#genchat CHALLENGE: Using Tax Records to Knock Down Your Brick Wall

Have you used tax records in your genealogy? 

You should probably think about it, if you haven't. #genchat on May 25, 2014 was all about tax records, and what there is to gain from them as a genealogy source. 

Think beyond property. We had mentions of taxes on hen's, prostitutes, dog licenses, and way more! There is much to be learned from taxes and the associated paperwork. Use them as a substitute for census records, let them fill in the gaps of your ancestors life. 

Seek them out locally first, in the county Courthouse and in city administration buildings, then work on a broader level to identify where your ancestor may have been listed. 

Tonight's #genchat CHALLENGE: Using one of your "brick wall" ancestors and knock down the wall by identifying and pursuing tax records. 

The scope of what you might find could surprise you! Taxes have been around for a very long time, so use that to your advantage! 

As always, share what you find so we can all continue to learn from each other. Use your blog, social media, website or any other format to share your process and results, and then let us know! 

This #genchat CHALLENGE should result in some very interesting local records being discovered! Be sure to connect with your local genealogy society, as well, for even more information. 

Using Excel in Genealogy

Several times during #genchat, I have mentioned that I use Excel heavily as a genealogy tool. 

And it seems every time it comes up, someone asks, "how?" I decided to put together a post about how I use Excel to answer those questions. Some may use it differently than I, but for me, this works. What I have included here are just some initial thoughts on this tool.


When I start a new project, I almost always immediately create a workbook for that project in Excel. Each tab is a piece of the project, so if you are unfamiliar with using Excel, you should start with a good how-to video from YouTube or a training class. My Excel skills are still on the beginner level in my mind, but I know enough to make it work for me.


Step 1:

Create workbook. This can be as simple as opening a new file and giving it a name, but there are times when I get a bit more creative and give it a cover page, too. This also helps when working in public spaces; if I have to step away from my computer for any more than a second, I flip it over to the cover page so no one can see any of the information I have compiled. This works well for me if I am engaged on a client project, where confidentiality is important.


To do the cover page, tab 1 in the spreadsheet gets a nice big title, usually with my name and an image. Sometimes this is my company logo, sometimes this is a family photo, or perhaps a photo of the area/town I'm working on. I remove all the grid lines, so it's just one white page.


Here is an example of one of my cover pages:

Cover Page for my Breckenridge One Place Study
©Jen Baldwin, 2013 - 2014

The tabs can be whatever you need them to be. They can be labelled for each individual person, creating a nice timeline, or they can be different aspects of an individual life. For my not-quite-yet-official One Place Study, my tabs are items like, "Churches," "Obits," "Mining Claims," "Businesses," "Fraternal Orgs," and so on; this creates a timeline of the entire community, not just one person.


Step 2:

I usually do the rest as I work. I start with a basic set of column headings on each tab, and adjust as I need throughout the process. Often, any given spreadsheet ends up with column headings like this:


Year |  Date |  Surname | Given Name | Fact/Finding | Notes | Images | File Name | Publication | Pub Date | Author | Citation Detail |


I always do the year first, as a separate column, so I can sort easily when needed. Also, sometimes the date is separated into two columns: month and day, depending on what I am working on, and again for easy sorting. When you create dates in Excel, it's important to remember that you need to tell the system how you want it to be displayed. For example, the pre-formatted standard is to put dates in the following format: dd-mm-yy. That doesn't necessarily work for me, mostly because the research I conduct could be in the 1800s or the 1900s, so I need the full year. Also, my habit is to put dates into the dd mmm yyyy format, so each new date column has to be formatted correctly for easy use.


Thanks to the flexibility of the rules at our local Courthouse, which is where I do a lot of my research, I am allowed to take photos of the documents. That means that nearly every spreadsheet has a place to indicate if I took images, made photocopies, or "other," and a place to include the file name. The goal, of course, is to ensure that nothing gets missed or lost in the transfer of information into the spreadsheet, or the digital copy.


Every workbook and sheet includes a place for Notes. For me, this is essential. Perhaps I need to note that there are comments in the margin, or some small detail that stands out and could be important later, so the notes column is included on every sheet. Not all information fits easily into a column or cell, you need to give yourself the room for free form text.


The top row is always locked, so no matter how deep the spreadsheet gets, the column headings are visible. I also add some color in, to break up the text a bit, and the header is usually in color, as well. To change them around, adding variety and "spice" to my projects, I will sometimes select a theme to work with, so I have different fonts and colors in each workbook.


Here is an example of a sheet from my Breckenridge work book.

Fraternal Sheet, Breckenridge One Place Study
©Jen Baldwin, 2013-2014

You  can see I've highlighted two cells, and that is because the information provided differentiates: they each give a different lodge number for the A.F. & A.M. Masonic Lodge in Breckenridge. This could be a type-o, but it deserves my attention later in the research process.


Other Elements and Citation Templates

Continuing to use my One Place Study as an example, I have tabs, or sheets, for all sorts of elements. One is a census tab, so I have all the Federal and State census data easily at hand. I entered each one that Breckenridge was found in, and created a full citation for it, with a link to my favorite online census source. That way, I do not have to search through a website to get to it; I can go directly there with the click of my mouse; and the citation is right there, waiting for me. I just change the names, and other pertinent data, and move on. Easy peasy. 


Noting a piece of information for later research is easy for me; I just make the cell a different color. That way, it stands out. I know that when I find something of interest, its easy for me to shoot off in a different direction than my intended research plan for the day, so by making it stand out from the rest of the data, I can easily find it again on a different day to pursue further. (As seen in the example above.)


I also create templates for sources that I use often, and in Breckenridge, that equates to the mining deed records. For this citation template, I actually use drop down menus' within the data cells, because many of the clerk's books are titled the same way. For this citation template, I have drop downs that include elements such as "Grantee" or "Grantor," "Warranty Deed," "Quit Claim Deed," and my personal favorite, "Misc Records 1" "Misc Records 2..." There are literally thousands of documents labelled as "miscellaneous" records at my Courthouse!


I also do this for publications that I use often, such as the local newspaper titles. Once I started to utilize these tools and your keyboard shortcuts, it saves me a great deal of typing and time, because I can really fly through the citation details as I enter information.


Addendum: Within hours of posting this, I had several requests and questions about the in cell drop down menus feature that I use. You can access this in the "Data Validation" part of Excel, found under the Data menu, but I strongly suggest you watch a video or read through the how-to to utilize it, if you don't know already. In order to use this feature, I built a bibliography of sources into my workbook (which I already had on file anyway), so I can easily utilize the information in this fashion, but also have an established list of citations available to me as well. Multi-purpose bibliography! Yippee! 


Here is a screen shot of what this feature looks like when in play:

Note the drop down menu within the cell under "Publication." This allows me
to easily choose which source I received the information from, and apply it to
the spreadsheet. Creating a resource list or bibliography as one of your sheets in
the workbook will help tremendously with this process, so do that first.
©Jen Baldwin 2013-2014

Most of these tricks I learned by watching YouTube videos or reading through the instructional information on Microsoft's website. My last Excel class was a long time ago, and I lost most of these skills over the years. I don't have any one favorite resource for learning, I just Google until I find something that can help me. If all else fails, ask someone who uses spreadsheets a lot (like an accountant) to explain what you want do to, and have them help you with the right terminology so you can search more accurately.


To do some of these... 

• To lock the top row: click on View in the main menu bar, then Freeze Pains, and you'll see an option to lock the top row.
• To select a theme: click on Page Layout in the main menu bar, then use the Theme drop down button on the far left to select a pre-formatted theme. You won't really see any changes until you start working with the data. 
• To name a tab: right-click on the tab and select "Rename"
• To format the date: select the entire column, then in the Home section of the main menu bar, select "More Number Formats" in the drop down where it says "General." Select "date" in the left category list and then the format you want to use. You can also use the "custom" category if you do not see a pre-formatted version that you like. 
• To create a cover page: Start with Sheet 1, and remove the grid lines (a check box in the "View" page from the main menu bar). Insert text, photos, etc as you would on Word or just about any other program. I like to give it color and depth, so I usually play around with it until I get something a bit more creative. You can also add a full back ground from the Page Layout menu. 
• The drop down items within the cells I mention for citations are a bit more complicated, so I'll leave it to you to Google it. 

I hope this helps to answer some of the questions. The more I use Excel, the more I learn, so these workbooks are really always changing and adapting. I have to admit, I am using Excel now more than any other program in my research process, and that includes my genealogy software. For what I do, it fits my needs incredibly well. The program provides just enough structure to keep everything organized, but also has the flexibility needed to conduct creative research and to "follow a hunch." I know there is a great deal more this program can do for me, and I'm slowly learning, one step at a time.

I would love to see how other's use it, as well. If you so desire, leave a comment or a link to a blog post so we can all learn from each other! 

Reference note: I use Microsoft Excel 2010.

#genchat CHALLENGE: Practice Makes Perfect!

"Citation is an art, not a science."

~ Elizabeth Shown Mills

Evidence Explained, Second Edition, p.41

©Ancestral Journeys, 2014

Our #genchat discussion tonight was all about citations. Yes, they can be confusing. Yes, they can be tedious. But they are also necessary. 


Tonight's challenge is to practice, practice, practice.


Select one record set you use often, for example the U.S. Federal Census', and go back through your research and ensure that each record you have is cited correctly. By repeating the same citation over and over, while changing the dates, locations, and names, you are well on your way to being able to create a citation by memory. Once you have the basics, it is much easier to apply the practice to all the records in your collection.


Resources for this challenge, and for citations moving forward in your genealogy:

1. Elizabeth Show Mills, CG, CGL, FASG. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 2012. 
2. Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG. QuickSheet: Citing Online HIstorical Resources Evidence! Style*.  Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 2012. 
3. Evidence Explained Website, Blog, and Forums: https://www.evidenceexplained.com/
4. Evidence Explained Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/evidenceexplained
5. Evidence Explained on Twitter: @EvidenceExplnd
6. The Chicago Manual of Style Online. University of Chicago Press, 2010 - 2014. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
7. Chicago Manual of Style Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Chicago-Manual-of-Style/139396659150
8. Chicago Manual of Style Twitter:  @ChicagoManual

Remember that the ultimate goal is not necessarily about how you cite your sources, just that you do cite your sources. 

So get in there! Practice on one record set that you have a lot of material from, and then move on to other parts of your genealogy. Find a system to methodically and habitually create citations every time you look at a new record. Build a place for citations into your research log, your notes, or other organizational system. Create a document of those "commonly used" citations, so you can copy/paste the basics and only adjust the details. Choose whatever works for you, but do it. And do it today! 

Share with us via social media, blog or other medium what you learned, what habits you are trying to develop, what system you set up. Tell us what worked for you and what didn't, and reach out to the #genchat community for guidance, support, and encouragement in establishing this process for yourself. This can be daunting to some, you do not have to do it alone. 

#genchat CHALLENGE: Exploring NARA

In last night's #genchat, we discussed using the National Archives and Records Administration, commonly known as NARA, in our genealogy journey. Many participants had yet to fully explore the collections available in our national collection, so this week's challenge is designed to get you into the records and find out what might be of value to your research.

Denver Branch of the National Archives and Records Administration
Photo: ©Jen Baldwin, 2012 - 2014

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it...


Identify one record set that might help you at NARA, learn how to access it and write it up. No purchase required, but go into this as if you are going to request the records and get it ready for yourself. 


(Maybe you will even be encouraged to order the records soon!)


Here is mine.


I decided to dig into the possibility of finding one or two of my miner's in NARA's collection. The men I am researching came to the Colorado gold fields and took various routes to success. One ended up being a cattle rancher with property in Nebraska and Colorado; the other spent a decade investing in various mining operations before heading home to New Jersey. One of the best lines I got from my initial research of NARA records was this:

Think of possible ways your ancestor interacted with the Federal Government. Then pursue those records.

Examining the holdings at the Denver branch, I found that they have Bankruptcy Case Files. I think it is likely that either or both of these men may have found themselves in this circumstance. It's just a hunch, really, but its worth investigating, I think. Although the information online is limited, they have bankruptcy, civil cases, court of appeals and criminal cases; all available to order.


Just these files does not warrant a full trip to the Denver branch for me, however. I need to find more and have a full list of potential research in order to make this drive (about two hours one way for me). I utilized the "Guide to Archival Holdings: Alphabetical List of Record Holdings" for Denver to dig a bit deeper.


Due to the various bits of information I have about these two men, I was able to locate two additional sources that may help me. List includes the title and Record Group (RG) number:

• Attorneys, United States RG 118. This collection specifically refers to US Attorneys appointed under the Department of Justice. Although I have not uncovered any evidence of that, there is still a possibility that my guy may have been involved in a case dealing with a US Attorney, making this a far-fetched, but still valid, resource for me. Before I pursue it however, I will do more local work into his career as an attorney. 
• Bureau of Mines, US RG 70. The record description indicates the dates of 1860 - 1996, so it begins early enough to potentially cover data on either or both of my guys. The description does not detail what is included in the earliest years of the set (1860-1900), so additional work on my part is required to understand if this is a valid resource for me or not. 

I will also need to examine the collections at the Kansas City facility to examine the possibility of records on the miner turned cattle rancher.


I would invite you to take a closer look at the potential resources held at NARA. Look from a national perspective, but also at what each individual branch has in its collections.


Will you accept the CHALLANGE?

Our next #genchat will be March 14, on the topic of "Early Census Years." You can find the full schedule on Conference Keeper. 

#genchat Challenge! What Have You Missed?

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it....

Tonight on #genchat, the topic at hand was "Capturing all the details: one document at a time."  We discussed the idea of re-evaluating what you already have found; and why you may have missed details on the first review. Many suggested transcribing as a good way to ensure you "see" everything, also included were the idea's of reading the document out loud, reading repeatedly over the course of a week, or sharing it with a friend to compare notes.


Nearly all of the participants, myself included, admitted that there is a need to do this regularly. We simply cannot believe that one review of a source, especially a complicated one!, is enough.

What might you have missed?
Image: personal collection of author
1897 Town of Breckenridge Clerk & Recorder log book

Your challenge today is to find a record that you already have in your research, and to re-evaluate it. Try to find one that you have had difficulty with in the past, or one that was challenging to you for some reason. Make this a tough assignment on yourself! It is a "challenge" after all!


Blog about your experience with this record, or share in some other manner, before our next official chat on February 14th.  Tell us what you found originally, and what the re-assessment process did for you. Did you find new information? Were you thorough the first time around?  Be sure to share the link with me!



Remember! Once you have completed the challenge, share it with me! Thanks for accepting the #genchat CHALLENGE! 

Using the National Register of Historic Places Database

Genealogical research can lead you in so many different directions, and investigating the origins of a specific site or building can really make an impact in the stories you are trying to tell. The United States is lucky to have an amazing resource in the National Register of Historic Places, and researcher’s in all disciplines can utilize the database made available to us via the National Park Service website.

Using this tool can prove to be incredibly exciting, especially for those researching a general area or community that has been put on the list. In work done relating to the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado, I was able to find the original (scanned) application that was submitted, dated 1980; all 38 pages of it! The document included a typed list of contributing buildings, and a color coded map of the town indicating “Historic”, “Contributing” and “Intrusion” properties that factored in to the decision.

The Frisco Schoolhouse, now a
Museum. Main Street, Frisco, CO. 

Certainly individual properties are listed as well, and are more frequent than the “districts”. This includes site such as the Frisco Schoolhouse, which is now a museum on Main Street of Frisco, Colorado. The picture seen here was available on the site to be downloaded, (the material is considered public domain according to the site "Disclaimer") and dates from 1983.  I was also able to learn that the addition in the back of the building was put on in the 1950s, and that’s also when the double door was added to the main entrance. The diamond shaped window in the upper eaves appears to be original (ca. 1909).

Records relating to individual residences include written descriptions and in several cases, a floor plan of the building. There is also a required “Significance” summary that generally gives a historical background of the building, and why it is being pursued as a addition to the list.


Not every site has the application and images online yet, but many do. This is a site you will want to add to your bookmarks list and go back to recheck on a regular basis. For advanced viewing, printing or downloading the documents,  you will need the DjVu Plugin. There is a link at the bottom of the screen when you open the files.

Screenshot of the NPS Focus site, allowing you to see the original application records. This example is from a residence in Salida, Colorado. 

Did You Hit the Ad's?

One of the joys I find in genealogical research is digging through historic newspapers. It's fun! Yes, we can gain a great deal of insight and real life experiences of our ancestors from these incredible resources, but there is more. Scanning the headlines, reading the quick notices, the short articles; all of that comes together to create an astonishing experience  placing yourself in that moment in time.

Summit County Journal, Breckenridge, Colorado.
1 Sep 1917, Page 8.

One thing I make sure to look for in newspaper searches is the advertisements. Have you stopped to investigate these as genealogy source? Just this advertisement for the Rogers Furniture & Undertaking Company from Breckenridge, Colorado tells you so much information: location, what they did, note the Proprietress is Mrs. J. GOUGH, and the year the business began. Knowing what I do about Breckenridge history, the date given of 1880 makes sense; the town was created in 1859 and by 1880, it was thriving. Now I know where else to look: 1880 Federal Census, 1885 Colorado State Census, cemetery records (because they acted as Undertakers and Funeral Directors), etc.

Consider the other aspects as well. As a business, they were doing well enough to afford a reasonably sized advertisement in the local paper, but not well enough to get it on the first page (it was found on page 8). In 1917, Mrs. Gough felt confident enough in her role to list herself as the "manager"; or was it that she felt a feminine touch was necessary in this particular industry?

Try a series of dates to learn more!  We can use Robert "Bob" Lott, former resident of Breckenridge, as a fantastic example. When he passed away in 1913, his friends in the community gathered to give him a proper headstone, in the "Pauper Section" of Valley Brook Cemetery. His headstone was so fascinating, it absolutely demanded more attention:

Copyright Jen Baldwin, Ancestral Journeys, 2011.

Although there is little mention of Mr. Lott in standard newspaper articles of the time period, and even less in community historical documents, there are a lot of ad's. I have learned that he went from catering - delivering meals to your home - to owning his own restaurant, partnering with at least three other men in town of varying degrees of status and luck, finally moving back to his original spot in town, where he ran a successful steak house for several years. He was the only African American living in Summit County, Colorado at the time of his death (per his obituary). Just from the newspaper pieces alone, I have been able to establish a decent timeline of his adult life, leading to further investigation. I hope to someday have his life story; where he came from, and how he ended up in the mountains of Colorado. His is one story of our community that deserves to be remembered, and its up to me, since he left no descendants. 

I have to wonder: Oysters or "Rocky Mountain Oysters"?
Summit County Journal, Breckenridge, Colorado.
5 Jan 1907, Page 5.

Have you gained invaluable data from newspaper articles? Do you have one to share? Please let me know! Leave a comment or a link, and I'll be sure to connect with you. 

SEO: Why It's Important for Your Blog

SEO.

If you cruise the internet, you may have come across this acronym. You may have thought it wasn't relevant to you, your blog, or your search for ancestors. It is, in fact, important. SEO stands for "Search Engine Optimization", and no, its not scary.

What is it, exactly?

If you want the technological jargon, you can read all about it on Wikipedia. This is my take, my version of that information, but into language I can understand.

Simply put, SEO is the way a search engine reacts to a website and lists it in your results page. For example, if you do a search for "genealogy blogging", you will see www.geneabloggers.com is almost always at the top of the list. How does that happen? Well, site creator Thomas MacEntee has done an amazing job of providing search engines with the proper search terms, so people find his site first and easily. (He may have other tricks up his sleeve, and probably does, but I know he is doing this, and doing it well.)

Chrome search results for "genealogy blogging"

Think of it this way. When you open your web browser and conduct a search - for anything - you use a certain set of terms to try to get the best results possible, right? For example:

"Brown + Nebraska genealogy"

This is essentially universal. Yes, there are other ways of conducting a search. But, think about when you are looking for a recipe. You might search for "spaghetti recipe" or "world's best spaghetti". You don't always use a complicated search pattern to find what you are looking for.

Applying these terms to your unique blog or website allows the search engine to identify what your site is about and related to. It makes it easier for the search engine to find topics on your site and match those topics with the search terms that people use in simple searches.

Why should I do this? 

Simple. You want people to find you. Don't you?  Are you writing your blog to find other relatives? Well, they search for surnames, locations, photos, etc. Lead them to you with the right terms. Are you writing about your business, or general methodology? Great! Use the applied terms to communicate that's what you are writing about!

Don't care if anybody reads your blog? Ok. You can still read the rest of this one, though.

• "Why does it matter if your site is at the top of the results page or on page 42?"

Wouldn't a dedicated searcher find it either way?  Well, yes and no. I recently read that the average user in the U.S. only looks through the first two pages of search results, then either adapts the search terms or stops all together.

• "So what? Genealogy is reportedly the second most popular hobby - they are still going to find it."

Eventually, yes, they could. No built in guarantee on that one. Imagine that this long lost cousin finds you today, or finds you in five years. What have you missed out on? What kind of relationship could you have developed with this new branch of the family in that time?  There is a whole series of "what if's" here, and my favorite one is this: "what if long lost cousin's grandmother is still alive today, but dies next year?" Think about that for just a minute.

Convinced yet? Ready to start? I hope so.

How do I do this? 


Caroline Pointer of BloggingGenealogy.com recently posted a great little piece entitled Want More Cousins to Visit Your Genealogy Blog? in which she introduced us to "Cousin Awesome Sauce", and using "alt text", which allows you to "'tell' the search engine what the image says..." (Read the full post, it's worth it, I promise.)  So, start with that. Create a way for your images to be identified with the text you are producing.

Once you've got your feet wet, take a look at Search Engine Optimization: Step By Step on the About.com Web Design / HTML page, by Jennifer Kyrnin. It's a visual - yes, visual - instructional post about how to do this, and gives a more technical look at why you should. She makes it pretty easy.

Do not overlook this! This little tidbit from the step by step guide I just told you about is priceless! Use Adwords from Google to identify the best, and most common, search terms for your blog. Ms. Kyrnin puts this in her tutorial, but I want to point it out specifically as a really useful tool for this process. Just putting my blog and my webpage through that one tool, I learned a great deal. It proved to be incredibly useful.

Have other ideas? Know something about SEO that I don't? Well, that's likely. I'm just starting to educate myself on this particular road to internet usage and success. If you have a great resource you have used to improve your site, I'd really like to see it. Please leave a comment.

In the meantime, here is a great graphic to explain the process just one more time. And one more tip: look on Pinterest. There are numerous "infographics" to help understand SEO.

http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/6442/12-Amazing-SEO-Infographics.aspx

Genealogy: The Next Generation

What will genealogy look like in 2063? That is the question I am posing today, and I'm curious to see what responses I will get.

CER-10, Digital Computer, ca. 1963
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CER-10

In 1963, the idea of advanced technology looked very different than it does in reality. When they looked fifty years ahead, could they have imagined that we would be researching with tools such as Google Books, online records sources, digital cameras, and personal computers small enough to fit not just in one room, but in our laps?

With new tech and abilities hitting the market at an alarming rate now, what will genealogy look like in twenty or fifty years? Will everything be online? Will we be having the equivalent of webinar's instructing researchers how to walk into a courthouse and request records?  Will it even be necessary to do on site research, or will it all be available to us via some sort of mass media source? How will people be dealt with after death in the future? Will cemeteries still exist, or will society turn to something else?

The bigger question; will it, the research, even be necessary? Will there be a day when genealogy is just... done? Will we ever have all the answers?

(Personally, I don't think so, at least not in our lifetime, but its an interesting question to ask.)


What do you see for the future, the next generation of genealogy? 

More Thoughts on the "Reasonably Exhaustive Search" Process

Over the past two weeks, I have been conducting an evaluation of my research on my second great grandfather, Oscar F. Brown, to determine:

1. Had a reasonably exhaustive search been conducted? 
2. What other resources need to be examined? 
3. Who is the most likely candidate to be Oscar's father?  

One of my primary reasons for wanting to do this series was to better understand the process of the "reasonably exhaustive search" and how it fits into my research process. For me, there is no better way to really understand a concept than to put it in action; to feel it in my hands, turn it around, peer over and under, get to all those dusty, hidden corners. Most of this came about because I took the time to watch a webinar presented by Michael Hait, CG, on this very topic. 

During his presentation, he used the following graphic to explain the methodology behind the Genealogical Proof Standard.  This was a guide for me throughout these last posts on Oscar and his father, and I have gained his permission to share it with you now. 

Used with permission.
Copyright Michael Hait, 2012.

I would invite all of you to study and utilize this graphic, I have found it be incredibly helpful in simplifying the process of the Genealogical Proof Standard. This is one that's going on my wall, right above my monitor... 

From his blog, Planting the Seeds; Genealogy As A Profession: 

Michael Hait, CG(sm), is a full-time professional genealogist, with over fifteen years of research experience across the United States. His speacilities include Maryland research, African American genealogy, and records of the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Michael is a frequent contributor to genealogy magazines and journals, and a popular lecturer in the Mid-Atlantic area. For more informaion on Michael's available services, visit, visithttp://www.haitfamilyresearch.com.

Why an Index is Only A Starting Point

Indexes to available local records are becoming more and more common across the internet, and these resources can be incredibly helpful. It is important to remember though that these lists are a starting point for your research, not the end result.

Let's compare to make our point.

There are a few wonderful state or county sponsored sites that I have come across in researching my family. One of which is the Washington State Digital Archives and the other is the Madison County, Alabama Records Center.  Both have excellent resources for genealogists, and both are very supportive in the efforts of the research community. I have interacted with both organizations on the phone as well as via email, and have found them to be incredibly friendly and welcoming of questions and inquiries.

The most significant difference between the two is this: Washington State has started to digitize their records and make some of the images available on line, via the site. So when you conduct a search, you get not only the index of the record source, but you can download or purchase a copy of the actual record. That's about as good as its going to get.

The Records Center for Madison County has the advantage of offering indexes on a variety of record sources; some of which are rather unique to that area. Although they do not offer online images, their copying costs are extremely minimal, which is nice to see these days.

Many indexes provide as much information as the actual document, so what is the difference?  Can't I just take the info from the index and not bother to request (and commonly pay for) the actual record?

Well, yes, you can. But as an intentional researcher, by which I mean a person who is truly trying to compile and quality and well thought out family history, you have to ask yourself some questions when using an index as a "source."

1. How do you know the transcriber read all of the information correctly? 
2. How do you know there isn't more to learn by gaining access to the actual record? 
3. Can you be 100% positive that this is the correct individual? What if the records were transcribed over a period of time, and the person creating the index got them out of order? 
4. What if the original is damaged, and the transcriber made a "best guess"? 
5. Is the name of the person you are looking for a common one? How can you be sure that the index you have found belongs to your Chris Thompson, and not his cousin, Chris Thompson, who lives three doors down? 

Numerous what if's exist in this situation, too many to list here. 

All the talk recently has been centered around the 1940 Census, and the push to get it indexed. If you have volunteered in this effort, you know exactly what I'm referring to. Handwriting, abbreviations, wrinkles in the page, crossed out lines, small print... all of these things and more can get in the way of an accurate index. 

Take the time, put in the extra effort, even the cash if necessary, to get a copy of the record before you make any conclusions. I promise you, its worth it. 

Webinar Review: The Pursuit From Genealogy Hobbyist to Professional

Originally presented on 4 April 2012 by John Kitzmiller and Claire V. Brison-Banks, this webinar certainly caught my eye when it was listed on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website. I was immediately interested and registered right away. Among the excitement and energy surrounding the release of the 1940 US Census, there was this underlying anticipation for me. I could not wait for this webinar.

My first observation, and unfortunately, the thought that continued throughout the presentation, was this: these two folks do not know how to present a webinar. In their bio's, it stated that they speak regularly at conferences and other events. Although I have not seen them in person, I am sure that they are dynamic speakers (or they wouldn't be continually brought back into conferences). There is a difference, however, in my mind, between speaking live and speaking through a webinar format. There needs to be more to a webinar than just reading off the slides. I can see those, I can read them for myself. Your presentation needs to offer me more than just what is on the slides. So, I was initially disappointed. I let the presentation go and left the room to rotate my laundry. Not a good start.

Throughout the presentation, there were several long pauses with whispering in the background. Odd.

The topics covered were a brief review of what Mr. Kitzmiller and Mrs. Brison-Banks thought were the most important skills needed to be a professional genealogist; the "phases" from doing genealogy as a hobby to going pro; certification opportunities in the United States; business practice models, etc.

They described the following as important skills to have to become a professional genealogist:

1. Ability to analyze research details. 
2. Synthesize the analysis.
3. A specialty area(s) - generally a geographic area.
4. Experience
5. Credentials, either have or in the process of obtaining.
6. Education beyond High School
7. Be a life long learner.

As someone just beginning this process, I agree with all of this except #6. Certainly higher education in the form of college courses, internships, apprenticeships, etc. would be helpful, however I do not think that it is necessarily a requirement to be a good professional. I know several people that are extremely successful in their chosen fields that barely finished high school or obtained a GED later in life. That being said, #7, that of being a life long learner, is very important. Not everybody is successful in a traditional classroom setting, so for me, #6 should simply be eliminated and more emphasis should be placed on continued learning, in whatever form works best for the individual.

I was disappointed that so much time was spent on items like looking at the ICAPGen and BCG websites. It would seem to me that if someone is watching this webinar, they have probably already visited those sites; I know have, several times over. Are they worth mentioning? Absolutely. Do we need to spend several minutes of the presentation time highlighting what you can find on the main page?  No, not really.

One of the items I found helpful was the visual charts on the Business Work Flow and the Research Project. All though I have seen all of this written out, to see it in a diagram was useful.

Ultimately, I think I was hoping for something a bit more specific to the process of running a genealogy related business, versus just running a business in general. I was looking for topics such as industry specific marketing and advertising, gaining a professional reputation in the field, and obtaining an audience. Perhaps the presenters felt that generic was better for a broad audience, which generally I would agree with. The title of the webinar, however, makes it clear this is about being a professional genealogist, and there just was not that much information specific to that title. I can take a business class just about anywhere, anytime. 

Speaking skills were lacking to the end; and this is a direct quote from one of the presenters: "... has to do a lineage, um... thing..." (referring to the BCG Certification process). To be fair, perhaps the question caught them off guard, but it was formed around material they covered during the hour, so it should have been something they were able to address.

Overall, the webinar was disappointing. It even seemed that when the two individuals switched back and forth, that it was unorganized. They did not seem ready to pick up where the other left off. Although I have not given a webinar in some time (probably two years or more), that is certainly something I would have planned in advance, and been ready to pick up from a co-presenter.

Unfortunately, I have to give this webinar a rather low rating. I did not learn very much, and felt that the time could have been spent in a much more productive way.

Anybody else view this presentation and have thoughts to share? Please do so. 

1940 Census: Use the Hype to Talk to Your Family

Two days ago, I was pleased to learn about my grandfather and his parents, aunts and uncles using new clues provided through the 1940 Census. I did not know that Grandpa was a hired hand on a neighboring ranch in Nebraska as a young man, I did not know that Great-Grandpa and Grandma rented their ranch, rather than owning it outright. Interesting little tidbits for my research. Nothing that was overwhelmingly surprising, just new small facts that could lead me down different roads in the future.

Naturally, I sent a quick email to my Mom and her siblings outlining the basics of what I had found. I knew they would have heard about the census release through the news, but also knew that none of them would stop to look it up for themselves. I'm the family genealogist; that's my job, and one I enjoy.

This morning, I received a reply from one of my Aunt's, who lives in Alabama. She informed me for the first time that our cousins have a family Bible, that Grandpa also worked on his uncle's ranch at some point, and a few other little pieces that I had never heard before. How could I possibly have been doing this for over a decade and not known there was a family Bible out there?  Even more, it's about a two hour drive from my house to the cousins who own it. Oh, my.

Lesson learned. It had just never come up. I have talked to this side of the family before about our ancestry, but it was years ago. What can I learn if I bring up the conversation again, asking new questions?

So, use the census. Look up your images, find your folks. And then share. Tell your family what you are doing, what you are finding. See if it will open up new doors for you, too.

One Mother: Four Birth Certificates; Finding Mistakes in Vital Records

Most genealogists rely on basic information on an individual to build a simple profile of that person's life. Once you have those pieces, the rest of their history is much easier to accumulate. The birth, marriage and death dates and locations are extremely important to building a strong case in your research. Those vital's, the BMD, are typically the first items you look for upon learning of a new ancestor.

We have to remember, however, that those forms were completed by humans. Even those found in recent history commonly have errors and misspellings. Just because its on a BMD record, does not mean its correct. This post will give you an example of that situation.

One Mother: Four Birth Certificates

(Because this example is about real people, who are still alive, actual names have been replaced with those out of my imagination.)

Sally Lorraine Kniver married William J. Wilson in 1960 in Birmingham, Alabama. William was a military man, so they lived in various places along the eastern seaboard during their early years as a family. They had four children in all, born in three different states. The two eldest children, the son and the first daughter, have birth certificates from Maryland and Alabama respectively. Both of those have correct information, with no errors. The other two daughters, however, are different.

The third child was also born in Maryland. The certificate lists birthplace of the babies father and mother, and while William Wilson was born in Washington, it was Washington State, not Washington D.C. as listed on the certificate. Additionally, the information on the mother's residence is incorrect:

Usual Residence of Mother:
State: DC
County: Enumclaw
City or Town: Wash DC

An address is also listed, which happens to be located in Enumclaw, King County, Washington. As a District, Washington DC does not actually reside in a "county", so obviously the information listed on the certificate is confused at best. If you were to just use the information on the certificate of this child alone, as a researcher, you may be quite lost as to where this woman actually lived. (Until you Googled "Enumclaw" that is - trust me, there is only one of those.)

Finally, the fourth child, and last girl of the family. Born in Enumclaw, Washington after William left his military service. The majority of information on her vital record is correct, except for the spelling of her mother's maiden name. The correct spelling is KNIVER, but the record has it as KNIVED. A small error, but another likely to cause confusion, especially with the novice researcher.

If you had all four of these birth records, you would be able to make highly educated assumptions about the family, do some additional research, and find the correct information fairly easily. However, if you have only one or two, and at least one of those has errors, it could certainly lead you down the wrong path. It is important to remember to search along the branches of your tree, just as much as the trunk. In other words, research the siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles along with your direct ancestral line to find as much information as possible; in order to build an accurate and full family history.

Records can be fudged, errors are made, even in today's world. In the above examples, the children were all born in the 1970's, and although corrections have been made to the records, there are many more out there that sit in error.

Example of a Vital Record: Certificate of Marriage

Website Review: Colorado State Archives Historical Records Index Search

This post is an overview of the Historical Records Index Search system on the Colorado State Archives website. You can find this immensely helpful Colorado resource here:

Colorado State Archives: http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/
Colorado Historical Records Index main page: http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/hrd/index.htm

If you are researching the State of Colorado, the Archives is a must hit resource. By indexing the available records, they have provided historians and genealogists with a easy to use and free resource, allowing researchers to identify possible records prior to visiting the Archives or making requests for copies.

There are numerous databases available, and you can see the list at the bottom of the Index main page (link above).  The last update was made 25 June 2012, and at that time, there were 2,243,831 entries. If you need information on a specific record type, you can peruse the Records Descriptions page, which lists each resource individually. Included in the site is everything from federal census', "Amache Japanese Internment Camp Teachers", "Prohibition Arrests", "Non-Fatal Mine Accidents", county records, and much more.

When you conduct a search, the system will display the first 200 matches, and no more. You cannot move to page two. If you are searching for "Bill Jones", all record types, in Denver, you will need to be more specific to find who and what you are looking for. However, if you are searching a rather unusual name, for example, "Widmeyer" you can be rather vague in your search terms. Please note, the system does not use Soundex, so you will have to search all the various spellings you can think of to find all of the resources available.

Searches can be conducted by last name only, first name only, or a combination. "Smith, John" or Smith, Jo" for example. You can also search by county, year range, and record type.

Although the site states that Internet Explorer works best, I have been solely using Chrome, and it has worked fine for me.

Images are not available through the site, only derivatives. You can order records through the site, however, which is a nice feature. When you have found a record you are interested in purchasing, simply click the box next to it in the results list, and hit the "Add/Remove to Inquiry" button at the top of the spreadsheet. When you are done searching, and have added all the records to your inquiry, click on the "Complete Email Request" button, and you will be led to an online form to complete. Their fee system is listed at the bottom of this post.

The State Archives also has several other resources and historically interesting links:
Digital Archives
Family History Site
Governor Ritter Historical Archives
Governor Owens Historical Archives
Listen to D-Day Radio Broadcasts
Digital Trademarks


The Colorado State Archives is managed by Terry Ketelsen.

Found at 1313 Sherman, Room 1B20, Denver, Colorado 80203, you can contact them via phone at: 303-866-2358. The public research room is open 9:00am - 4:30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. They are closed on weekends and Wednesdays, and state holidays.

General Requests
Colorado Residents: $15.00 per search or name to include 3 pages of copies with additional pages of copy work at $1.25 per page.
Out of State Requests: $25.00 per search or name to include 3 pages of copies with additional pages of copy work at $1.25 per page.
Certified Copies: $10.00 and up per document.
Professional Assistance: $28.00 per hour charged in fifteen minute intervals ($7.00 for every fifteen minutes.)

Specific Requests
Corporation Searches: $25.00 per corporation to include 3 pages of copies with additional pages of copy work at $1.25 per page.
Radon Searches: $25.00 per name to include 3 pages of copies with additional pages of copy work at $1.25 per page.

There Is A Line: The Difference Between Collaboration and Cheating

Recently, I had a message sent to me on my www.ancestry.com account. Here is a person asking for access to my private tree, so she can "use" my information. I have several concerns about this. Let me state now, before I get going on my rant, that I am in no way affiliated with Ancestry.com, except for the fact that I purchase access to their system.

I actually have several tree's on ancestry. All the projects I work on eventually end up there. I think of them as rough drafts, and that is the primary reason why I keep them private. I do not want anyone using me as a resource when the original is about as far from polished as you can get. The tree's are like a working theory; as I find clues or names that may (or may not) help me, I add them in to see what will happen. It allows me the creative freedom to prove or disprove a theory or assumption. Sometimes, I can delete that new idea immediately - it's obviously not a match to who I'm looking for. There are other times when an idea becomes its own tree, so I can continue to progress in my work at a later date and time. (See, I have this thing called a toddler. She's not exactly willing to let Mommy sit at the computer all day.) Life interrupts, so I have to save it all and come back to it again and again. Not everything on my tree's are correctly cited, not everything has been judged against the Genealogical Proof Standard. Therefore, it is private.

As much as I value the resources that Ancestry.com provides to me, it is not the end all and be all of genealogical research. There is so much more out there to investigate. The vast majority of that work goes into a much different database on my hard drive, and never gets posted to an individual's online profile.

When I send a message on ancestry, it goes something like this...

"Hello, I'm looking for information on So-And-So and his wife, Mrs. So-And-So. Here is what I know about them already: he was born... she was born... they married on this day, year... they lived here... they had these children... they are buried... Thank you so much for your time and consideration in sharing any new information you may have."


Etc., etc., etc.

I include as many details as I think I can without losing the interest of the reader. I do this to show that I am willing to share as much as I give, I am genuine, and I care about the ancestor in question. I care about the researcher's credibility and the ancestor's "online image" so to speak. I can recite that last line verbatim, because that is how I have been ending my messages and emails for collaboration requests for as long as I can remember. This is personal stuff. It doesn't get any more personal than your family. People out there in the genealogical community generally recognize this fact, and strive to ensure that the trust and respect from one researcher to another is displayed upon first contact; and continues to be present and obvious as long as the collaboration continues. It is displayed in comments and credits given to each researcher.

Please, don't be a cheater. Collaborate with the world, but don't cheat. Take credit for your individual work, and give credit where credit is due. It's very important, and unfortunately, its rampant in amateur and hobbyist genealogy.

Using OneNote to Prep for the 1940 US Census

I know, I know. All the hype lately has been on Evernote. I use Evernote, and I like it. It helps me. But for the 1940 US Census, I turned to OneNote. It just flows better for me.

So here is what I did. This may help you, it may not, but putting it all out there step by step helps me, so that's what I'm going to do.

I started with my Top 10, and created a new Notebook, simply called 1940 Census. Within it, I created a new page for each geographical area for my Top 10. There were a few goals that were simple, so I made a quick note for each on the page. (One thing I really like about OneNote is that I can write anywhere. My brain does not operate in list form, it's all over the place. So, my notes are too.)

Next, I went to http://stevemorse.org/ to use his One Step Tools (thank God for Steve Morse!). I used his Unified 1940 Census ED Finder tool to determine the Enumeration Districts for each city or town that I had previously listed. Then I just moved back over to OneNote, used the Screen Clipping tool, and *poof*! All those ED's were in my notes.

After watching the recent webinar by Thomas MacEntee on prepping for the big day (Navigating the 1940 U.S. Census), I decided to look at WWII draft cards for many of my individuals. Once found, and for some that meant going back through my paper records, and others it was searching online, I was able to again make a quick note on the geographical page for each person. Now I have their ED and their physical address all in one place. Hooray!

Then I thought... I don't want to have to toggle back and forth too much. So, I opened my genealogy database (I use Family Tree Maker 2010 right now) and did a screen clipping on just the vitals of each head of household I was interested in. *Poof* again!

I now have twelve geographic locations listed in OneNote. Some are tiny, with only one ED for the community. Some, like Birmingham, Alabama, have too many to count. I will continue to use the tools made available by Steve Morse and team to narrow down those as much as I can. I am thinking that before the census is actually released, I will have at least twice as many, if not more.

24 days and we're all counting!

Cemetery Tool Kit

During the long winter's in the Rocky Mountains, I get a lot of time to think. One thing that is in continuous development and evolution is my cemetery tool kit, and that got me wondering... what does the rest of the world take with them to a cemetery?

Here's a look at mine.

Right now, I use a simple canvas bag to carry all this in, but I'm looking at investing in a canvas tool bag instead: bigger, more pockets, better organization, and sturdy as hell. Something along the lines of the Great Neck 21042 Essentials Around the House tool bag. I considered a back pack, but then I'm constantly taking it on and off, and that would be troublesome. This bag has great features, and I like the idea that I can safely stash things like my cell in easy to reach pockets. Another reason I like this model is that it's designed for women; it's smaller and lighter than other tool bags I have seen, and the handles are narrow, making it easier for smaller hands. (You can find the Great Neck Essentials bag on Amazon.com.)

Inside my bag, you will always find:

1. Pen and Paper.
2. Camera with extra battery and neck strap.
3. Gardening gloves.
4. Garden shears and small gardening shovel (for those hard to remove weeds and overgrown graves).
5. Garbage bags. I like to remove litter as I go through the site.
6. Small spray bottle of water.
7. If available, a map of the cemetery and/or plot map.
8. List of any specific names I might be looking for.
9. Snack.
10. Drinking water.

In my car, you will always find a good cemetery conservation guide book (discussed in previous posts), another snack, and an extra layer of clothes, including fresh socks. You just never know what the weather is going to do around here (my local cemetery sits at 9,600 feet), and those are items that are generally in the car year round anyway. In the summer months, I throw in my good rain gear, as we get a decent thunderstorm nearly every day. 

Our cemetery season, as I like to think of summer, is short here. I might be able to get through the snow pack in May, but its typically mid to late June before I can really spend any significant time out there. Snow starts falling again in late September - mid-October. Most years, you will find me exploring cemeteries as late as November 1, before the snow really begins to accumulate and headstones become hidden under a soft white blanket once again. 

So, I'm curious. What's in your cemetery tool kit? I try to keep it light, but I certainly don't want to miss anything good. Comments are invited. 

Thanks for reading... 

jen

They Are Out There... Just Waiting For Me: My Top 10

In just under 30 days, the 1940 US Census will be released, and there are so many of us just itching to get to it. Midnight on April 2 is a hefty deadline.

I started preparing for this major records release a few weeks ago, by gathering names, enumeration districts, dates and information from the 1930 census; all designed to aide in my search. Since the 1940 US Census will not be name indexed upon release, there is some basic information that is essentially required knowledge to get to what you want. Unless, of course, you are willing to spend countless hours scrolling page after page. I just don't have that kind of time.

The first person I am going to try to find is my father. I've never been able to find a still living member of my family in a census before, so it would be quite something to see his name listed. Since he was born in early June of 1940, he really shouldn't be there. Enumerators were supposed to record the family as it existed on April 1 of the year of the census. Which means, even if he knocked on my grandparents door on the first of July, technically, he should not have written down my father's name. We'll see. I have other records from 1920 and 1930 where the enumerator documented someone outside of the instructions. This of course means that Grandma Elsie and Grandpa Harley are persons #2 and #3 on my list. They'll be in Orting, Pierce County, Washington.

It's a strong potential that my great-uncle, who is also still alive, will be on the same page as my grandparents household. He's person #4 to find.

#5 Emma Brown, also a resident in the same town, and likely listed in the same household as my great-uncle.
#6 Charlotte Anderson (Andersson), mother of Emma, Orting, Washington.
#7 The Heerten's of Keya Paha County, Nebraska. They'll all be together. They always are.
#8 Mortimer J. Brown and wife Ethel in Lake County, Oregon. Mortimer died in 1941, so this would be a potential last known document on his life.
#9 Warren L Brown and wife Sousie, possibly on the Klamath Indian Reservation in Klamath, Oregon. After 1930, I lose track of them almost completely.
#10 Summit County, Colorado. I have been so engrossed in researching my new environment, I just can't leave them out. Family names that have absolutely zero biological connection to me (at least, not yet) and I am really anxious to find out who stayed in the area during the depression and who didn't. That era was tough on Summit County; after mining, before skiing. Many left.

I will say this. Don't try to communicate with me on April 2, 3 or 4... I'll be busy.

You can find resources and helpful tools on the 1940 US Census release here: http://the1940census.com/. The project is also seeking volunteers to help index, you can find that information on the above site, also.

RootsTech 2012

Oh, how I wish I was in Salt Lake City right now. There it is, I said it.

Following the conference via live feeds and social media has been the next best thing. Picked up several things today, and can't wait to get started on them. Here's a few of the highlights, and some items I definitely need to learn more about.

1. Metadata. Whoa.
2. historical-data.org
3. "Data doesn't sit." If you took 400 disks and copied the data onto 400 duplicated discs... 1 would fail every day, and at least 1 identical set would fail every week. How are you storing your data? 
4. Solid state drives... the future of data storage, with no moving parts? 
5. For now, we have cloud computing. 
6. Using the Google toolbar... I will certainly have to use this schematic more.  http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/best-google-search-tips-pdf
7. Did you know you can upload a picture into Google search, and it will find similar images? Try it. Go to Google Images, and in the search bar, there is a small icon of a camera. Use it to upload an image and search. See what happens. 
8. Use the "terrain view" in Google Maps to see the geographical area of where you are researching... may have been easier for them to go one county over to get married, etc., if there were major obstacles in the way.
9. Evernote downloaded today. 
10. Mozy installed today.
11. Looking for an app that will work with my laptop to record interviews then transcribe them for me. Unless of course, I can get a smart phone that will do it for me... 
12. Josh Coates, keynote speaker this morning, was very fun. Best presentation so far for me. Frantically scribbling notes and "tweeting" and trying to stay in my chair from laughing so hard at the same time. Tricky stuff. (You can see the details of the conference at www.rootstech.org.)
13. Can't wait to register for 2013. 
14. Four sessions streamed tomorrow, two of which (at least) I will miss due to other commitments. Certainly going to go back and watch those later in the day. 

A long day, immersed in genealogy, learning, networking and a great deal of mental processing. Ideas were popping in my head so fast, I could barely keep up. The list of bullet points to work on is long, but I'm very much looking forward to it. This is one of the most exciting avenues of our industry, and I'm looking forward to learning more. 

Oh, and "Who Do You Think You Are?" episode 1, season 3, was pretty good tonight, too.