Join me for one of these research trips in 2025: Library of Virginia FamilySearch Library Allen County Public Library
From a while back… In some cases the latest transcription of something might not be the best. If you’ve seen a published book of tombstone inscriptions from the 1990s, you still might want to look at that book of transcriptions done in the 1940s. Stones might have been more legible in 1940, some might not have been readable at all in 1990. That book of transcribed marriage records in the 1930s might contain handwriting interpretations with different renderings of certain words. The ink might not have been as faded in 1930 as it was when a later transcription was done. And the transcriptionist from 1930 might have been more familiar with local names than was the 1980 era transcriptionist. Do not always assume the latest publication is the […]
This was one of the most enjoyable presentations I have given in thirty yearsWe had a great live session for what’s one turned out to be one of our most popular presentations!We focus on making AI your virtual research assistant and getting away from the AI hypeGet in on the funClear explanationsIntroductory price of $18 (download immediate) Regular price will be $25.Focus is on research, not on cuteness or creating clearly fake images We will focus on responsibly and creatively using ChatGPT for genealogy with a focus on sound genealogy methodology. Our presentation will be practical, down-to-earth, and usable. There’s more to using AI than simply having it generate a family history. That’s not what will we do in this presentation. We will look at a variety of ways to […]
You make a discovery. A relative sends you a cache of record copies. You finally get a copy of that elusive relative’s pension file. And then it happens: life. When you return to your genealogy research, do you go back to those things you were working on when life interrupted? Or do you start on new projects? What un-utilized discoveries are sitting in your files? I received copies of the entire military pension file for an uncle who served in the Civil War from Missouri. It contained several good nuggets of information that I started to organize. Then life happened several times and apparently when I returned to my research, I had forgotten all about the pension file. I picked up my research with another family and only […]
Your relative, when providing you with oral family history information, may easily get events in the wrong order. The details they remember, with the exception of the order in which they happened, may be perfectly correct. The order in which things happened usually does matter, but it can be easily for someone to confuse the order of events. If two events are completely unrelated to each other, it can be even easier to confuse the order in which they happened. When talking to a relative, focus on what they can remember. If the order in which things happens seems a little wonky, concentrate on getting as much information as you can from the person and recording their rendition as accurately as you can. Places, names, and relationships are […]
If a document refers to your ancestor as the lessor on lease–he owns the property that is the subject of the lease. If your ancestor is referred to as the lessee, she is the person being given temporary use of the property. The lessor owns it, the lessee borrows it–generally speaking.
I had more fun with this presentation than I have had with one in a long time. There are many ways that AI (Chatbots and the like) can be used for genealogy research. Instead of generating unrealistic historical images or creating made up historical narratives, I chose to use it as an actual research assistant by having it do mundane tasks that are tedious and time consuming. AI generated content still needs to be critiqued, analyzed, and not taken as genealogical gospel. But as someone whose researched for thirtysome years, the things it can do are exciting. We’ll show several examples, provide ideas for how to effectively utilize AI, and thoughts on what else can be done. You’ll be busy after the presentation working on your own ideas. […]
For your brick wall ancestor, can you name at least five people who are in his group of associates, neighbors, and friends who are not related by blood or marriage to your ancestor? Might be a good exercise. You don’t have to name them here.
I’ll be giving an all-day seminar on 16 November 2024 (via Zoom) for the Kenton County Public Library in Covington, Kentucky. Attendance can be remotely via Zoom–at no charge. This workshop will feature 4 sessions on a variety of topics. See the Preliminary Schedule below  9:45 Zoom Opens 10a Meeting announcement and introductions 10:15a- 11:15a Session 1: Documentation Roadblocks on the Information Superhighway 11:15a-11:25a break 11:25a-12:25a Session 2: Where Did the Farm Go? 12:25a-1:15p Lunch Break 1:15p-2:15p Session 3: Finding Barbara’s Beaus and Gesche’s Girls 2:15p-2:25p break 2:25p-3:25p Session 4: Is Your Process the Problem?
Try and determine where your relatives got the names for their children. Sometimes this can be difficult to determine (or even guess at) and there is no way to know for certain. However, looking for repeated names or using children’s names as clues may possibly jump start your research. Names are hints as to relationships. Usually they are not evidence. In this family names that cannot be assigned to the mother’s family or politicians may have something to do with the father’s family. Maybe.
Two excellent ways to strengthen your research is to write it up and to cite what you write. It is especially true on a person or family that is giving you difficulties. Write for an imaginary reader that does not know anything about the family. Explain what you know, how you know it, and where you got it. Give reasons for your conclusions. Have a source or reference for every statement of fact that you make. Re-evaluate those statements you can’t document. Writing for someone else to read and understand often helps us to get at errors or omissions in our research. Citing our sources frequently does the same thing. You don’t have to be as dogged as Riley in citing your sources, but some attention to them […]
In our attempts to locate living relatives, we sometimes ignore those ancestral siblings and cousins who left no children of their own. After all they have no descendants with whom we can make contact. That is true, but records on the childless relative may provide more details on earlier family members and how the estate of the childless relative was disbursed may mention previously unknown relatives. And completely researching the relative without children is always advised in order to obtain a complete picture of the family.
No one cares as much about your research as you. No one will look as diligently for a piece of information or a record as you will. Someone you ask for help will only spend so much time on your problem. Someone you hire will not be able to research indefinitely to find that missing piece of the puzzle (unless your budget is unlimited). And if you want your genealogy to have a chance of surviving past you, it’s up to you. It won’t happen by magic. That’s why it’s up to you to record the stories you find, preserve the artifacts and ephemera you acquire, and try and nurture an interest in genealogy with the younger generation. Some don’t care what happens to their research after they […]
From a while back… The modern use of GPS sometimes makes researchers think that every location can or should be known with exact precision. That’s not always possible nor is it always necessary. Only include in your database locations as precise as the actual record indicates. Don’t assume any more precision than the record provides. A marriage record for an ancestral couple indicated they married in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1830. Based upon other records for their families it’s probable that the couple married in or near Jackson Township. But the marriage record does not state that–either directly or indirectly. My suspicion regarding the location could be put in my notes for that couple along with the evidence that supports that conclusion. Sometimes our knowledge of the location will […]
Mom didn’t tell me too many actual “family history” stories, but there were a few stories that I heard numerous times that were important to me in other ways. High school was not always a fun time for me and there were two stories Mom told of her own experiences that were meant to inspire, motivate, and make me aware that there’s a lot of life after high school and the things that seem to be important in high school aren’t always important afterwards. The specific stories don’t really matter and I’m not posting them here as they were somewhat personal to my Mother and out of respect for her I’m not repeating them. But here’s the thing: they are stories I should write down and record. They […]
Get the Genealogy Tip of the Day Book
Get the More Genealogy Tip of the Day Book
Recent Comments
Archives