The Year Ahead – May 16

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 16 – The National Genealogical Society’s annual conference is about to begin. Consider signing up for the all-virtual event https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/

Although this event is not free, it is very economical when you consider that you can access every lecture through August 15, 2024. Every lecture will be recorded and you can keep viewing it whenever through August 15, 2024. Thus, if two lectures happened at the same time, no problem, you can watch one via a recording. No need to book expensive hotel rooms, rent a car to get around or worry about where you can eat. Plus, you can view all of this from the comforts of your own home!

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 15

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 15 – Celebrate International Day of Families today by noting the social, economic and demographic issues that impacted your ancestors.

I have many family members who were Irish and the potato famine had a big impact on them. They fled Ireland and started over first in New York State and then traveled westward until they ended up in Wisconsin. In more recent times, the great depression had similar effects on families, where they fled and some moved west to California. Knowing these factors help us to understand why they moved to where they moved. Also, many didn’t just move their family, they traveled with other families, whether family, friends, or neighbors.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 14

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 14 – Brainstorm clubs, fraternal organizations or trade associations your ancestors may have belonged to. Then check Cyndi’s List https://www.cyndislist.com/societies

Knowing what organizations your ancestors may have belonged to, can give you a glimpsed into their personality. Perhaps there is a newspaper article related to their organization affiliation. If the organization is still in existence, perhaps they have some records pertaining to them. Just because they still existence doesn’t mean the records do or that they will even share them with you. Also, just because the organization doesn’t exist doesn’t mean the records are gone, sometimes local historical societies have been gifted these items. 

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 13

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 13 – Search eBay for genealogy plus your family surnames and places.

The only time I search eBay for Genealogy items is when I see suggestions such as this. I have noticed that some businesses are selling digital books on a CD or flash drive. What I have found, is that many of these books are available on-line for free. However, since the eBay listing doesn’t list every book available, perhaps this is an easier way of finding these books. Plus, you don’t need internet access to review them. However, buyer beware, please read the reviews of these sellers, some might be better than others.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 12

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 12 – This Mother’s Day, research your maternal lines. (And call the moms in your life!)

As a mother, my advice to you, if your mother is still alive, put the research aside and see your mother in person. All she wants is you to spend time with her. Before you know it, you might not have your mother around to share the day with. It will be 22 years this September when my mother left his world. Oh, to spend another day with her. 

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 11

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 11 – For “Eat What you Want Day,” whip up a favorite family recipe.

Since it’s the weekend and almost Mother’s Day, you could invite friends or family over to enjoy your favorite family recipe. Or have a pot luck and everyone brings their favorite family recipe to share.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 10

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 10 – Prepare for a research trip to the courthouse. Call or look online to check record holdings, hours and visitor regulations. List records you want to find.

Many years ago, I started a Research Trip Folder, as I came across things that needed a follow-up visit to a courthouse, I would print out something to place in the folder. For example, perhaps you find a vital record index and want to see the actual record it refers to, I print out the index page and place it into the folder. I make sure I write the County and State in the upper right-hand corner. Then, when I get enough stuff to look up, I plan to visit the courthouse.

I usually also create a to-do-list for other items I could look up while there. I have even used my genealogy program’s task feature to create to-do’s for in-person research. My program allows me to create a category. Thus, I create a category with the county name + Lookup.

I have also created “Low Priority” general task for each Courthouse or Cemetery I have a task for. This allows me to input the address, the room number (floor) where I need to go, their hours, phone number and website address (so I can verify the information). The Category for the courthouses is Courthouse Address, For Cemeteries, it Cemetery, County Name. Thus I can print out my Task list, selecting just certain categories or all categories and take the printout with me on my Research Tip.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 9

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 9 – Try FamilySearch or the local coroner’s office for coroner’s records, which may contain clues to an ancestral untimely death.

I have seen in newspapers where a coroner’s inquest was started. Thus, you may have to look in the circuit court records for more information. However, the newspapers of old really had a lot of the information printed in them.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 8

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 8 – Check libraries and historical societies for ancestral town anniversary booklets or newspapers accounts of centennial celebrations.

Yesterday I mentioned how I used to volunteer at my local genealogical society library. That Society actively sells a pamphlet on one of the founding fathers of Lake Havasu City, Arizona - Robert McCulloch. For a small fee you can learn about him and the city.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 7

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 7 – Purchase an orphaned family Bible or photo from a flea market and track down its rightful owner using websites such as DeadFred.

It always makes me sad when I see old photos or bible being sold at flea markets or 2nd hand stores. However, I guess that is better than all the old photos and bibles that probably been tossed in the garbage after someone passes on. 

In 2014, when I use to volunteer at my local genealogical society library, we came in possession of some bible pages. I did a little research on the family that appeared in the bible pages and did a five-part blog post about the pages and people as a way to preserve it for future generations. The first Part can be read here.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 6

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 6 – Explore the digital collections on Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center www.yadvashem.org/collections.html

I have been watching a holocaust series on Hulu titled “We Were the Lucky Ones”. It’s about the Kruc family and how they will do anything to get back to their loved ones and keep their family lineage alive. I have been finding that I enjoy watching movies based on true historical facts. I learn things that weren’t taught in school. 

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 5

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 5 – Celebrate both Cinco De Mayo and Orthodox Easter by studying FamilySearch’s Mexican and Orthodox records www.familysearch.org/search

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 4

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 4 – Horse-racing fans flock to Churchill Downs today for the 150th Kentucky Derby. Find state-specific genealogy resources at www.familytreemagazine.com/explore-by-state

My mother said her maternal grandfather was a horse buggy racer. However, looking at old newspapers, I was unable to substantiate those claims. This doesn't mean it's not true, it just means I haven't found anything to support her claims. Thus, this is still considered family lore.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 3

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 3 – Join the hundreds of thousands of worldwide volunteers on BillionGraves www.billiongraves.com and head to your local cemetery to snap and upload cemetery pics.

BillionGraves is the world’s largest resource for searchable GPS cemetery data. Their home page has links to getting started taking photos, how to transcribe photos and they even have a free index for family and link records to your favorite family tree resources since they partnered with great companies like, FamilySearch, MyHeritage and FindmyPast.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 2

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 2 – Maybe your ancestors isn’t in US passenger lists because he first immigrated to Canada. Look for information on border-crossing records. 

Also, when did your ancestor arrive in the US? Did they arrive before 1820? If they did, it might be harder to find US passenger list for them. Have you found US Citizenship forms? Do you know they sometimes list the ship name and date that the passenger arrived. Keep in mind, your ancestor might have reported this years later and may not have remember the facts accurately.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

 

LibraryThing Mobile App

I didn’t feel much like researching today.  I decided to see what I have recorded in my account under LibraryThing.

I realized pretty quickly, that I was missing many of the books I own that pertain to genealogy. Thus, I decided to add my books. Since LibraryThing has become more popular since I first started using it back in 2017, I found adding books was a breeze.

I used the desktop version and all I had to do was click Add Books then input the ISBN number and search. The book will display on the right side of the screen and I click Add Book to add it to my collection. I get a red warning “This is a Duplicate Entry” if I already entered the book.

I decided to see if I could print out a list and when Googling for instructions, it stated to click the More option on the top tool bar. That is when I saw LibraryThing Mobile Apps for iPhones and Android. This is better than trying to print out a list.

I can search my catalog and it shows I have 59 books; it states I have 7 Collections. The Collections consist of Your library, Wishlist, currently reading, to read, read by unowned and Favorites. I basically only use Your Library.

My Library consists of 42 authors, and I can view my alphabetically sorted list. It will show how many books by that author our in my collection. I have a few that have three books and a few more that have authored 2 books, however most are only one book each. Caution, when I click on one of my authors who displayed he authored one book, I click on his name and it showed two books. The second book shown was one he co-authored. Thus, it only gives credit in the Author list for the main author of the book.

In the app, to add a book, it gives an option to scan the bar code. How convenient this will be when I purchase more books. I have several saved on my Amazon Wish List that I wish to purchase. I like purchasing books during the winter months, when I am more housebound due to the weather and have more time to read them.

If you haven’t checkout our LibraryThing and you have a large genealogy book collection, I recommend you to check them out. In years past, I had a habit of buying the book more than once, and this has helped me see what I already have.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – May 1

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

May 1 – Happy May Day, the point roughly halfway between the first day of spring and the summer solstice. Review the goals you set in January and what progress you’ve made.

I had five goals for this year. 

1.) Keep up the “The Year Ahead” blog posts. – I am doing this so that is good. 

2.) Continue to participate in “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” Blog post for those themes that move me. – I am doing this too, so that is good. To see these posts, go to my other blog, “My Simple Genealogy Research Blog”. 

3.) Finish the Jones book – I am so happy that one is off my list. I finished that in late February, actually Feb 22 is when I ordered myself a copy of that book. I learned so much from that project. Copies of this book, along with two other's I published can be ordered through LuLu, from my Author's Website. 

4.) I will spend at least one day a week researching the Goodwin Family. - I have been doing pretty good with this one too. I have been averaging about two days a week except the week my sister ended up in the Hospital. 

5.) I will spend my first hour of each research day with cleaning up my paper files. – Nope, haven’t been doing that. The first day I did this, I realize that it involves doing some research to see what I should do with the papers. It distracts me from my Goodwin research. Thus, I am rethinking if I want to continue this goal. I know it needs to be done, but perhaps not on the same day as my Goodwin research day. Perhaps on a different day.

Therefore, I am very pleased with my goals, I have completed one, and am actively working on the three of them and I need to reevaluate the fifth one.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!