The Year Ahead – December 24

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.

December 24– Record a Christmas Eve or other family tradition in your blog or journal.

Back in 1992, my local newspaper ask people to submit their favorite Christmas story, my submission was published in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) on Wednesday, December 23, 1992 on page 13 as follows:

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy! 

The Year Ahead – December 23

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.

December 23 – Compare the five major historical newspaper websites www.familytreemagazine.com/records/newspapers/historical-newspaper-websites-compared

The five major sites listed in this article are: Fulton History, Genealogy Bank, Newspapers.com, NewspapersArchive, and Chronicling America. This is a premium article, thus you might not be able to view it.  

I mostly use Newspapers.com since I have a subscription. I do believe Fulton History and Chronicling America are free sites. I have tried Genealogy Bank; however, I find Newspapers.com has more newspapers for the areas of my research. Always check out their holdings before subscribing to any website. 

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 22

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.

December 22 – Write in your research journal about the most extreme thing you’ve done while researching your roots. (Took a pillow to the library to nap in a carrel? Walked a cemetery in a blizzard?)

The only extreme thing I can remember is trying to get to a cemetery and finding a grave I was looking for before the storm I saw in the distance arrived. I did manage to beat the storm, but I had to drive home in a horrible rain storm.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 21

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.

December 21 – Search online telephone directories such as www.whitepages.com for the surnames and places you’re researching – you might come up with a cousin.

When you do this, it will list relatives. Keep in mind, you won’t know their exact relationship, for example, my Brother-in-Law shows up on my name search. It also listed an address in a state I have never lived.

I like using tax records to see if a person still lives in the area that they say. For example, it gives my current address and my former addresses, and thus I can look up the tax records to see if someone is still at the address. Perhaps you want to reach out to them and send them a letter. The phone numbers they listed for me are no longer in service, thus I wouldn’t recommend calling someone out of the blue.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 20

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.

December 20 – Select a few unidentified pictures and make copies to share with relatives at holiday gatherings.

You may want to bring some of the pictures that you have identified and see if your relatives come up with the same person. I was once given a family portrait from the late 1800’s/early 1900’s and was told it was my 3^rd great grandfather, his wife and children. However, I could not match up the individuals in my tree to the people in the picture. Later I found out from a distant cousin, that it was actually her 3^rd great grandparents, the sister and brother-in-law of my 3^rd great grandfather. Plus the individuals in the picture fit what I knew about them in my tree.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 19

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.

December 19 – Update the list of surnames you’re researching and tuck it into your binder.

I like my list to include my direct line surnames. I used to have this information on the backside of my business card, but now I like using my Notes app on my phone to record this information. 

I usually always have my phone with me, but I might not have my research binder with me. I have run into people who have questions when I am out and about. 

However, the printed list is great when visiting courthouses, because some of them, won't allow your phone into the records room. They don't want you taking snapshots of certificates. Does your genealogy software package allow you to print such a custom report?

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy! 

The Year Ahead – December 18

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.

December 18 – Visit Evidence Explained www.evidenceexplained.com to get the latest tips on source citations.

Even though I might not do my source citations exactly properly in my own research. I do look to see what information I should be capturing in my sources. This comes in handy when I need to share my research with others, and I need proper source citations.

My advice: If you haven’t done any source citations, start today. Be consistent and double check to see if you can find that source again with the information in your source citations. 

When I first started, I didn’t record where I found stuff and it cost me lots of research time, because I had to go back and see where that information came from. This is very important when  you find conflicting information, because you need to evaluate the sources that your information came from and decide which source is more reliable.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 17

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.

December 17 – Learn more about professional genealogy through its two major credentialing bodies: www.icapgen.org and www.bcgcertification.org

Even though I do not have any formal credentials, I have an upmost respect for those who go through the process. These people have demonstrated their competence in research, analysis, kinship determination and reporting skills. Each organization has its own exact requirements, but the skills do overlap. Even if you don’t plan on getting your credentials (like me), you can learn many skills that can help you in your research goals. Plus, you may feel more comfortable if you ever want to hire a professional.

My advice: Check out the book "Professional Genealogy - Preparation, Practice and Standards" by Elizabeth Shown Mills.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 16 – Study a new-to-you US state using our research guides store.familytreemagazine.com/genealogy-research-state-guides or the FamilySearch Wiki

I subscribe to Family Tree Magazine and each issue comes with a state. Check out your local library and see if they have past issues that you could reference.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy! 

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 15 – Get to know your Jewish ancestors with the resources at Avotaynu www.avotaynu.com.

When I visited this website, there is a notice that the editors and production team have retired after 37 years. Thus, don’t be surprise if you can access all the parts of this website.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 14 – Read regional histories to learn about mass migrations that may have affected your ancestors.

The regional histories could be for the destination as much as the previous home location. For example, I have many Wisconsin relatives who went to Nebraska. I did a google search and found out that the Homestead Act of 1862, which offered free land in the western territories, was attracting farmers seeking more land to cultivate. Especially since land in Wisconsin because increasingly occupied and expensive. Nebraska’s flat plains and rich soil were ideal for large scale farming, especially grain production, which aligned well with the agricultural practices of many Wisconsin farmers.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 13 – Take a virtual tool of an ancestral hometown with GoogleEarth earth.google.com.

I like using GoogleEarth on cemeteries. You can get a nice view of a cemetery. I can use it as a map as I am looking at the cemetery. I could also use it to mark the gravesites of my relatives.  

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 12 – Pick five online record collections you haven’t searched in a while. Try a new technique or search for different name variations.

I still find myself having to think outside of the box and try different methods for searching record collections. My motto, less is more. So start out with less information and if the results are too many, then slowly add a new piece of information to search and repeat until you have a manageable list of results.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 11 – Consider how you ancestors were affected by the Civil War. Letters from the era can help.

I requested two of my ancestor’s Civil War Pension files and found out a little of their personal lives. One was for my 3^rd great grandfather and the other for his father-in-law. I found out that my 3^rd great grandfather became ill during the war and returned home to recuperate. He ends up have lasting effects and most likely PTSD because he and his wife separated. I haven’t found any formal divorce but since his wife remarried during his lifetime, I sure hope they were divorced.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy! 

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 10 – Delve into the 300,00 links on Cyndi’s List www.cyndislist.com. View the categories that cover your research interests.

This website is a great place to start when you are at your ropes end and don’t know where to turn to next. Perhaps, some of the websites are you acquainted with, but many will probably be new avenues for you to check out. So visit Cyndi’s List and make sure to save it on your bookmarks so that it will display on your main browser screen.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 9 – Debunk heraldry myths – and see if you really have a “family crest” – at www.familytreemagazine.com/heraldry/coat-of-arms-history-resources.

When I used to volunteer for a Genealogy Library, I remember one patron who came into the library saying how his family has a coat of arms that he purchased it from a store. I tried explaining how Coat of Arms really work, but he was having nothing of it.

Thus, if your ancestor had a coat of arms, and you are the proper heir to those arms, congratulations. As for the rest of us, if we are lucky, we might find a coat of arms for a person who shares a surname with us.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 8 – Find censuses and census substitutes (such as tax lists) for Colonial ancestors by running a keyword search of the FamilySearch Catalog www.familysearch.org/search/catalog.

Using the catalog can open up many databases that you might not have thought about. Especially the databases that haven’t been indexed yet. If the images are available, you might have to scroll through the images, similar to using a micro-film reader to find the record you want. Don’t let a little extra work, keep you from finding the elusive record or relative.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 7 – Remember the attack on Pearl Harbor today by watching Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous speech at www.ushistory.org/documents/infamy.htm.

The number of World War II veterans are rapidly dwindling with only about 119,000 as of late 2023. However, I am sure many of their descendants are still living. It’s up to us to remember their sacrifices.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 6 – Looking for last-minute deductions off your 2024 taxes? Consider a charitable donation to your favorite genealogical library, society or archive.

Since I am the one that does the taxes, I can report that sadly, itemizing deductions has become something I no longer do because of the raise in the standard deduction. I don’t let that stop me from still giving. Many of these organizations can not survive on memberships alone and rely heavily on donations. If you just don’t have the funds this year, please plan for next year. Throw your loose change in a jar, I still use cash and have plenty of loose change. Then at the end of the year; donate that amount. Or how about just taking a dollar or more a week and set it aside. Just give up one weekly latte that you buy from the local coffee shop and save that for a year end donation. Are there any material items you could donate that they need? A small sacrifice can mean a lot to one of these organizations.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 5 – Plan your family’s holiday letter. Add some old photographs for a hint of nostalgia.

I personally don’t do a family holiday letter. It reminds me of an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” where Penny and Leonard were trying to come up with stuff that happened in the past year. They were failing miserably. I feel as if that would be me. I do enjoy reading the one or two I get.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 4 – Find historical maps of your ancestor’s hometowns using Map History www.maphistory.info and the David Rumsey Map collection www.davidrumsey.com

The first link looks like it is a jumping point to other websites, however, the second link I found a plat map from 1890 for Fountain Prairie Township, Columbia County, Wisconsin and I found many relatives listed on this plat map.

When I looked for Doylestown, Columbia County, Wisconsin I saw a cemetery on the map that wasn’t the church cemetery that I know many of my relatives are buried in. I remember a small cemetery in the town with a few people buried in it, and wonder if this is the cemetery that is on this old map.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 3 – Illinois became the 21^st state on this day in 1818. Search probate, military, vital and land records at the state archives www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/databases/home.html

This archive seems to have a lot of information. I decided to see if I could find marriage records for the surname of Filipiak, since I know my husband’s family came from Illinois. The search is only for an index, where it gives the groom and brides name, date, license number and county. I would have to do more research to see if the information is for his family. This could help open doors with names that I might not otherwise find.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 2 – Examine your data for missing source citations, then look up the sources and fill in all the blanks.

This is great advice. In my earlier days of research, I didn’t do source citations. I didn’t understand them. After reading up on subject and seeing how others were using source citations via blogs and YouTube Videos, I started creating source citations around 2000. If I was working on someone who had facts without sources, I would look for evidence to create a source citation. However, all new information had to have a source citation, or I wasn’t going to enter the information. I even created a citation called “Speculation”. This was used when I derived information and I wasn’t quite sure if this really was totally accurate. This is only supposed to be a short-lived citation, until I found something to support or disprove this speculation.

Currently I have two facts with this source citation. One is for a death of an individual of 1816 based on many Ancestry trees; however, I haven’t found anything to support it. Another was a marriage fact based on the birth of their first child. Thus, I see I should investigate these items first.

It's easy to create an Undocumented Facts report in Family Tree Maker. Go to Publish / Source Reports / Undocumented Facts. However, I noticed that I didn’t always put a source citation for their Name or their sex. I could not even exclude those fields from the report, and I ended up with 1307 pages. YIKES! When I quickly scroll through the report, I do see some other facts such as birth dates and marriages dates without source citations. I might need to put that on a to-do list for the new year. I know this is something I could easily do with my laptop while watching TV at night. Thus I created a Task in FTM and made it high priority with a due date of 12/31/2025.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

The Year Ahead – December 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.

December 1 – Roman Catholics celebrate All Saints Day today. Use the FamilySearch Wiki https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Latin_Genealogical_Word_List to learn some Latin.

Many church documents for the Roman Catholics are written in Latin, especially the column headings. Bookmark the page, in case you need to refer to it again.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!