Last fall our local children's librarian offered me the opportunity to conduct a family history story time. I was thrilled. I filled my basket with old family photos and simple, colorful family trees for the kids to fill out. I had the rolling pin my grandfather made on his lathe and a picture of my Granny bowling duckpins and an actual duckpin ball. I chose The Matchbox Diary (Paul Fleischman and Bagram Ibatoulline) and Annushka's Voyage (Edith Tarbescu, Bruce Degen and Lydia Dabcovich.) I couldn't wait.
As I drove to the library I thought about the write up I had seen advertising the event and wondered if any adults would mistakenly think this was a presentation for them. I quickly decided I would point any errant adults to a computer and have them sign up for a free familysearch.org account and went back to preparing myself for all the fun I was going to have with the kids.
Turns out that quick blip on my radar saved the day. Seven adults (including a reporter for the local newspaper) showed up eager to delve into their ancestral past. Nary a child came through the door.
I remembered this mixup when I heard an interview with Blaine Bettinger. He emphasized the need for clear workshop and presentation descriptions so people leave presentations energized instead of bored, overwhelmed or disappointed.
Last week I met with another group of eager family historians at the Jeudevine Memorial Library. This time I expected to work with adults and indeed, welcomed a roomful of passionate adults. What surprised me this time was their depth of knowledge and preparation. It took mere seconds to realize the Intro to Family History Prezi I fretted over would be useless. I sat down at the laptop and opened tabs for all of my favorite family history resources and proceeded to walk the group through them. We attached sources to familysearch.org tree entries. We found photos of ancestors graves at findagrave.com (and I, of course, made a pitch for them to pay it forward by taking and uploading headstone photos themselves). I continued on through my tabs to show a tiny sample of the Facebook groups that provide a forum for researchers to collaborate on an amazing array of family history topics (my favorite is the Lithuanian Global Genealogical Society group.)
These fine folks also surprised me by declining my offer to have them log onto a library computer and start searching. So, I asked for an ancestor's name and birthplace to see what we could find. Familysearch provided rich rewards even eliciting gasps and tears.
At the end of the evening I added a list of the links we had visited to my abandoned notes with a handful of additional sites and insights. I include them here for your perusal and enjoyment. The skeleton is from a paper guide entitled Where do I start my family history? published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I picked it up at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center.
I have decided it's time for Family History. Now what?
1. Write down what you know.
a pedigree chart and family group sheet
https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Genealogy_Research_Forms
note cards
Evernote (tips on using it at genealogygems.com or www.cluewagon.com/how-to-use-evernote-for-genealogy/)
Make a free family tree at familysearch.org
Fill in what you know the best you can, leave the rest for later.
Use some kind of sign to show where you estimated e.g.
After grandma died, about 1950; between 1859-1870; near Palmyra; in Caledonia County
2. Talk with your family.
Take notes
Listen more than talk
Take stories with a grain of salt
Ask if there are any documents
Funeral cards
Newspaper clippings
Wedding birth announcements
Obituaries
Discharge papers
Look at old photos and scrap books together and GET names! (No, you won't remember)
Ask who else might know about the family history
Earn a reputation as the family historian -- your relatives will love you for being a repository for things they know they shouldn't throw out but don't have the oomph to store and care for properly.
3. Search other sources.
Gather your records
Visit local libraries in towns where your family lived. Ask for local histories and family histories. Local historical societies and genealogical societies. Town and county clerks offices. State libraries and historical societies.
Explore online sources
Much is online, use it to connect you to the myriad resources that are not.
Trust original records more than trees. Look for records made contemporary to the event in question. Be wary of copying other people's trees. "Climb your own tree," as my hero Crista Cowan reminds us.
Familysearch.org
Geni (I find most online trees with Lithuanian connections seem to be on Geni)
Cyndi's List
Findmypast.com (Ireland, Great Brittain etc.)
Myheritage.com (Israel, Europe etc. Also a cool new project recording oral genealogies for tribal cultures.)
Heritage quest via Vermont Department of Libraries (for Vermont Residents, check your local library if you aren't blessed to live in the Green Mountain State).
For Cemetery Listing:
Findagrave.com
Billiongraves.com
Use Facebook groups for your family surnames and for geographic areas where your ancestors lived.
Newspapers from 1836-1922 on Library of Congress site Chronicling America
Search Instagram by place name for photos
Search eBay by surname and save your search. Maybe someone will sell a Family Bible or . . .
Maps!
3 b. Get help:
Family history consultants are available to help for free at LDS family history centers
Look for the HELP link
Family Search Wiki
Ancestry Academy
Rootstech.org Follow links to videos of Presentations given at GIANT family history conference each February in Salt Lake City (GREAT resource)
YouTube videos on ancestry channel (Crista Cowan, the barefoot genealogist is a personal fave)
Podcasts:
Extreme Genes
Genealogy Gems
(If you are hard core you might enjoy The Genealogy Professional Podcast. I do.)
4. Preserve and share what you have gathered -- think outside the box.
(ALWAYS attach your source to your tree. Explain why you give preference to data from one source over another.)
Familysearch, -- Try the Memories, they bring all your hard work to life
Geni etc
Facebook groups
DVDs
Scrapbooks
Instagram
family reunions
Be mindful of basic archival preservation:
No rubber bands or paper clips etc
No heat (not in attic)
No humidity (not in cellar)
Digitize old recordings and photos.
Backup backup backup -- multiple places, multiple media
Label everything
4b. Pay it forward
Most of what we search online was indexed and/or uploaded by volunteers. Spend time indexing or taking photos for a site you love or one close to home.
5. Lather, Rinse, Repeat
Take time to go back to the beginning of the process and benefit from the experience and knowledge you've gained since you started.
