Heartland Genealogy

It’s week two of Genealogy Do-Over (cycle 3) and time to get specific on some goals. Focus scanning project on family notebooks Check source citations for events appearing on a family group sheet to make sure they follow current standards (using Evidence Explained) Continue learning by reading blogs and participating in webinars Figure out tagging of files so that I don’t end up with multiple copies of the same file. #Wk2GenealogyDoOver

For about the past ten years, my genealogy research has pretty much stalemated. This summer, I decided to pursue a project that I had started over Christmas vacation – the digitizing of my genealogy files. This long, slow project is also giving me screen time to explore. During that exploration time, I stumbled across the concept of a ‘genealogy do-over’. Intrigued but not really wanting to start over, I signed up for cycle 3 of ‘Genealogy Do-Over’ on Facebook. One of the rationales behind a ‘do-over’ is that many genealogies contain data that was imported from other researchers without documentation to support the lineage. I have to admit that unfortunately, I did import another researchers tree in my early years. I learned from that mistake and have been careful about importing data since. This argument along with the valid point that some data may be in a genealogy file that doesn’t have sufficient documentation have caused me to seriously consider an actual do-over. However, the fo...

Another Master Genealogist user recently asked for URLs of genealogy websites generated with Roots Magic or Legacy software. Curious about the differences, I decided to do my own comparison. For this project, I created a gedcom with a limited number of people from my Master Genealogy data. I then imported that gedcom into a new file in both RootsMagic 7 and Legacy 8. In RootsMagic, I used the default configurations and generated a web site using RootsMagic 6 style website. In Legacy, I used the default configurations to generate an individual style website.  Please note that images do not transfer via Gedcom from Master Genealogist to RootsMagic or Legacy. I also did not take the time to reconnect the images to the individuals. Thus, the lack of images in the test site is my fault and not the fault of the software. Both RootsMagic and Legacy put the events into a list. RootsMagic Legacy Second Site generates a narrative report for the individual. Legacy only shows the documentation...

Tonight I participated in the webinar, Pinning Your Family Tree , by Thomas MacEntee. This was MUCH MORE than I expected! The first part of the webinar was on how to use Pinterest -- particularly for sharing of family pictures and heirlooms. One suggestion was to scan the fabric memorabilia that has been passed down. I would have never thought of that, but it would be a way to document those heirlooms. Besides using a scanner to get a picture of the heirloom, a cell-phone or tablet could be used with scanner apps such as Shoebox. By using a phone or tablet, it would be possible to obtain an image of a quilt or other large heirloom. The second part focused on a lot of other tools similar Pinterest - many of which were new to me. Google Collections allows one to add scanned images to create a visual storyboard for a family member. Based on the presentation, it might not be possible to make them public. Google My Maps -- This tool allows you to add pins at various lo...

Thinking thru the process — I like Drusilla Pair’s visual (as posted on the Genealogy Do-Over Facebook page) of the research process but I’m not getting very far with figuring out the nuts and bolts of my process. Since I’m trying to digitize my source files, this do-over process is an excellent opportunity to establish a procedure for moving away from paper research. My current genealogy software (Master Genealogist) allows for the attachment of images and files to an individual. Images are viewable but the PDF files are not. The software that I may transition to also allows me to ‘attach’ images and pdf files. Both also have the ability to do research logs and task lists. I already have a lot of source templates configured in Master Genealogist. After reading many of the posts and blogs, it appears that most participants are not going to use their genealogy software to track the research process. Instead they are going to use other resources such as Evernote, OneNote, Evidentia or Go...

Do-over? Am I crazy? With over 35 years of research on all of my lines I think I might be – especially where I’ve already done a ‘do-over’ once. When I converted my data from PAF to Master Genealogist I reviewed my data. During that process, what was a NOTE in PAF became an event in TMG and citations were added. I used Elizabeth Shown Mill’s book, Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian , to create the templates for my citations. During the early stages of my research, I also ran into the ‘how do I organize’ this stuff problem. About that time, I had the privilege of attending a workshop where William Dollarhide spoke. After hearing about his organization method, I decided to adopt it. Thus, my files of research are in folders by Surname.State.numbe r. This has proven a very workable filing system – especially where I have had to research several lines to begin to identify my own line. I plan to continue using my version of the Dollarhide system as I digitize my files....

In trying to document an elusive collateral line, I discovered that the St. Louis Public Library has an online index to the obituaries published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. St. Louis Public Library Obituary Search  — http://www.slpl.org/slpl/gateways/article240117800.asp    — Not only do they have the obituaries indexed online but their staff will supply photocopies of those obituaries at a very reasonable cost via snail mail! Below is a copy of the obituary I recently received from them. St. Louis Post Dispatch Tuesday 11/8/1994 page 4B This wonderful service is much appreciated.

In trying to help a fellow researcher with their Wells family, I’ve been going back thru my Wells line to make sure that I have the census records on the descendants of Ozias Wells from 1850 to about 1900. In the process, I have finally found Thurston Kennedy Wells in 1860 — AND — he is in Kansas! This supports family legend but I hadn’t been able to prove it before. Tonight, I did a search for William Wells born in 1857 and lo and behold there is a William Wells born in 1857 and a Franklin Wells born in 1854 and a K T Wells born about 1830 living in KANSAS TERRITORY! They are living in a household with James Londers age 60 who was born in Pennsylvania and his daughters, Martha age 15 and Sarah age 17. Also in the household is Benj. M. White age 42 who was born in Indiana. My initial reaction is that James Londers and Benj White are not relatives but I will have to do more digging to verify that. The census verifies that William Wells, age 3, was born in Kansas. It also indicates that ...

A fellow researcher is looking for proof of residency for Nathaniel Wells who was married to Alinda Swain to complete an application to DAR.  The son of   Nathaniel and Mary Thurston Wells , the family was living in Saratoga County, New York in 1790. George, a brother to Nathaniel, married Eunice White in 1784 in Hadley Massachusetts. Reference to military service from American Ancestors DAR Patriot Index Information for Nathaniel and Polly (Thurston) Wells

A fellow researcher is looking for proof of residency for Nathaniel Wells who was married to Alinda Swain to complete an application to DAR.  The son of  Nathaniel and Mary Thurston Wells , the family was living in Saratoga County, New York in 1790. George, a brother to Nathaniel, married Eunice White in 1784 in Hadley Massachusetts. Reference to military service from American Ancestors DAR Patriot Index Information for Nathaniel and Polly (Thurston) Wells