We’ve set the dates for our 2013 Family History Research Trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City in May. Join us for a week of genealogical research in the world’s largest genealogical library between 29 May and 5 June. Don’t wait pre-register today for only $50. Balance of registration is due 1 April 2013. It is not too early to start planning for 2013. The complete registration price is only $150–that’s a bargain compared to other trips. This fee includes pre-trip planning assistance, morning presentations at 8:00 every day the library is open during our trip, onsite consultations, assistance in learning to use the equipment at the library, quick on the fly questions, and follow-up assistance as needed. Travel arrangements are on your own. We stay at […]
Get a free genealogy webinar… Buy 5 webinars at our 60% discount rate and we’ll send you a coupon code for a free webinar!  Our discount makes downloads less than $3.50 each. Our presentations are informal, down-to-earth, and practical. The only agenda we have is helping you with your research. Coupon code “sixty” at check out will reduce your order by 60%. Downloads are immediate. The buy 5 get one free offer ends at 11:59 PM (Central time)  1 October 2012. Don’t wait–your ancestors are not getting any younger. The coupon code for a free webinar does not expire and does not need to be used immediately Check out our list of over 30 presentations here: http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/08/updated-list-of-genealogy-webinars.html Topics include: Organization Problem-Solving Brick Walls Females Charts Court Records Land […]
Regularly saving files and documents in backup locations is always advised. Have you been redundant today? The time you spend today may be the time you don’t waste tomorrow recreating or refinding material. And are there back up copies of those pictures and other materials in a remote location? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Chances are, you are not the only descendant of your great-great-great-grandparents (or any other set of distantly removed ancestors). Have you located other descendants who may have pictures or information? Remember…it’s not just about you. Other relatives may have ephemera or other material that could be helpful in your quest. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
In our quest to find “proof” and “reasons” behind all those things our ancestors did (or did not do), remember that while there often are reasons why people move to new location or choose a specific name for a child, there are often times where those things are done completely on a whim. Once in a while decisions are made–for no reason at all. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
There are states that have more than one location with the same name or with locations that have similar names. Illinois has more than one Prairie Township within its borders and probably has other locations (towns, cemeteries, etc.) that also have the word “prairie” as part of the name. Illinois also has the village of Henderson, the village of North Henderson, Henderson County, etc. And Illinois is not the only state (or territory) with similarly named features. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Have you ever read the probate section of state statute for the state in which you are researching? At the very least it may put you to sleep. On the other hand, you may learn something. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Don’t neglect searching college yearbooks even for those people you think might never have attended. A relative may easily have only attended for a year or two, never graduated, and yet appear in a yearbook their freshman or sophomore years. Those non-graduates may even have their picture in the yearbook as well. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When you locate a new piece of information, particularly a detailed document, do you analyze it, think about what it says (and does not) before you mindlessly start searching on the internet? A little reflection and analysis before those internet searches may save you some time. Think about what a document means before you start throwing terms in search boxes. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
For some reason, old tips are going out in the email version of “Genealogy Tip of the Day.” We’re working on getting it fixed. Thanks! ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Those who have never researched rural ancestors are sometimes in for a treat. It can be difficult in some cases to locate someone who has a map of the cemetery or a person that has a listing of who owns which plots, etc. For some rural cemeteries, particularly ones that are no longer used, no such list exists. Township or other local officials may oversee the cemetery, maybe. Or no one at all may look after the cemetery and the records, if there ever were any, may be long gone. And rural cemeteries rarely have phone numbers you can call to get information. Local historical or genealogical societies and libraries may have information about the cemetery or they may not. Local funeral homes may know who to contact […]
Occasionally I get emails from readers telling me that there simply “have to be records” and comments indicating that “someone, somewhere has ‘them.'” While a church might have kept records sometimes pastors keep the records of their church and they eventually end up lost or destroyed. The records of some cemeteries, particularly smaller ones, end up in private hands and sometimes those too end up being accidentally destroyed. This does not mean that one should not look for records. What it does mean is that one cannot always insist that they “have to be around somewhere.” Sometimes they are–but sometimes they are not. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Years ago, I discovered that my grandmother had a step-grandmother who had never been mentioned. For a long list of reasons, I never mentioned the step-grandmother to my own grandmother. However, I did learn where the step-grandmother was buried. A few months later, my Dad and I had cause to go close to the cemetery on a trip somewhere else and I asked if we could stop for a few minutes to see if I could find the stone. There was no stone. Dad mentioned to Grandma the next morning that we had stopped at said cemetery. Grandma later very directly asked me WHO I was looking for in THAT cemetery. Grandma probably knew who I was looking for as there are NO other family members buried there. […]
In the interest of clarification, Genealogy Tip of the Day‘s blog site and Facebook Fan page are generally not: places to promote genealogical events–there are places to do this and our intent is not to become a clearinghouse for this type of material.  places to promote personal research services. We do not endorse any company or person that performs personal genealogical research. places to review books, websites, other materials. Michael does not include any reviews of genealogical materials on the Tip blog or Facebook page.  Genealogy Tip of the Day is provided as a free service to the genealogy community and we encourage fans/followers to interact on our blog site and Facebook page. Genealogy Tip of the Day is graciously sponsored by Genealogybank.com. My webinars and newsletter will occasionally be […]
It’s always possible that a grave marker was never erected for your relative. Sometimes financial difficulties or no family living in the area was the cause. The end result, no stone, is still the same. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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