Genealogy Online

by Elizabeth Crowe

  Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter

  Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter is one of the oldest and best sources of information for the amateur and professional genealogist alike.

  The daily blog has interesting articles on new products, sites, and online resources, as well as discussions on techniques. Like DearMYRTLE’s blog, the site allows comments by readers, which are sometimes even more interesting than the original article. The free blog will often have news updates, such as Ancestry.com’s newest databases or the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) newest workshop. The main value of the daily blog is that Dick is so good at keeping up with the latest news and releases. The “Plus Edition” has more detailed articles, most of all his thoughtful and honest reviews of sites and software. The “Plus Edition” is about $20 a year, or you can try it for three months for about $6.

  Other Blogs and Feeds

  It is completely possible to spend your entire day reading interesting, informative, and entertaining genealogy blogs. But if you did that, when would you do your genealogy? So, out of the hundreds of blogs and feeds out there, I’ll point out the ones you should start with and let you explore further to discover others that fit your schedule and needs:

  • Ancestories by Miriam J. Robbins is a wonderful collection of success and failure stories, interesting historical facts, and more. She also maintains Online Historical Directories and Online Historical Newspapers websites. In addition, she leads Scanfests, encouraging others to spend an afternoon scanning in original documents, photographs of ancestors, and even handwritten research notes to digital form. Find her at http://www.ancestories1.blogspot.com/.

  • We Tree (http://www.wetree.blogspot.com) by Amy Coffin is subtitled “Adventures in Genealogy.” Coffin says she is the fruit of a storied family tree. She has a Master of Library Science degree and a persistent streak. “Both have come in handy as I find more pieces to my family puzzle,” she said. You can subscribe by RSS feed.

  • Ancestoring (http://www.ancestoring.blogspot.com) is a site where professional genealogist Michele Simmons Lewis answers your research questions and provides helpful tips and advice to assist you in your family history adventure. This blog is geared toward the beginner to intermediate researcher.

  • Roots and Rambles at http://www.rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/ is by Marian Pierre-Louis. She is a full-time House Historian and Professional Genealogist who focuses on New England research, as well as a producing the podcast Fieldstone Commons.

  • The Educated Genealogist is the product of Sheri Fenley of Stockton, California, a professional genealogist who blogs about courses, seminars, books, and classes in genealogy, as well as news and technology, at http://www.sherifenley.blogspot.com/. She is director of the West region of the Association of Professional Genealogists; is on the board of the California State Genealogical Alliance; and a member of the National Genealogical Society, International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, California Genealogical Society, San Joaquin Genealogical Society, and Global Alliance of Genealogy Professionals.

  • Eats Like A Human (http://www.eatslikeahuman.blogspot.com) is the blog of a programmer who has worked with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and pursues genealogy with a software engineer’s perspective. “Taking Genealogy to the Common Person” is the subtitle of his blog. He recently used Twitter to pose a genealogy question (how to find a death certificate in Kansas prior to 1911) and recorded all the responses, and how quickly they came in, on the blog.

  • FamilySearch Labs at https://www.labs.familysearch.org/ chronicles the newest software for FamilySearch.org. Great for the geeky genealogist!

  • Random Genealogy (http://www.randomgenealogy.com) picks up news stories involving genealogy that other blogs haven’t seemed to mention.

  • Renee’s Genealogy Blog (http://www.rzamor1.blogspot.com) started in September 2005 and uses AtomFeed to syndicate it to readers. Renee started doing genealogy at 15, and is now the secretary for the Utah Valley PAF Users Group and a Family History Consultant at the Alpine Family History Center. Renee is an old hand at genealogy and generously shares her insights and news. Her blogs are thoughtful and eclectic. A good read!

  • Elyse’s Genealogy Blog by Elyse Doerflinger is a great discussion, exploration, and learn-by-doing exercise. The author is young, but wise in the way of online genealogy! She has been a speaker at many genealogy societies in Southern California and at Southern California Genealogy Society’s Jamboree conference in 2010. She has also written for Internet Genealogy Magazine, Family Chronicle, and been featured in Family Tree Magazine. In addition, she works for the family tree building website WikiTree.

  • BlogFinder at http://www.blogfinder.genealogue.com is a good way to keep on top of the newest blogs, but again, be careful not to let blogs substitute for genealogy! See Figure 4-2 for the “Who’s Blogging Where” page of this site, which covers worldwide blogs, not just the United States. If you want to find a French genealogy blog, for example, this is the place to go!

  FIGURE 4-2. BlogFinder helps you find blogs by topic and location.

  Note

  Bloggers use prompts and memes for posts, and it can be fascinating to compare what your favorite bloggers have to say about Wordless Wednesday, 99 Things Genealogy, or 52 Weeks of Family Traditions. Check out www.geneabloggers.com for links to some great ones!

  Online Courses

  In some cases, you can have the education come to you—that is, learn by independent study. Genealogy societies and even universities have such courses, and in some cases, you can take the class over the Internet.

  MOOCS

  What is a MOOC? The most popular web definition is “a massive open online course [MOOC] is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the Web.” Institutions from Yale to local community colleges are offering them.

  For example, in September 2013, 23andMe, the leading personal genetics company, was working on a MOOC on human genetics to be called Tales from the Genome. And the online study groups mentioned earlier, while not conferring any continuing education units (CEUs) or college credit, can also be considered MOOCs.

  For this category, check out https://familysearch.org/node/1171, in particular, an article titled “140 Free Online Genealogy Research Courses.” That should get you started!

  Note

  A good listing of both resources and education in genealogy, and a site that was quite up-to-date as of this writing, is at www.academic-genealogy.com; look for the topics and regions you need.

  Genealogy.com

  Genealogy.com has several free, self-paced courses to help you get started in genealogy. Click Learning Center on the home page navigation bar to find them. The Learning Center has the following articles:

  • Begin Your Research at Home

  • What’s in a Name?

  • Collaborating with Others

  • Finding Existing Research

  • Outfitting Your Genealogy Toolkit

  Brigham Young University

  Brigham Young University (http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/courses/free.cfm) has a series of free, self-paced online tutorials on family history research. Among the courses are:

  • Introduction to Family History Research

  • Writing Family History

  • Family Records

  • Vital Records

  • Military Records

  • Courses on researching in France, Scandinavia, and Germany

  National Institute for Genealogical Studies/University of Toronto

  At www.genealogicalstudies.com, you can find The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, which has joined forces with the University of Toronto, Faculty of Information Studies, Professional Learning Centre, to provide web-based courses for both family historians and professional genealogists. Countries included are the United States, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, and Scotlan
d. There are also certificates in librarianship and general methodology.

  Search College Sites for Other Courses

  Use any major search engine to search “genealogy courses independent study” or “genealogy courses distance learning,” and you will come up with many smaller colleges and institutions that offer at least a course or two, and sometimes CEUs. Also, go to the site of the nearest community college, junior college, or other higher-learning site and simply search for “genealogy.” Often, library science and information science majors will include a course or two in genealogy.

  Offline

  Getting your genealogy education online is fun, but perhaps you would like some face-to-face (F2F) time with others who are learning too. In that case, you might investigate the following ideas for some educational opportunities in the real world.

  Professional Organizations

  Several institutions accredit the services of professional genealogists and researchers around the world. One of their primary goals is to establish a set of standards and a code of ethics for the members. Often, the accrediting body will offer courses, instruction, and testing. You don’t have to be accredited to do family history research for hire, but it does offer clients assurance of a level of standards and professionalism that is accepted within the profession. Genealogy Pro (http://genealogypro.com/articles/organizations.html) has a list of several such organizations in English-speaking countries.

  Genealogy Conferences and Cruises

  The publishers of Wholly Genes software came up with the idea of a late-year educational cruise of the Eastern Caribbean with a series of speakers and workshops on genealogical research methods, tools, and technologies from some of the most popular speakers and authorities in those fields. Several genealogy companies jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak, and now conferences at sea are a regular event. Put “genealogy cruise” in your favorite search engine to find one, or go to www.cyndislist.com/travel/tours-and-cruises/.

  National Genealogical Society

  At www.ngsgenealogy.org, you can find many resources for online and offline learning. Courses they offer are shown at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/educational_courses.

  American Genealogy For many years, NGS has offered a home-study correspondence course entitled “American Genealogy: A Basic Course.” The NGS recommends that you take the online introductory course first and then move on to the home-study course, which covers some of the same topics in more depth and includes many more besides. Those who successfully complete the online introductory course will receive a discount coupon that can be applied toward the home-study course. Check the NGS website for the current fees.

  The 16 lessons are “hands on” and require trips to libraries, courthouses, and other sites, as well as the ability to write well about your research. The NGS website, however, has online resources to help you with this. Most people take 18 months to complete the course, although extensions are granted.

  Brigham Young University Center for Family History and Genealogy

  The Center for Family History and Genealogy supports the Family History (Genealogy) students at Brigham Young University. At http://familyhistory.byu.edu, you can find information on:

  • Family History (Genealogy) Major

  • Family History (Genealogy) Minor

  • Family History Certificate

  • Map for Majors

  • Family History Internships

  University of Washington Genealogy and Family History Certificate

  A nine-month evening certificate program for teachers, librarians, amateur researchers, and others interested in researching their families, this on-campus program is described at www.pce.uw.edu/certificates/genealogy-family-history.html. Participants develop a completed family history project as part of classes that meet one evening per week on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

  Through lectures, discussions, readings, and field trips, students learn how to use the resources and methods necessary to develop a family history and to examine such topics as the migration of ethnic groups, population shifts, and the differences in urban and rural lifestyles. Students have access to the resources of the University of Washington libraries while enrolled. Participants receive nine CEUs and a certificate when they complete the program. Check the website for fees.

  Genealogy Events

  Finally, you can learn about genealogy at events such as seminars, workshops, and even ocean cruises! You can search for them on the following websites:

  • About.com Genealogy Conferences (http://www.genealogy.about.com/cs/conferences)

  • Cyndi’s List (http://www.cyndislist.com/events.htm)

  • Genealogy Events Web Ring (http://hub.familynhome.org/hub/gencon)

  Federation of Genealogical Societies Conferences

  The Federation of Genealogical Societies (www.fgs.org/) holds a national conference each year for genealogists of all levels of experience. The conferences spotlight management workshops for genealogy organizations, genealogical lectures by nationally recognized speakers and regional experts, and exhibitors with genealogical materials and supplies. Check the website for fees, which historically have been under $200.

  National Institute on Genealogical Research

  Information on this venerable genealogy institute can be found at www.rootsweb.com/~natgenin. The National Institute on Genealogical Research started in 1950 and is sponsored by the American University, the American Society of Genealogists, the National Archives, and the Maryland Hall of Records. The National Archives provides strong support, including meeting space. The cost for this week-long event is usually around $350.

  The institute’s program takes an in-depth look at federal records of genealogical value located primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. The program is for experienced researchers (genealogists, historians, librarians, and archivists) and is not an introductory course in genealogy.

  Institute on Genealogy and Historical Research

  Held at Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama) every June, this five-day event is for intermediate to advanced genealogists. It is academically and professionally oriented, and is cosponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Small classes are held during the day. Each evening of the institute features a dinner with a speaker as well. Details and registration information can be found at www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/. Check the website (see Figure 4-3) for fees, which historically have been under $400.

  FIGURE 4-3. The IGHR in Birmingham, Alabama, is an intensive five-day event.

  The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

  Held at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, by the Utah Genealogical Society, this is a week-long, hands-on event, usually held early in the year. Check the Utah Genealogical Association website at www.infouga.org for fees, which historically have been under $400. In 2010, attendees could choose from 12 different courses of lectures, including topics on American, Canadian, and German research.

  Regional and Local Workshops and Seminars

  Many state historical societies hold seminars. Simply use your favorite search engine to search for your state genealogical society and “conference.”

  Finding a local class, seminar, workshop, or other event near you is the best way to start. Query a search engine for “genealogy” and the name of the town you live in or will be visiting. Also, check Cyndi’s List page (www.cyndislist.com/events.htm), Dick Eastman’s weekly newsletter, and DearMYRTLE’s sites often for announcements.

  Success Story: Learning to Plat at a Conference

  Ann Lusk, attending a beginning genealogy course in her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, learned about platting deeds. To plat a deed, you draw a picture of a piece of land from the description on the deed. Taking what she learned from the class, Ann worked with two Tennessee deeds, described in metes and bounds, a method that notes adjoining land. By platting two deeds for land owned by men with her husband’s surname, cutting them out, and laying them on the table togeth
er, she saw the two pieces fit together “like hand and glove.” This helped her show that the two men were father and son, and from that she could look for the original family plat. This information not only helped her Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) application, it also qualified her for the First Families of Tennessee (www.east-tennessee-history.org/index.cfm/m/52).

  —Ann Lusk

  Wrapping Up

  • You can learn about genealogy at all levels, online and offline, and both venues are enjoyable.

  • Taking beginners’ courses can save you some time and effort in your research.

  • Seminars, conferences, institutes, and courses are a good way to meet other genealogists and expand your skills.

  • Local, regional, and national programs give you a wide choice of how to learn about genealogy.

  Chapter 5

  Revving Up Search Engines

  As I write this book, I am pointing you to the best genealogical resources on the Internet as I know them. I am aware that you may find some of the links are broken. By the time you read this, untold numbers of sites may have been created, or deleted, or changed from wonderful to not-so-much, and vice versa. Keeping track of all this is made much easier by search engines and portals. Search engines and portals offer ways to send changes and news stories that match certain keywords to you via e-mail or push technology, and I will show you how to take advantage of that.