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My recent post, Data Backup Weekend, was also an entry into the GeneaBloggers Data Backup Weekend Contest and, amazingly, I WON! My prize is the Handy Backup Standard 6.4 by Novosoft LLC. I am so excited to have this software, which will back up my computer on a monthly, weekly or daily (for those true OCD types) basis without my having to worry about it. I am so excited to start playing with this new software and will let you all know what I think about it for the next Data Backup day:-)
Thank you GeneaBloggers and Novosoft LLC!
Monday, January 4, 2010
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Volunteerism in the Genealogical World
Up until I went back to school in August, my favorite way to volunteer in the genealogy world was through Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. I began by going to cemeteries to take photographs of tombstones (or grave sites if there wasn't a headstone) for people. This became a "date" day, once or twice a month, for my fiancé and I, where we would drive around Onondaga county and see who could find the most tombstones, walking up and down the rows in the cemeteries (see why he's a keeper?!?). Eventually it progressed to my doing searches at the library, mostly for city directories and obituaries, and at the courthouse, where I never had much luck unfortunately.
I also volunteer for FamilySearch Indexing, mainly for the 1892 New York census. I did not do nearly as many names as I had hoped, but I like knowing I was part of the group that got this project finished. Just today I received an email from the president of the Western New York genealogy society, to which I belong, asking if I would be willing to to help transcribe or proof read the 1865 New York census, which they are putting online. I jumped at the chance to be part of this project, as state census' are a tremendously helpful, but often overlooked, resource. I am also excited to become an active member of the society, despite living too far away to make meetings.
I have received three main things from volunteering in the genealogy world. First, I learnt about new resources and practiced finding them. Prior to volunteering with RAOGK, I had no idea how useful city directories were. This has helped in my research tremendously. Second, I have gotten a lot of practice in deciphering handwriting. Although I am still much better at seeing a name I am looking for in a document compared to transcribing unfamiliar handwriting, I will learn this skill and I will learn it much faster than if I just practiced with my ancestors handwriting. Third, I have discovered a possible career. I realized how much I love genealogy, not just researching my family, but other families as well. This has lead me to get my masters degree in library science with the goal of working in a genealogy and local history library. Eventually, I would like to become a certified genealogist and help people with their search that way, but it will be a few years before I get to that level.
I highly recommend volunteering in whatever capacity you are able. It helps improve your research skills, introduces you to new people and record groups and builds up good genealogy karma, which will hopefully lead to more genealogy happy dances!
I also volunteer for FamilySearch Indexing, mainly for the 1892 New York census. I did not do nearly as many names as I had hoped, but I like knowing I was part of the group that got this project finished. Just today I received an email from the president of the Western New York genealogy society, to which I belong, asking if I would be willing to to help transcribe or proof read the 1865 New York census, which they are putting online. I jumped at the chance to be part of this project, as state census' are a tremendously helpful, but often overlooked, resource. I am also excited to become an active member of the society, despite living too far away to make meetings.
I have received three main things from volunteering in the genealogy world. First, I learnt about new resources and practiced finding them. Prior to volunteering with RAOGK, I had no idea how useful city directories were. This has helped in my research tremendously. Second, I have gotten a lot of practice in deciphering handwriting. Although I am still much better at seeing a name I am looking for in a document compared to transcribing unfamiliar handwriting, I will learn this skill and I will learn it much faster than if I just practiced with my ancestors handwriting. Third, I have discovered a possible career. I realized how much I love genealogy, not just researching my family, but other families as well. This has lead me to get my masters degree in library science with the goal of working in a genealogy and local history library. Eventually, I would like to become a certified genealogist and help people with their search that way, but it will be a few years before I get to that level.
I highly recommend volunteering in whatever capacity you are able. It helps improve your research skills, introduces you to new people and record groups and builds up good genealogy karma, which will hopefully lead to more genealogy happy dances!
52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Week #1
Amy Coffin at the We Tree blog is challenging bloggers to become better genealogists, with a new prompt each week through her 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy:
Week 1 is: Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge. Don’t forget to check the shelves in both the non-fiction section and the reference section. If you do not already have a library card, take the time to get one. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s genealogy collection.
As my library is part of a large county library system, I went to their website and started searching for genealogy books that I have not yet read. I have requested the following, which will be delivered over the next few weeks as they become available:
Finding your Italian Ancestors: A Beginners Guide by Suzanne Russo Adams: I have a long list of microfilms to order from the FHC for my Italian ancestors. This book will hopefully help me see where to take the search beyond the FHC.
In Search of your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of Europe by Angus Baxter: One of my goals this year is to trace my German ancestry further, this book is highly rated to help me do just that.
Tracing your Pauper Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians by Robert Burlison: This guide is for tracing your English ancestors who were affected by poverty. As I have found some living in workhouses, this book will be very useful for finding additional records on them.
Genealogy by George G. Morgan: It's by George C. Morgan, how can I not read this?
Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing your Family History by Megan Smolenyak: See above title, just replace author name:-)
Finding Anyone, Anywhere, Anywhen by Noel Montgomery Elliot: This should be useful in my goal to find living relatives this year.
Social Networking for Genealogists by Drew Smith: I have wanted to read this since it came out and my library has just recently bought it.
Google your Family Tree: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Google by Daniel M. Lynch: I need some assistance in setting up Google alerts for my ancestors.
The Oxford Guide to Library Research by Thomas Mann: There is a chapter in here on genealogy. It should also be helpful for my current schooling.
Week 1 is: Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge. Don’t forget to check the shelves in both the non-fiction section and the reference section. If you do not already have a library card, take the time to get one. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s genealogy collection.
As my library is part of a large county library system, I went to their website and started searching for genealogy books that I have not yet read. I have requested the following, which will be delivered over the next few weeks as they become available:
Finding your Italian Ancestors: A Beginners Guide by Suzanne Russo Adams: I have a long list of microfilms to order from the FHC for my Italian ancestors. This book will hopefully help me see where to take the search beyond the FHC.
In Search of your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of Europe by Angus Baxter: One of my goals this year is to trace my German ancestry further, this book is highly rated to help me do just that.
Tracing your Pauper Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians by Robert Burlison: This guide is for tracing your English ancestors who were affected by poverty. As I have found some living in workhouses, this book will be very useful for finding additional records on them.
Genealogy by George G. Morgan: It's by George C. Morgan, how can I not read this?
Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing your Family History by Megan Smolenyak: See above title, just replace author name:-)
Finding Anyone, Anywhere, Anywhen by Noel Montgomery Elliot: This should be useful in my goal to find living relatives this year.
Social Networking for Genealogists by Drew Smith: I have wanted to read this since it came out and my library has just recently bought it.
Google your Family Tree: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Google by Daniel M. Lynch: I need some assistance in setting up Google alerts for my ancestors.
The Oxford Guide to Library Research by Thomas Mann: There is a chapter in here on genealogy. It should also be helpful for my current schooling.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Data Backup Weekend
Due to the holidays, instead of just one Data Backup Day, we have a whole Data Backup Weekend! My data backup plan consists of:
- An external hard-drive, which I backup to monthly, more if I have added a lot of information in a day or week.
- I email myself a copy of my gedcom on a monthly basis, in case my computer and external hard-drive fail.
- I have a Geni family tree which has names, dates, events and photos.
What I need to do:
- I am currently transcribing all the documents I have into my genealogy program. Following that I will need to scan them and link them in the program. This will protect my paper resources, if anything should happen to my apartment.
- I need to upload my scanned photos to my newly created Flickr account in case something happens to my computer and external hard-drive.
- I need to scan more photos, as I would be devastated if I lost some of these.
- I need to start saving a copy of my blog monthly to my computer and hard-drive, in case Blogger has a problem and loses it.
I highly recommend you, too, have a data backup plan that you are following. It would be horrible to lose all your work when there are such simple things to do.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
SNGF - The Best 2009 Genealogy Moment
For this weeks SNGF (which I'm actually going on Saturday this week!) Randy asks:
1) "What was your best Genealogy Moment during 2009?" This could be a research find, a fabulous trip, a found family treasure, etc. Your choice!
My best genealogy moment was, beyond a doubt, going to Florida with my grandmother to visit two of my great aunts and their families. I had an amazing time hearing stories, viewing and scanning photos and documents and getting to know my extended family (whose blogs I now follow!). My favorite find, while there, was a tin-type of my ggg-grandmother Sophia and seeing the strong genes she had, which we passed to her granddaughter and all of her daughters, my Aunt Holly and myself. It is amazing to see a photo of an ancestor, born almost a hundred and forty years before you, who you can see yourself in.
1) "What was your best Genealogy Moment during 2009?" This could be a research find, a fabulous trip, a found family treasure, etc. Your choice!
My best genealogy moment was, beyond a doubt, going to Florida with my grandmother to visit two of my great aunts and their families. I had an amazing time hearing stories, viewing and scanning photos and documents and getting to know my extended family (whose blogs I now follow!). My favorite find, while there, was a tin-type of my ggg-grandmother Sophia and seeing the strong genes she had, which we passed to her granddaughter and all of her daughters, my Aunt Holly and myself. It is amazing to see a photo of an ancestor, born almost a hundred and forty years before you, who you can see yourself in.
Surname Saturday: Acquard
In the new year, I am finally going to start doing the Surname Saturday theme. My plan is to go alphabetically through each of my surnames in order to get them all on the internet and, hopefully, meet some more cousins:-)
The first surname of the year is Acquard. This is my surname and almost always has me first on any list.
According to the World Names Profiler, Acquard is only in the United States:
Clicking on the US, it is shown to predominately be in New York, Minnesota and Indiana:
When my immigrant ancestor and his brothers came to America from France, my ancestor stayed in New York state, while his brother moved to Minnesota. I am unclear as to when Indiana became a popular place for the Acquards.
I do not do much research on the Acquard family, as my great Aunt Dottie has traced back many, many generations in France, as well as many cousins here in America. She could easily create a one-name study and amazing book with her research. Her work is incredible and something I hope to emulate with other lines.
My branch of the Acquard family came from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. They settled in Western New York, primarily in Erie, Genesee and Wyoming Counties.
If you ever meet an Acquard, odds are they are related to me:-)
The first surname of the year is Acquard. This is my surname and almost always has me first on any list.
According to the World Names Profiler, Acquard is only in the United States:
I do not do much research on the Acquard family, as my great Aunt Dottie has traced back many, many generations in France, as well as many cousins here in America. She could easily create a one-name study and amazing book with her research. Her work is incredible and something I hope to emulate with other lines.
My branch of the Acquard family came from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. They settled in Western New York, primarily in Erie, Genesee and Wyoming Counties.
If you ever meet an Acquard, odds are they are related to me:-)
Friday, January 1, 2010
End of Year Meme - 2009
Found on Head Tale:
- What did you do this year that you’d never done before?
I had a lot of firsts this year. In January I went to Germany and began my first ever blog, in May I became engaged and in August I began graduate school and went to my first library conference in October. This was a fantastic year for firsts and I look forward to what they lead to in the new year and new decade.
- Did anyone close to you give birth?
My best friend from college, Lauren, gave birth to her first child, Mikah, who is incredibly adorable. A few friends of Aaron's also gave birth, Karen and Stephanie (they each had a girl).
- Did anyone close to you die?
For the first time ever I will answer yes to this question, as my grandpa died November 29th. At some point I will post on this, I just haven't yet figured out what to say. - What countries did you visit?
Germany, Austria and Canada - What would you like to have in next year that you lacked this year?
Free time, as school pretty much took all of that away. I would also like to find a job at a library to get some experience.
- What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory?
May 8 - When Aaron and I got engaged.
- What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into the MSLIS program at SU
- What was your biggest failure?
I didn't do nearly as much genealogy work as I would have liked, but I wouldn't really consider that a failure, just a last of time.
- What was your biggest surprise?
Being proposed too:-D
- Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm slowly developing a repetitive motion injury from work at Starbucks, but otherwise just a few colds I think.
- What was the best thing you bought?
My Germany vacation with Aaron.
- Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Aaron is amazing as always and dealt with a very busy and exhausted me. My new friends in library school are all fantastic.
- Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The government in relation to the health care bill. They need to stop thinking about their parties and lobbiests and start taking care of the people.
- Where did most of your money go?
Rent and car (which I paid off, finally!)
- What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Planning a wedding (I detect a theme here:-))
- What song/album will always remind you of this year?
"I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, "Waking up in Vegas" by Katy Perry, "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker's albums.
- Compared to this time last year, are you:
- Happier or sadder? So much happier.
- Thinner or fatter? Fatter:-( (Not used to having someone in the house who cooks well)
- Richer or poorer? Poorer because of student loans.
- What do you wish you’d done more of?
Living in the moment, exercising
- What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying and complaining
- How
will you be spendingdid you spend Christmas?
Worked from 7:30 - 3, then at Aaron's parents. Spent the weekend before Christmas with my family. - Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My mom, she's pretty much the only person I call. Text-wise is Aaron.
- What was your favourite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy (getting good again:-))
- Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, I hate all the same people.
- What was the best book(s) you read?
The Book Thief was brilliant and one would never guess it was a young adult novel. I finally broke down and bough Evidence Explained, which is very helpful for my genealogical work. Library-wise, The Accidental Library Manager was better than any of the books I read for class.
- What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lady Antebellum
- What did you want and get?
I have gotten more than I ever dreamed of yesterday. I wanted to get into school and get the Germany experience, both of which I did.
- What did you want and not get?
I had wanted a graduate assistantship and straight A's. No assistantship, but A and A-'s, which is close enough considering I was working full-time as well as full-time school.
- What were your favourite films of this year?
(500) days of summer, Paranormal Activity
- What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and worked all day, then had the last night of my 511 class, but it was the fun class on gaming in libraries and everyone brought food and hung out
- What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Can't think of anything - How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?
Sweatshirts and jeans, as well as the ever-popular all-black Sbux regalia
- What kept you sane?
Aaron and playing around online instead of doing work
- What political issue stirred you the most?
The health care bill
- Who did you miss?
My grandfather
- Who was the best new person you met?
I can't pick one, I have met about 40 awesome people in school
- Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year.
"Don't let procrastination be your primary time management skill"
- Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some"
- What do you hope the next year brings?
A fun time in Germany and an amazing wedding
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