Elyse's Genealogy Blog

Online Family Trees: A Genealogist’s Dream or Nightmare?

Elyse — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:53:01 +0000

The topic of online family trees has been a debate on the blogosphere recently with posts by Lynn of The Armchair Genealogist and Jennifer of Rainy Day Genealogy Readings (I realize that I am a bit late to add to the conversation, but I’m putting my two cents in anyway).

Confessions

I remember when I started researching my ancestors. I was 12 and exclusively used the internet to find my information. I never even considered sending away for records or visiting an archive. I was allowed to use my aunt’s Ancestry.com subscription and my mom would sneak some manila file folders from work for all of my papers. I used the census records found on Ancestry.com and the names I added to my family tree all came from other people’s trees. I would read the various stories and family legends that people wrote on message boards or their family websites. I believed every word – whether a source was written or not.

I bragged about the over 1,000 names I had in my database. Since I spent the afternoons with my mom while she was at work, I would print page after page of information and charts. My mom and I lived in a motel room at the time and I would cover the wall above my bed with my pedigree chart. I was so proud of how far back my pedigree went.

There was only one problem: I was a name collector and not a genealogist.

The Difference

A name collector is someone who collects every name that could possibly fit into their family tree. They don’t consider the sources – just cause it is on the internet makes it so. They don’t think twice when a woman has a child at age 14 or when a man lives to be 120 years old. Sources don’t matter unless you want to be polite and list the tree you got the information from. In fact, many name collectors are more impressed with the large number of names in their database and not the number of stories to go with the names.

A genealogist however is someone who collects evidence in the form of vital, census, military, land, court, church, and every other record they can get their hands on. Other evidence such as diaries, journals, newspapers, and letters are also collected. Each piece of evidence is carefully examined, studied, and analyzed for information. Genealogists also understand that while more and more records are being put on the internet, not everything is on the internet – sometimes you will have to get your hands dusty in an archive, courthouse, or repository. Maps and history books are used to help understand the time period and place. Conclusions are formed based on the evidence available and every source used is listed. When one question is answered, five more are asked. Genealogists are constantly trying to improve their skills by collaborating, connecting, networking, debating, and sharing with each other.

…Back To The Family Trees

Online family trees don’t have to be a bad thing. An important part of being a genealogist is the ability to share, collaborate, and connect with other genealogists. If I found an online family tree with one of my ancestors in it, and I have different information about that ancestor, then I want to talk to that researcher to figure out why our information is different. What does that researcher have that I don’t or vice versa? Is there something that was overlooked? Together, we can figure it out.

I wouldn’t be able to find that researcher unless that researcher had an online family tree.

At the same time, if I post a family tree online, I wouldn’t want someone to just “copy” that information. I would want them to contact me and understand how I came to the conclusions that I have. My family tree consists of a lot of research work and I don’t want someone to just “take” it without understanding it.

Choices, Choices, Choices

Posting a family tree online is a personal choice. Deciding what to do with the information found in family trees is also a choice – will you be a name collector or a genealogist?

Update (As of 8 Sept 2010): I am not saying that being a name collector is a bad thing (as long as the person realizes the difference between a name collector as a genealogist). Using the information like names, dates, and places that you find in someone else’s online family tree as a GUIDE or a CLUE only is not a bad thing – on the contrary, I encourage it. Sometimes you need to see what another researcher thinks about a particular family in order to get inspired or have an epiphany of where to look for the next record. It is normal to get stuck somewhere and need the extra push that can come from using someone else’s information as a GUIDE or CLUE. This does not mean the information you find in someone else’s tree is FACT – it might be – but you have to PROVE it using real records, documents, and sources.

I understand that there are people in the genealogy community who don’t see a need for their research to be at an academic standard. I’m not saying it has to be like that anyway. But why not try to make your genealogy as factual/proven/sourced/correct as possible?

Besides, I have the most fun in genealogy when I find the record that I have searched forever for. The record holds more information that helps me understand my ancestor as not a name on a chart, but as a living, breathing person with a story waiting to be discovered.

ShopFamilyTree is Having a Labor Day Sale!

Elyse — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:31:00 +0000

ShopFamilyTree, a genealogy shopping website owned by Family Tree Magazine, is having a Labor Day sale this weekend! Just look at these awesome deals!

Get 15% Off your order with the coupon code SFT122

Get Free US Shipping with the coupon code SFT123

With both codes, certain exclusions apply: Special offer does not apply to subscriptions, VIP program, or products that ship directly from the manufacture. Both coupon codes are valid between 2 September 2010 and 6 September 2010.

Treat yourself to a genealogy treat from ShopFamilyTree during the Labor Day Sale!

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of ShopFamilyTree.com.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Mama in Blue Polka Dots

Elyse — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:05:41 +0000

Sharon Ann Doerflinger

June 20, 1959 – February 28, 2010

I love this picture of my mom. It captures who she was – always thinking, contemplating, wanting to learn more. She always had questions about things. She was easy to talk to and could start a conversation with anyone. She was honest and didn’t believe in sugar-coating things.

One of the things I miss most about my mom is our very heated, passionate, and often loud debates. We talked about politics, health care, morals, religion, the world, our hopes, our dreams – everything. We often agreed about the big picture but disagreed about the details. Whenever we got into one of our debates, people thought that we were actually angry with each other.

Her constant pressure on me to question the world and the way things are is why I am the person I am today. She was the type of person who always stood up for what she believed in – no matter what. But while she stood up for her beliefs, she also wanted to understand the other side of the story and why people thought the way they did.

I really miss her. But I am so grateful that she is my mom.

Tombstone Tuesday: Friedrich Harney, Sr.

Elyse — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:28:15 +0000

This is the headstone of my great-great grandfather, Friedrich Harney. He is buried with his first wife, Margaretha. His second wife, Lizzie, is Margaretha’s daughter from her first marriage. After Margaretha died, Lizzie became Friedrich’s second wife. Friedrich and his wives are buried in Hobart Cemetery, Hobart, Lake County, Indiana.

The above picture was taken by a lovely volunteer, Jim, and was posted onto FindAGrave. What would genealogists do without the kindness of volunteers? I am so very grateful to Jim – not just because he took this photo for me but also because I finally have a clear picture of Friedrich’s gravestone. Jim has also been kind enough to give me details of when this newer stone was placed at the grave site and by whom.

During the 1980s (before I was born), my mom went to Indiana to visit her husband’s family. While in Indiana, she decided to do a little bit of digging on the Harney family. After talking to a few people, she learned that Friedrich Harney and his wives were buried in Hobart Cemetery. So she went to visit his final resting place.

The only problem? It was in the middle of winter. In Indiana. In fact, she decided to go visit him in the middle of a snowstorm. But she was kind enough to get out of the car and take a few quick pictures of the Harney tombstone. However, she didn’t get close enough to the stones for me to be able to read most of the writing.

Thank you, Jim, for bringing me closer to my great-great grandfather. Your help is so greatly appreciated.

Think That Message Board Post Won’t Help? Think Again!

Elyse — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:55:00 +0000

Last night, I realized that I hadn’t posted to a genealogy message board in a long while. Message boards are valuable resources that should never be ignored. So, I found my three most difficult ancestors and posted some information/queries about each ancestor on their respective surname board on Genealogy.com

After posting my first message on the Doerflinger message board (a message board with very few queries posted), Genealogy.com gave the suggestion that I post the information/query on the three different regional boards that are mentioned in my post. This is a great idea and a way to up my chances that someone might be able to help.

Sure enough, I checked my email this morning, and a lovely man had responded to one of my posts on the Missouri board about my ancestor, Adolph Doerflinger. While he was not related, he did a quick search for me and posted a couple of possible matches. After looking at these possible matches and checking on Ancestry to make sure everything was correct, I found out that these records matched my needs. He even got me proof of the names for the next generation.

Needless to say, I was THRILLED! I did my little happy dance before entering the data into my database and citing all of my sources. How kind of him to take time out of his day to help me when we weren’t even related. There are many “regulars” on these boards who are willing to help.

Tips for Writing a Query

When posting a query to a message board it is important to include certain information to make it easier for others to help you. Below are some tips to help you:

Post your query to the surname board that it fits with. For example, my query dealt with an Adolph Doerflinger and so I posted the query to the Doerflinger board.
Also post your query to state or regional boards. For example, my Adolph Doerflinger lived in Missouri, Iowa, and California. Therefore, I posted the query to each of those boards also.
When writing your query, be clear about the facts versus your theories. It is good to post both what you know and what you think you know, but be sure to be very clear about it.
Include in your query the places you have already searched. This will keep responders from suggesting sources that you have already checked.
Be clear about what you are looking for. Never say that you “just want more information”. Always be specific about the type of information. Do you want to know when he got married? Want to know if he had any siblings? Want to know when he immigrated to the U.S.? Whatever it is – be clear about what you are looking for.
Always use good grammar and writing skills. Make it easy for others to know what you are searching for.
Make your title specific. Include the first and last name, date ranges, places, and maybe even what you want to know. The goal here is to get the message noticed so that someone (hopefully a distant cousin) will read it. If you just say “Looking for Doerflinger information”, someone else might not read it. Having the title say “Adolph Doerflinger 1859 – 1937, MO, IA, CA”, then people are going to notice. This is especially important for very active boards or boards for common surnames.
Be polite. Always remember that the people who are responding to you are doing so out of kindness. So remember to say your pleases and thank yous. You might be making someone’s day.

I also want to discuss the issue of responding to message board posts. Lorine Massey of The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog recently wrote a great blog post about responding to message board posts – and it is such a great post that I just have to share it. There are some great tips and suggestions for anyone responding to a message board post.

Your Thoughts

Have you ever had great success with a message board post? Do you have a great tip for getting your query noticed? This is the place to share them!

Suggested Reading:

6 Genealogy Tasks You Can Accomplish in 30 Minutes or Less
Getting Started in Genealogy
Need help organizing your mass amounts of genealogy papers? Conquering The Paper Monster Once and For All will teach you how to create an organizational system that works for you!

Mozy – A Backup Service Reviewed

Elyse — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Note: In honor of Data Back Up Day (the 1st of every month), I am republishing this article that originally appeared on this blog on 21 Dec 2008. To the bottom, I have added a new update that discusses my feelings about Mozy over the last year and a half. Remember, keep your data safe!

I was inspired today after I read Dick Eastman’s blog article (The link for that article is at the bottom of this blog entry). I realized that I really needed to look into other ways to back up my genealogy. So, I figured I would try the website that he recommends: Mozy.

You all know that I am a huge fan of backing up your genealogy files – and luckily, I’ve been able to keep it all to a 2GB thumb drive (I use 2 different thumb drives – one for my genealogy and pictures and one for all of my school stuff).

So I headed on over to Mozy.com to see what they have to offer. Since I am a poor college student, I immediately began searching for a free offer. Luckily, they have a free service where you can upload 2GB of information. This is what I am using and it compliments my 2GB thumb drive system perfectly.

I was surprised to read that for only $4.95 a month you could get unlimited storage. If you think about it – this is SUPER CHEAP! In a year that is about $60. With that $60 you can save yourself a ton of headaches, crying spurts, and hair appointments to cover that new bald spot that you gained from pulling your hair out. You’ll have piece of mind knowing that if tomorrow your computer decides to crash or if a virus gets your computer – all of your important files are safe and sound. You’ll be able to restore everything.

So, the way Mozy works is that you download the program on your computer. Then, you just tell it what files you want it to backup, when you want it to backup - and your done. It is pretty easy to use and very user-friendly. I’ve never used this service before today, and I figured it out rather easily.

However, (and this is such a small “however”), it will only backup files that are on “fixed” drives. For those of you who don’t know what fixed drives are, they are drives that can’t be disconnected from your computer (So, your thumb drive is not a fixed drive but your C drive is). This was a very small inconvenience that took only seconds of my time to fix: I simply copied the folders that I wanted to my desktop – and now I can easily back up all my genealogy files!

Link to Dick Eastman’s “Backups: A Testimonial” blog entry: http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/12/backups-a-testi.html

Update:

Miriam made a great comment on this blog today. She said that Carbonite charges only $50 a year. Plus, Mozy apparently charges you to send a DVD with all of your data on it, should your computer ever crash. Great point Miriam, and thanks for pointing that out! And as for your question Miriam, I don’t believe that Mozy will backup external hard drives. But please, don’t take my word on it since I am just now trying Mozy out. It might be best to check some of the review sites like CNET to get a better answer.

Update (30 Jul 2010): I have had Mozy for a long time now – and I LOVE it. I’ve since upgraded to the paid version and I back up every picture and database to it. It works great and I’ve never had a problem with it. There are people who are dedicated to both of the major companies, Mozy and Carbonite. I think it is similar to searching for the perfect genealogy program – it comes down to preference.

Are We Entering The Genealogical Dark Ages?

Elyse — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:33:03 +0000

Warning: This blog post contains A LOT of opinion pieces. In this post, I am responding to this article, entitled The Coming Genealogical Dark Ages on the Mormon Times website. To help you understand this blog post more, please read the article first.

So are we entering into the genealogical dark ages? Are our ancestors’ lives doomed to forever be undiscovered? Will all the records be destroyed? Will we stop appreciating the stories and memories of our elderly ancestors?

Well…. Yes and No.

There is no doubt that things can sometimes seem pretty bleak in the world of preservation and historical access.

States are beginning to restrict access to vital records. I can understand restricting vital records to a degree but restricting them for a ridiculously long amount of time (like 150 years) seems overdone. While some restriction is understandable, it is important that we don’t let fear take over. We need an open, candid discussion between the politicians and historians so that we find a happy medium where everyone is happy.
Curt B. Witcher made the claim that courthouses are undergoing “random sampling” in which they keep a random sample of records and destroy the rest. While I’ve never heard of this, I sadly do not doubt it. More libraries, archives, and societies need to create space and become dedicated to preserving these records. It is also important that more copies of documents are made – be them digital, print, microfilm, or another medium. If anything were to happen to the original, at least we will have a copy.

But while things can seem really bleak, there are moments when I just know the we are in the midst of the genealogy enlightenment.

Genealogy is beginning to go mainstream in the media. TV shows such as Who Do You Think You Are and BYU’s The Generations Project are bringing awareness of genealogy to people who may not have cared about their family history. More and more people are wanting to connect with their ancestors and histories. More people are asking questions.
More and more records are online than ever before. Companies like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org are digitizing and putting records online for easy access at home. Volunteers are societies, archives, and even at home are indexing records. It really is amazing how much information is at our fingertips.
Genealogists are constantly fighting for record access and preservation. And we will continue to fight.

My take on this is that genealogy is NOT doomed. I think that is just too much of a “glass half empty” point of view. What do you think?

Announcing My Own Mailing List!

Elyse — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:28:13 +0000

I have thought a lot lately about how I can “shake up” my genealogy presence on the internet. After a lot of careful thought, I’ve decided to dive in and the result is….

My Own Mailing List

The goal of the mailing list is to offer another way for me to connect with the genealogy world. I can share my best genealogy research tips and suggestions that is delivered straight to your email. Plus I can share with you the most up-to-date information as I begin rolling out new e-books, guides, videos, and more! Those who are subscribed to the mailing list will know what is going on before anyone else.

The Plan Thus Far

My goal is to send out the mailing list twice a month (around the 1st and around the 15th). I don’t want the mailing list to become annoying or overbearing, which is why I choose twice a month. In a few months I will reassess how the mailing list is doing and decide whether a more frequent (or less frequent) mailing list will be worth it.

Subscribing

There is a little box in the upper right hand sidebar where you can join the mailing list by entering your name and email address. The first email will go out around August 1st. I promise you that I will never ever sell your email address or give it away or in any way make it easy for spammers to find you.

So what do you think? Do you like the idea of the mailing list? What would you like to see in the mailing list?

*The above photo is from Flickr, belongs to Markus Rodder, and is used thanks to a creative commons license.

Syncing Your Paper Files to Computer Files

Elyse — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:33:10 +0000

My latest big organization project has been syncing my paper files with my RootsMagic files and scanned images. I want my paper files to include everything that my computer files have and vice versa.

Trust me – this has been no easy undertaking. It is taking a lot of time, lots of patience, and many post-it notes.

As I go through each page of my binders, I mark with a pink post-it notes any facts, events, or sources that is not in my RootsMagic file or my scanned images. Using yellow post-it notes, I mark every fact, event, or source (where it will go) that is in my RootsMagic file but not in my binder.

Once everything is marked, then I can take my time adding each source, fact, or event where it belongs and slowly removing my post-it notes as everything is entered.

How do you sync your paper files with your computer files?

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Elyse — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:45:37 +0000

My little blog has turned two today! Happy Blogiversary to me!

I just want to say that I am so proud of what this blog has become:

a place to keep the stories of my ancestors alive
a place to find lost cousins and family
a place to share my knowledge with others
a place to share my ups, downs, biggest joys, and heart-break
a place to connect with friends

I love my blog. My blog would be nothing without all of my readers and subscribers and commenters. Thank you so much for giving this blog a sense of community.

Happy Blogiversary to Elyse’s Genealogy Blog

Photo above is from Flikr and is property of hfb.