L is for Local (also Regional) Conferences

This coming weekend I am speaking at the CAGGNI conference.  Held every two years northwest of Chicago, it is a daylong affair run by CAGGNI (Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois). The conference has 4 time slots and 4 topics during each time slot.  Speakers are nationally & regionally known; this year the class lineup includes a hands on option for DNA learning.  (If enchanted, you can be a walk-in for the conference, but not for the DNA classes. Check their website for info)

NGS, FGS, & PMC are the big national conferences, and they are wonderful.  I got to NGS in May, and hope to be at the other two.  I do hope that you get to one (or more) every so often. 

I also hope that you get to one (or more) of local/regional society gatherings.  These smaller groups put a lot of effort into bringing speakers "to you."  and putting together a day of learning.

(It's also lots of fun to go to a conference where a relative lives!  Their local speakers are people you've never heard!)

A few years ago I had the option of hearing a national speaker for a full day at a small regional conference outside of my local area.  Even though I did travel a bit, it was still closer, easier, less expensive in time and housing/etc., and dovetailed wonderfully with a research trip. 

My take home in this post is "don't discount the 1-2 day conferences."  Yes, national/huge is lots of fun & has lots to offer, but regional/local/smaller also offers much.  Don't write them off.

Till next time,

Liz

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2018 begins with an "ABC-darium," a walk through the alphabet expanding into short comments on matters genealogical.  Published on Tuesday and some Fridays, a letter may be visited more than once before moving on.  

© 2018, SE Ross

I is for Indexing

This blog is a short and heartfelt encouragement to give back to the folks who have given genealogy so much.

We all know that the records which we use every day were not created for us, though they are so basic to our work that this is sometimes overlooked: census, tax, land, wills, probate, birth, marriage, divorce, death, draft registration, social security, etc., etc.

Some of these records included name indexes at the front of the volume (land, birth(some), wills) and some not so (census for starters).  We (the cloud of genealogists) can use ALL these records so easily because people INDEXED them.  Note that I said "people."   People can read handwriting, and make decisions.  OCR sort of works on newspapers, not so much for court journals.

Ancestry, data base of waving leaves and TV ads, hired people to do the indexing.  No argument with their decisions; they were first off the block with an easily accessible census data base, and got MANY people interested & involved in researching.

Family Search took a different tact on indexing, asking members of their church (Latter Day Saints, aka Mormons) to undertake this task.   That is still the model for records currently being added to the collection, and for the thousands of records previously filmed, but currently only available as a browsable collection. 

While members do indexing, they are delighted to open the door to volunteers with no connection with their church.  I've indexed and will continue to do so.  (Many non-LDS folk volunteer at FHL libraries)

What one indexes is easy to customize.  Records are described; some are typescript; many handwritten; tons are in English.  You ask for a "chunk" which you then read and put info from the records into a grid (also supplied).  When done you hit a button.  Your work goes back to Salt Lake City and you get a brownie point. Indexing any 'chunk' takes roughly 30 minutes (or less).  If you find you have misjudged your abilities in regard to a given 'chunk,' you type the equivalent of "oops" and that record group closes.

Each "chunk" is given to 3 indexers.  If all agree it gets stamped "good" and is added to the data base.  If all doesn't agree, someone very skilled looks at the record in question and solves the problem.  (For me, this cuts down the anxiety factor really big time. Ie. I'm not the only word, nor the final word)

So… I'm encouraging you to give back.  Speaking for myself, but suspecting I have fellow travelers, my schedule is such that I cannot, at this time, volunteer every Tuesday at…, or be a big sister, or run an 'x' for my favorite charity, but I can (and again, suspect many fellow travelers) find an hour or three (or 16) during a month to index.  Each month may be different, and that's ok.  I can index day (or night), do as many chunks at a sitting as I wish, or one and sign off.  It is not taxing, but rather the different that refreshes, and I guarantee you will get a warm glow from helping out (in addition to your brownie points from LDS).

Google FamilySearch.org, and sign in or make an account.  Last time I was on the site the top banner had "indexing" at the right hand end.  Click and go. 

Few surprises, and all good ---

Isn't summer a good time for resolutions?

Till next time,

Liz

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2018 begins with an "ABC-darium," a walk through the alphabet expanding into short comments on matters genealogical.  Published on Tuesday and some Fridays, a letter may be visited more than once before moving on.  

© 2018, SE Ross

P is for Penguin Portfolio

Penguin travels with me... as said. 

He decided that it was time to celebrate the staff of VH, where my mother lives.   I totally agree. 

anyone wishing to join this parade -- just let me know !!! 

I always have my phone on me, and I will make it a point to have penguin. 

Till next time, 
Liz 
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Copyright 2018, SERoss

N is for Names

We live in the 21st century.  We were named by our parents, with the name usually carefully chosen before we were born.  For today's babies, the SS# follows rapidly, I hear that some hospitals arrange for it to be issued while the baby is still in hospital. Our name and that number become our handle, our label, at school, at work, and on into the grave.  It seems that in this computer driven century there is much less use of nicknames, either w/in the family, and little in school or other formal settings.  William may be called Bill, but only if William permits.  And calling William "4-eyes" or "short stuff" wouldn't even be considered.  (Hydra head of slurs?)  

My mother was the youngest of three children: junior (boy named after his father), brother (as in "that's my brother"), and sister (as in "that's my sister").  While they were called by their "real" names in school, when playing on their street, or called by their mother or neighbors, they were junior, brother, and sister.  Their parents ran a store, where customers and friends were also graced with nicknames.  One was "Junkie";  she went weekly to Maxwell St. and dealt in antiques.  Her real name was Gertrude, and I never heard her last name. Another customer was "2 lb. of coffee with the ticket ground," her standard order.  The ticket?  Ala Green Stamps.  But back to nicknames... Would it be possible to broadcast a sitcom using the names used in "Lil' Rascals"?   And even the early Bill Cosby monologues sound dated with "Fat Albert." 

On the other hand, for us genealogists, we need to be very aware that for most of history, even into the early 20th century, you were who you said you were.  Want to REALLY lose a past?  Move far away, and take a menial job, or talk your way into entry level in shop or office, and build from there.  Sort of witness protection without the federal support.

I am continually "charmed" by genealogists with less than 100 weeks under their belts saying, "That couldn’t possibly be my ancestor; their name is spelled with an 'a' not an 'e'"  or "His mother is Tabitha, not Polly.  I have to keep looking."

For this week, consider your favorite ancestor, and think of all the things you know about him or her outside of their name, and how, when the going gets tough and brick walls threaten, that the chink in the wall is undoubtedly found in all the information that is not their name.  

Till next time,

Liz

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2018 begins with an "ABC-darium," a walk through the alphabet expanding into short comments on matters genealogical.  Published on Tuesday and some Fridays, a letter may be visited more than once before moving on.  

© 2018, SE Ross