involved with genealogy, 10-16 hours a day can hardily be considered heavily involved!I thought I would ask you what I should absolutely do vs. what I should absolutely avoid at all costs. I know there are lots of web sites, some excellent and some a waste of time and money. BINGO! you got that right!

I want to do as much as I can on my own, as I enjoy learning new things, do you also enjoy bashing your head against brickwalls?? tired red eyes?? and isolating yourself alone in a dark, cold closet for hours? but I'm also a strong believer in avoiding pitfalls wherever possible.My suggestion here is to equip yourself with a head helmet, thick-up to the hip water/mud boots, bug spray, plenty of caffine, and a good comfortable chair.

Also some motion sickness pills for those long trips down those pitfalls.

Because you are asking to go on a journey -- not like anything else in the world!!

I have a family bible AHHH The Best Start ever. I do not know them but I love your parents and grandparents already. that actually takes me back several generations, back to a grandfather born in Goshen Indiana in 1800. OH that explains so much to me!! of course Indiana!!! Yep, you fit the Indiana mold!

This information includes siblings and of course I have recent information. I also recently spoke to a long lost cousin that lives near Fresno that has some information that she is wanting to share with me. I have found a bunch of "SURNAME"'s in Goshen Indiana which is where the above grandfather was born, and spoke to them but none of them have a clue as to how we are connected. They say there is one buried there in Goshen that they don't know the relationship to them. I actually met one family and it was spooky to Sharon and I as I had just lost my father a few months before we met and the father could have been my father's twin. Very very kool!! Hank Jones has written books about this unusual phenonmenon--- genealogy seredepity.

Anyway, I assume Ancestry.com is software I should buy and then sign up for. EEEEKKKKKKK STOP___Advance to GO___Do not collect $200.00____Start over!!!

They have a version that allows me to install on two computers and I know Sharon is wanting to do the same with her family so I thought I would get that... that is if you think this is the best one for me to get started with. Also there is a Family History Library just down the street from us Can I come live with you??? I want to live near a FHL!!! I have even had people suggest I become an LDS just for my genealogy study!!!! that has genealogy records. A couple of people that live in our area said they used it and it was very helpful.


Hope I'm not imposing too much by asking, but I would sure appreciate your advise before getting started. I am so excited about this!! Beyond words. Now for my first suggestions and the whys?????

I will gather some data for you ---- and direct you to some good first steps.

Set up a well-lit, quiet, out of the way area, gather some folders, put aside 3 blank notebooks. Set up your time to spend each day, each week, each month, and we will begin your input of "facts known" on a "free" web site, develope a first pedigree chart, and family group sheets. Get a map of USA.

More to follow; soon very very soon!