Remembering September 11th

This morning I woke up and the first thing that I did was lower my flag outside to half mast.  17 years ago today I, along with so many Americans and the world, watched in horror as terrorists attacked our country.  I watched a tribute for 9/11 done to the song "The Sound of Silence" performed by Disturbed.  I already love this song, done with this tribute I balled my eyes out.  I then posted on my facebook business page and my personal profile a thank you tribute of my own and texted a friend and thanked him for being a veteran. 

This thought strikes me.  My kids will read and learn about September 11th in their history books.  But they won't understand the impact of watching the two planes hit the towers or watching each tower collapse, even on live TV.  I remember watching in fear that my ex-husband would be mobilized in Marnie Corps Reserve unit that night.  We all know that catastrophic loss the occurred that day and the war that ensued.  Everyone knew someone who was "over there" every more so I think everyone knew someone who didn't come home.

I also relate this to many other events in history though.  Generations before us saw these events and watched in horror, maybe not on live tv, but had the same feelings of fear, anger, and determination to fight back.  These are things that we now read in our history and do not get the emotional connection, although I think now I do.  Events that our ancestors may have been involved in that we learn about as we go about our research in this crazy hobby of ours.

Hug your families and honor those who came before us and made the ultimate sacrifice.  Thank you to all our Firefighters, Emergency Medical Personel, and Police Officers who protect our homes, health, and lives.  Thank you to our Veterans that protect our country and our freedoms. 

Happy Hunting

Things I never research without! Top 10

                                                                                                                                                                    In the past, I've talked about my top 10 things I cannot research without and my favorite tools.  Today though I'm talking about the things that I absolutely will not without a doubt research without, whether at home or on the go.

1. family information

How I carry my family information depends mostly on location.  Generally, I carry my laptop with me or at least my smartphone.  Adding Evernote and Microsoft OneDrive to my repertoire has helped me with having access to information as long as I have access to a computer.  I also save all my files to OneDrive now so I almost always have access to my research information.  The key here is having access to the internet.  When I can't have my computer with me, using paper printouts or notes of the information is essential.

It's important to know what the restrictions are before traveling to a repository to research.  You don't want to be turned away because you have the wrong tools or aren't allowed to carry certain things into the area where the documents are.  Or can't research when you don't have the right information with you.

2. my note-taking forms

I have been using a specially made note taking form for some time now.  It's a simple form with the ancestor's name and birth and death dates on the top.  Okay, I admit, I have a couple different versions.  One version has room for identification #s and a small column on the left-hand side, which I use frequently for dating my notes. This form can be found at The Genealogy Shoppe online.  The second form I use is simpler but works just as well.  This version was created by Thomas R. Beatty and can be found on the Scott County, Kentucky Genealogy Society page.

For more specific note taking I have other forms such as census forms (I use ancestry's version, but there are many others available), obituary extraction forms from ShoeString Genealogy (he has many forms and they are in color!!!!  Just Google search "Shoe String Genealogy"), and several others....you get the idea.  I've even created a few of my own forms.

3. Family group sheet

Legacy gives me the option of  creating family group sheets from my data I entered.  When I create my family group sheets I use the option to leave the blanks in the data that I have not found yet.  These are handy for taking notes on in addition to my note taking sheets.  Legacy also gives me the option to print a blank family group sheet.

My favorite family group sheet to fill in by hand is from Ancestry.  I probably have 300 of these printed up!  I use these forms in multiple ways.  I use it to fill information in when I'm taking notes.  (Make sure to keep track of your sources). Many times I will use my colored pens and assigning a color for each source on the form.

4. Colorful ink pens

I used to get teased in nursing school for my selection of my colorful ink pens.  I use my pens when I'm taking research notes on paper for different sources.  I will write the source on the back of the page and makes notes on the front.  I use this technique with family group sheets as well as handwritten pages and other types of research pages. 

Normally I immediately transfer my information into my Legacy database.  One thing I cannot stress enough is to make sure to cite your sources. 

5. a pencil

There are times when researching at certain locations only a pencil is allowed.  One example I can think of is our local county clerk's office.  As researchers, we need to be very conscientious when we are working around fragile and precious documents. 

There are times I also use a pencil in my paper and pen note taking method above.  I can't tell you that I have a specific way of doing this.  I just do what works at the time.

6. calculator

Okay, I think that this one is rather obvious.  There are times when we just need a calculator.  When working with dates in cemeteries and headstones, using a calculator helps estimate birth dates and years. 

7. Highlighters

Okay another confession here, I like colored highlighters as much as I like my colored ink pens.  I use the highlighters in similar ways that I use my ink pens. 

If I plan to highlight on a photocopy, I usually make a second copy of whatever I'm working with or on so that my original stays intact.

8. Thumb drives

My local library has a microfilm scanner that one needs a thumb drive to save digital images of the scans on.  The key here is having a thumb drive with you to save the scans onto.  Again this goes back to knowing your repository and doing your homework ahead of time.  I have a little collection of thumb drives that I use for various things in my life.  One is for genealogy, one is for my school, one is for my professional organization involvement and so on.  Most of my files are on my OneDrive cloud now as well seems I can access that from any computer I'm on with internet access, but there are times that this isn't an option so the thumb drive is the solution.

9. Smartphone

One thing is for sure, technology advances daily.  There are so many apps for the smartphone on genealogy.  Not to mention the ability to access online information with data connections and access to your information just about anywhere.  Although it isn't just genealogy related apps that I use in my research.  I use the Adobe scan app for scanning pages and papers.  With my smartphone, I always have a camera with me as well.  Remember that calculator from above?  There's an app for that too!  For Legacy users, there's also an app for your phone that is compatible with your legacy file!  I would bet that other software programs have this available too. 

10.  Laptop computer

I've mentioned my computer several times in this post already.  It would be shameful not to include it in my top ten things I never research without.  I primarily use my laptop computer for all my computer needs.  I do own a desktop computer but that is saved for family use.  Why the laptop?  Portability.  I can take it just about anywhere with me.  I take it to work and use it on my lunch break, take it to my parent's house, even when I travel I have a laptop with me!  Where I live, in the months that allow me to, I frequently sit on my deck and work on my laptop as well. 

My laptop travels easily to the library or repository (when allowed) and I have my Legacy program on my laptop and access to my data right there.  I also don't have to worry about computing limits by using a computer lab computer if I bring my own. 



So what is on your top ten things you can't research without?  Any of these familiar?  Are there other things that you just can't research without??? Share below!

Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Organization

I think the most organized thing in my house is my genealogy research.  Sorry, mom, I know you tried.  Although I have a pile of pages that need to be filed away, I can still find what I'm looking for in that stack pretty quickly.   Even my digital genealogy files are super organized.

This got me thinking about genealogy organization.  I was scrolling through Pinterest the other day and checking out the pins.  There are some great ones on Genealogy organization if you need ideas or help!  I also was thinking about the difference between my two parents and me and our organizational styles.  Just with the three of us, we all organize our research very differently. 

Starting with me, I use a combination of methods.  I use file folders by married couple names (generally) to keep hard papers in.  There are a few exceptions.  I have been using this method almost since I could get my hands on file folders.  This idea came from the book Organizing your family history search by Sharon Carmuck.  You can pick up a copy pretty inexpensive on Amazon.  I addition to the file folders I use binders for my major family surnames.  Again this came from Carmuck's book.  I adapted this and use the binders that you can put pages in the front and back.  I place a form with a surname list and year ranges that I am researching.  In my digital files, I have a similar setup. I have one major file called Genealogy, then divide by surnames-similar to the ones that I have in my binders.  I then have different divisions under my surnames based on my needs.  I have files for couples, cemeteries, record types and photos.  The advantage of digital files is no stacks of paper!

Now my mom prints everything and puts them into binders.  She uses those post-it tabs and organizes by family couple.  She also uses the file folder method similar to mine.  Mom is a little less technology-oriented and handwrites all her research notes.  Don't worry I'm working on getting her to put her research into her copy of Legacy. 

My dad's research is based on the local cemeteries.  Dad is a paper and pen kind of guy.  He is working to make the information on Find A Grave more complete as well as contribute to the local research for our genealogy society.  Dad prints out a page then makes his notes on the page.  Highlights the line he finishes.  He has found a lot of interesting stories through his research.  I keep urging him to write a blog about these stories.  I think I may have to steal his stories and share them. 

There are many ways to organize your own research and it has to make sense to you. How do you organize your research?  Share your organization style below in the comments. 

Happy Hunting!

Old Medical Terms

I was reading Facebook this morning and a friend was sharing a discovery walking through a couple local cemeteries.  Through this, he went to one of my favorite research sites Seeking Michigan (www.seekingmichigan.org) and found an old death certificate.  The cause of death was "generalized paralysis of the insane".  Of course, then there was a conversation about the cause of death.  I have to confess that I love old medical terms.  Perhaps part of this is being a nurse as my profession.  This also started me to think about how much medical knowledge genealogists probably have...or maybe I'm assuming.

In my research, I include the cause of death, which is found on death certificates and is written in that era's current medical lingo.  The nice feature here is that my Legacy program actually has a built-in line for this.  (I know I'm obsessed with my Legacy software).

 

Here I show Anna Helferich, nee Zoulek died from Chronic Bright's Disease.  This takes me back to my initial topic here of old medical terms.  Bright's disease is not something I am familiar with so I went to Google and typed in Bright's disease.  I found a website (not Wikipedia) that is defined Bright's disease for me, plus gave me a little history.  When I include medical information on my research I frequently will add a little note in my research notes about what this really is.

Anna died from nephritis, which is inflammation of the kidney at it's simplest definition.  I also learned that this disorder that I know as nephritis, was originally identified by a physician named Bright, so that's where the original name came from.   For those that don't know, Chronic just means that she had it for a long time, longer than six months generally rather than acute, when usually means suddenly or less than six months.  Those are terms we still use.

I also still have my Taber's Dictionary that I had to buy when I took my first nursing classes and even though it's probably not the current edition, it is still full of useful information.  Although I admit, Google is much faster.  I did take a moment to look up Bright's Disease in my Taber's.  Bright's is named for the Brittish Physician, Dr. Richard Bright (1789-1858) who named the disease.  Taber's dose state that Bright's is an obsolete term.  That made me giggle a bit.  It's obsolete, but when you're a genealogist that doesn't matter.

So what about our original term generalized paralysis of the insane.  This time I'm going to start with my Taber's. So no luck in Taber's.  So my next stop is Google.  I found an article on Science Direct.  Generalized Paralysis of the Insane, GIP for short, also called Dementia Paralytica is a fatal complication of Syphilis Infection.  Apparently hard to detect because Syphilis has a latent period of 10 to 30 years! (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924933815309809).

So what are your thoughts about old medical terms?  Love them? Hate them? Indifferent?  Share below.  And watch for more posts on this topic.

Happy Hunting all!

Legacy 9.0! I'm in love!!!!

Legacy has release version 9 of its software!  I just learned about the update and I'm already in love.  There is a new search feature that searches the top genealogy websites as you enter your data into the database (I'm assuming you must be connected to the internet for this function to work).  Find a grave is now integrated into the legacy software!  Lots of ways to search, and better yet, to link to the online memorials for find a grave.  There is a story function now that allows you to add stories into your family tree (with source citations) and create that person's history.
The new comparison function allows you to compare two people to learn if they are the same person with built in algorithms to help identify similar and conflicting data.  Legacy has also added a cloud to back up your data on! Swoon!!!!!  Although I have several other clouds (OneDrive, Google), this is awesome!  I love that they can help me keep my precious research safe from the computer goblins who occasionally like to eat data!
There is so much to talk about and learn about!  Legacy has a free webinar that is 1 hour 43 minutes talking all about Legacy 9.0.

Happy Hunting!



Author's note: I am no compensated by the creators of the Legacy Family tree Software for creating this post.  This information is strictly from my own experiences with Legacy. 

Book Review: The Traverse City State Hospital Training School for Nurses

Author's Note: I am not receiving compensation for this review.  

This is more of a book share rather than a review.  My dear friend, Virgina LeClaire authored the book The Traverse City State Hospital Training School for Nurses published by the History Center of Traverse City.  Ginni is a nurse and a very active member of the Grand Traverse Genealogical Society.  The book is amazing.  It describes the training and the lives that nurses who trained at the former state hospital.  The book also highlights a few individual nurses and provides biographies.  I absolutely loved the book!
The book is available through the history center and Horizon Book Store in Traverse City.  It's very worth picking up for any nurse or for anyone interested in the State Hospital or anyone who had a nurse in the family who trained there!

Home sweet Home

Well gang,
We've moved...and yes it snowed! Again.  I keep saying I will not move in the winter! HA!  But we're here in our cozy little house on Iris Lane.  :)  The kids and I love it!  The genealogy all made it here safely.  My great idea for my series of posts didn't turn out at well as I wanted.  Story of my life.  I did take the time to purge a lot of excess paper that I didn't need and I've been busy digitizing a lot of things that aren't original copies and keeping digital files instead of paper files.

So I'm on my new genealogy journey.  I'm working on my Daughters of the American Revolution application.  Mom and I attended our first meeting last weekend and I was amazed at the projects and community involvement of the society at a national and a local level!  We've been busy gathering our materials we have on hand and searching for our supporting documentation for our applications.  More to come here.

I'm on facebook now and you can find me at www.facebook.com/confessionsofageneaholic.com  I'll be updating there more informally.  I'll also be adding photos, etc.  I'm still working on the video entries.  Blogger won't allow me to upload a video over a certain size...but I may be able to add those to Facebook.  I'll keep you all updated.

I'm happy that warmer weather has returned to Norther Lower Michigan!  Time to get back out in the cemeteries and spur on the genealogy research.  It makes it even better, now my desk is in front of my slider (the non-opening side) so I have a huge window to look out when I'm working at my desk.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your genealogy projects this year.  Feel free to share in the comments what you are working on!

Happy Hunting.