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!
Showing posts with label Top 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top 10. Show all posts
Monday, September 3, 2018
Monday, August 23, 2010
My Top 10 Genealogy Website Picks
So I've decided to talk about my top 10 Favorite websites that I use for my own personal Genealogy research. These are in no particular order.
1. Google A General search engine, of course, is hand because I am always looking things up. I use it to look up words and medical conditions I'm not familar with, to find addresses for places to write letters to, sometimes I just do a search for the ancestor I'm currently researching, and then my own personal email is a gmail account. Some other features of Google that I really like is the mapping feature, the online google books and the ability to store files online.
2. Family Search I like Family Search a lot. I mostly use the Pilot website. I like to be able to see the images of the sources. Indexing isn't always perfect for a number of factors, old handwriting, clearity on the screen, typos, etc. I love the fact that this website is also free to use and supported by volunteers. Don't forget to include the website in your source citation! I also volunteer to help index the records on this website. It's because of people willing to help out and index the website that helps keep it free!
3. Ancestry I think every modern day Genealogist knows about Ancestry. Ancestry has given me a lot of information for my research over the years. And if you can't afford the subscription to ancestry, most public libraries have free access to the site as long as you are onsite at the library.
4. Find A Grave I love findagrave. Not only is it a good source for information, it is also a great way to get photos of your relatives and ancestors graves. Some people put a lot of work into their online memorials. One word of caution here, although Findagrave is a good resource, it is only as good as the person creating the memorials. I have a previous post on Findagrave from a geneabloggers challenge.
5. Random Acts of Genealogical Kindess This is another site that I love to use. If you've never used RAOGK I highly recommend that you check it out. People sign up based on Geographical location and list the Acts of Kindness that they are willing to do in those areas. For example, I am a volunteer in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties in Michigan. Under my listings are the following acts that I have said that I would do: "Public Records lookups and copying, courthouse & library. Obituaries. Gravestone pictures, Reimbursement may be required. I will travel to any cemetery in Grand Traverse or Leelanau Counties, weather permitting." If there's no volunteer in the area you are looking for, keep checking back, new volunteers come in all the time. Also don't forget to sign up to be a volunteer to help out fellow genealogists! Also please, please, please read the guidelines before making a request. I don't know how many times I've gotten requests that are something like "Looking for any information possible on the Joe Smith family in Leelanau County." Seriously?!
6. Genealogywise Another website that if you haven't checked it out, I highly recommend you do. This is a social networking website for genalogists. There you'll find people brand new just beginning in genealogy to seasoned researchers, experts and professional genealogists. There are groups to join for just about every topic thinkable to genealogy from surnames to software programs. There's also a great chat room where there are chats almost nightly with different educational topics. I've also seen several members connect with other members of Genealogywise as genealogy cousins.
7. Newspaper Archive Old newspapers are a great source for genealogical information about our ancestors. They are also a great source to learn about everyday events in our ancestors' daily lives. Recently I was listening to a presentation by Karen Krugman about female ancestors with no surname and one thing she mentioned is when you are looking through the rolls of old newspaper on microfilm or microfiche is to browse the social pages. You never know who your ancestors had over for a dinner party....and who might be related to them. Recently I discovered quite a shock in the old newspapers about my ancestors (you can read about it under my last topic of Shocking family stories).
8. Footnote Footnote is fast becoming my most favorite paid site. It is great for military records. I have recently heard a lot of the documents that are in the National Archives are being put up on footnote! WooHoo. Fortunately I have a lot of family that had spent their time in the military. If you've never purchased a pension file or a compiled military file from the National Archives, you're missing out....well now you can get some of them on Footnote. I've found out so much information about my ancestors. Although some of the records I have come straight from the archives, and you pay a hefty fee for them, to me it was worth it for the family members that I have followed up on.
9. Seeking Michigan I think every state should have a 'Seeking' website. The newest and most valuable addition to the Seeking Michigan website is the addition of the 1897-1920 Death records. Yes, that's right, the state held death certificates for your Michigan ancestors if they died between 1897 and 1920 are online with images of the original documents. I have found so many of my Michigan relatives on there it's crazy! The best part is the site is free!!!!! So if you have Michigan relatives it's worth a look.
10. USGen Web Another free website with information compiled by volunteers. It is broken down by State then county. The amount of information is variable by each location. It really depends on how much the volunteers of that county have put onto the website, but not to be discouraged because I have found some good information on the website, in fact I recently found a bunch of information on my GrGrGrGrandpa's brother's family, like birth dates, death dates, marriage dates, and where a bunch of people are buried.
1. Google A General search engine, of course, is hand because I am always looking things up. I use it to look up words and medical conditions I'm not familar with, to find addresses for places to write letters to, sometimes I just do a search for the ancestor I'm currently researching, and then my own personal email is a gmail account. Some other features of Google that I really like is the mapping feature, the online google books and the ability to store files online.
2. Family Search I like Family Search a lot. I mostly use the Pilot website. I like to be able to see the images of the sources. Indexing isn't always perfect for a number of factors, old handwriting, clearity on the screen, typos, etc. I love the fact that this website is also free to use and supported by volunteers. Don't forget to include the website in your source citation! I also volunteer to help index the records on this website. It's because of people willing to help out and index the website that helps keep it free!
3. Ancestry I think every modern day Genealogist knows about Ancestry. Ancestry has given me a lot of information for my research over the years. And if you can't afford the subscription to ancestry, most public libraries have free access to the site as long as you are onsite at the library.
4. Find A Grave I love findagrave. Not only is it a good source for information, it is also a great way to get photos of your relatives and ancestors graves. Some people put a lot of work into their online memorials. One word of caution here, although Findagrave is a good resource, it is only as good as the person creating the memorials. I have a previous post on Findagrave from a geneabloggers challenge.
5. Random Acts of Genealogical Kindess This is another site that I love to use. If you've never used RAOGK I highly recommend that you check it out. People sign up based on Geographical location and list the Acts of Kindness that they are willing to do in those areas. For example, I am a volunteer in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties in Michigan. Under my listings are the following acts that I have said that I would do: "Public Records lookups and copying, courthouse & library. Obituaries. Gravestone pictures, Reimbursement may be required. I will travel to any cemetery in Grand Traverse or Leelanau Counties, weather permitting." If there's no volunteer in the area you are looking for, keep checking back, new volunteers come in all the time. Also don't forget to sign up to be a volunteer to help out fellow genealogists! Also please, please, please read the guidelines before making a request. I don't know how many times I've gotten requests that are something like "Looking for any information possible on the Joe Smith family in Leelanau County." Seriously?!
6. Genealogywise Another website that if you haven't checked it out, I highly recommend you do. This is a social networking website for genalogists. There you'll find people brand new just beginning in genealogy to seasoned researchers, experts and professional genealogists. There are groups to join for just about every topic thinkable to genealogy from surnames to software programs. There's also a great chat room where there are chats almost nightly with different educational topics. I've also seen several members connect with other members of Genealogywise as genealogy cousins.
7. Newspaper Archive Old newspapers are a great source for genealogical information about our ancestors. They are also a great source to learn about everyday events in our ancestors' daily lives. Recently I was listening to a presentation by Karen Krugman about female ancestors with no surname and one thing she mentioned is when you are looking through the rolls of old newspaper on microfilm or microfiche is to browse the social pages. You never know who your ancestors had over for a dinner party....and who might be related to them. Recently I discovered quite a shock in the old newspapers about my ancestors (you can read about it under my last topic of Shocking family stories).
8. Footnote Footnote is fast becoming my most favorite paid site. It is great for military records. I have recently heard a lot of the documents that are in the National Archives are being put up on footnote! WooHoo. Fortunately I have a lot of family that had spent their time in the military. If you've never purchased a pension file or a compiled military file from the National Archives, you're missing out....well now you can get some of them on Footnote. I've found out so much information about my ancestors. Although some of the records I have come straight from the archives, and you pay a hefty fee for them, to me it was worth it for the family members that I have followed up on.
9. Seeking Michigan I think every state should have a 'Seeking' website. The newest and most valuable addition to the Seeking Michigan website is the addition of the 1897-1920 Death records. Yes, that's right, the state held death certificates for your Michigan ancestors if they died between 1897 and 1920 are online with images of the original documents. I have found so many of my Michigan relatives on there it's crazy! The best part is the site is free!!!!! So if you have Michigan relatives it's worth a look.
10. USGen Web Another free website with information compiled by volunteers. It is broken down by State then county. The amount of information is variable by each location. It really depends on how much the volunteers of that county have put onto the website, but not to be discouraged because I have found some good information on the website, in fact I recently found a bunch of information on my GrGrGrGrandpa's brother's family, like birth dates, death dates, marriage dates, and where a bunch of people are buried.
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