Ancestral Breezes: SCGS

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10 June 2012

Tweets from 2012 Jamboree: Day 3

The last and final installment of my favorite tweets coming out of the SCGS Jamboree, 2012. Please make sure to look over Day 1 and Day 2, as well!

@ironhide781: "So sad to leave Jamboree, it's the best genealogy conference I've ever attended." [Figured we'd start with a nice compliment.]
@terrifraser: "Takeaways: Blogger summit 2 #scgs12 Thomas MacEntee always moderates comments. Anonymous uses Microsoft Live Writer to compose blog posts."
@baysideresearch: "Decided on What's New with RootsMagic 5 for my first #scgs12 session of the day."
@demascot54321: "Genealogy research and Trip planning."
@FamilyStories: "Will be attending Warren Bittner's Complex Evidence ~ Will be streamed. Who's joining me?"
@AuntJill: "Best mindmapping tool I've seen yet is bubbl.us. Thanks to Ancestral Breezes for @scgs12 tweets." [You are most welcome. This has become a "thing" for me. It allows me to follow the conference from home, and also keeps everything in one place. If I'm going to make the list anyway, I might as well share.]
@ACoffin: "Attending 'Mapping Madness' with @ronarons. I'm a sucker for anything maps."
@terrifraser: "Attending 'Using the 1880 DDD Census' at #scgs12 with Jana Sloan Broiling CG."

(I included the above tweets so you would know which session the information was coming from. The twitter stream was very active Sunday morning, and it could be easy to get lost.)

@toniasroots: "According to @megansmolenyak there are things in newspapers other than obituaries. Who knew?"
@ACoffin: "Some free map sites: NYPL, David Rumsey, LOC, Perry Casteneda at UTexas."
@ACoffin: "Don't forget Cyndi's List map page."
@toniasroots: "All newspaper sites have some content everyone has and some content no one else has."
@ACoffin: "Arons: search Google Images for maps, too. #scgs12 Use place name."
@a3Genealogy: "@toniasroots LOL... This is a hard concept for some researchers. Slow down, take your time, and peruse the whole newspaper!"
@ACoffin: "Arons showing different results between Google Maps and Bing Maps. He uses both. So do I."
@toniasroots: "GenealogyBank has a great collection for people with New England and New York colonial roots."
@toniasroots: "NewsLibrary.com can be used a la carte - no subscription necessary. Contemporary content, not historical."
@ACoffin: "Bing maps:can only save 10 places in your collection. We all know Google lets you save more on your map."
@toniasroots: "Newspaper search tip. Put in surname and keyword 'died'." [Also, death, buried, burial, grave, ceremony, etc.]
@toniasroots: "Archives.com limits you to 10 newspaper searches per day."
@FamilyStories: "This is EXACTLY why I wish census occupations were indexed. Bonus Points to the company who does that. @findmypastUS"
@baysideresearch: "The CountyCheck feature in RM5 is great!"
@rjseaver: "I like sequence of Bittner's slides. Document, discussion, source type, info type, evidence type, source citation. Logical."
@toniasroots: "Elsewhere Around the World - a curated site with links to international newspaper sites."
@rjseaver: "Bittner finally get to the evidence conflict stage-two direct pieces from original sources don't match. Indirect evidence proves."

ilovecoffeebook.com

@rjseaver: "Bittner's talk is excellent tutorial on doing research in New York City."
@toniasroots: "Major papers, like ATL Constitution, LA Times, etc. look for PQ in menu - this is their historical archives done with ProQuest."
@ACoffin: "Arons: see if your library has ProQuest Sanborn Maps Geo Edition."
@toniasroots: "Ancestry.com obituary collection crawls sites of lots of smaller newspapers."
@toniasroots: "Obitsarchive.com another a la carte site. Has contemporary obits."
@rjseaver: "Bittner says software wants conclusions and limits evidence analysis. People lead complex lives."
@ACoffin: "Hmmm.... LinkedIn Maps. Interesting." [Care to elaborate here?]
@ACoffin: "Maps aren't just about places. Arons is discussing mind maps now."
@baysideresearch: "RM reader for iPad/iPhone later this summer!"
@amycrow: "Not correct. Limit is 10 views, not 10 searches RT @toniasroots Archives.com limit 10 newspaper searches/day @megansmolenyak" [Thanks for the clarification.]
@baysideresearch: "Looks like @geneabloggers may have a full room for his Illinois session!"
@rjseaver: "#scgs12 Lisa has her 10 Golden Rules of Genealogy on her website for free gotgenealogy.com."
@ACoffin: "Take away from Hovorka's session: we need to allow new genealogists to be new." [Amen.]
@toniasroots: "Be committed to ANALYZING your data."
@amycrow: "That's the key: 'If I look at your citation, can I get back to the original?' - C Witcher (The comma doesn't matter! <g>)"
@rjseaver: "Jana says to look for court cases associated with land deeds. Federal land records are largest pre 1900 set of records."
@ACoffin: "Bertillon cards= predecessor to fingerprints. Incl. photos, measurements, etc of the subject."
@rjseaver: "really need to check American State Papers for cases concerning my ancestors. Jana rocks!"
@toniasroots: "Create timelines whenever you can."
@baysideresearch: "It's expensive inheriting stuff from people. How to preserve?" [Ain't that the truth.]
@baysideresearch: "Resolve to DO NO HARM to your inherited items. @familycurator"
@susankitchens: "Frugal curation. Because we don't have budget n staff."
@baysideresearch: "Archival cardboard storage boxes are acid-free, etc. #scgs12 they are layered to help protect docs, etc."
@susankitchens: "First, do no harm. Temp swings not good. Moisture, pests, human handling, oils."
@baysideresearch: "Newsprint is so inherently acidic it will break down."
@baysideresearch: "Look for lignin-free boxes."
@baysideresearch: "@familycurator showing damage to doll stored in china cabinet."
@susankitchens: "Layered protection. The idea of the day for #stuff #preservation"
@baysideresearch: "@familycurator has a curator's first aid kit w/tissue paper, sheet, tape, etc. all acid free!"
@baysideresearch: "Make-it-yourself 4-flap-enclosure = most useful archival tool."
@toniasroots: "Make your own archival container to fit any size item. @familycurator is showing us how." [Jealous.]
@baysideresearch: "More DIY: custom cotton bag for multiple items."
@ACoffin: "If you're into frugal curating, @familycurator has a book coming out about it in a few months."
@baysideresearch: "Wash purchased muslin to remove all the sizing chemicals. No fabric softener!"
@susankitchens: "Reversible is key for whatever you use to encapsulate it. Plastic is good for the foto to hand around @ family reunion. #preservation"
@baysideresearch: "Put buffered paper behind newspaper to prevent acid build-up."
@susankitchens: "Buffered paper - acid free, lignin free next to, say newspaper, in archival sleeve."
@baysideresearch: "Avery sheet protectors are good option."
@baysideresearch: "Also, funnily enough, ziplock sandwich bags are fine too!"
@susankitchens: "Ziplock bags. GLAD are polypropylene. (good) @familycurator researched. Passed light test. #preservation"
@susankitchens: "Who knew? Zip loc bags. Used by archaeologists, n for Police evidence bags."
@baysideresearch: "Encapsulation not the best option for photos - image may stick to the plastic if you remove."
@susankitchens: "Time capsule. Purpose, plan. AWESOME. Mama's got a milestone bay coming up."
@baysideresearch: "Use a pretzel container. Seriously!"
@susankitchens: "This presentation TOTALLY needs to go into #Maker magazine."
@baysideresearch: "'just say no' to anything that will require a player 50 years from now. No good."
@susankitchens: "Register your time capsule: International Time Capsule society, Oglethorpe Univ, Atlanta, GA"
@baysideresearch: "@familycurator's book How to Archive Family Keepsakes coming out in August!" [You can pre-order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/How-Archive-Family-Keepsakes-Memorabilia/dp/1440322236/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=11ED8PIUYXZ2E&coliid=I30W1VQPVAQ2VA]
@familycurator: "Caugt @acivory showing how to make genealogy Mac Dashboard #scgs12 - my take-away #1"
@JanetHovorka: "What I learned at #scgs12 RT @susankitchens: XLNT question-how can we build more mentoring it's all about respect. Be it, act it. U got it."
@JanetHovorka: "Nailed it. RT @susankitchens: The FEAR of doing it wrong gets in the way. Yes. You MUST make mistakes. Gatekeeping comes frm fear."

yogainthedragonsden.blogspot.com

And with that, it all comes to an end. I love the last two:

Mentoring is all about respect.

You must make mistakes.

Well said, everyone, well said.

09 June 2012

Tweets from 2012 Jamboree: Day 2

Welcome to the world of tweets! As mentioned yesterday, follow the SCGS Jamboree event online using #scgs12.

Enjoy today's selections!

@Toniasroots: "Pass judgement on each piece of family lore: true, false, exaggerated - all are possible."
@a3Genealogy: "Mark Schaeffer says optimize social media apps/tools to improve Return On Influence. Ok!"
@Ghyxion: "Only an hour until Genealogy Idol is streamed to the comfort of my recliner." [Yes! Enjoying from home thanks to the power of social media and streaming sessions.]
@FamilyStories: all of the following...

"There is no correct way to organize your research. ~ @GenealogistEyls"
"There is no magic pill to become organized. It's a process that needs to be executed repeatedly. @GenealoigstElys"
"And? @GenealogistElys is a NATURAL at this. Seriously. You should BE HERE listening & watching. #rockingit"
"Tagging photos is suggested for photo organization. Picasa is gr8 for this. ~ @GenealogistElys"

@toniasroots: "How do you think categorize your ancestors in your mind? By surname, by couple, etc? Use that style for your organization system."
@toniasroots: "Use consistent file naming, so that when you see the file name, you instantly know what the file contains. @GenealogistElys"
@KinfoLit: "'Read broadly' to understand your ancestors' value system and priorities. -- Warren Bittner"
@littlebyteslife: "Daughters of 1812 database of ancestors online - check it out!"
@baysideresearch: "Unsubscribe from the email lists and newsletters you don't read."
@KinfoLit: "Bittner recommends Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's A Midwife's Tail: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812."
@baysideresearch: "Schedule time every 6 mos or so to organize your bookmarks." [Love this.]
@toniasroots: "Every so often, go through your website "Favorites" and delete broken links."
@Kimmyvon: "Elyse D. Tames the digital monster at #SCGS12 she's teaching what all these new fangeled things are."
@baysideresearch: "@genealogistelys is demoing OneNote."
@toniasroots: "Create a list of books/resources you want to access in your favorite note-taking software."

Random picture. Wild "high mountain" flowers in my back yard.
Copyright Jen Baldwin, Breckenridge, CO 2012.

@KinfoLit: "Reading history is essential for 'understanding the way life was lived for the common man.' -- Warren Bittner at #scgs12"
@FamilyStories: "Elyse has knocked it outta the park. Excellent. @GenealogyElys" [Love the support for this presentor from the audience.]
@Kimmyvon: "Elyse Doerflinger recommends 'Remember the Milk' for your to do list."
@toniasroots: Lists the following...

"Curt Witcher asks: Are you a genealogy researcher or an ancestor collector?"
"Familiarty with how the military operates will ensure finding & effectively using the widest collection of resources. #Witcher"
"Look for more than basic BMD info. What were they doing, where? Creates context. #Witcher"
"Use secondary information (published records). They'll lead you to the primary. #Witcher"
"Go to any college library or online to look for printed govermnet docs on Service Records. Wealth of information. #Witcher"
"State archives are good sources of military records. #Witcher"
"Pension records are golden for genealogists. Proof of service, eligibility & testimony from FANs. #Witcher"
Confederate pension files are usually found in state archives, rather than NARA, but have some of the best information. #Witcher"
Documenting the American South. Website with amazing military history information. #Witcher"
Here's the link. docsouth.unc.edu"
"Civil War Soldiers & Sailors database lets you download a spreadsheet of search results. Awesome. #Witcher"

@baysideresearch: "@lisaalso: post -1892 passenger lists much more rich in info. Darn! All my ancestors arrived before that..."
@baysideresearch: "Who was traveling w/your ancestor? Circumstances? Look for the clues. @lisaalzo."
@baysideresearch: "Check all versions of ships' lists. Copies were made. Differences? @lisaalso."
@baysideresearch: "@lisaalzo: read the instructions for any new-to-you database!"
@walkingyourtree: "Stunned by CWSS free website w/tons of great Civil War resources #CurtWitcher"
@susankitchens: "EBay for heirlooms. Use to make shadowbox. Things are in other people's attics. Sve teh search in eBay. - @LisaCooke"
@KinfoLit: "@SLuxenberg says genealogists are better researchers than historians and journalists. Really?!"
@KinfoLit: "'We don't live in the times we're researching.' A challenge to overcome, says @SLuxenberg at #scgs12"
@susankitchens: "SteveLux - we don't live in teh time we're researching. We got to think like the time period we're researching."
@sooznebr: "Put emotions aside and think about what the document tells you #scgs12 Steve Luxenberg"
@storybookgen: "My 2 cents: LOOK at the census record - don't just accept the indexed archives. They're incomplete and sometimes wrong."
@storybookgen: "Memory is falliable, even when photos tells a different story."
@storybookgen: "Steve Luxenberg welcomes emails asking for advice. Find him at steveluxenberg.com"
@FamilyStories: From Megan Smolenyak's presentation...

"Why Reverse Genealogy? Find kin, heirlooms, etc. @megansmolenyak"
"Hello?!? Had no idea @megansmolenyak does the heirloom rescue thing. Another reason to LOVE her!"
"2 approaches to Reverse Genealogy: broadcast & seeking."
"@megansmolenyak prefers the location-based message boards vs. surname to catch neighbors & family."
"Zig zagging backwards and forwards thru time gets you to the finish line quicker."
I love Heritage Quest, personally." [As do I!]

@rjsearver: tweeting from the Blogger Panel

"At Blogger Panel, Melissa says blog community is a network of knowledge and very helpful to beginners."
"Denise says geneablogging has resulted in many cousins contacting her. Cousin bait works!"
"Melissa says geneablogging is a great marketing tool for the GenealogyCenter at Fort Wayne Library."
"Thomas talked quite a bit about affiliate programs on geneablogs. Made up to $200 in one month."
"Ancestry Insider says to write geneablogs for yourself. Ought to use images in every post."
"Thomas says Wikimedia Commons has copyright free images available for use on blogs."

Random photo #2. This the fox that has marked our yard as his territory.
Copyright Jen Baldwin, Breckenridge, CO 2012.

@baysideresearch: "Add city directories to @megansmolenyak's list of best reverse #genealogy resources. Helped me unlock the Friends Album's past."
@FamilyStories: "On genealogybank.com historical & contemporary collections sometimes overlap. Check both. @megansmolenyak"
@FamilyStories: "Library of Congress website getting more useful. Info availability depends on each state. Keep checking back."
@KinfoLit: "Explanatory notes at beginning of a compiled #genealogy often contains lots of useful info, so read them! -- @DJoshuaTaylor"
@KinfoLit: "'Genealogy is a lifelong pursuit, not a five-minute hobby.' -- @DJoshuaTaylor"
@FamilyStories: "Compiled genealogies are excellent secondary sources to gather clues for further research. @DJoshuaTaylor"
@FamilyStories: "Sometimes, folks, we may never find anything that proves or disproves compiled genealogies. [hard to accept, no?] @DJoshuaTaylor"
@toniasroots: "Always pull a hardcopy of compiled genealogies when you visit other libraries. Sometimes ppl WRITE in corrections."
@FamilyStories: "Basically, u know all that stuff we get told 2 NOT EVEN look at cuz it's NOT 'pure'? Use it w/logic. They're clues. @DJoshuaTaylor"
@FamilyStories: "Read the FOOTNOTES in published histories. Lots of clues."
@FamilyStories: "Read peer reviews of comp. genealogies cuz genealogists love to point out corrections to other genealogists. *snort* @DJoshuaTaylor"
@toniasroots: "Type author's name in Google Books. You may find revisions & corrections of compiled genealogies. @DJoshuaTaylor"
@amycrow: "What?! A genealogist compiling info and not publishing it?! Say it isn't so! <g> @DJoshuaTaylor."
@toniasroots: "Contact family associations. They may have a file of corrections to the compiled genealogy."
@toniasroots: "Family-Association.com -> basic site that lists family associations."
@KinfoLit: "The author of a compiled #genealogy may have donated research materials to an archive. -- @DJoshuaTaylor."
@FamilyStories: "'Compiled genealogies - don't know if it's accurate but don't know if it's inaccurate."
@Kimmyvon: "#SCGS12 I love the idea of giving back or paying it forward... maybe we could pool our money and get on this Grand band wagon."
@Kimmyvon: "Seton Shields Genealogy Grants Program... pass the word."

More to come tomorrow! Have a great 24 hours!

08 June 2012

Tweets from 2012 Jamboree

The 2012 Jamboree, hosted and organized by the Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS), in Burbank, California began today. As with the National Genealogical Society conference last month (see that post here!), I have decided to follow along on Twitter and other social media sites, and share my little nuggets of knowledge here on my blog.

This time, however, I'm going to break it up by day, instead of one long post... Whew. My comments are in [brackets].

You can join the conversation by following #scgs12 on Twitter.

So, here are the gems from 8 June 2012. Enjoy!

@baysideresearch: "Trindle examined tax records to trace ancestor's wealth. Found alternate spelling of name."
@baysideresearch: "Get every last bit of probate information. Never know what they'll reveal."
@rjseaver: "Other projects for kids might be Google Earth tour, iPad or android apps, Gothic handwriting, indexing, etc."
@baysideresearch: "Look at the legal codes for the areas u r researching for clues to decipher tax records."
@baysideresearch: "Some ancestors may not have paid taxes after a certain age. Also ministers and doctors didn't always pay."
@ACoffin: "Pro/transitional genealogist tip: learn about all the genealogy software options out there to help clients make better decisions."
@ACoffin: "You can import RootsMagic sources as footnotes in Personal Historian 2. Good to know."
@Kimmyvon: "Tools do more but are more complicated... we have to change with technology. Thomas MacEntee."
@toniasroots: "There is not usually 'one true' strategy that will lead to success. A variety of searches should be performed and evaluated."
@Kimmyvon: "Via T. MacEntee 'Follow a curator' What's a curator? Someone who is watching the tech world and teaching you. The best in my mind C. Pointer"

[Later] @GenealogistElys: "The list of curators included dearmyrtle, dick eastman, kimberly powell, randy seaver"

@susankitchens: "Secrecy's other side is privacy. Ea generat'n has changing social conditions that creat new taboos StLux"
@Toniasroots: "Don't fall into spellings trap. Use wildcards in your searches."
@Toniasroots: "Enumerator recorded wives first names as 'Mrs.' Ugh."
@susankitchens: "'I don't want to bring up something that's difficult' - that is your ASSUMPTION, peeps. ID the anxiety, but don't assume it. StLux"
@susankitchens: "People who have pain want to get rid of it. You may be doing a favor by asking about something sensitive. StLux"
@susankitchens: "'My rule for secret keepers: when keeping a secret does more harm than good, it's time to consider letting it free.' StLux"
@Ginisology: "Loving, author of Annie's Ghosts, Steve Luxenberg's class: Lost in the Unknown: The Delicacy of Probing Family Secrets" [Comments made by others in the session were noted by "StLux"]
@ACoffin: "You can dictate stories into Personal Historian 2. The software will also read your stories aloud."
@ACoffin: "In Personal Historian 2, you can organize your stories into chapters of your choosing. Many custom publishing options."
@Toniasroots: "Never ignore anyone with the same surname living in the same area, even if you don't know how they are connected."

Random picture. Gotta' break up all that text.

@GenealogistElys: "I feel famous! @tmacentee mentioned me in his talk!!! #scgs12 I am tickled pink and so flattered!" [Awesome.]
@GenealogistElys: "Use GenSmarts to give you ideas for where to go next for research." [Referring to @drewsmithtpa discussing "Idea Generation and Preservation for the Baffled and Disorganized".]
@Kimmyvon: "According to Lisa Alzo Family Histories should inform, engage, enhance and entertain."
@GenealogistElys: "GenSmarts provides a legend of tags (whether info is online, missing source, etc.) to organize research to-do list"
@GenealogistElys: "GenSmarts tells you why it makes a suggestion... sounding more and more like I need this program." [I have it, and strongly recommend it. See their website for more information.]
@GenealogistElys: "GenSmarts also creates a hypothesis. Loving it!"
@Kimmyvon: "'Don't leave just lines and boxes for our future generations' Lisa Alzo"
@Toniasroots: "A reasonably exhaustive search can be exhausting. : )"
@Toniasroots: "3-D Genealogy - Place your ancestor with the right people at the right place and the right time."
@GenealogistElys: "@drewsmithtpa recommends mind mapping tools to help generate and organize ideas. Suggests Bubbl.us."
@GenealogistElys: "Bubbl.us is like a giant whiteboard and you can type anything down - get ideas out of your head."
@GenealoigstElys: "Thinking MS OneNote should add mind mapping software to the program." [Agreed.]
@GenealogistElys: "You can add bubbl.us mindmap to your blog! I'm loving it!"
@FamilyStories: "Get your family involved in family history with Voice Quilt. @lisaalzo <-- This is very cool."
@GenealogistElys: "Loved the 'wows' from the crowd when Evernote's OCR ability was shown."
@mradamhansen: "Hey look! The #scgs12 Twitter displays are up in the main hotel. Your tweets could appear onscreen."

Hope you like my little list! More tomorrow!